With summer finally in full swing, you and your family are probably doing a lot of driving. While you're on the road, you want to drive defensively so that you can avoid becoming the victim of a car accident. However, you also want to ensure that you don't become the person responsible for accidents – and the injuries that follow. Here are four important steps you should follow to avoid being sued for injuries associated with a car accident.

Enforce the Seat Belt Laws With Passengers

If you're going to be driving friends around this summer, be sure to enforce the seat belt laws. If you're involved in a car accident, and your passengers aren't wearing seat belts, you could be held liable for their injuries. You can avoid that liability, and help protect your passengers, by ensuring that everyone is wearing a seat belt before you leave the driveway or parking lot. 

If any of your passengers take off their seat belts while you're driving, pull off to the side of the road and wait until they buckle up. Spending a few minutes enforcing the seat belt law could save their lives, and prevent you from being the party to a lawsuit.

Always Carry the Proper Car Insurance

If you're going to be transporting people this summer, it's crucial that you always carry the proper car insurance. That includes ensuring that you have enough insurance to properly cover any injuries that might occur as a result of any accident you may be responsible for. 

If you don't have enough insurance, your passengers, as well as any other people involved in the accident, could go after your homeowner's insurance. In fact, you could find yourself being sued in civil court for losses and injuries associated with the accident. Avoid that risk altogether, by carrying the proper car insurance.

Avoid Distractions While Driving

While you're driving with friends in your car this summer, you'll need to avoid being a distracted driver. If you're involved in a car accident, and it's determined that you were distracted at the time, your, and the people in the car you hit, may be able to go after you for damages. The best way to prevent that is to avoid all distractions while you're driving.

Make Sure Your Teens Understand the Passenger Laws

If you have teenagers who will be driving this summer, it's your responsibility to ensure that they understand the passenger laws, and how they apply to them. If your teens are new drivers, they may not be allowed to carry passengers in their car for several months after getting their new drivers license. 

Not only that, but they're also required to follow laws regarding distracted driving. If your teen is involved in an accident, and they're found to be responsible, you may be held liable if they were breaking any laws during the accident.

Don't take chances this summer. Use the tips provided here to help avoid liability for auto accidents. If you, or a loved one, are involved in an auto accident this summer, be sure to contact a law office like Bradfield Injury Law Firm, PC.

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