Why haven't we heard this information before? According to Richard Ponziani, P.E., who authored the SEA report, the use of turn signals and the affect on motor vehicle accidents has never been previously studied.
]]> Turn Signal Study FindingsTurn signals should be used by drivers multiple times whenever they are behind the wheel, much like stopping at red lights and following other basic traffic rules. However, according to the SAE research, 48 percent of drivers do not use their turn signals when changing lanes or do not turn off their signals once a lane change as been completed. In addition, 25 percent of drivers fail to use their turn signals when actually making a turn. SAE findings revealed that this adds up to drivers failing to use or properly use turn signals about 2 billion times a day.
Failing to use a turn signal may seem like simple oversight with little impact, but SEA findings went on to show that failure to use turn signals actually causes 2 million motor vehicle accidents each year. To put that in perspective, that is more than twice the number of car collisions caused by distracted drivers annually, as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
This is a serious danger that poses an accident risk to everyone on our roadways, an epidemic in its own right.
Source: MSNBC, "Turn signal neglect a real danger, study shows," Paul A. Eisenstein, 5/1/2012.
]]>Despite the decision by Arizona lawmakers, most safety advocates agree that driving while distracted is dangerous and could result in a potentially fatal auto accident. When a driver does not clearly focus on the task of driving, the likelihood of an accident increases. According to the National Safety Council, there are 200,000 accidents a year as a result of texting. A statewide law in place that would prohibit drivers from texting while driving would likely result in fewer accidents and less loss of life.
]]> The opposition to the bill pointed out that Arizona already has a law in place, which states drivers must maintain control of their vehicle and that law encompasses texting while driving. To further their point, the opposition questioned the fairness of a law that singled out those who text versus others who eat while they drive or do other potentially distracting acts. Others argued that newer technology, which allows for the transcription of voice to text will alleviate these issues.It is not certain at this time whether state lawmakers will revisit the issue, but the fact remains that until there is a change in habit, texting while driving will remain an issue for Arizona drivers and those injured as the result of a distracted drivers. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an accident caused by a distracted driver, it is important to understand that you may be able to hold the responsible party accountable. Speak to an Arizona personal injury attorney to learn more about your rights and legal options.
Source: East Valley Tribune,"Arizona house rejects ban of texting while driving," Howard Fischer, 3/6/12.
]]>Items on the Most Wanted List that pertain to America's roadways include:
Truck Driver Fatigue - To prevent truck driver errors caused by fatigue, the NTSB promotes several safety measures. The NTSB believes hours-of-service limits and programs designed to identify and treat sleep conditions such as sleep apnea will save lives.
]]> Motorcycle Safety - The NTSB reports that between 1997 and 2009 an average of 12 motorcyclists were killed per day, with the leading cause of death being head injury. To improve safety, the NTSB advocates for riders wearing helmets that comply with the Department of Motor Vehicles safety standards, which includes a hard outer shell, retention system and impact-attenuating liner.Teen Driver Safety - According to the NTSB, the leading cause of teen deaths is vehicle accidents, taking the lives of eight teens per day. To help save lives and allow teens to gain valuable driving experience, the NTSB recommends a "comprehensive teen driving safety program, which includes a graduated drivers' license (GDL). A comprehensive safety program would include limiting the hours teens can drive, limiting the number of teen passengers, prohibiting the use of cell phones, and a "data-driven, research based" driver education course.
Drunk Driving - To combat the dangers of and reduce the number of drunk drivers, the NTSB proposes a comprehensive program that uses sobriety checkpoints, alcohol assessment and treatment, license restrictions and alternatives to jail.
Source: NTSB's Most Wanted List
]]>Teenage car accidents account for 30 percent of all car accidents even though teens represent only 14 percent of the total population, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among 15-to-20-year-olds.
]]> Causes of Teenage AccidentsThe NIH study tracked 42 teenage drivers and their parents for their first 18 months of driving. The vehicles that the teens and parents drove contained internal and external cameras and GPS tracking devises.
The study found several causes of the higher teenager accident rates, which included risky driving behavior such as:
The study also found that since teens tended to drive fast and brake late, any additional distractions could easily cause an accident. For example, one teen driver in the study sped up between stop lights, looked down at his phone and rear-ended a vehicle at the next red light. The inattention of the teen driver caused the accident.
Arizona Efforts to Promote Safe Teen Drivers
In Arizona, the Teenage Safe Driver Act passed four years ago has had positive results. The act increased training requirements for new drivers. Young drivers on a graduated license are also prohibited from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. and cannot have more than one teenage passenger. Since the act was passed, teenage fatal car accidents in Arizona have fallen by approximately 60 percent.
This session Arizona legislators will also look at curtailing the use of cellphones in vehicles. A measure banning all mobile phone use targeted at drivers under 17 has the greatest chance of passing. Measures that encourage safe driving for teens make the roads a safer place for all drivers.
