Motor City Accident Attorneys

Friday, October 30, 2015

Top three causes of car accidents in America

When we get behind the wheel of a car, we take on a huge responsibility. We take on a responsibility for the safety of other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The unfortunate news is that car accidents are very common. However, the good news is that they can be prevented. Do you know what are the top three causes of car accidents? They may not be what you think they are.

1. Distracted Driving
The leading cause of car accidents is distracted driving, whether it is talking or texting on the phone, eating, reading, or talking to other passengers in the vehicle. Drivers using a hand-held device are actually four times more likely to get into a car accident than those who are not. And if you’re texting while driving, you are then 23 times more likely to get into an accident. Leave the multi-tasking behind and give your undivided attention to the road. Such a preventable action could end up costing you or someone else’s life.

2. Speeding

Speeding contributes to about a third of all car accidents in America. The faster you are going, the riskier it is for you and others on the road. It’s never worth saving an extra 10 minutes when there are lives on the line. Practice safe driving habits and follow the speed limit.

3. Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is one of the most dangerous things a person could do on the road. According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), a person dies every 52 minutes in a drunk driving related accident. This is why you should always have a designated driver or take a cab home. Also, if you suspect your friend is too drunk to drive, make sure they don’t get behind the wheel. Drunk driving is extremely irresponsible to the safety of others on the road.

Now that you know the top three causes, just think about how many accidents could be prevented and how many lives could be saved if everyone put their phone away, obeyed the speed limit, and didn’t drive drunk. You can be a responsible citizen by straying away from these actions and help make the road safer for everyone.

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.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Things to Watch Out For About GPS Systems

GPS systems are great tools to help reach your destination, whether you’re going on a long road trip across the country or even an address within your town. They are really commonly used today now that most phones have navigational apps. It’s no longer just an extra feature you have to add when purchasing a car, or an actual device you have to buy separately. While they can help you find what you’re looking for, sometimes they can pose a hazard in some situations. It’s important to keep certain things in mind when using one:

They Aren’t Always Right
GPS units are not always 100% accurate. Sometimes they may lose satellite signal, which affects its accuracy, navigating you to go in the wrong direction, or may have a delayed response due to poor satellite connection. For example, it may tell you to turn when you no longer have enough time or distance to switch lanes. It’s important to not jerk your vehicle in a sudden reaction to what it’s telling you. Also, many times GPS units don’t know if a street is only one-way, so it may navigate you to turn right on a one-way street going left. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to any street signs and to where your GPS is directing you, or you could turn into a wrong direction and cause a serious head-on collision.

Watch Out For Construction
Road construction may cause certain roads to be closed, and they may be roads your GPS unit tells you to take. Some GPS units may not recognize road changes or be updated to reflect on those changes. So be on the lookout if you reach an area with construction going on and pay attention to where you’re going, or you can end up in an accident such as going onto a barricaded route.

Pay Attention
You should keep your GPS mounted in a place where you can see it without taking your eyes off the road, such as the dashboard or a suction cup mount on the windshield. If the GPS is on your phone and you don’t have a way of placing it somewhere with easy view, don’t look down at your phone but hold it up to your eye level, although it is preferable that in this case you just listen to the directions, as looking at your phone can be distracting.

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, October 26, 2015

Spotting A Drunk Driver

We all know that being on the same road as a drunk driver can be very risky and dangerous. Unfortunately, drunk driving happens very often. According to data compiled by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), one out of every 25 drivers is driving illegally intoxicated, and the percentage of drunk drivers is even higher on nights and weekends. Given the high frequency of drunk driving, it’s important to know the signs of intoxication on the road. Here are some signs and tips on what to do if you spot a drunk driver so that you can help protect yourself and your loved ones.

Stop and Go Driving

Drunk drivers can tend to lose track of where they’re going and what they’re doing while they’re driving. They may come to a stop randomly for no reason and then continue driving again.

Uneven or Wide Turns

Drunk drivers often over or underestimate their turns because they have trouble measuring distance. For example, they will make a wide turn at a simple corner and then try to adjust quickly mid-turn. This reaction makes it look like a swerve mid-turn. If you see someone turn like this, watch for other signs of drunk driving after they turn.

Driving too fast or too slow

An intoxicated driver oftentimes drives more than 10 mph under the speed limit to try to focus on the road and be extra careful in order to avoid being detected. Or they may drive extra fast, more than the average speeder, because their motor skills are impaired and don’t realize what they are doing.

Straddling Lanes

One of the most common signs of detecting a drunk driver is when they are straddling two lanes for miles or keep changing into the next lane without signaling and then jerk back to their own lane. This is commonly known as swerving and if a driver can’t stay in his or her own lane, steer clear away from them.

