Drive More Efficiently

How frequently you have to fill up your car with gas and the mileage your vehicle gets says a lot about your driving habits. There are certain techniques that you can implement into your daily driving regime that will help you save money on gas.

Aggressive driving such as rapid acceleration, speeding and braking can waste a lot of gas. Driving in this manner may lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and roughly 5% on city streets. Not only is driving more sensibly a way to save more on gas, it’s also safer for you and others. Nowadays, there are driver feedback devices that can help you be a more efficient driver. These devices have the ability to help the average driver improve their fuel economy by about 3%.  Those that use these devices to save fuel, may improve their gas mileage by about 10% overall, equivalent to saving $0.07 to $0.22 per gallon.

Observing the speed limit may also help you drive more efficiently. Gas mileage tends to decrease rapidly at speeds above 50mph. It is assumed that each 5mph your drive over 50mph is equivalent to paying an extra $0.15 per gallon of gas. Remember, not only is driving the speed limit efficient, it is also the law.

For those that like to take road trips and haul cargo on the roof of the car, it’s actually affecting your fuel economy. Hauling cargo on the roof increases the amount of aerodynamic drag (or wind resistance) and thus, lowers your fuel economy. Removing the excess weight inside your vehicle also helps your gas efficiency. It’s best to not keep unnecessary items in the vehicle, especially if they are heavy. Carrying an extra 100 pounds may reduce your MPG by 1%.  For road trips, try using cruise control, as going at a constant speed helps save fuel.

Parked and waiting for someone in your car? Taking a phone call? Turn off your car. Depending on the size of the engine and the air conditioner use, excessive idling can use a quarter to a half-gallon of gas per hour. In addition, be aware of turning your engine on and off excessively, as this increases starter wear.

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.

Most Common Car Seat Mistakes Parents Make

If you have children then you know buckling them into a child safety seat is the law no matter where you live in the U.S.  In all 50 states, children up to 3 years of age are required to ride in car seats when in private vehicles. Many states even have laws that require a child to ride in a car seat or booster seat until they are even older. The reason? Each year tens of thousands of children are injured in car accidents and about a thousand are killed. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death in children. The use of a safety seat may dramatically reduce the risk of serious injury or death in a collision.

Many parents have their children in car seats but unfortunately some fail to realize they are contributing to that risk by making common mistakes. It’s never a good idea to use an old or secondhand car seat. Older car seats are more likely to be missing proper installation instructions, could be missing parts, been involved in an accident, or recalled due to fault in design. One of the biggest mistakes made is not installing the car seat correctly. This includes not using the right type of seat belt to secure the child in the booster seat or not buckling the car seat tight enough.

Since children have large heads and weak necks, in a head-on collision, the child’s head may jerk violently resulting in spinal injuries. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends you keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible (until the age of 2) or until the child reaches the seat’s maximum rear-facing weight and height limits. Surprisingly enough, many parents that are cited with car seat violations have a child buckled into the car seat but do not have the seat itself buckled to the seat of the car. To know if your child is ready to use an adult seat belt, make sure they are at a height of at least 4 feet 9 inches and they can sit against the back of the seat with their knees bent at the edge of the seat. Also, the lap belt should rest flat across their upper thighs and the shoulder belt on the middle of their shoulder and chest.

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.

New Motorcycle Law for Michigan

There’s a new motorcycle law in Michigan that limits temporary riding permits. The law, which went into affect on January 1, 2015, allows motorcyclists to apply for a temporary 180-day permit only after taking a written safety or skills test. In the past, riders found a loophole by purchasing a temporary permit every riding season without taking the necessary test, leading many to never earn a full endorsement.  With the new law, riders will not be allowed to obtain a secondary or renewal of the temporary permit until they undergo the proper testing to gain a full endorsement.

The new 180-day permit allows the motorcyclists to ride during the day without a passenger as long as a fully licensed motorcycle operator supervises them. Enforcement has always been found to be difficult, but Michigan State Police are hoping the new law will make the roads safer for everyone. Many are supporting the new law and motorcycle business shop owners want to educate their customers. According to American Bikers Aiming Toward Education (ABATE), in 2012, 58 percent of riders killed in motorcycle accidents were not fully licensed.

