The number of alcohol-related crashes increases drastically during the holiday season. Statistics show that people drink more during the holiday season and, with more people on the road, holiday travels can become deadly. Everyone should be aware of the risks of driving under the influence and strategies to decrease their risk this holiday season.
What Are the Most Deadly Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents?
All automobile accidents are dangerous. However, some types of crashes are more deadly than others. The deadliest types of accidents are:
· Head-on collisions. Head-on collisions are considered to be the most dangerous type of car accident. Although they make up only 2% of accidents, they account for 10% of traffic accident fatalities. They are so deadly because crashing head-on into another moving vehicle can double the impact speed. For example, if both automobiles are traveling at 50 miles per hour, the impact of the two cars would be like hitting a stationary object while traveling at 100 miles per hour.
· Truck accidents. Accidents involving semi-trucks account for around 6.5% of all traffic accidents in the United States. Out of those accidents, 28% result in injuries, and 11% result in fatalities. Semi-trucks are large and can cause severe damage to smaller vehicles.
· DWI Crashes. Around 10,000 people die in alcohol-related crashes each year. Alcohol can also be a contributing factor in other types of crashes. It may also be a factor in head-on collisions and truck accidents.
Why Are DUI Accidents More Common During the Holiday Season?
Many factors account for the increased number of DUI accidents during the holiday season. Around 91 million Americans take road trips between December 23rd and January 1st each year. Further, holiday celebrations lead to social binge-drinking. 16% of adults admit that they drink more during the holiday season. More people on the road mixed with increased alcohol consumption is a recipe for deadly alcohol-related crashes.
40% of car crash fatalities during the winter holidays are alcohol-related. On New Year’s Day, alcohol-related crashes account for 58% of all fatalities. Over the past five years, an average of 300 people have died in DUI accidents between Christmas and New Year’s. Car accident injuries also dramatically increase during the holiday season. Alcohol-related crashes can transform a joyful holiday season into a tragedy.
How Can Drivers Stay Safe?
Although drivers cannot fully avoid the risk of being involved in an alcohol-related crash during the holiday season, they can take steps to keep themselves safe. Drivers should:
· Avoid drinking and driving. Driving under the influence is against the law in all 50 states and is extremely dangerous. People can avoid injuring themselves and others if they call an Uber instead of driving under the influence.
· Avoid driving late at night. Most alcohol-related crashes occur at night after people have been at parties or bars.
· Buckle up. Seat belts reduce fatalities in car crashes by up to 45%. They reduce severe injuries by 50%. Wearing a seat belt is a simple step that can save lives.
· Get plenty of sleep. People who drive while drowsy are almost as dangerous as those driving under the influence.
While no one can control the behavior of others, drivers can decrease their risk of being involved in an alcohol-related crash this holiday season by taking simple precautions.
Drivers who use hands-free devices while driving are safer than those who talk or text. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) recently conducted a study that indicates drivers who use hands-free devices may even save lives. However, the use of hands-free devices still comes with an increased risk of accidents. Drivers should be aware of the dangers of distracted driving and the potential problems and liabilities that might result.
Are Hand-Held Devices Safer than Regular Phone Usage?
VTTI’s recent study suggests that any activity that causes a driver to take his or her eyes off the road or hands off the wheel leads to a substantially increased crash risk. Therefore, drivers who use a hand-held phone are much more likely to cause an accident. Their crash risk is 2 to 3.5 times higher than a “model driver.”
The safest drivers are those that are alert, attentive, and sober. Even though drivers using hands-free devices are much safer than drivers who use hand-held devices, they do not qualify as model drivers. While talking on the phone is a primarily cognitive behavior, it’s still a distraction and is associated with slightly decreased reaction times. However, VTTI’s study shows that talking on the phone has roughly the same detrimental effect on a driver as singing or talking to a passenger. One of the lead researchers for VTTI’s study, Tom Dingle, explained that “talking on hands-free devices does not have any detrimental effects.” The study also indicated that the use of hands-free devices was not associated with any severe crashes or property damage.
What Are the Consequences of Using Hand-Held Devices While Driving?
Many states have passed laws prohibiting drivers from using hand-held devices, such as phones. If a police officer catches a driver using a phone while driving, he or she can cite the driver, which can be extremely expensive. However, a driver may experience more severe consequences if they cause an accident while using a hand-held device.
An insurance company might be able to deny coverage to a driver injured in a crash if the driver causes the accident while using a hand-held device. Although car insurance typically covers damage to cars and passengers, insurance companies may deny coverage if a driver is partially or wholly at fault. While a driver should always file a claim, insurance companies are likely to withhold payment for any accident where the driver was using a hand-held device in a hands-free state.
If an accident is fatal, the driver’s family may run into problems filing a life insurance claim. For Accident Death and Dismemberment policies (AD&D), insurance companies may deny coverage if the insured was committing a crime at the time of death. Drivers using hand-held devices in a hands-free state are committing a crime. Their actions may void their AD&D coverage.
Further, if others are injured or killed in an accident caused by a driver using a hand-held device, the driver’s insurance company may refuse to cover the claims. If that is the case, victims may choose to pursue damages against the driver. The driver will be personally liable and could lose all of his or her assets.
Using hands-free devices is a safer alternative to using hand-held devices. Further, using hands-free devices can help drivers avoid severe consequences.
Guess what? You are the only perfect driver. Admit it; you have thought this before. Seriously though, no matter how vigilant you are, accidents happen.
Car accidents are scary no matter who’s at fault. There is an adrenaline rush, chaos, and sometimes you know what happened and sometimes you don’t. Your first instinct may be to jump out of your vehicle to find out what happened. Don’t do this.
Before getting to what to do in case of an accident, let’s talk about exactly what insurance is.
Basically, a car insurance policy protects you from paying for any damage or injuries if there is a car accident. Depending on the type of car insurance you have, it may cover damage to your car as well. Car crashes aren’t the only type of accidents that insurance covers. They also cover other things, such as hitting a stationary object like a tree, pole, or even your garage. Not to mention any animals that you aren’t able to avoid, like a deer.
Now, let’s get into what you really want to know. These steps work no matter who is at fault or even if you were involved in a hit and run. If you follow the steps, below you’ll discover filling out your paperwork is much easier when you know what to do if you’re in a car accident.
1. Check Yourself And Passengers For Injuries
Immediately check yourself and anyone that’s in the car for injuries. If anyone experiences neck or back pain, make sure they don’t move until help arrives. The adrenaline experienced in a car accident dulls your pain, and you may not realize the extent of the injury.
2. Check Your Surroundings & Get Out Of The Way Of Traffic
If there weren’t any injuries, check your surroundings and then move to safety. Check for the smell of gas and determine if you need to do anything to ensure everyone is safe. If you are in the way of traffic you need to move your car as long as there are no injuries.
While moving your vehicle, make sure you do it slowly and do your best to be calm. This is harder than you may think. Anyone who has been in an accident knows you can easily pull forward instead of reversing. These types of mistakes are common when you are in a high-stress situation. So really pay attention to what you’re doing to prevent further damage to your vehicle or the other party’s car.
3. Call The Police & Make A Report
No matter how minor the accident is, you need to call the police. If you are planning to file a claim with your insurance, a police report is mandatory. There are areas where police will not come out to a minor accident, especially in large cities.
When or if the police come out, you want to get their name, badge number, and contact information. You’ll also need to get a copy of the police report. Many places are moving their records online, and you’ll have to get your info off the internet. This will save time because if you don’t get it, your insurance company will have to.
4. Gather Information & Take Pictures
Especially if the police don’t show up, you’ll want to gather the other party’s information. You’ll need information such as their name, address, phone number, insurance information, and if there are any witnesses, you’ll need theirs too. As a side note, avoid discussing who’s at fault; stick to the facts.
If you have your cell phone with you, you need to take pictures of the vehicles and any injuries you or your passengers may have. There are times you may not be able to take the photos at the time of the accident. If not, then take them as soon as you can.
