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The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

Domestic violence was a part of my family's life for years. When I made the decision to leave with my children, I had to rely on the law to provide the protection we needed. Sometimes, the system does not work as fast as we want. I soon learned that going at it alone without any guidance caused significant delays. I created this blog to help others who are seeking legal means to deal with an abusive ex. By making the right moves, it is possible to get the necessary protections in place so that you can also live a happier and healthier life.

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The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

How Motorists Are Expected To Take Reasonable Care To Avoid Accidents

by Gina Hill

While on the road, it is not just enough to obey traffic laws such as driving on the correct side or stopping at traffic lights. You are also expected to take reasonable care to avoid causing accidents. You are expected to do this by:

Driving At a Reasonable Speed

You are expected to drive at a reasonable speed whenever you are on the road. Do not confuse reasonable speed with keeping within the speed limit; the two are very different. You could drive below the speed limit and still be accused of driving at an unreasonable speed.

Maintaining a reasonable speed means matching your speed to the prevailing circumstances. For example, you should slow down if visibility is low, the road is wet or traffic flow is slow.

Consider a situation in which traffic is moving at about 30 mph because something is blocking the road. If you suddenly accelerate to 50 mph and hit the car in front, then you can be accused of driving at an unreasonable speed even if the road had a speed limit of 60 mph.

Being Vigilant

All drivers are also expected to be vigilant whenever on the road. Just because there is an obstacle, which shouldn't be there, doesn't mean that you will be excused if it makes you swerve and cause an accident. You should be aware of your surroundings which include not only the road ahead, but also activities going on by the roadside.

For example, if there is a road construction going on, then the number of lanes on the road may be reduced (temporarily), or there may be obstacles on the road. You are expected to be vigilant enough to notice these things and take appropriate precautions. Of course, the construction crew is also expected to play their part; for example, by putting up warning signs at reasonable distances.

Keeping Your Car in a Good Condition

It's also up to you to ensure that your car is in a good condition. You do this by watching out for signs and symptoms of damage, taking it for regular servicing, adhering to manufacturer's recommendations and repairing any damage. This includes ensuring that the tires have good tread depth, the brake pads are sound and wipers are working. If an accident can be traced back to your car's poor condition, then you may not be able to use ignorance or lack of money (for repair) as your excuse.

If you are involved in an accident, then the subsequent investigation will seek to determine the responsible parties. Every party involved in the accident will want to deflect the blame to the others. Therefore, it is important to consult a car accident lawyer to ensure that you aren't unfairly blamed for the chaos.  

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