Motor City Accident Attorneys: April 2016

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Being Safe on Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner. While it is a Mexican holiday, many Americans still like to celebrate it due to its vast array of festivities, fiestas, and margaritas. Just like many other holidays, it can be as dangerous as it is exciting. Because of the popularity of drinking that comes with this holiday, it can lead to risky and dangerous situations.

In 2014, there were 116 car accidents on Cinco de Mayo that resulted in deaths. Another disturbing fact is that 17% of those drivers had BAC levels of .15 grams or higher, which is nearly two times the legal limit. In order to avoid a tragic accident like these, the best way you can prevent it from happening is to plan ahead by designating a sober driver. Even if you can’t find a friend who doesn’t want to abstain from drinking while being out, you can plan to take an Uber or a cab. There’s always someone available to drive you safely.

One of the most common reasons drunk driving crashes occur is because the driver felt they weren’t “too drunk” to get behind the wheel. But even buzzed driving is still drunk driving. And even one drink can lead to a buzz.

If these accident statistic numbers aren’t enough to convince one to avoid drunk driving, the personal costs of doing so might. If you cause an accident due to drunk driving, you will most likely be charged with at least a DUI, which is not something you want to be charged with. The average cost for this type of charge is $10,000. You also risk losing your driver’s license, paying higher insurance premiums, and can even face time in jail. So if you think the cost of a cab or an Uber is too much, you should consider how much more costly it will be to get charged with a DUI. You run a very big risk when you drive intoxicated, so it’s better to spend some more money than you want to on a ride, but be safe and not sorry.

These type of accidents are preventable. Of course, sometimes accidents are inevitable because they are not our fault and sometimes we don’t have control of what happens. Unfortunately, many people drive safely yet are the victims of an accident due to a drunk driver. So even if you are not intoxicated behind the wheel, there can be someone on the same road who is, and that can be just as dangerous. But that is a risk you take no matter what day you get on the road. The best thing you can do though to save your life and others is to be responsible yourself. As its been said, be responsible and don’t get behind the wheel after drinking. Don’t let your friends do so either. Always be aware of your surroundings and drivers around you. If you suspect a driver near you may be drunk, make sure you keep a safe distance from them and call the police. And if you really want to be safe, the best thing you can do is avoid the roads, especially on holidays like Cinco de Mayo where many people are going out and drinking.

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, April 25, 2016

Eating While Driving Significantly Increases Risk of Car Accident

People always speak about the dangers of texting while driving, and while it is an important thing to be aware about as it happens unfortunately very often, it is not only form of common distraction. Eating behind the wheel may seem do-able and harmless, but it’s a lot more risky than you may think. Eating falls under the category of “distracted driving” and can lead to consequences. Eating while driving forces a driver to operate a motor vehicle with only one hand, which can cause the driver to swerve and cause an accident.

Experts say eating while driving can increase a motorist’s chances of a car accident by 80 percent. A driver’s reaction speed is lowered by 44 percent when eating while driving. While drinking, the reaction speed is lowered by 22 percent.

Eating while driving can be dangerous because all it takes is a few seconds of distraction to lose control of the vehicle. For example, you need just a few seconds to grab your sandwich and unwrap it, and that same amount of time is all it takes to lose control of the vehicle because you either didn’t have your hands on the wheel and/or you were distracted.

Eating greasy food also makes your hands greasy and slippery, which can also make you lose your grip and control of the steering wheel and the gear stick.

Drinks can also be hazardous because if they spill while you’re driving and attempt to wipe the spills from your clothes or your seat, you may forget about the traffic rules in that moment and not be fully concentrated on the road.

The bottom line is that many times when we spill something or drop bits of food, our instinctive reaction is usually to clean it up immediately before it becomes a permanent stain, which is hazardous to react this way while driving. So you may not realize your impulsive reactions at the moment and go to reach for something and then you could get into an accident. The less that the road has your undivided attention, the riskier your chances of any accident become. Treat your food like your phone and put it away – eat before or after you drive.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Most Common Mistakes of Teenage Drivers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the leading cause of death for teenagers remains motor vehicle accidents. Teens have the highest crash rate of any age group in the United States. In 2013, about 963,000 drivers between the ages of 16 to 19 were involved in police-reported car crashes. Those accidents resulted in 383,000 injuries and 2,865 deaths.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted several studies to report on the common mistakes that many teenage drivers make while on the road. AAA recommends that parents educate their teenagers regarding the risks of these common mistakes, as well as the steps necessary to avoid making these mistakes. These include:

- Failing to wear a seat belt

According to the NHTSA, approximately 56% of the teenagers who were killed in car crashes in 2013 were not wearing a seat belt. Parents should stress the importance of wearing a seat belt as a way to reduce one’s chance of being hurt or killed in a car accident.

