Virtually anyone who drives is bound to be in at least one auto accident. An auto accident lawyer can help accident survivors hold liable parties accountable, but it's always better to do your best to prevent being in an accident. Here are seven ways to do that.

1. Turn Off Your Cellphone

Driving while distracted is the primary cause of many auto accidents, and cell phones are the single biggest cause of distracted driving — even when driving in parking lots. According to MotorBiscuit, 66% of drivers say that they make phone calls while driving in areas designated for parking. Whether you're driving on a freeway, on local roads, or in a parking lot, you should keep your eyes and hands off of your phone and focus on driving safely.

2. Obey the Speed Limit

The faster you drive, the more likely an auto accident will cause you or someone else to suffer an injury or possibly death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says excessive speed is the single greatest factor in injury accidents. Driving at the posted speed limit helps you to maintain control of your vehicle while making it easier for other drivers to estimate your travel speed.

3. Honor Other Drivers' Rights of Way

The right-of-way determines which drivers have the right to proceed and which ones must stay out of the way. For example, when you come to a stop sign, you're obligated to stop and allow drivers who don't have to stop to proceed because they have the right of way. When the way is clear, then you can go. Violating another driver's right of way could cause an accident or catastrophic injuries. Doing so may also create a situation in which you require the help of an auto accident lawyer to determine liability.

4. Don't Drive While Under the Influence

Driving while you have been drinking alcohol or taking intoxicating drugs is illegal for a very good reason — doing so greatly increases the chances of causing an accident. Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a criminal offense in most states and might trigger a felony charge against you, especially if you cause an accident and injure someone. The simple solution is to not drive while under the influence.

5. Maintain Your Vehicle

A well-maintained vehicle is one that provides drivers with the safest possible driving experience. You should follow the factory-recommended service intervals for your vehicle to ensure it has good brakes, lights, and other components that make it as visible and safe to drive as possible. Even the tires are very important for ensuring the safest possible driving by delivering good traction. If your tires are in bad shape, then you run the risk of losing traction and causing an accident.

6. Always Look Before Changing Lanes

A simple way to prevent accidents is to use your turn signal and look over your shoulder in the direction in which you want to change lanes or when making a turn while driving. You need to ensure nothing is in your blind spot and the way is clear to change lanes or even turn while you're driving. A simple look over your right or left shoulder could prevent a catastrophic incident.

7. Adjust for Driving Conditions

You need to do more than abide by the posted speed limits and obey traffic controls when driving conditions are diminished by weather, traffic, or other factors. When visibility is poor, the roads are in bad condition, or traffic is backed up and slowed down, then you need to adjust your driving to match. Increasing your following distance by slowing down is one of the most effective ways to adjust your driving to match road and traffic conditions and prevent an accident.

Sometimes, you can follow all the rules of the road and still wind up as the victim of an auto accident. If this happens to you, then you can call or submit an online request to schedule an initial consultation with an auto accident lawyer at Putnam Lieb Potvin Dailey. An experienced attorney can help review your case and determine what legal grounds you might have to hold another driver accountable for causing an accident. An attorney also can help to ensure your insurance claim is filed properly and help you to provide supporting evidence so that you can get a fair settlement.