Although Hayward, California, has fairly good public transportation, most Bay Area residents get behind the wheel to go places. Despite the upsides of public transportation, cars, trucks and vans make getting around easy. Unfortunately, many Americans suffer life-changing injuries and fatalities as a result of driving mistakes. By brushing up on dangerous driving mistakes, you'll keep yourself, your family and other drivers safer.

Tailing other vehicles too closely

Imagine another driver cuts you off out of nowhere. Rather than letting it go, you might tail that driver to let them know how angry you are. This isn't the only situation that leads people to tailgate other drivers. You might find yourself tailgating a slow driver on a two-lane road in hopes they'll drive faster. Tailgating rarely gets other drivers to do what you want. You should aim to leave at least two seconds of distance between the vehicle in front of you.

Not following stop signs

Upon arriving at a stop sign at a T-shaped intersection, you see a vehicle coming from your right. In a hurry, you turn right instead of waiting for the vehicle to pass. Even if that vehicle makes an excessively sharp turn, police could find you liable for the accident. It's always safer to hesitate at stop signs until you know it's safe to proceed.

Texting and driving

Texting and driving is one of the most common forms of distracted driving. Crashes connected to smartphone use have skyrocketed in recent years. Do yourself a favor by pulling over to use your phone if you need to text someone.

Auto accidents can lead to expensive lawsuits

Innocent victims who have suffered injuries can file personal injury lawsuits against those who injured them. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, most tort lawsuits involve injuries and property damages caused by auto accidents. Historical data shows that roughly 60% of these cases result in judgments that favor plaintiffs.

All of these driving mistakes can lead to injury, death and getting sued. If you find yourself at the end of a personal injury lawsuit, hiring an attorney may result in a better outcome.