You’re on your way to college and you want to stay safe. But how do you know what’s legal and what isn’t? Here’s some advice: Understand your rights, know your boundaries, and stay alert! The more you know about what you’re up against, the less likely you’ll be to let yourself become a victim. Traveling can be equally exciting if you are responsible for yourself and know what’s legal and what’s not.
Listen to your instincts
The only real rule of thumb is that if it feels wrong, don’t do it. If someone pressures you or forces you into something, or if they seem like they might, just say no. Young people often move around a lot, whether it’s to visit friends, see family or just because they feel like traveling. It can be exciting, but there are risks out there you need to know about. The most experienced truck accident lawyers in Oakland say there are a few simple guidelines to follow if you want to stay safe on the road. Most accidents involving large trucks occur at intersections, and most often involve passenger vehicles.
Some of the most dangerous driving behaviors, like speeding and driving while intoxicated, are more likely to occur away from home. Just because you’re out of town doesn’t mean you should stop obeying traffic laws!
Know your rights
If you get pulled over, stay in your car unless the police tell you otherwise. You can roll down your window and ask what’s going on, and if it’s a traffic stop, you should stay in the car until the officer asks you to step out. If they ask to search your car or person, it is within your rights to say no without having to give a reason. However, this isn’t advised. When you refuse to be searched and they do it anyway, the evidence could be thrown out of court.
You can’t control everything and accidents do happen, but you don’t have to make it easy for criminals by becoming a victim. If someone breaks into your car or steals your wallet, report the incident as soon as possible. There’s no guarantee that this will help you get your things back, but it’s a start.
Stay alert
You might not be at home, but your instincts still matter, so listen to them. Don’t go down dark alleys or off the beaten path with people you don’t know very well. Use common sense and caution whenever possible. And if something does happen, try to remember as many details as possible to give to the police later. As long as you stay alert and use your best judgment, driving from point A to point B can be a safe and enjoyable experience instead of a nightmarish memory.
Just remember that it’s not always easy to strike a balance between enjoying yourself and being cautious. If something doesn’t feel right, stick to the main roads and try to stick with groups. Just remember that everyone makes mistakes! If you’re a victim of a hit-and-run accident, there are steps you can take on your own to recover some of your losses.
What to do in a hit-and-run accident
If you are in a hit-and-run, don’t panic, get up and find a safe place. If you’re alone, call 911. If there are witnesses, stop them if it’s safe to do so and ask for their contact information in case the police need them for evidence later. Write down as much information about the person who hit you as possible, including their license plate number—you can call the police to do this later if it’s not safe. Try to find out their insurance company and policy number.
If you’re injured but have no major injuries, get checked out at a hospital anyway to be on the safe side. You might need an MRI or X-ray, in which case your costs will be covered in full under California no-fault insurance. The same goes for any property damage resulting from the accident—if you have collision coverage on your policy, it will cover the damages to the other party’s vehicle caused by you when they hit you.
Learn more about how to protect yourself by contacting a good lawyer. There’s no substitute for taking the proper precautions and using common sense—and it’s always best to be safe than sorry. If you do find yourself in an accident, though, keep calm and remember to think first so you don’t make things worse! It might seem easy to panic if something bad happens on the road, but the more you know about what to do in an emergency, the less likely it is that you’ll have to pay for your mistake.
