Motor City Accident Attorneys: February 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016

Hands-Free Technology Still Distracting?

We all know how dangerous driving distracted can be, yet many of us still do it. Some people, however, believe that if they are using hands-free technology then they are no longer at risk. It’s understandable to think this way because they are not actually holding a cellphone anymore, and don’t have to be looking at a screen. However, a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has shown that hands-free technology is still a distraction. The study says that distraction can linger up to 27 seconds after the driver has finished making a call, tuning the radio, or composing a text via voice commands, which is enough time for a driver to mistakenly drive past a stop sign or hit a car that was braking in front of them.

The study was performed by researchers at the University of Utah, who looked at the use of smartphones and hands-free car systems while driving. One of the researchers explained that when using hands-free technology, you are still engaged in voice-based interaction, which is still a form of distraction.

“When you hang up, it takes time for that to clear, time for you to re-establish the awareness of the driving environment,” said David Strayer, a professor at the University of Utah who co-authored the study.

While it is helpful that these hands-free systems allow for drivers to keep both hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, two things that are critical for driving safely, there is no denying that distraction still plays some form of role. Even having a passenger riding with you is a distraction if you’re going to be conversing with them as you’re driving.

So while using hands-free technology to communicate on the phone is safer than actually holding your phone, it is still not 100% safe. Driving is a risk no matter what, but distractions only make the risk higher. Therefore, your safest bet is to be free from all distractions, even hands-free technology. It’s important to have all your mental attention, not just your hands, dedicated to the road when driving.

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.

Friday, February 19, 2016

How Roadway Design Can Cause Accidents

When car accidents happen, we usually tend to first believe it was due to one of the driver’s fault, but accidents don’t always occur due to driver error. Sometimes, simply the road may be to blame. Research has found that dangerous roadway conditions rank among the highest of causes of car accidents. Roadways with construction defects and design deficiency may greatly affect a driver’s experience on the road. Even if an accident is caused due to driver error, it could be made worse rather than be a minor accident if the road conditions are not safe. Here are some common road hazards to be aware of:

Hazardous obstacles

Fallen trees, car parts, debris, and potholes are the cause of many accidents and sometimes can take drivers by surprise, making them abruptly swerve out of their lane and hit another car. Government agencies in charge of roads have a responsibility to remove hazardous obstacles in a timely manner.

Hazardous surfaces

Roads can become hazardous when the pavement surface does not have sufficient skid resistance, or when poor drainage systems cause hydroplaning or ponding.

Dangerous Intersections

Malfunctioning or confusing traffic signs and sharp or narrow roads can triple the chance of an intersection accident, which is already common on its own.

Insufficient traffic signals and signage

Missing, confusing, defective, or improper traffic signals and warning signs can cause confusion, chaos, and accidents on roadways.

Bad construction

Roadways may weaken, collapse, and become unsafe if they are built poorly or with any errors or with use of poor quality materials.

If you happen to find yourself on a hazardous road, make sure to drive carefully, especially if you see debris or if the pavement feels uneven or bumpy.

How to Drive on Black Ice

Wintertime is not the best weather condition to be driving in; you not only have to deal with snow, but ice on the road is another threat. Black ice, in particular, is dangerous because it’s “invisible" or not clearly seen especially from afar. Many car accidents occur from driving on this slippery surface. However, you can protect yourself by understanding and knowing how to deal with this winter issue.

1. Understand that black ice is like regular ice.
It is a glaze that forms on surfaces (especially rods, sidewalks, and driveways) because of a light freezing rain or because of melting and re-freezing of snow, water, or ice on surfaces. The reason it’s called “black ice” is because it tends to look like the rest of the pavement on the road, although in reality, the ice is actually clear. Black ice forms without creating bubbles, which allows it to blend in with any surface it forms over. This is what makes black ice so dangerous, because it’s hard to detect in advance.

2. Know where to expect black ice.

Black ice forms mostly at night or in the early morning when the temperatures are at their lowest, or when the sun isn’t around to warm the roads.
Black ice tends to form on parts of the road without much sunshine, such as a long tree-lined route or a tunnel. It will also form more frequently on roads that are less traveled on.
Black ice also tends to form on bridges, overpasses and the road beneath overpasses. This is because the cold air is able to cool both the top and under the bridge or overpass, bringing about faster freezing.

3. Know how to possibly detect black ice.
Although black ice is transparent, it can sometimes be seen in the right lighting conditions – if you are trying to look for it. It almost always forms in very smooth, glossy sheets. If you see a glossy surface, it is potentially black ice. If the majority of the road you’re driving on appears a dull black color, but the patch just ahead of you appears shiny, you may be about to drive into black ice.

