Are you following these defensive driving tips?

Defensive driving is one of the best ways to maintain your safety when behind the wheel. By taking the right approach, you lessen the likelihood of causing an accident, thus giving you greater peace of mind.

Here are four defensive driving tips to follow at all times:

• Have a plan: It doesn’t matter how far you’re traveling, have a plan in mind. From the route you’ll take to any potential traffic hazards, planning ahead goes a long way in keeping you safe.
• Watch your surroundings: A big part of defensive driving is keeping a close eye on your surroundings, such as pinpointing reckless drivers or roadway hazards.
• Leave more following space: It’s easy to fall into the trap of following others too closely, but this is a form of aggressive driving that causes many accidents. By leaving more following space, you’ll feel better about your ability to prevent a rear end accident.
• Don’t let other drivers get to you: Another person may become upset. They may even scream and beep at you. Rather than go on the offensive, move to a safe place on the road and create distance between yourself and the other driver.

Even if you follow these defensive driving tips, you could still be injured in a car accident.

If this happens, share your knowledge with the responding officer and seek immediate medical treatment.

Once you do these things, you can review the police report, file an insurance claim and decide on the best steps for protecting your legal rights. Taking these steps will position you to obtain compensation for your injuries and damage to your vehicle.