5. Seek Treatment & Notify Your Insurance Company
You must tell first responders about any pain you are experiencing after the accident and seek medical treatment immediately. You may not feel pain or think your injuries are minor but then experience pain a few days later. Having proper documentation will help prove the injury occurred due to the accident. If you experience new or worsening pain, you’ll want to immediately schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Sometimes people believe it is easier to negotiate a cash settlement with the other driver to avoid getting the insurance companies involved. This is a bad idea; You are liable for any damages above the cash settlement if you don’t contact your insurance company. Many states have a time limit on how long you can wait to file a claim, so it’s essential to do it immediately.
Most people think of car insurance as that useless bill you have to pay monthly… until you actually need it. You never know when or if an accident will happen, so make sure you have car insurance that best suits your needs and at a fair price. If you live in a no-fault state and don’t have car insurance, you can end up in a whole mess of trouble, especially with the law.
The steps listed above may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people get lost in the heat of the moment. The truth is, many people act without thinking, and they instantly want to confront the other driver. Confrontation is something you want to avoid. Take the time to assess and breathe before doing anything foolish.
During the COVID-19 pandemic there are less people on the roads across Europe. With less cars and traffic, drivers tend to drive more recklessly. There has been an increase in accidents on the continent. In response to this, cities around Europe are taking steps to improve safety when the roads are emptier and people are driving faster. While each city has their own problem with road safety, all of them are creating their own solutions. A universal issue that is contributing to accidents and making more dangerous roads is speeding. Below are some of the stats about speeding and how various European cities are dealing with it.
Empty Roads & Speeding
Whenever roads empty, the speeding increases for those still driving. Furthermore, according to the personal injury claims law firm McGinley Solicitors, speeds have gone up during the COVID-19 pandemic. While speeds have increased, the number of accidents have gone up. This goes for accidents with cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and more. Speeding isn’t the only problem, people are also drinking and driving and getting on the roads during inclement weather. Driving under the influence also increases the speed of drivers and the likelihood that an accident will occur. The problems are multi-faceted, but so are the solutions. Each country and city has their own way of dealing with speeding, driving under the influence, accidents, and deaths in their own way.
Berlin
Berlin is already known for being a forward-thinking and progressive city. It is a city of constant change and flux. It has been destroyed and rebuilt, evolving into a modern and accessible place to live. The city has responded to the increase in speed and accidents by temporarily widening the cycle lanes, allowing wider distance for cars and social distancing. The response is to create new space for pedestrians and bicyclists, but with so many vehicles in Germany some are not happy about the new roads.
40 percent less people are on the roads. The extra space and less traffic has provided safer situations for people who want to walk and cycle, but cars are also now having to avoid more pedestrians. Currently there aren’t really reliable numbers on how this will effect accidents between cars and pedestrians, but it seems clear cars are having to be more careful when they are driving these widened roads. It is a significant change, and not everyone likes change, but they are necessary in this ever-evolving pandemic.
Brussels
Brussels is another progressive city that has responded quickly to the changing roads during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has decided to lower the speed limit inside their main drag, the inner ring road. The speed limit will be lowered to 20 kmh. Brussel’s center is shaped like a pentagon, which makes it ideal for pedestrians. This means that pedestrians have space to move around, and bicycles can more easily maneuver. Again this creates more foot-traffic for drivers to navigate, but with so few cars on the road it makes for a socially distanced and traversable intersection. There are also concerns about the center becoming a meeting place. With social distancing, Brussels is learning how best to use their city.
Milan
Milan is also taking measures to open up traffic to pedestrians while making the roads safer for drivers. They are doing their best to open up the center for walking, closing 35km streets to cars. Like other Italian cities, Milan is changing its environmental regulations to make cities livable and social-distanced. While many city centers like Milan are closing to car traffic and opening up for pedestrians, there are still less cars on the highways and people are speeding, causing an increase in accidents.
Paris
Many large cities around Europe have begun rolling out cycling lanes that give cars and pedestrians more room. The city aims to create 650 kilometers of lockdown cycle lanes. This will not only provide space for social distancing, it will help commuters and others who are taking a ride for exercise. With fewer cars on the streets of the French capital, it provides a more regulated system of streets where drivers have to be careful with pedestrians around. This system, while it is becoming common, is especially suited to French society.
European cities around the continent are adapting to the new streets that have less cars and more pedestrians on them. Everyone is adapting to social distancing with less people on the roads and more people trying to get out of the house and other closed spaces. We all can learn how to adapt our cities like the ones above.
The family of a 1-year-old in Orlando is mourning his needless death, not from COVID but negligence. The young boy’s body was found inside a parked car on Friday, and authorities believe he died after being left in a hot car by his unnamed parent or guardian.
According to reports, the young boy was supposed to be dropped off at daycare. But that did not happen, and an ongoing investigation is trying to determine what exactly happened on Friday.
With outside temperatures reaching 87 degrees in the Orlando area on Friday, the internal temperature of the car could increase to almost 120 degrees in roughly one hour if it were parked in the sun. At those temperatures, a child who was locked in a car seat would be unable to call for help or free themselves from the vehicle.
A peer-reviewed study published in Temperature found that even if a car were parked in the shade, it would only have a minimal impact on the internal temperature in the vehicle. Florida law recognizes this risk, and it is a felony to leave a child under six in a car by themselves for more than 15 minutes if the vehicle is running. If the engine is turned off, then the parent or guardian is required to bring the child with them and not leave them in the car.
In 2019, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that heatstroke from being left in a parked vehicle was the cause of death for 52 children across the country. Year-to-date, more than 20 children, have met the same fate.
This raises a question. Why do parents or guardians continue to leave their children in parked cars? Granted, this behavior is dangerous on several levels. Still, the risks are particularly acute in the summertime when temperatures soar, and vehicles with their walls of glass become nothing more than hothouses on wheels.
Such an incident is a parent’s worst nightmare, but in the Sunshine State, the combination of the sun and the heat is means that all drivers must be vigilant. This is not to excuse leaving a youngster in a parked car. These deaths should have been avoided.
Beyond the risk of “hot deaths,” road safety is another issue in Florida. In 2017, Teletrac Navman named I-4 from Tampa to Daytona Beach as one of the most dangerous roads, not just in the state but in the country.
Another Florida road that made the list is I-95 to and from Miami. If you have ever driven this stretch of road, then you know the reason as drivers regularly reach triple digits on the stretch of road leading to the Magic City can scare even the most experienced drivers.
This is one reason why Parkland accident lawyers, Zimmerman & Frachtman, noted that a “sad fact of life that automobile accidents are much more frequent than anyone would like to believe or admit.”
While no one likes being stuck in traffic, the reality is that many drivers in South Florida consistently drive faster than the speed limit, and this can increase the risk for everyone on the road.
According to state officials, stricter enforcement of existing traffic laws could help to make Florida’s roads safer. However, the police cannot patrol every mile of road 24-hours a day.
As such, another option is needed to reduce car accidents. This could include the use of technology to monitor traffic, and when possible, to ticket those who fail to follow the rules. However, this approach is not without its drawbacks.
Improving driver education also plays a role. This not only includes teaching inexperienced drivers but also conveying the dangers of texting and driving, as well as continuing drivers’ education for those seeking to renew their driver’s licenses.
Florida is a great place to live and raise a family. However, the awareness of car safety issues continues to lag in the state, whether it be the dangers of leaving children, pets, and the elderly in hot cars, to the reckless driving which is pervasive on our roads.
As Floridians, we need to do better. This can start with supporting the efforts of our local governments and police departments as they try to increase awareness of these issues to driving safely ourselves.
Everyone has a role to play in making Florida a safe place to live. Will you play your part, or will you read the headlines following another needless hot death or pile up on I-95 and just shake your head? The choice is yours.
When looking into car insurance plans, the variety of options, prices, and coverage may cause confusion. The overwhelming amount of information can cause car owners to not fully understand the coverage that works best for their car, causing them to either be too covered or undercovered.
As you go through the car insurance process, you’ll need to ask a few questions to yourself and a representative to get the full picture. We’ll go over five of those questions in this article to help you better understand exactly what coverage you need and what you are able to afford.
What type of driver are you?
