Motor City Accident Attorneys: January 2016

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

2016 Blizzard Causing Accidents and Deaths

Its been a freezing and hectic weekend for most of the east coast as millions of Americans had to deal with the struggles brought on by a blizzard. Plenty of people were snowed in, driving under stressful and dangerous weather conditions, or struggling with shoveling snow. This weather can be very dangerous in many situations. In fact, so far there have been at least 30 snowstorm-related deaths the past week across several states.

The deaths occurred from car accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning, and from heart attacks while shoveling snow. In Washington D.C., for example, an 82-year-old man died after going into cardiac arrest while shoveling snow in front of his house. Medical officials advise anyone who has to shovel snow to take breaks and to make sure that they are keeping themselves hydrated while doing so.

In New Jersey, a 23-year-old mom and her one-year-old son died of carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in a running car that had its tailpipe covered in snow. Authorities believe they were watching other family members shovel snow and didn’t realize what was happening.

In Tennessee, a couple in a vehicle slid off an icy road and plummeted down a 300-foot embankment, killing the woman who was driving.

These are just a few examples of terrible tragedies that have recently occurred due to the snow covering most of the eastern states. Every year, winter-related accidents occur without any control. There have been plenty of cases where vehicles slide through “black ice,” and the driver has no control of getting the vehicle to stop before it hits something.

It is encouraged that you try to avoid the roads as much as possible. The best way to stay safe in this weather is to stay home. Many schools, government offices, and businesses have and still remain closed due to the severity of the snow.

If you must drive in the snow, pull over and stop driving if you don’t feel safe or if you see a car ahead of you struggle and slide on the icy roads. Don’t over-work yourself when shoveling snow. If you do see a loved one or a neighbor doing so, volunteer to help them out or check in on them to make sure they are staying safe. Remember, these accidents can happen to anyone. Stay safe, and stay warm.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Uncommonly Talked About Driving Distractions

Anyone who drives a vehicle is well aware of the consequences of distracted driving. But when we think of distracted driving, we mainly tend to think of talking or texting on a cell phone, or even using a hands-free device. But there are many other driving distractions that many people tend to forget about, yet occur all the time. Below are some not so commonly talked about driving distractions that can be a huge risk when driving. The official U.S. government site for distracted driving attributed a total of 3,154 fatalities and 424,000 injuries in 2013 to crashes involving at least one driver distraction. If you can relate to any of the following driving distractions, you should make some changes in your driving routine and be cautious of all your actions:

- Tending to personal grooming
This type of distraction is very common, especially among women. Even if you are running late and didn’t have time to put on your makeup in the morning or shave before your next client meeting, it’s not safe to take care of these tasks on your commute to work. Personal grooming should be taken care of before you leave or after you arrive.

- Daydreaming or getting lost in thought
This happens a lot to people without even realizing. Unlike other distractions that take a conscious effort in performing that distraction, it can be very easy to get lost in thought while driving without any intention. Although many people do consider driving to be a convenient way to wind down after a hectic day, and while this may be true, it can likely increase the chances of being involved in a car accident because the person is paying little attention to the road ahead.

- Using a GPS or in-vehicle navigation system
Whether it’s on your phone or equipped within your vehicle, we all use a GPS for the most part these days. They are incredibly helpful tools, but just like using a phone, it can be risky to use while driving. Attempting to program a navigation system while driving distracts you from the road in that moment because you’re inputting information and looking at a screen. You should always enter your route on the GPS prior to leaving in order to minimize the risk of distraction.

- Making adjustments to the radio & other controls
When changing radio stations, adjusting the air conditioning, or accessing other functions in your vehicle, it may only take that one second of looking away that can be the cause of an accident. Most vehicles have controls either on the steering wheel or dashboard for easy accessibility, but if you have to take your eyes off the road to make these adjustments, be very aware because it is a form of distraction no matter how little time it takes.

- Reaching for an object
It is important for drivers to take the time to secure items in their vehicle before hitting the road. Reaching for fallen objects requires you to take at least one hand off the wheel, and can require you to lean over or turn your head, causing you to take your eyes off the road. Make sure you put loose items away before you take off in your vehicle. If you need an object and it’s not at all in easy reach, pull over where it is safe to stop and then get the object you need.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Deaths Linked to Keyless Ignitions

Over half of the vehicles manufactured in 2015 come equipped with keyless ignitions, as they are now becoming a standard feature in vehicles. But in some cases, this feature has turned out to be a silent killer.

Almost four years ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted a public notice saying vehicles equipped with keyless ignitions pose a “clear safety problem.” The federal agency cited carbon monoxide poisoning as a significant concern for drivers who mistakenly leave their cars running in a garage or other enclosed space. Because many new vehicles have extremely quiet engines where you can’t tell that the car is on, this could happen more easily.

According to a Scripps News review, there have been 13 known deaths linked directly to carbon monoxide poisonings from keyless ignitions. One case involves a college professor who was unfortunately killed when he inadvertently left his car running. The victim’s son said he recalled his father saying the car would shut off automatically if the key fob was removed from the vehicle, or so he thought. In another case, someone also left his Chrysler 300C running in the garage, and the deadly fumes even traveled three floors up and seeped into the victim’s bedroom, where he died in his sleep of the carbon monoxide poisoning.

Federal regulations require cars with a regular key to shut down if it is removed from the engine, but there is nothing to protect drivers of keyless ignition cars, which can keep running after a driver walks away.

