One thing that will help you with many of the traffic issues you will encounter is to anticipate what the possibly dangerous driver will do, just like when you drive a car. People tend to telegraph their intentions, even when they don't do it in the way they should. Watch, how they are driving, head movements, eye contact, lane choice and movement. On the whole, drivers are pretty predictable. There is much out of our control, but there is a lot you can avoid just by watching. I have been hit multiple times, always from behind. Generally as a rider we have no control over those idiots. Luckily I have escaped without too much damage, mostly road rash and broken teeth. I spent years as a bicycle messenger in LA and NYC, as well as thousands of miles training and touring. You learn a lot about drivers when you spend time in traffic with them. Traffic is a fact of life, and the reason we have the roads to ride that we do. Try to enjoy them without the worry. My belief is that we don't want to get hit, and they don't want to hit us. And I ride in a way that promotes that.
Good luck with the bike purchase! Then get out there and enjoy the road.