There are car insurance plans that cater to all types of drivers. When purchasing your plan, you need to ask yourself what you’ll be using your car for primarily. Do you use it for long road trips? To commute to work daily? Casually? Or, is it a car that needs a special type of coverage, such as an antique car?
Whatever your circumstances are, you’ll need to ask an insurance representative which type of coverage is best for you. For example, people who tend to drive on the safer side prefer a plan from Nationwide car insurance, as they offer benefits for those who drive safely.
How much can you afford?
Depending on your car and circumstances, your auto insurance premiums can increase or decrease. Typically, the nicer car you have, the more your premiums will be. Or, if you have a past accident on record, your premiums can increase as well. Other factors for price increases may include the type of coverage you choose, your location, the number of drivers on your policy, and more.
Make sure you can afford the coverage you choose before purchasing a plan. But, don’t cheap out on insurance either just to save a few dollars every month, as an accident can end up costing you more in the long run.
What type of coverage do you need and who is covered?
There are different types of coverage for auto insurance plans. The main types include:
Auto liability coverage
Collision coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Personal injury protection
Medical payments
Comprehensive coverage
You can learn more about the specifics of each coverage by researching the basics of auto insurance. Based on where you live, some types of coverage may be required — or not. There are also different minimum coverage amounts required in every state. As you get ready to purchase an auto insurance plan, make sure you have all the coverage you need for your car and driving habits.
Are there any possible discounts?
Many auto insurance companies offer a variety of discounts for their policyholders. Some discounts may include student discounts, safe driver discounts, military discounts, bundled discounts, low mileage discounts, training discounts, auto-pay discounts, and more. Simply ask a representative what discounts may be available.
What is your risk assessment?
You should understand what your risk assessment is before purchasing an auto insurance policy. Risk assessment is the way policymakers determine how much of a risk you and/or your car holds as a policyholder. This is based on demographics, driving records, the car itself, and more. Your risk assessment will help the insurance company determine how much to charge you every month.
Once you determine the answers to these five questions, you’ll be able to understand what auto insurance policy you’re purchasing much better. The more you know about auto insurance plans, the easier it will be to make claims, changes, and payments in the event of an accident.
Whenever there’s a car accident, most of the people involved tend to focus on the victim’s physical injuries. But after the initial shock calms, it’s easy to miss the mental and emotional effects caused by such trauma.
The fact is that while physical injuries can be identified quickly, the problem doesn’t always stop there. Psychological trauma may take days or months to manifest, but when they do, they can have even more long-lasting effects than physical injuries.
Here are some tips on how to deal with psychological trauma after an accident.
Mental Health Wellness Psychology Mind
Tip #1: Get Professional Help
In many cases, when accidents happen, it can take some time for the pain to subside and to feel whole again. Sometimes it’s easy to pretend that things are okay—even when you know you’re hurting. But it’s important to know that repressing your feelings will only make the situation worse. That is why anybody who’s been in a traumatic experience like a car accident should consult a professional therapist to help walk you through the journey of recovery.
When you do find a therapist you want to work with, you should focus on developing a good relationship with them to enhance trust and comfort. From there, your specialist will help you work towards your trauma in a calm and comfortable setting.
Tip #2: Account for Pain & Suffering in Your Insurance Settlement
Although it’s not an easy thing to deal with, emotional trauma after an accident is very common. It’s essential to note that when you suffer an after accident trauma, you have a right to account for your pain and suffering in your insurance settlement. However, you need to present your facts right to recover damages for your trauma case.
That is why you need to contact a professional and experienced personal injury attorney to represent you. It’s also essential to note that some lawyers offer legal representation in a wide range of fields, while others like Schwartzapfel Lawyers specialize in motor vehicle accidents.
Tip #3: Don’t Be Afraid to Talk about Your Mental Challenges with Friends and Family
After experiencing something overwhelming like an accident, you may want to isolate or withdraw from other people. However, pulling away won’t help you in the long run. It’s important that you don’t be afraid to connect and talk about your mental challenges to your family members or friends. Make an effort to open up and maintain a good relationship with those close to you, and refrain from staying alone.
Remember that when connecting with friends or family, it doesn’t mean that you must talk about your mental situation, especially if you don’t feel like it. If you do want to, make sure you surround yourself with caring friends that can help you feel better.
Tip #4: Do Everything You Can to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle
It’s important that you maintain both your physical and mental health to help cope with an injury. One of the ways to improve your body health is by engaging in physical exercises. Exercising has been proven to keep your body active and facilitate a good flow of blood to all parts of your body, which can positively affect your mental health.
It would be best if you also ate well-balanced meals to give your body the energy it needs to function normally. A balanced diet can also help regulate mood swings. Additionally, it is crucial to keep a healthy social life to help reduce stress and curb anxiety.
Tip #5: Learn Meditation
For those who suffer from trauma, it’s not uncommon to become depressed and anxious. That’s why it’s important to learn how to relax and calm your mind. Meditation can help you to achieve the best of your body’s health. If you’ve not tried meditation before, then you can enroll in in-person or online classes so you learn different techniques to help relax your mind, soul, and body.
Tip #6: Try Yoga for a Mentally Stimulating Exercise
Yoga is another excellent way to help relax your mind and lessen trauma effects. Yoga has been a favorite choice for many people. Doing regular yoga has many benefits, such as:
Decreasing insomnia
Reducing high blood pressure
Increasing muscle strength
Improving respiration and energy
Aiding your physical health is one of the best ways to obtain a happier mindset. But aside from its physical benefits, yoga can also help manage stress and develop coping skills to reach a more positive and satisfying outlook on life.
Tip #7: Develop Healthy Stress-Relief Habits
To better manage your stress levels, you can try multiple stress-relieving techniques such as daily walks and breathing exercises. Regular walks can help make your body active and strong through regular blood circulation.
Breathing exercises, on the other hand, can help relax and calm both your body and mind to help reduce stress and anxiety. It’s best to set a schedule for these things so that you can begin to form a habit with your body’s inner clock.
Conclusion
The emotional trauma after a car accident can leave you feeling devastated. And even when broken bones heal, there’s still the emotional aftermath of the entire experience. Luckily, there are many things you can practice to help better the situation. In addition to proper documentation for your recover damages for your emotional trauma, follow the above tips to help simplify your recovery process.
When you live in the states, it’s almost impossible not to have a car. Everyone drives everywhere. This means that people are generally quite safe and experienced on the road, but accidents happen, and if you’ve been in an accident you’ll need to look for lawyers to help. However, if you’ve been in an accident, you might be left feeling worried, upset and confused about why it happened. So why might you have had a car accident?
Your car was faulty
Whilst cars are often built more for appearances than functionality these days, some cars are safer than others. Cars designed for safety are now built with sophisticated air-bags, sturdy seatbelts and anti-lock braking systems. However, even if your car is a good design and make, it may have faults that led to your crash. The most common faults in a vehicle that could lead to car accidents are defective brakes and underinflated tires. So, before you get back in the car, make sure you get it serviced and checked for any issues.
You were tired
Drowsy driving is a common reason for car accidents in the US, and people often underestimate the impacts of their tiredness behind the wheel. If you were on a long drive and weren’t taking enough breaks, you may have fallen asleep whilst driving. If this happens, even momentarily, you could crash into a fellow vehicle or swerve off the road. Next time you go on a long drive, make sure you take plenty of stops and alternate driving driving with others if possible. Listening to the radio, having caffeinated drinks or chatting to a passenger could help to prevent this, too.
You were on the phone
Whilst it helps to talk to a passenger whilst driving to avoid tiredness, there are certain laws about talking on the phone whilst driving in America, which vary from state to state. Generally, whilst driving you should not speak on a hand-held phone or use your phone to text or go on social media. If you need to make a phone call, your phone should already be set up with a Bluetooth device that allows you to be hands free. Likewise, fiddling with a satnav whilst driving can distract you and take your hands off the wheel. So, if you were distracted by your phone in any way, this may have been the reason for your accident.