NHTSA has proposed loud warning alarms to go off if a driver mistakenly leaves a car running after leaving the vehicle. The proposal would be for an alert of at least 85 decibels if the key fob is removed from the car while the engine is still on. The NHTSA said it would be a minimal cost for automakers, yet many automakers have argued against the proposal. In a 2012 public comment, Nissan said the alerts proposed by the NHTSA are “too loud and may interfere with the driver responding to the alert in an orderly manner.”

Scripps News asked 12 car manufacturers if they intended to implement auto shut-off devices for any current or older models on the road. Chrysler was the only company to respond, but said it is up to drivers to properly shut their cards off as per the instructions in their owners’ manuals. Regardless, if you own a vehicle with a keyless ignition, be cautious about storing it inside your garage and make sure the engine is turned off before getting out of the car.

The NHTSA expects to issue a final rule on the subject in February 2016.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Are You Driving With Safe Tires on Your Car?

When driving a vehicle, your personal safety and the safety of your passengers often depend on the condition of your vehicle’s tires. If the tires on your car are old, worn, not properly inflated or have been recalled, the likelihood of being involved in an accident is significantly higher. It only takes one defective tire to cause a tragedy.

Each year, more than 11,000 accidents can be attributed to a tire-related issue. There are an average of 200 people each year that lose their lives in tire-related crashes, according to Safecar.gov.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that out of the 2,189,000 crashes it recently reviewed, approximately 15,000 of those crashes were tire-related. Another NHTSA study revealed that 12 percent of passenger vehicles between the model years 2004 and 2011 had at least one tire underinflated by 25 percent or more.

Due to the significance of tires for your safety, it’s important to know how to keep your vehicle’s tires properly maintained. If you are unsure whether your car’s tires are safe, the following tips can help:

- Read the tire identification number. If you look along the side of the tire, it will show Department of Transportation (DOT), the manufacturer and plant code, the tire size code, the manufacturer identity number and the last four digits will indicate the week and year the tire was made. For example, “3212” means that the tire was made in the 32^nd week of 2012. If the tire was made more than six to ten years ago, it is probably not safe and you should get it replaced. And if you can’t read the code, take your car to a tire shop to have the tires’ age checked.

- Use a tire gauge to check the air pressure in each tire every month. Vehicles that are of the model year 2006 and above have a tire and loading information label along the edge of the driver’s side door. This label contains all the information you need pertaining to maximum load, type of tires and proper inflation pressure. Cooler temperatures decrease tire pressure, so be sure to check your tires when there is cold weather.

- You can check the tread depth on your tires by putting a penny in upside-down between the grooves. If all of Lincoln’s head is visible, then that means you should invest in a new set of tires.

- If your car’s tires have not been rotated within the last 5,000 to 7,000 miles, you should do so. This allows for all four tires to wear at the same rate.

- Lastly, check and inspect your tires for any signs of damage including cuts, nicks, cracks, scrapes, bulges, or objects lodged in between the tread. Although some punctures and other damage can be temporarily repaired, this type of damage is usually a sign that your tires are not safe.

Monday, January 18, 2016

The Top Ten Most Common Workplace Injuries

Injuries in a workplace environment are very common no matter what the job is. They can affect the employee’s physical and mental health or cause a major or temporary disability. Therefore, it’s important to be cautious of your surroundings or any physical task you need to do. If you are the manager or owner of a business, it’s also important to keep the work environment safe for your employees. Below is a list of the 10 most common workplace injuries that you should be aware of.

1. Overexertion – This includes injuries related to pulling, lifting, pushing, holding, carrying, and throwing activities at work. Overexertion has consistently been a number one workplace injury among surveys and statistics.

2. Slipping/Tripping – Slipping on wet floors or tripping over a foreign object/uneven surface can cause muscle injuries, body trauma and a variety of other medical issues.

3. Falling From Heights – This happens from elevated areas such as roofs, ladders, and staircases. It may be caused by slip and fall incidents and/or due to faulty equipment.

4. Reaction Injuries – This type of injury is caused by slipping and tripping without falling and can cause muscle injuries, body trauma, and a variety of other medical issues.

5. Struck by Object – Objects that fall from shelves or are dropped by another person can cause serious injuries. The most common injury from a fallen object is a head injury.

6. Struck Against an Object – This happens when a person accidentally runs into concrete objects such as walls, doors, cabinets, glass windows, tables, chairs, etc. Head, knee, neck, and foot injuries are common results of this action.

7. Vehicle Accidents – Employees who drive for business purposes are often involved in car accidents that may lead to serious injuries or even be fatal.

8. Machine Entanglement – Machine entanglement injuries typically occur in a factory where heavy equipment and machinery are used. Loose clothing, shoes, jewelry, fingers, and unbound hair may become caught in machinery.

9. Repetitive Motion – This type of workplace injury is one of the less obvious but definitely harmful injuries in the long run. Repetitive motions such as typing and excessive use of the computer can strain muscles and tendons causing back pain, vision problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

10. Assaults and Violent Acts – Attacks caused by office politics and other arguments have led to physical injuries.

You should always be very mindful of all equipment and furniture. When handling dangerous equipment, read the warning signs and use caution. Manuals on the proper use of work tools should be regularly updated and enforced to employees. Preventing work injuries is a two-way street for employers and employees.