Source: CarInsurance.com, "Why teen car insurance is expensive: They're bad drivers," Mark Vallet, Jan. 5, 2012.
]]>According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) offers "Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles," more than 50 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities result from accidents involving other vehicles. And, several of the other "things" provided by the MSF may indicate the common causes of motorcycle-vehicle accidents, including:
To protect themselves, the CDC offers motorcyclists the following safety tips:
Speak with an experienced personal injury attorney if you have been injured while riding your motorcycle.
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation, "Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles."
]]>With so numerous motorists on the road, there are many dangers that are associated with holiday travel. Factor in higher alcohol consumption and it gets even more dangerous.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Thanksgiving is the most deadly holiday for travelers. It may be surprising to some that it is not New Year's Eve or Christmas.
While not the deadliest, Christmas and New Year's are two holidays that see a massive increase in the number of automobile accidents, especially since alcohol consumption is often a huge part of these celebrations. This can make for dangerous road conditions and even more accidents than on any other single day. Nearly half of all fatalities on New Year's Eve involve alcohol. According to a Forbes report, Christmas day is the fifth most dangerous holiday with an average of 414 deaths per year since 1982.
]]> Factor in the rising cost of airline travel, and many more people are taking to the roads during the holidays that ever have before. Another major factor is when a holiday falls on a weekend. Since 30 to 60 percent more people die in accidents on the weekends, those numbers increase when a holiday also falls on a weekend.As with any car accident, the first step is to call 911, notify the local police and report the collision and get immediate medical assistance for even the most minor of suspected injuries.
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident around the holiday, there are remedies available to you. Depending on the type and level of insurance coverage the at-fault driver has, vehicle damage as well as any medical bills may be covered. To learn more about your rights and options for compensation, speak to a personal injury attorney experienced in motor vehicle accident matters.
Source: Forbes, "Dangerous Driving Holidays," Jacqueline Detwiler, 11/26/11.
]]>During the campaign, patrol officers inspected over 1,400 commercial vehicles and issued 224 citations. In addition, 12 percent of the inspected commercial vehicles were taken out of service as well as 14 percent of the drivers.
]]> Dangers of Commercial TrucksWhile all vehicles on the roadways have inherent risks, commercial trucks are far more dangerous for these reasons:
Enormous size and weight: Commercial trucks often weigh over 80,000 pounds compared to 3,000 pounds for the typical passenger car. The enormous weight makes commercial trucks much more difficult to maneuver. It also takes them much longer to come to a stop. And in a collision, the extra weight of a commercial vehicle causes the force of impact to be far greater than a collision between passenger vehicles.
Hazardous materials: Commercial vehicles often carry hazardous materials that make some trucking accidents more destructive and even toxic.
Driver demands: Drivers of commercial vehicles often work long hours on little sleep and are in a hurry to meet scheduling demands. All of this can greatly affect the quality of their driving.
According to CVSA executive director Stephen Keppler, around 4,000 people in North America die every year as a result of accidents involving commercial vehicles such as buses and large trucks.
Source: WMICentral, Police Target Commercial Vehicles in Safety Campaign, Mike Leiby, 11/01/11
]]>No driver should be without insurance. Indeed, Arizona law requires drivers to carry minimal auto insurance. Unfortunately, however, not all drivers abide by the law, and this can leave the victims of those drivers without traditional methods of recovery.
]]> Arizona's Uninsured DriversAlthough Arizona's rate of uninsured drivers is slightly below the national average - 12 percent vs. 13.8 percent - that is one out of approximately every eight Arizona drivers who is uninsured. Those kinds of odds don't bode well for the drivers who end up in auto accidents.
According to the Insurance Research Council, the reason for the high rate of uninsured motorists may be the similarly high rate of unemployment: during tough economic periods, some drivers decide to let their car insurance coverage slip.
In addition, drivers who have been in numerous accidents may not wish to pay the high premiums that their history creates. And, of course, such drivers may get into more accidents in the future.
People Injured by Uninsured Drivers
Drivers who do have auto insurance should consider including uninsured/underinsured motorist (UI/UIM) coverage. UI/UIM coverage can help pay for the damages to the insured party when the other driver's insurance would have done so, if the driver had carried insurance.
The impact of so many uninsured Arizona drivers is significant. Drivers who break the law, choosing not to carry auto insurance, put other drivers at risk for more serious consequences following a car accident.
There may be creative ways for an injured party to seek compensation, however. An attorney, for instance, can help the injured driver seek compensation from other insurance sources or the assets of the at-fault driver.
Source: Estimated 12 percent of Ariz. drivers without insurance
]]>Distracted Driving and Employers
The cost of distracted driving is not just personal. Over the years, accidents caused by distracted driving have become the number one reason for occupational fatalities - and for this reason, companies needs to take this trend seriously.