Your vision was impaired
There can be many reasons for someone’s vision to be impaired whilst driving. Bad weather conditions, for example, can cause issues, and mist or fog could mean that you couldn’t see the road in front of you. Bright sunlight could also have shone into your eyes and created a glare on the windscreen. Differently, you might not have been able to see the road because of issues with your eyesight that you may or may not have been aware of at the time of the accident. You may need to get an eye test to see if you need glasses or a change in prescription.
It is no longer a
big secret that for a successful and less painful life you need to have a
certain amount of insurance for all possible occasions. Of course, you can live
without them, but you may agree, it will be very “painful” in case of any
unforeseen situations. When it comes to auto insurance, this question is
especially relevant. Every year the number of drivers is increasing and so the
number of accidents on the road. So why not to think about how to protect
yourself?
Here car insurance quotes come to rescue offering an immediate understanding of various car insurance companies. We a priori cannot foresee troubles and protect ourselves from accidents, natural disasters, bankruptcy, illnesses, and other unpleasant things, but we always can at least cover all the damages. Auto insurance is the right thing that allows you to minimize the possible consequences and feel confident as a driver. But for this, you need choosing a truly reliable company among the variety of choices on the market.
Car Insurance Quotes: Choosing
the Best Company
Making auto
insurance is not a guarantee of your safety, because everything depends on the
company you select. Different insurance companies offer different conditions
and therefore differ significantly from each other. Your task is to approach
the question of choice with the utmost seriousness.
In addition, the
price issue is really important. Here are just a few parameters that are
necessary when estimating the price of the policy for you personally:
Age
Drivers over 25 always pay
less, since the category of a young driver is the most endangered one (most of
the accidents are made by people under 26 years old). Some insurance companies
use the information on marital status and whether the drivers have children.
Local rights
As a rule, local rights are
various in every state. It is always better to check what rights are suitable
for your region cause it will result in the price you will pay.
Driving experience
One more element that
affects the price of your car insurance is how much driving experience you
possess. Even the one who was a driver in another country can add his or her
driving experience.
The state where you live
Insurance is highly
dependent on the place where you live. Insurance companies look at the number
of accidents in the region in which you live. If this is a higher risk area,
then you will have to pay more money.
As you can see there
are many details that need to be considered before determining the choice of
the insurance company. But the good news is you can always simplify these tasks
through specialized services. In such a way you can estimate what agency is the
most appropriate for your needs and so make a more superior choice.
Using a site
aggregator is truly the most convenient and most reliable way. All you need to
do is insert the data, SSN number and get car insurance quotes. Then you can
confidently draw up a policy on the website of the insurance company. At any rate,
you will know exactly what anticipates you.
Traffic in New York is pretty intense, but maybe it’s not as bad as you think. According to new data from city officials, New York traffic deaths have hit a record low in over a century. In 2018, the number of traffic fatalities fell below 200. Within six months into 2018, there were only 81 deaths in the city.
Is Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision
Zero Plan Making New York Streets Safer?
This is definitely a plus. However, the steep decline in traffic deaths come with stricter traffic enforcement. It’s part of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero plan to make traffic fatalities non-existent.
“With this action plan, the City is making a bold new commitment to improve street safety in every neighborhood and in every borough – with expanded enforcement against dangerous moving violations like speeding and failing to yield to pedestrians, new street designs and configurations to improve safety, broad public outreach and communications, and a sweeping legislative agenda to increase penalties for dangerous drivers and give New York City control over the safety of our own streets,” the Vision Zero plan explained.
The
Vision Zero plan has made some pretty big improvements since its inception. The
traffic death rate in New York was hovering around 299 deaths in 2013. But
since has dipped below 200 fatalities in 2018. Not a bad five year reduction.
So the plan is working — right?
There is still some work to do when it comes to making the streets of New York safer. One of the biggest catalysts for the decrease in traffic deaths could be attributed to the lowering of the speed limit on nearly all city streets to 25 miles per hour. There are also other more stringent laws being enforced with the Vision Zero plan, like yielding to pedestrians, and the addition of 20 plus miles of protected bicycle lanes.
This is
important, since bicycle and pedestrian deaths by motor vehicle continue to be
an issue. “Drivers haven’t taken their responsibility to yield very seriously,”
Mayor de Blasio told the New York Times. “There has been a lot of enforcement,
and there will be more.”
More Enforcement Coming For New
York Drivers, And It Could Get Pretty Serious
With
less traffic deaths and a focus on making New York streets safer for everyone
comes with stricter enforcement. This was made pretty clear by Mayor de Blasio
and the Vision Zero objectives. So what does this mean for New Yorkers on the
road?
One of the biggest enforcements already affecting drivers in the city are cell phone violations. This enforcement is aimed at keeping drivers alert while behind the wheel, able to avoid pedestrian, bicyclist, and vehicle accidents that could be fatal. According to the New York DMV, “If you use a portable electronic device while you drive (except to call 911 or to contact medical, fire or police personnel about an emergency), you can receive a traffic ticket and be subject to a fine and a surcharge.”
Driving under the influence is another big enforcement initiative part of the Vision Zero plan. “If you are found to have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher,you will be charged with a DWI,” according to New York traffic lawyer, Michael Block. “A BAC of more than 0.05 but less than 0.07 can yield a charge for Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (DWAI/Alcohol). A Zero Tolerance Law can be charged to any driver under the age of 21 found to have a BAC of 0.02 – 0.07.”
What You Can Do When Driving In
New York
Staying
safe behind the wheel is not solely for drivers. You also need to ensure you are
making the roads safe for all. Yes, this is definitely easier said then
practiced, but you can take a few safety precautions while driving.
First
and foremost, don’t have your cell phone in your hand. This includes GPS use.
Not only can you avoid a potential accident, but also avoid a pricey ticket.
Getting a traffic infraction for using your phone while driving can result in a
fine over $200 with 5 points added to your license.
Drinking and driving can obviously be costly. Speeding tickets, failure to yield to pedestrians, reckless driving, failure to stop for school busses, and illegal lane changes should all be avoided. And if you do get a ticket or if you get into a car accident, always call a lawyer. What do you think about the Vision Zero plan? We want to hear from you.
A car accident occurs every minute of every day. And brain injuries are one of the most common aftermaths of these accidents. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you need immediate medical checkup to rule out any injuries to your brain.
More importantly, it’s critical that you determine the type and severity of the damage, if brain injury is detected. This will help your doctor swiftly prescribe the right course of treatment as well as help your attorneys in demanding a fair compensation for damages. The brain injuries are broadly classified into five categories;
Concussions
A concussion is damage to the brain resulting from a direct blow to the head. It’s especially common in whiplash accidents. It can occur in open or closed head injuries. The most important thing to note is that patients rarely show symptoms and even if symptoms are present, they may not be severe. This makes it very important to hire a brain injury lawyer so detailed scans can be done to establish severity of damage. If scans aren’t done, it may appear like you didn’t suffer a brain injury.
Contusion
A contusion is also an injury to the brain caused by a direct blow to the head. In car accidents, it can occur if the driver hits his or her head on the steering wheel or against the window. The main difference between contusions and concussions is that in concussions, internal bleeding is very rare while with contusions, blooding is always present and can be severe. While it’s not usually the first option on the list, surgery is sometimes required to treat a contusion.
Coup-contrecoup
Coup-contrecoups are essentially contusions, the only difference being that here, the impact causes damage at both ends of the brain. For instance, if the original impact was situated at the front of the head, a similar impact would be detected at the exact opposite location at the back of the head. This normally occurs when the impact is large enough to cause damage at the site of impact as well as to move the brain at the opposite end of the head.
Diffuse axonal
Diffuse axonal injuries are mostly caused by shaking or a strong rotation of the head. Injury occurs because a sudden movement of the head often leaves the brain lagging behind. When the brain lags behind, the muscles attaching the brain to the skull can be torn. Often, extensive tearing of nerve tissue will be detected throughout the brain, potentially resulting in small masses of brain tissue being released which can cause additional injury.
Penetration injuries
Finally, a penetration injury is where a foreign object forces its way into the brain. Of brain injuries, this is the deadiest. Fatality rates are as high as 90%. The good news is that penetration injuries aren’t as common in car accidents as they are in violent acts of crime such as shootings and stabbings.
