Families today face many risks. Some are obvious, such as the risk posed by careless and reckless drivers or drivers under the influence. But some are less apparent, such as the risks that can be found around our homes.
Insurance companies are much more aggressive about inspecting insured premises to assign risks that they may not wish to insure anymore. Do not assume that you will always be approved each year to have your insurance renewed. Would an audit of your property suggest an accident ready to happen?
Here are a few things to consider to minimize your risks, at home and on the road:
- Watch that pet
Animals that bite someone on your property often result in liability for the homeowner. Supervise pets, especially around children. Hyperactive dogs can and do cause significant injuries every year, such as serious facial injuries, which can result in significant claims.
- Accidents at home
Driveway hazards and loose bricks in your walkway are not only dangerous for you and your family but also can lead to potential liability if a visitor is injured.
- Inattentive driving
Overwhelmingly, motor-vehicle crashes occur within a few miles of our home, and they occur less because of clearly negligent driving than because of inattentive driving.
The next time you are a passenger in a vehicle, watch the faces and actions of other drivers. It will not take you long to understand how much distracted drivers contribute to the number of motor-vehicle crashes each year.
- Stop signs and vehicles entering the highway
We assume that when people come to a stop sign, or they are getting ready to turn onto the highway, they stop and yield to drivers on the dominant road. But this is not always true.
Sometimes drivers will look at an approaching vehicle and pull out anyway. Why? They are talking on their cellphone, texting, thinking about something else, or they are in a hurry. Sometimes they "see" the other vehicle, but that visual message does not hit all the necessary synapses in their brain to keep them from pulling out in front of an approaching vehicle.
An increasing number of crashes occur when drivers try to pull across multiple lanes. They fail to see the oncoming vehicle in the last lane crossed.
When you are passing a vehicle, watch it carefully. You might evoke an angry gesture by tapping on your horn in preparing to pass, but it beats the alternative.
- Wear your seat belt
The single greatest act you can take to avoid personal injuries on the highway is to wear your seat belt. You should insist that everyone in your vehicle put on his seat belt before you go anywhere. Your children might complain, but this is an important lesson for them to learn.
You would be surprised at the number of people who do not take this simple step, and who pay a serious price for not doing so.
If you take just a few precautions on the highway, your chances of avoiding many common incidents improve significantly, even when you are not at fault.
Remember: An informed choice is a smart choice.
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