Charleston WV Personal Injury Law Blog

Highway driving takes a high level of skill, as you're always in proximity to fast-moving vehicles. Merging onto the highway is easier said than done, especially when you consider that established vehicles might not be willing to help you out.

Here are five tips for safer merging:

• Adjust your speed at the right time: As you approach traffic, do your best to get your vehicle up to speed so that you can seamlessly move into the flow.
• Avoid stopping: A common mistake, stopping before you merge into traffic, will make things more difficult. Doing this requires you to merge from a standstill, making it a challenge to quickly get up to speed.
• Use your turn signal: This gives others a clear idea that you're moving your vehicle into the flow of traffic.
• Cross into one lane of traffic at a time: Don't attempt to merge across several lanes in one move, as this increases the risk of an accident. Establish yourself in the first lane and then go from there.
• Use your mirrors: As you approach the merge point, use your mirrors to understand where other vehicles are in proximity to yours. Then, before you make your move, check over your shoulder to ensure it's safe to do so.

When you find yourself driving on the highway, there will be times when you have to change lanes. Even though you don't want to make this a habit, there's no way around it.

Changing lanes sounds simple enough until you look around and realize that you're not the only car on the road. Here are some tips you can follow to safely change lanes on the highway:

• Wait until you have space: Don't attempt to force your vehicle into a tight space. It's best to wait until there is a large gap in traffic to make your move.
• Always use your turn signal: This gives everyone around you an understanding of your intentions.
• Use your mirrors: Your mirrors give you a clear view of the cars around you, your positioning and whether it's okay to make your move.
• Check your blind spot: If you rely solely on your mirrors, you may not see another vehicle in your blind spot, thus resulting in an accident when you change lanes. A quick glance over your shoulder can protect against this.
• Maintain your speed: You don't want to change lanes in front of another vehicle, just to abruptly slow down. Doing so could result in a rear-end accident at a high speed.

Sexual harassment at work is still very common, despite all the progress that women have made in the workforce. If it's happening to you, the best way to stand up for your rights and put a stop to the behavior is to report the issue to your human resources department.

Unfortunately, you may have very real and very justified fear of retaliation if you make a report. It's estimated that three-fourths of harassment victims never speak up. Of those that do, 75 percent are likely to experience some form of retaliation as a result.

Obeying the rules of the road at all times is one of the best things you can do to ensure a high level of safety. This doesn't guarantee you'll never be part of an auto accident, but it definitely helps.

All types of reckless driving are very dangerous. This is defined as driving with a willful disregard for safety or operating a vehicle in a manner that shows no regard for the potential consequences of your actions.