If you’re injured in a car accident, make sure that you get immediate medical attention and necessary scans to rule out brain injury. Even if there are no visible symptoms, it’s in your best interest to get the scans anyway for peace of mind.
Very few people know what to do after surviving a car accident. Doing the right thing after an accident can mean the difference between having a straightforward claim or having one that will drag on for months. You need to know what the insurance provider expects from you if you want to do the right thing. One thing you should NOT do, according to Andy Ellis, an experienced car accident attorney in Los Angeles, is accept money from the insurance company before you’ve spoken to a lawyer.
Here are some of the things that you should do after being involved in a car accident:
Assess the Damage
You need to perform a quick assessment of the accident scene to see the damage your car has sustained. Even if the impact happened at low speed, you should not assume that the damage is minimal. Make sure that you look for dents, leaks, and cracks that were not there before the accident.
If there is little damage and you see no need to involve lawyers, you should come to an agreement with the other party and settle the issue. However, if you have sustained some injuries that need medical attention, you might have to involve attorneys such asBuffalo personal injury lawyers. Make sure that you seek treatment immediately even if you think that the injury is minor.
Call the Police
If you cannot resolve the issue, you should call the police. The officer will help you to assess the damage and tell you who is at fault. However, for the police officer to give an accurate account of what happened, you should not move the vehicles. Moreover, you need to contact your insurance agent for advice on what to do.
If you have a camera or a good camera phone, you should take pictures of the scene and make sure that you capture the damage. Before deciding to leave the cars alone, you should scan the area to ensure that it is safe to wait there. If you are hindering traffic, you might have to move the cars to the side of the road – make sure that you take plenty of pictures before moving them.
Report the Accident to Your Insurer
Once you have all the necessary information from the scene, you should formally alert your car insurance provider. Depending on their assessment, you will be told whether you can drive to the nearest authorized garage or call a tow truck to remove your car from the scene of the accident. Your insurance provider will send an insurance claim adjuster to evaluate the value of damage to your vehicle.
Keep Track of Your Treatment
You should write down the names of any doctor who treats your injuries after the accident. You also have to keep track of the medication that you take and the treatments you receive. Moreover, you also need to request copies of medical bills and reports because they will come in handy when proving your expenses later.
Although documenting treatments is easy, it will be much harder to prove your pain and suffering. You need to record how the injuries have affected your daily life: family life and missed workdays.
Filing a Claim
You need to file a motor insurance claim if you want to get compensation for damages. Once you fill in the form, you should attach the necessary documents before sending it back: copy of your driver’s license and the police report. Hiring an attorney is necessary because you might not know what to do at this point, but an attorney does.
An accident attorney can help you get the maximum settlement. If you do not have money to hire a lawyer, do not worry because most accident lawyers work on contingency – you pay them if you win the case.
In 2015, there were over 370,000 car crashes in Florida, which adds up to over a 1,000 per day. Add to that 2,939 fatalities and 159,795 injuries, besides over 200,00 instances of property damage. These huge numbers can really shock a person.
Given the millions of snowbirds and family vacationers touring the Sunshine State every year, a good deal of these frequent Floridian auto accidents will involve out-of-staters. It is good to familiarize yourself, therefore, with Florida’s auto accident and injury laws before your departure.
Here are 4 things to be aware of:
1. Out of State Auto Insurance
The first thing to realize is that whatever mandatory state minimums your home state imposes as to auto insurance, Florida’s standard of $10,000 PIP (personal injury protection) and $10,000 property damage liability (PDL) will apply. Insurers have cooperated across state lines to allow for these types of situations, so you don’t have to worry about your car insurance “not working” with an out of state claim.
2. First Steps After an Accident
As in all states, you are required to stop at the scene of the accident and to assist anyone who may be injured to the best of your ability. Often, that may mean calling 9-1-1. Conversely, if you are the injured party, the other motorist owes this duty to you.
In any accident where more than $500 of property damage or any bodily injuries take place, you must report the accident to the local police as soon as possible. And if your vehicle is blocking traffic, you must move it or get it towed away if you are in a condition to do so.
Getting in-state legal advice early on is also key. In Tampa Bay, for example, the Doan Law Firm has a reputation for guiding both Floridians and visitors through the legal steps necessary to collect compensation after an accident. Don’t bear the pain and costs of injury and a wrecked car needlessly when you are entitled to be reimbursed.
3. Florida’s Comparative Negligence Law
In Florida, personal injury law is not so simple as simply identifying “the” at-fault party and having him or her pay for all losses suffered by the wronged party. Instead, your claim will be equivalent to the percentage of fault assigned to the other driver (and vice versa).
Thus, if you are deemed by the judge to be 30% at fault and the other driver 70% at fault, you can only collect 70% of the losses you suffered. And you will have to pay 30% of any losses suffered by the “mostly at fault” driver.
Insurance companies and defendants know about this law and they use it to try to diminish your claim unfairly at times. That’s why you need a local Florida personal injury attorney on your side. A good lawyer with a track record of success will bring “clout” that will force all involved to “play fair.”
4. Florida’s No Fault Car Insurance Law
But in order to be able to file a claim at all, you have to qualify for an exception to this state’s no-fault car insurance statute. Your insurance will have to pay regardless of fault unless you suffer a serious personal injury or the damages go beyond what the insurance policy will cover.
A “serious” injury is one that is permanent, leaves permanent scars or disfigurement, or that results in the loss of a bodily function. If that sounds a little vague to you, it’s because it is, and it takes a good lawyer to know how these phrases in Florida’s car accident laws will be interpreted in an actual injury case.
California is home to some of the country’s most beautiful and congested roads. Millions call California home and millions of others visit each year to take in the seascapes, landscapes, and tourist attractions. Each year, individual California drivers log an average of 13,636 miles, which exceeds the national average of 9,363 miles per driver. Collectively, Californians drive over 300 billion miles. These numbers do not take into account (a) tourists, (b) businesspeople, and (c) out-of-state drivers passing through.
Image source Wikipedia
Hundreds of Car Accidents on California Roads Every Day
With so many cars on the road and so many miles being driven it should not be surprising that injury-causing auto accidents occur quite frequently. In 2013, the latest year for which data was available, more than 157,000 traffic accidents caused more than 223,000 injuries in California. That is 430 accidents and 610 injuries each and every day in the Golden State. Research points to a correlation between an improving economy, the number of vehicles on the road, and injury causing accidents. “We’ve seen a huge spike of car crash personal injury claims in our office” say Sherwin Arzani, an attorney that handles car accident cases in Los Angeles, CA. “As the economy continues to grow it is likely that we will continue to see hundreds of traffic accidents in California each day,” Mr. Arzani goes on to say.
Injuries caused by a California car accident can be severe. A personal injury lawsuit for damages against those responsible for causing the crash can be a great way to get the much needed financial support you require to get back to your day-to-day life. Make sure to consult your doctor and attorney before returning to work. Injuries that car accident victims often seek to recover compensation for include:
Traumatic brain injury;
Spinal cord injury;
Internal organ damage;
Internal bleeding;
Loss of limbs;
Whiplash;
Disfigurement;
Paralysis; and
Death.
What kind of compensation will you be able to ask for in your personal injury lawsuit? The answer is directly related to the kinds of injuries you sustained. These injuries could be physical, emotional, psychological, or even financial. Damages are generally broken down into two categories: economic and noneconomic.
Economic damages are paid to compensate you for verifiable and easily identifiable losses. These often include past and future medical costs, lost wages, projected lost future wages, and costs of property damage repair or replacement. If a loved one is killed in a car accident, families may seek to recover costs associated with the funeral and/or burial of the victim.
Noneconomic damages are paid to compensate you for losses that are more difficult to assign a monetary value. These losses are often very personal and depend on more subjective details. Noneconomic damages may include emotional distress, embarrassment, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life. If a loved one is killed in a car accident, families may seek to recover costs associated with their own emotional distress, loss of consortium or companionship, and grief.