- Speeding

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a study in 2015 to analyze teen car accidents. Of the 1,700 videos of teen car accidents, teens were driving too fast for conditions in 79% of the single-vehicle crashes that were examined. Speeding seems to be a factor in almost every car accident involving a teenage driver. Young drivers must understand that speeding is against the law. It’s also a dangerous habit because it increases the likelihood of losing control of the vehicle.

- Following too closely

It is reported that teenage drivers often fail to allow adequate following distance between cars. AAA recommends that teen drivers practice the four-second rule to help them maintain a safe distance between vehicles.

- Driving distracted

Of the 1,700 car crash videos analyzed in 2015, distraction was a factor in almost 60% of the accidents. The most common distractions were interacting with passengers in the vehicle and using a cell phone. Texting while driving is a dangerous and tempting distraction to teen drivers. Parents must demonstrate safe driving behaviors by not using cell phones while driving and by setting a zero tolerance policy for their teen’s cell phone use while driving. According to Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the easiest way to say it is: “On the road, off the phone.”

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Causes of Crashes Vary Depending on Age

Car accidents are sometimes inevitable, no matter how experienced you are. Causes of car crashes apply to any age group. However, certain causes of these crashes tend to be more prevalent among certain age groups. For instance, teenage drivers are more likely to cause an accident due to driver error than are adults. One-third of crashes by teenage drivers also involve speeding, which explains why many times these crashes involve only one vehicle. In fact, teenagers are automatically at a higher risk of crashing simply because they have less experience than older drivers do. Parents of teenagers should make sure their teens are educated about the danger hazards of the road. Here are some factors and statistics that put teen drivers at more risk of accidents than adults:

- Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations.

- Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter distances from the front of one vehicle to the front of the next.

- Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. A majority of teenagers who have lost their lives in car accidents were not wearing a seatbelt.

- Riding with other passengers in a vehicle makes it much more difficult to concentrate on the task at hand: driving. Studies show that the risk of fatal crashes rises with each additional passenger in the vehicle. In crashes that caused the death of a teenage passenger, over half were riding with a teen driver. And teenagers are more likely than older adults to ride with several passengers, thereby having more distractions.

- At any level of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of being involved in a car crash is greater for teens than for older drivers. In 2013, 17% of drivers aged 16 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08% or higher.

- The number of teenage drivers that crash vehicles at night is higher than those that do so during daylight hours. In 2013, 51% of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 54% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Older adults on the other hand, have their own causes that are more common among those 65 and older. These causes include age-related declines in vision and cognitive functioning, as well as physical changes, all of which may affect their driving abilities.

But all age groups have the same thing in common: the risk of being involved in a car accident. The only thing you can do is make sure your teenagers are well educated about driving on the road to minimize the causes of these accidents. As for older and more experienced drivers, listening to the same advice you would tell a teenager also applies to you. And seniors who no longer feel they are safely capable of driving should not drive. Always be aware of the risks and use caution.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Rules and Tips for Motorists When Turning

Many accidents occur when a driver is in a turn lane to turn left. A left turn can be a dangerous maneuver because the left turning vehicle enters the lane of traffic for other vehicles. It’s one of the maneuvers that require the most caution to be used.

Most states require in some form that the left turning motorist is required to signal his or her intent to make a left turn at least 100 feet before reaching an intersection. In addition to giving the proper signal, the driver is required to make a proper observation that the turn could be made without endangering a passing vehicle.

The left turning motorist also has the duty to yield to all vehicles approaching from the opposite direction that are within the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard. And in intersections where there is an inoperative traffic signal especially, motorists have to use extreme caution.

But a surprising number of drivers neglect to use their turn indicators or turn them on late as they are turning. According to a report from 2012 by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), turn signal neglect causes as many as 2 million crashes per year in the U.S. The SAE studied a total of 12 turning and lane-changing vehicles, and found that the neglect rate for lane changing is 48% and 25% when making turns. Here are some tips for the use of turn signals:

- Get into the habit of signaling every time you change direction. Signal even when you do not see anyone else around because you might miss someone who needs to know what you are doing.

- Signal as early as you can. You should signal at least three seconds before you make your move. You must signal at least 100 feet before a turn if the speed limit is 45 mph or less. If the speed limit is faster than 45 mph, you must signal at least 300 feet before you turn. But be careful that you do not signal too early either. If there are streets or entrances between you and where you want to turn, wait until you have passed them to signal.

- If another vehicle is about to enter the street between you and where you plan to turn, wait until you have passed them to signal your turn. If you signal earlier, the other driver may think you plan to turn where they are and they might pull into your path.

These tips may seem like common sense, but many drivers fail to follow these tips and that is what causes many accidents to happen. So it’s important to make a habit of properly using your turn signals, even in parking lots. You should never rely on what other motorists might guess what you do. Make your intentions known as much as possible.