How can PHP developers ensure proper error handling when including files with if statements in their code?

When including files with if statements in PHP code, developers should ensure proper error handling by checking if the file exists before including it. This can prevent errors if the file is missing or inaccessible. By using the `file_exists()` function in conjunction with conditional statements, developers can handle potential errors gracefully and provide helpful feedback to users.

$file_path = 'path/to/file.php';

if (file_exists($file_path)) {
    include $file_path;
} else {
    echo 'Error: File not found.';
}