Why Should I Hire a California Car Accident Attorney After My Accident?
The time following a car accident can be overwhelming. This is especially true if you sustain serious injuries and need to find a way to pay your medical bills. Hiring an attorney can help to reduce the stress you face and maximize the compensation you are able to recover. Attorneys have experience dealing with the complexities of personal injury claims and understand the nuances of the law. Insurance companies will want to take advantage of victims shortly after an accident and prey on a lack of specialized legal knowledge. Hiring an attorney can help to ensure that your rights are protected and that you recover the compensation you deserve – and not a penny less. When you hire an attorney to represent you they may:
Review the police report, photographs of the scene of the accident, and medical evaluations;
Independently investigate the accident;
Consult with experts, including medical professionals and accident recreationists;
Find and interview witnesses;
Communicate and negotiate with insurance companies;
Determine potentially responsible parties;
Research similar cases to help maximize compensation;
Draft compelling legal arguments to persuade defendants and the court; and
Communicate with you and explain the process.
At Citywide Law Group, a trusted Los Angeles personal injury law firm, we do not want to add more stress to a victim’s life after an accident. We understand the financial pressure that often accompanies a car accident. To help ensure that victims are not afraid of seeking legal representation we offer our services on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not get paid until we recover compensation for you. If you have been injured in a California car accident, contact our office today for a free, no-commitment consultation.
In 2015 alone, Americans drove an accumulative 3.15 trillion miles. That’s the equivalent of driving between Earth and Pluto over 600 times. Needless to say, we are driving more than ever. But with so many drivers on the road, there are unfortunately higher chances of more accidents. This can be due to various circumstances: problems with the roads, problems with drivers or unfavorable weather conditions are just a few potential issues for road users. So if you find yourself in a car accident or have recently experienced a car accident, bear this following information in mind.
Stop
Always stop at the scene. If you believe that you have hurt another person or pet, significantly damaged another vehicle, or damaged some sort of roadside feature (lamp post, sign, barrier, etc) then this is especially important. There are few things worse than a hit and run incident. So avoid escalating the situation to a crime.
Call Emergency Services
If another person is significantly hurt, it is essential that you ring the emergency services immediately. Calling an ambulance quickly could make all of the difference to their condition and their potential for a full recovery. If you have been in an accident where someone has left without leaving their details, or the road is blocked or damaged, you will have to ask for the police. They will be able to ensure that the scene is managed properly, redirecting traffic until the road is safe to use again and thus preventing further subsequent accidents from occurring at the location.
Exchange Details
You will need to exchange insurance details with any cars that you have had a bump or minor accident with. Ensure that you all have each other’s’ full names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, vehicle registration numbers, insurance details and policy numbers. This will be essential for any insurance claims in the follow up to the accident. The situation is tense, but attempt to remain calm and civil with one another. Also exchange any details with witnesses, so that you can contact them later for statements or reports.
Take Photos
Take photographic evidence of any damage caused by the incident. This can be damage to your car or physical damage to your bodies, such as bruising, cuts or scratches. These can also be used as evidence later if needs be. Ensure that they are high quality and as clear as possible.
If you don’t have any major injuries that need to be seen by paramedics or emergency services, book an appointment with your GP who will be able to conduct a full check of your overall health and well-being. Many injuries that people sustain in car accidents are not immediately visible and only become apparent later down the line. Think of problems such as whiplash. These are best treated sooner rather than later, as this will minimize the detrimental effects of the incident. Traumatic situations can also have negative effects on individuals mental well-being, which you may want to seek counseling or treatment for.
Seek Compensation
Besides physical and mental damage, car accidents can cause serious problems with your lifestyle. The time taken to recover can leave you out of work and this is particularly detrimental to those who are self-employed and are not in receipt of sick pay. This is especially awful when the incident happened through no fault of your own. In this kind of situation, it may be a good idea to get into contact with a compassionate and caring car accident lawyer. These professionals will be able to guide you through the process of reclaiming lost funds. This will reduce the stress involved in trying to tide yourself over without a steady income and also allow you the necessary time that you need to make a full recovery. You may also want to seek compensation for hospital costs, as treatment and therapy don’t come cheap.
Take Your Time
You may want to rush back to work as soon as possible, leaving the incident in the past. Who can blame you? Car accidents are traumatic and not something that you want to spend your time focusing on. But it is important that you allow yourself the necessary time to recover fully. Otherwise, you may see other health problems crop up down the line or a worsening of your current symptoms. Stick to your hospital or therapy appointments to ensure that you are in receipt of the best treatment possible and are entirely recovered before easing yourself back into your usual routine.
Whether it is a fender-bender or major collision it is enough to leave you shaken, especially if there is damage to your property — or worse yet, injury to you. If you are going to report an accident to an insurance company, there is a process to help things go smoothly.
Do I report an accident?
Sometimes the most difficult part of making an insurance claim is deciding whether you even want to make one. There are times when it is more economical to take care of the damages on your own than to make a claim. There are two types of insurance claims that you can file: a first-party claim and a third-party claim.
When you file a first-party claim, you report the accident directly to your own insurance carrier. When making a third-party claim, you contact the insurance company of the other motorist involved in the accident. A third-party claim is made when the other driver was “at-fault.” If you are at fault and the damages to your car or the other car are minimal, it is best to consider how much it will increase your premiums to report the accident versus how much it would cost to fix the damages. If there are injuries involved or the accident was substantial, then it is always best to get the insurance company involved.
Report the car insurance claim
Although you may be a little shaken, it is important to report the accident immediately to the proper insurance carrier. If you are filing a first-party claim, then you will want to call your insurance carrier and should have their contact info either online or on the back of your insurance card. If you are filing a third-party claim, then you will have to get the information about the insurance company from the other motorist. Other things you will likely need when making a third party claim are:
The policy number
The insured person’s full name
The time and date of the accident
The license plate numbers for all parties involved
The police report number
A general description of the accident
The insurance company will be responsible for investigating your claim and arranging a time for you to have your car inspected for damages. They will typically have someone come out to assess the damage, unless the accident was severe enough that the car was totaled.
Each carrier will have their own timeline for filing a claim, which is why it is imperative that you call immediately to file.
What not to say when you call
There are certain questions that the insurance carrier is going to ask you. Because the call will be recorded, it is important that you not say anything that might jeopardize the case. There are many things that you will want not to talk about with the other insurance company, like:
Giving a report of your injury – Although you should tell them you are injured, do not give any more specifics about how you were injured or the extent of your injuries when you’re first filing a claim. Any statements about self-diagnosing can come back to bite you.
Submitting a written statement – Never give any written statements related to the accident unless you know exactly why you are providing them. And it is always a good idea to have Los Angeles auto accident lawyers look over any written statements before you send them.
Answer any specific questions – Avoid answering any specific questions about the accident. Don’t offer any conclusions of your own or give more details than are asked.
Tell the truth – It is imperative to tell the truth. Even if you are worried that it might put you at fault, if you are caught telling the insurance company something that isn’t true, that is technically fraud.
Agree to any settlements – Before you accept any settlement money, it is important to have your case assessed by a personal injury lawyer to ensure that you are being fairly compensated. Once you accept money then the case is over, and you aren’t eligible to collect for anything that may creep up in the future.
If you are in an accident where there is either damage or injuries, it is always best to get the help of a personal injury lawyer who specializes in auto accidents before you discuss any specifics of the case or agree to any settlements made by an insurance company.
Cars are undoubtedly one of the most astounding inventions ever made by humans. They give easy transport and freedom and taking a person anywhere for hundreds and even thousands of miles with just a tank of gasoline.
However, cars are also machines of destructions filled with flammable liquid and large metal projectiles that can harm anyone if the person maneuvering behind the wheel is not cautious and responsible. It could easily transport one’s life to eternal trauma and even death.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2.44 million people get injured in the US due to vehicle crashes in 2015. The figures are mind-boggling and yes, alarming. Different insurance companies give different numerical perspective, concluding that one driver is average to one car accident per decade.