]]> According to a study conducted by ZoomSafer, many companies have a written distracted driving policy for their employees, but many of them do not enforce it - and when they do, it's only after an accident has already taken place. But having a policy is not enough: If a claim is brought against a company because of an accident caused by an employee, the company must be able to prove that it is actively enforcing the policy - and meting out punishment for workers who do not comply.In addition, if a company requires employees to check e-mail and take phone calls outside of the office, they must also provide a mechanism - such as hands-free equipment - that allows workers to stay safe while they're on the road.
"The fact that so many companies are telling employees to put the phone down while driving is encouraging from a policy perspective - however, from a practical perspective, it's simply not enough to change behavior," ZoomSafer CEO Matt Howard said in a statement. "To truly change behavior and fully protect themselves from liability, companies must actively measure and enforce employee compliance with cell phone use policies."
If you have been injured as a victim in a distracted driving related accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Speak to a personal injury attorney to help determine who may be liable for your injuries and discuss your legal options for recovery.
Source: Split-second driving distraction can cause lifetime of pain
]]>Comparing the number of pedestrians who die in motor-vehicle crashes to the number of people who walk, Transportation for America calculated the Pedestrian Danger Index for 52 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale region ranks 8th-highest on the Pedestrian Danger Index.
The organization also found that men are more likely than women to die in pedestrian accidents, and people over age 65 die at twice the rate of their younger counterparts.
]]> The national average of 1.6 pedestrian deaths for every 100,000 pedestrians is higher than similarly-situated countries like Canada and Australia, with rates of 1.1 and 0.9, respectively. Transportation for America states that the high rate of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. is largely due to the design of ubiquitous suburban communities with multiple lanes of high-speed traffic and layouts that are not optimized for pedestrian use.Experts and safety advocates urge people to follow these tips to help reduce their risk of being injured in pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents:
In 2003, the highway safety agency reported that about one in five pedestrian fatalities was linked to hit-and-run drivers, and hit-and-runs represented 18 percent of all pedestrian deaths. Unsafe or distracted drivers are placing walkers, joggers and runners at risk when sharing our roadways.
The case involving Jose DeJesus Padilla-Rodriquez illustrates just how gruesome and tragic a hit-and-run accident can be.
On June 19, 2011, two men were heading home after leaving a bar in Mesa, Arizona. A green Toyota Celica, traveling eastbound on the West Broadway Road, hit the two men. The Celica driver did not stop. One man was killed and another was severely injured. The impact was so forceful that the dead man's leg was torn from his body and was later found 160 feet from the point of impact on the roof of a storage facility. The car was later found, and the driver, Padilla-Rodriquez, age 23, was arrested on two felony counts of failure to stop at a serious injury or fatal collision as well as two felony counts of failure to remain at a serious injury or fatal collisions.
]]> In Arizona, about 15 percent of traffic fatalities are due to car v. pedestrian accidents and when hit-and-run drivers are involved, matters can become complicated. Drivers may flee the scene of an accident for a variety of reasons, due to distraction, intoxication or panic. Some drivers also flee because they don't have appropriate or adequate insurance coverage to cover the damages they caused in the accident. When insurance is confirmed, victims or victims' families can file a claim for compensation. However, if there's no insurance, victims and their families must rely on their own uninsured motorist coverage or investigate other options.Claims for injuries, property damage, lost wages and even wrongful death can be made against the hit-and-run driver and his or her insurance carrier. In some extreme cases, injured parties or their families may be entitled to file for punitive damages as well.
Pedestrians are at risk by simply sharing the roads with motor vehicles. While doctors can help mend broken bones, it takes an experienced personal injury attorney to help victims and their families protect their legal rights and reclaim their lives.
Source: Pedestrian's Leg Found on Rooftop After Hit-and-Run in Mesa, AZ
]]>Parents can take an active role in educating their teens about the dangers of summertime driving and provide some tips on staying safe.
Dangers for Young Arizona Drivers in the Summer Months
The months between Memorial Day and Labor Day are some of the riskiest for teen drivers. With car crashes causing more teen deaths than violence, suicide, drugs and alcohol combined, it is little wonder that the lazy days of summer can produce alarming rates of injury and death.
In addition to being relatively new drivers, teenagers may take risks that older adults would not. Teens are also vulnerable to distracted driving and may not have the experience to know when to turn off the media devices that demand their attention.
]]> Safety Initiatives to Protect Young DriversIn response to the risks teens and others face, the National Safety Council has named June "Safety Month." One of the organization's initiatives focuses on teen driving safety, highlighting tips for safe driving and offering reminders about the deadly consequences of car crashes - consequences that are deadly not just for teens, but for passengers, other drivers and pedestrians.