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.

What to Do if your Car gets in a Flood

Many people are unaware of how damaging a flood can be to their vehicle. Water wreaks havoc on the interior, electrical system and the engine. There are a few steps you can do to assess the damage to your vehicle. First, do not attempt to start your vehicle. While it might be tempting to turn on your car to see if it still works, trying to start it could damage the engine beyond repair if there is water in the engine. The best thing for you to do is have your vehicle towed to a mechanic. If you see that your engine seems OK to start, check anything electrical. Stereo, power windows and locks, air conditioning, turn signals, headlights and interior lights. If you see that something seems to be even a bit odd, this could be a sign of electrical trouble and it’s best that you take it to a mechanic.

You should also determine how deep the vehicle was submerged. There should be a waterline on the car from the mud and debris, on the outside as well as the inside. Your vehicle will most likely be fine if the water level remained below the bottom of the doors. Many insurance companies will label the vehicle totaled if the water reaches the bottom of the dashboard.

If water managed to get inside, you should attempt to dry the interior, as mold will grow very quickly. It’s best to replacer anything that got wet- such as, floor mats, carpets, upholstery, seat padding and door panels.

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.

Michigan: Fireworks on Truck Go Off During Chain Crash

Late Friday morning roughly 150 vehicles on Interstate 94 were involved in a chain reaction accident that resulted in at least one dead. According to the Michigan State Police, the chain reaction accident occurred around 10:07 a.m. on I-94 causing the death of a trucker from Ottawa, Canada and an unknown number of people to be injured.  Two vehicles were up in flames, including a semi, which caused the freeway to be closed in both directions.

According to a witness, there was a truck carrying fireworks, which were launching and burning at the scene. A bus was brought in order to transport survivors from the crash scene. The weather might have played a tremendous role in the crash, as there was heavy snowfall. Ice-covered roads and snow are being blamed for the numerous crashes around Michigan. Across the state, some districts shut down for the day and many schools are closed.

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.

Turbulence Injuries

Most air travelers at some point or another will experience turbulence. There are varying degrees of turbulence, from minor bumps and shakes to more extreme and even violent experiences, which arouses fear and may result in injuries. What exactly is turbulence? According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it is air movement created by atmospheric pressure, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms, jet streams, or air around mountains. Although skies may appear clear, turbulence can be unexpected and still happen.

There are things passengers can do to avoid injuries. The FAA suggests passengers should listen to flight attendants-paying attention to the safety briefing at the start of the flight and reading the safety-briefing card. Also, wearing your seatbelt at all times is a way to remain safe, even if the captain has turned the seatbelt sign off. If your child is under two, make sure you use an approved child safety seat or device. Adhering to the airline’s carry-on policy and restrictions can also prevent Inflight injuries. From 2002-2013, there were 430 injuries caused by air turbulence, the figure including crewmembers.

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.

Michigan School Buses Fail Safety Inspections

If it was up to Mason County Central Schools, they would replace their oldest busses every year, but that isn’t the case. As a result, the rust on some of their buses is so severe that holes have formed on side panels, exposing the insulation beneath. The Western Michigan district is far from alone. Yearly inspections by the Michigan State Police found small, rural school districts were experiencing the most problems with their buses during the 2013-14 school year. Besides the age of the buses, possible reasons for the disparity between urban and rural districts could be due to a system's budget, quality of the roads, and number of mechanics as well as their level of experience. By contrast, the statewide failure rate was just over 10 percent, though the rate rose for the second straight year.

The districts blamed their high failure rates on aging fleets and the lack of money to replace them. After an inspection, buses are placed in one of three categories: pass, yellow or red. Yellow means the vehicle is safe to operate but its problems need to be fixed within 60 days. Red means the problem is so severe the bus must be taken off the road immediately and cannot return until it is corrected. As for the state as a whole, the number of buses that failed inspection jumped from 7.6 percent in 2011-12 to 9.5 percent in 2012-13 and 10.2 percent in 2013-14, according to state police figures.

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.