There are simple precautions that you can follow to reduce your risks. The paramount keys are to steer clear of alcohol and drugs, avoid distractions, be predictable and obey the traffic laws, always. Do them, and you’ll make the road safer and less dangerous for everyone.
Speed limits exist because you have to abide them. Exceeding speed limits means that you chose to drive faster than what is intended to be safe for the road, irresponsibly putting others at risk and at the same time consuming more fuel.
The science behind this law is that when you drive faster, the reaction time for you to stop reduces, thus higher maneuvering skills are obligatory to avoid an accident. As the speed of the vehicle ascends, the forces and braking distances increase too which can lead to disastrous rollovers and collisions.
Another explanation why over speeding is hazardous is that when you over speed, you’re out-driving your car’s headlights, thus you lose the time to react properly to unexpected scenarios when they appear in your field of vision.
Better be safe than sorry, so follow speed limits and be extra attentive in the dark.
Drunk driving as always is a very dangerous stunt that every driver needs to avoid, and yet there are still people who are just too hard-headed to follow the rule. They get behind the wheel while their bloodstreams are boiling with alcohol.
According to NHTSA, every two minutes, one person gets injured due to a drunken driving crash, and the casualty cost is up to $132 billion dollars a year. Now, if you’re out to have fun, be sure to designate a driver for you or better yet, do not drive when you drink.
Steer Clear from Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is an act of doing another activity that corrupts your attention away from driving. Acts like trying to send a message or answer a call, looking at sceneries instead of the road and watching other vehicles are the common forms of distracted driving.
The fatalities due to road accidents in the US rose to 35,092 last year, the highest growth in 50 years, and 10 percent of this data is due to distracted driving according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
There is a slogan that says “hung up and drive” reminding us to avoid texting or doing things that may arrest your attention from driving. If the call or message is very urgent, pull over before you respond.
Precautions on Parking Lots
Vigilance should be observed not just on the road but also on parking lots. Most people gets absorbed on finding a parking space that they are not watching what else is going on.
Children are hard to spot at busy parking lots especially at night so be vigilant and pay attention. You can never tell when an excited kid will dart out in front of your car in an instant. Fortunately, there are cars now with a backup camera that makes it possible to look at the space behind the car that would otherwise be unseen.
Another paramount component of being a conscientious driver is picking the right car. What I mean by the word ‘right’ is that it must have outstanding safety features and robust reliability background when it comes to quality and manufacturing.
Consumer Reports recommends checking on the accident avoidance capability of the car through simulated maneuvering as well as dry and wet braking.
Wise evaluation of vehicles should include ease of use for controls, visibility, and handling, all of which are helpful in avoiding road troubles. Reliability is also a significant factor when it comes to safety concerns because extreme cases may happen like a car breakdown on the road that will put you in danger.
Get a Good Lawyer and Feasible Insurance
It pays to be insured and ready. You can be a cautious and responsible driver behind the wheel, but you can never tell what will happen to you on the road, never.
It’s vital that you get a good insurance from credible insurance companies and appoint an experienced lawyer that you can trust. There are many competitive and reliable law firms in different states that you can go to for legal services.
When it comes to personal injury protection insurance, make sure to check on the coverage and see if it is feasible enough to your source of income and if it offers a lot of deductibles and limits.
Takeaway
A single car accident can alter your life in an instant before it happens, practice vigilance wherever you go. Vigilance is the byproduct of many factors that you can acquire if you start doing the things listed above.
Author Bio:
Dana Atkins is a researcher who is knowledgeable about technology and entrepreneurship based in Michigan. She is also an active advocate of safety driving and continuously supports safety-driving related campaigns in different states. In her free time, she likes to write her thoughts as a form of artistic outlet and whatever article she comes up to, she shares them with her readers.
Most people are unaware of just how dangerous driving on the roadways can be until it is too late. Being involved in an accident can be a very stressful and scary experience. If you are badly injured in the accident, then you may need to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced. In order to get the right advice in a matter like this, you will need to find a law professional in your area. Here are a few of the reasons why you need to hire an accident attorney like the ones at Woodgrange Solicitors.
The Knowledge Needed
One of the first reasons to hire a car accident attorney is the knowledge they have regarding the statutes and laws pertaining to your case. There are a number of different laws out there that spell out the compensation you are entitled to and in order to have a chance of winning you will need to know these laws. Hiring a lawyer will allow you to start developing the case you need to get the money you need. The last thing you want to do is to try and handle this type of case on your own due to your lack of knowledge about the laws.
A Dollar Amount on Your Injuries
Another very helpful thing a lawyer can do for you is to put a dollar amount on the injuries you have. There are very strict law that dictate how much financial compensation you are entitled to. Your lawyer will be able to take those laws and apply them to your injuries. This is the only way you will be able to get the right amount of compensation. Make sure you are forthcoming with the lawyer about the accident and how it has affected you.
Help With Negotiations
When hiring a lawyer to help with your case, you will also be able to take advantage of the skills they have in negotiating settlements. Generally speaking, these types of cases are usually settled outside of court, which is why you need a lawyer who can negotiate the terms of the settlement. Most of the insurance companies out there want to undercompensate you in order to grow their own bottom line. There are a number of things that can go wrong when trying to handle this process on your own, which is why you need a professional.
If you have been involved in a car accident and need advice on whether to pursue a lawsuit, be sure to call on professionals.
Justin Bieber was involved in a car accident in Beverly Hills on June 24, ET Online reported.
The singer was not driving at the time of the collision, the Beverly Hills Police Department said. The non-injury traffic accident involved two cars in front of The Montage, according to police.
Justin Bieber was involved in a car accident in Beverly Hills
The accident happened after a car driven by a paparazzo was chasing the Escalade in which Justin Bieber was a passenger. The Escalade was going down Canon Drive at a fast clip, trying to lose the photographer, when a BMW was pulling out of a parking structure near Bouchon restaurant. The BMW misjudged the speed of the Escalade and smashed into it. Justin Bieber almost immediately got out of the SUV and into another car and sped off.
Justin Bieber was not present when the police arrived on the scene.
Honey Boo Boo’s mother June Shannon revealed her daughter Lauryn “Pumpkin” was back in hospital this week with further complications stemming from the family’s car accident in January.
Mama June shared the news on Facebook early this morning explaining that the family was driving back home after dinner when Pumpkin, 14, got headaches, then felt nauseous and passed out several times.
She wrote: “Well we r back at the hospital with pumpkin with complication s from the car wreck that was 6 wks…we have a time with good days and a lot of bad days lately and tonight was very scary for me as a mom as we was driving down the highway after dinner pumpkin was in the back having a bad headache like she has had for the past 6 wk then the shooting pains starting got nausea but that’s been normally happening over the 6 wks then all the sudden she was like I’m about to pass out then a few mins later she
June Shannon revealed her daughter Lauryn “Pumpkin” was back in hospital this week with further complications stemming from the family’s car accident
did was in and out as we rushed her to the hospital she has had a lot of test ran we r waiting on the results to see if we stay or go home this as a mom has been very scary with all this but I believe one day she will b better I just wish I had a special med they could give her to make her better as she is still very agitated and wanting to b better herself …I will tell I can’t tell y’all how many as a monk I wish this was happening to me cause its been a emotional rollcoaster for us all but we appreciate all the thoughts prayer and get wells y’all have posted y’all r awesome fans and we really appreciate and love all of y’all for loving our crazy family.”
Later in the day Mama June made another post letting fans know Pumpkin was out of the hospital, but not out of the woods: “Well just to let everyone know we r out of hospital pumpkin is still weak in a lot of pain but resting going to doc tomorrow to figure out a new plan with all this we want to thanks everyone for the thoughts prayers text post on here it means a lot to us.”
IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti fractured two vertebrae, broke his right ankle and sustained a concussion when his car went airborne into a catch fence during the final lap of the Grand Prix of Houston on Sunday, with flying debris injuring 13 fans and a series official.
Dario Franchitti, 40, was transported to a hospital where the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner would be held overnight, and a series official was treated for minor injuries.