4. If you encounter black ice, remain calm. You should simply do as little as possible and allow the car to pass over the ice. Do not hit the brakes, and try to keep the steering wheel straight. If you feel the back end of your car sliding left or right, make a very gentle turn of the steering wheel in the same direction. If you try to struggle against it by steering in the opposite direction, you risk skidding or spinning out. It is best to slow down by lifting your foot off the accelerator but do not touch the brakes.

5. If you do skid or lose traction, stay calm.
Use the minimum amount of braking possible; some braking will be necessary if skidding a lot. If you have anti-lock braking system (ABS), just put your foot on the brake, apply firm pressure and the car will pump the brakes for you as you skid. If you don’t have ABS, pump the brakes gently as you skid. And always steer the car in the direction you want it to go.

It also helps to keep your windshield clean and clear of ice, snow, dirt, or anything else that can prevent you from seeing properly. Remember, if you do encounter black ice while driving, the most important thing is to stay calm and let the vehicle drive over it as smoothly as possible.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Tips to Prevent Slip and Fall Injuries This Winter

Slip and fall accidents can occur at any time. They can happen inside a building where there is a spill on the floor, or they can happen when a tile or section of concrete is left in a state of disrepair that causes someone to trip. However, wintertime tends to see more slip and fall accidents occurring outside when someone slips on snow or ice.

Sometimes, a slip and fall that occurs outside is simply nobody’s fault. In other cases, the city could have plowed better or maybe a slip and fall occurred due to the negligence of a shop or business owner that failed to perform their duty of clearing up the snow and ice in their parking lot.

Whatever the case, there are ways to prevent a slip and fall accident from happening. And while many times it is the slippery surface that causes a person to lose his or her balance and fall, it is the natural inclination to hold one’s hands out to brace themselves for the fall that results in serious injuries to the hands and wrists. Many people have suffered severely broken wrists as a result of this reaction. This does not mean that falling on your hip is always better than falling on your hands, however. A lot of hip injuries are also the result of falling on snow or ice.

You can help prevent these injuries happening to you by following these tips:

- Be aware of surface conditions and slow down; take small steps.

- Choose your path carefully and avoid icy conditions whenever possible.

- Avoid sudden movements when stepping onto a hard surface.

- Get the snow off from the bottom of your shoes when entering buildings.

- Report trouble spots to building maintenance personnel on or off campus.

- Wear footwear that has proper traction and are designed for walking on snow and ice.

- Get an earlier start to your destination. It takes more time to navigate winter walkways safely, so giving yourself more time will help prevent injuries from rushing.

- Be careful when getting out of your vehicle. If possible, swing your legs around and place both feet on the pavement before you attempt to stand. Steady yourself on the doorframe until you have gained your balance.

As for things that businesses can do to prevent customers from getting hurt, they can inspect the areas in front of their business. This is especially important if a business has an off-street parking lot where maintenance is the responsibility of the business owner or property management company.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Why Kids Should Not Wear Winter Coats in Car Seats

During the cold winter season, we often wear our coats in the car, but according to new crash tests done by The Today Show, it’s actually better and much safer to take it off and just blast the heat. This is especially important for small children who use a car seat.

Surprising new tests show that letting kids wear coats in car seats is dangerous. While we know to be mindful on the road, and keep our seat belts fastened, this is one very common mistake that most parents are actually guilty of. According to a report by Jeff Rossen on Today, by “putting your kids in car seats while wearing their winter jackets, parents think they’re strapping them in and keeping them safe, but they’re really setting the kids up for possible danger.”

Puffy coats can create the illusion that the car seat harness is secure and that the child is strapped in tight. In the crash test conducted by The Today Show, the difference of wearing a coat and not wearing a coat while in a car seat was shocking. In the test where the child-dummy was wearing a coat, the coat compressed and created an unsafe gap between the seat belt and the passenger/dummy. The crash test dummy was practically leaning out of the car seat after the impact occurred. As opposed to the crash test with the dummy not wearing a winter coat, it managed to completely stay secured within the seat, and these crash tests were only done at 30 miles per hour.

Parents want to make sure that their child is warm but comfortably buckled in the car seat without a coat. The safest place for a child to be sat is in the back middle seat, away from all air bags. There shouldn’t be any slack in the buckled straps. There should be a nice tight fit of the car seat’s harness to the child’s body. You should not be able to pinch any webbing up at the shoulder, and the shoulder clip should be at armpit level.

If your child is cold without the coat, they can always wear their jacket backwards over the harness, or keep a cozy blanket in the car. There are always ways to still feel warm and snuggled in, but also safe. Most people wouldn’t think how a coat makes a difference, but it does. The truth is there are plenty of parents who did not know this, so if you are a parent, it’s a good idea to pass along the info with other parents you think would benefit from it. Spreading awareness can help decrease injuries.