Parents whose teens will be driving this summer are understandably concerned; but parents have a number of options to strengthen their children's driving skills, for the summer and the rest of their lives.
Teens can take driving courses specifically designed for people their age. Parents and teens can craft and sign an agreement on how the teens will drive, including a promise never to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Parents can also demand that teens limit their distractions by promising not to text while driving and allowing only one other teen in the car at a time.
It is certainly possible to help teen drivers become more attentive and cautious, but parents and others need to make an extra effort to boost teens' safety consciousness.
]]>Such is the case with a Michigan college student who recently filed a lawsuit against employees of an Ann Arbor nightclub. Geoff Gaylor alleges that he was left unconscious on the street with a traumatic brain injury and severe cuts to his head after they threw him out of The Fifth Quarter in early February. The bouncers, Timothy Phillips and Dominik Gumul, are facing trial after being charged with aggravated assault and assault and battery for the incident
]]> The crucial difference between a criminal case against assailants and a personal injury lawsuit: prosecutors must prove the statutory elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, while (at least in Arizona) a plaintiff need only demonstrate that a preponderance of the evidence shows that the defendant caused the alleged harm. Of course, a criminal conviction based on the same incident makes for powerful evidence of causation in a civil claim.Proving that the defendant caused the harm in question is only the first part of the personal injury case. The plaintiff also has to demonstrate the extent of the alleged harm. In this case, that means not only the medical expenses that a plaintiff will sustain due to his or her injuries, but also past and future lost wages, as well as pain and suffering. These are generally known as compensatory damages.
Punitive damages, intended not to compensate the victim but to punish the wrongdoer, are generally not available in Michigan. But they can provide a significant award if an Arizona defendant is found to have acted with an "evil hand" guided by an "evil mind." Criminal acts that cause personal injury are particularly susceptible to punitive damages, because the law requires a finding that the defendant acted with intent. But to prove that punitive damages are justified, the plaintiff must meet the higher legal standard of clear and convincing evidence.
]]>In March of 2011, Kimmy Chapman and her boyfriend were riding their motorcycle when a car failed to yield right of way at an intersection, striking the motorcycle. The accident fatally wounded Ms. Chapman and severally wounded her boyfriend, who was driving the motorcycle.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
After a fatal accident, there is nothing that can be sought or given that can replace the loss of a loved one. Filing a wrongful death lawsuit is not meant to seek a replacement for the loss, but to recover for the damages that result from the accident.
]]> For instance, a wrongful death lawsuit would allow loved ones to recover compensation as a result of the negligence or fault of another. Your loved one may have incurred expensive medical bills right after the accident that need to be paid, a wrongful death lawsuit would allow recover for these expenses. You may also be able to recover compensation for other losses, including loss of consortium (loss of affection), funeral expenses, loss of future income or benefits or mental anguish.Wrongful death lawsuits are often complex. At times, issues of fault may need to be determined or discovering which parties are responsible, some of which may not be readily known, may take efforts of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Other Personal Injury Lawsuits
There may be other legal actions that can result from an accident. In the recent motorcycle accident, the driver of the motorcycle, Ms. Chapman's boyfriend, may also bring a personal injury claim. He may seek compensation for:
While no amount of recovery can undo the past, or bring back Kimmy Chapman, those responsible for the accident should also be responsible for the damage that they cause.
If you have lost a loved one in an accident, or you were injured due to the negligence of another, speak with an experienced personal injury attorney about recovering compensation.
]]>Winter sports injuries and helmet use have been a growing discussion in recent years as the number of accidents and injuries has grown. In fact, Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) has been tracking the number of winter sports accident victims for the past few years and has released data on their findings. According to FMC, from December 2009 to May 2010, there were 265 patients treated for snowboarding related injuries. Of the 265 injuries, 62 were head injuries. Another telling statistic is that only ten people were wearing helmets at the time of the snowboarding accidents.
Although wearing a protective helmet will not absolutely guarantee that lives, like Mr. Holm's, will not be lost, it is a step in the right direction towards prevention.
]]> Reducing the Chance of Head Injuries During Winter SportsReported winter sports injuries have been growing in number in recent years. In fact, traumatic head injuries are one of the leading causes of death in young adults and children, according to the National Pediatric Trauma Registry. There are some steps parents and sports enthusiasts can take to help prevent serious injuries and the tragic outcomes others have faced.
Here are some tips to try to stay safe while enjoying participating in winter sports this season:
In addition, if you or a friend does suffer an accident while snowboarding, skiing, skating, sledding or any other winter sporting activity, it is important to seek medical treatment without delay. The full extent of a head injury is not always immediately apparent and only a medical professional can recognize the signs, diagnose and treat a head injury appropriately to help reduce the changes of additional damage that may be caused by failing to treat the injury.
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