Houston Fire Department spokesman Ruy Lozano said 11 of the 13 injured fans were treated on site at Reliant Park. Lozano said two were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The accident occurred when Dario Franchitti’s car clipped the tire of the car driven by Takuma Sato when the two were coming out of Turn 5 at the Reliant Park race course. After Dario Franchitti’s car hit the fence, it landed back on the track. Also involved in the wreckage was E.J. Viso, whose car collided with Takuma Sato’s car.
The accident brought an immediate caution flag and the race was halted with Power declared the winner.
Dario Franchitti car crash during the final lap of the Grand Prix of Houston
Takuma Sato said his car clipped the wall before Dario Franchitti’s car collided with his.
“On the last lap I caught the marbles and brushed the wall and lost momentum,” Takuma Sato said.
“A couple cars passed me as I was off line and in Turn 5. I got very loose and Dario and I came together. Hopefully Dario is OK.”
The accident in Turn 5 was reminiscent of Dan Wheldon’s fatal 2011 crash at Las Vegas; in both cases, competitors had to drive through the wreckage.
It was a sobering moment for race winner Will Power, who broke his back in the Las Vegas crash, and Scott Dixon, who took control of the IndyCar championship race Sunday but passed by teammate Dario Franchitti’s car and waved in an attempt to get an update on his condition.
“The smells and the visuals, for me, and even talking to Will, you have the remnants of Vegas popping into your head with you coming around the corner and you can’t drive through it because there’s a field of debris,” Scott Dixon said.
“There was no near the amount of damage that we saw [in 2011], but seeing the replay was a big shock.”
Scott Dixon will head to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for the series finale on October 19 with a 25-point lead over Helio Castroneves, who surrendered first place in the standings when he finished 23rd after mechanical problems Sunday.
Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who has been in a semi-conscious state since a 2008 car accident, died early Saturday morning at the age of 42, a family statement announced.
In a statement posted on the fan site Oneloveforchi.com, Chi Cheng’s family writes that the musician was taken to the emergency room where he died at 3 a.m.
“He left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear,” wrote Jeanne Marie Cheng, or “Mom J” for short.
Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno confirmed Chi Cheng’s passing on his Facebook page.
Chi Cheng suffered major injuries and was left in a coma following a November 2008 car crash in Santa Clara, California. The bassist was driving with his sister when they collided with another car, sending his vehicle rolling. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. His sister was wearing hers, and only sustained minor injuries.
Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who has been in a semi-conscious state since a 2008 car accident, died early Saturday morning at the age of 42
“Chi is one of the strongest people I know, and I’m praying that his strength will get him through this,” Chino Moreno said at the time on the Deftones’ blog.
In the years since, Chi Cheng had been making slow but steady progress in his recovery. In 2009 it was reported that he was no longer in a coma but in a semi-conscious state. In 2010, doctors said the former bassist was “showing signs of improved neuro function”. Recently Chi Cheng regained limited ability to move his legs on command.
Most updates regarding Chi Cheng since his accident have come through the Oneloveforchi site, which was started by fan Gina Blackmore. The site, which is currently down likely due to increased traffic, has raised money for Chi Cheng’s medical expenses and the bassist’s family regularly posts messages there.
Chi Cheng co-founded Deftones in the late 1980s with fellow Sacramentoans Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham. He was an integral part of the nu-metal band’s success, performing on their first five albums, released between 1994 and 2006. Commercially the group peaked in 2000 with the platinum-selling White Pony, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and contained the hit Change (In the House of Flies). A self-titled follow-up in 2003 debuted at No. 2.
In late 2008, Deftones were putting the finishing touches on the next full-length album, titled Eros.
Following Chi Cheng’s accident, Deftones ultimately decided to shelve the project and later recruited Sergio Vega, formerly of Quicksand, to play bass. They have released two albums since.
Rapper Diddy was left lying injured on the ground on Wednesday after his SUV was crashed in a dramatic car accident.
Pictures show Diddy, real name Sean Combs, slumped on the floor as he recovered after his chauffeur-driven Cadillac Escalade collided with a Lexus RX vehicle.
Diddy’s luxury vehicle was left crushed and undriveable, and had to be towed away after the smash at the Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The windscreen was smashed and the front of the car caved in. The airbags were activated and parts of the vehicle littered the ground.
Diddy, 42, was so shaken by the crash that he was seen lying down on the grass beside his vehicle.
He was accompanied by record label boss Andre Hurrell, who helped him to his feet.
A second passenger was also seen sprawled on the lawn beside the music mogul.
Despite complaining of unspecified pain Diddy refused to go in an ambulance, and told authorities he would “seek his own medical attention”, according to police.
Diddy was left lying injured on the ground on Wednesday after his SUV was crashed in a dramatic car accident
The driver of the Lexus received unspecified injuries and was taken to a hospital.
It is believed that employees of the upmarket hotel rushed to the aid of Diddy and his fellow passenger, who were then escorted through the hotel lobby.
Officers raced to the scene and took details from the passengers, including Diddy.
According to police, Diddy’s Cadillac was going west on Sunset Boulevard when it collided with a Lexus that made a left turn in front of the sport utility vehicle, though it is unclear who was at fault for the prang.
The accident was reported about 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday Beverly Hills Police Lieutenant Lincoln Hoshino said in a statement.
Bobbi Kristina Brown and her boyfriend Nick Gordon were involved in a car accident on Sunday.
Bobbi Kristina Brown, 19, was a passenger in Nick Gordon’s black 2012 Camaro when it was severely damaged in Georgia at the weekend.
It is currently unclear how the accident happened.
According to gossip website TMZ.com, the couple had been arguing at the time of the crash – which destroyed the entire front end of the vehicle – and Nick Gordon’s Camaro was the only car involved. No one was injured.
Nick Gordon’s car was left without a front bumper and the airbags were deployed
After the accident, the car was left without a front bumper and right front tyre, and the airbags were deployed, but it somehow got back to the couple’s apartment.
Police visited the house soon after the accident following a noise complaint, but no one answered the door.
An incident report shows officers saw the vehicle parked outside the property with its hazard lights on, and it appeared to have been driven in a “damaged state”.
The accident is currently under investigation.
Bobbi Kristina Brown and Nick Gordon lived together as brother and sister for more than a decade before Whitney Houston’s death.
Reese Witherspoon was hit by a car last week and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
For the first time after the accident, Reese Witherspoon showed the extent of her injuries – a black eye and bandage on her forehead – as she arrived for a friend’s birthday party in Los Angeles.
Reese Witherspoon also appeared to have a bruise on one of her knees from the fall which happened last Wednesday when an elderly woman knocked her down as she jogged over a pedestrian crossing.
Reese Witherspoon has a black eye after she was hit by a car last week
Her injuries didn’t appear to be troubling the famous actress too much. Wearing a smart blue dress, Reese Witherspoon shared a joke with her friend before going into the party.
It is the first time Reese Witherspoon, 36, has appeared with her injuries visible in public.
The star was spotted wearing sunglasses with husband Jim Toth, just two days after the accident.
However, Reese was quickly discharged and spent some time “resting at home”, according to her representative.
“The whole incident really frightened her,” a source close to the actress said.
“Now she’s just resting up.
“The odd thing about all of this is that Reese has always been very afraid of being hit by a car.
“It’s been an ongoing fear of hers. She is always the first person to pull people away from the edge of the curb.”
It has emerged that Reese Witherspoon will not be pressing charges against the woman who hit her after failing to yield to the actress on the crossing on the 20th street and Georgina Avenue Area in Santa Monica.
The car was travelling at around 20 mph (30 km/h) when it hit Reese Witherspoon and the 84-year-old driver was cited for failure to stop for a pedestrian.
Reese Witherspoon also appeared to have a bruise on one of her knees
According to TMZ, the elderly woman feels “awful” about the accident.
However, TMZ reports she is of the impression that the Santa Monica corner where the incident happened is dangerous, due to a large tree blocking a sight line for drivers.
The old woman was very “shaken up” by the accident and had no idea she had hit a famous Oscar winner.
Having received a citation to retake her driving test after the incident, the woman is planning to do so as early as today, having stayed off the road since the accident.
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