These are just some of the most common signs of drunk driving. If you think you happen to spot a drunk driver, stay far away from their vehicle. If you notice someone’s driving is a dangerous hazard on the road, notify the police but do not try to interfere personally as that can cause a serious accident.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Most Common Types of Bicycle Accidents

In 2013, 743 people lost their lives in bicycle/motor vehicle accidents. Why do most of these accidents happen? We’ve listed some of the most common causes of bicycle and vehicle collisions.

Midblock rideout: This is the most frequent type of accident for young riders, and it happens soon after the bicyclist enters the road from a driveway, alley, or curb without slowing down, stopping, or looking for traffic. This sudden entry from the bicyclist leaves the vehicle driver too little time to avoid the collision.

Wrong-way riding: Riding against traffic confuses drivers as they do not expect traffic to be approaching from the wrong way. You should ride on the right side with traffic.

Bicyclist left turn or sudden swerve: A lot of accidents occur when the bicyclist swerves to the left without checking traffic or signaling to the vehicles behind them. Suddenly moving in front of a vehicle does not give the driver enough time to avoid a crash. Always look out for traffic and signal when turning. Make sure the driver is aware of your intention.

Stop sign ride-out: This type of crash occurs at a two-way stop intersection when a bicyclist enters the intersection from a lane that has a stop sign and then collides with a vehicle approaching from a direction that does not have a stop sign.

Motorist overtaking cyclist: When motorists do not see the bicyclist and fail to react until it’s too late. This is more likely to happen at night and on narrow rural roads. Many times it is also due to the driver not paying attention or being impaired.

Always be very cautious when entering roads or switching lanes while on your bike. It’s important to understand common causes of bicycle accidents so that you can try to prevent them from happening by taking preventive measures.

Friday, October 16, 2015

Preventing A Slip and Fall

Slip and Fall accidents do not only happen because of wet or damp floors. Clutter, footwear, and improper cleaning can also be a hazard and a potential slip and fall incident. The type of flooring used is actually the main cause of 50 percent of facility accidents, according to reports.

The three general causes of these accidents are due to physical, social, and environmental factors. Environmental factors such as rain, snow, or soil and dust are difficult to control, but it’s good to be prepared for weather conditions and address these concerns before they become a hazard. Using proper matting in entryways can reduce the elements that are tracked into the facility.

Social factors such as a person’s age, footwear, or simply being distracted from your surroundings are another cause of slip, trip, and fall incidents. These social factors are also in little control of cleaning crews. Footwear accounts for 24 percent of all slip and fall accidents according to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). Women’s tall high-heeled shoes, for example, a large percent of the shoe does not touch the ground. Less contact with the ground means the likely it is to lose balance and fall.

Statistically, age plays a big role in slip and fall incidents. The average victims of slip and falls are women over 60.

Physical factors such as poor vision, walking struggles, lack of stability, etc., are another cause of slip and fall incidents. Cleaning crews also have little control over these factors. However, with proper hazard identification, people with sensitive physical conditions can be cautious of their surroundings. Cleaners should notify building occupants of potential hazards and provide proper signage. Training workers to properly clean floors can also reduce these physical factors. According to the NFSI, 7 percent of accidents are attributed to training issues, such as the improper use of cleaning chemicals or floor finishes.

It is important for proper cleaning to be stressed by cleaning managers. Proper flooring should also be enforced to help prevent accidents attributed to the factors above.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Safety Precautions When Being Around Dogs

Sometimes we see people walking their dogs and we want to pet them, or we visit friends who have dogs and attempt to play with them. Pets are generally known to be friendly, loyal, and playful companions. But sometimes that’s not always the case with everyone. According to the CDC, more than 4.7 million dog-bite incidents occur in the United States every year. How can you make sure you don’t become a victim of a dog-bite? We’ve given you these safety precautions for being safe around unfamiliar dogs.

Lets first discuss why dogs bite in the first place. Dogs may bite because they are in a stressed situation or feel scared or threatened. They also may bite to protect their owners or their puppies. They may get startled by something and react. When being around a dog, you should be aware of their body language and mental state to be able to detect a bite situation more quickly.

Preventing Dog Bites

Don’t approach unfamiliar dogs. If you do approach an owner with their dog, always ask the owner first if it’s ok to pet them.

If an unfamiliar dog approaches you, do not run or scream. Remain calm and motionless. Dogs can sense when you are scared, which can make them feel uneasy.

Don’t disturb a dog when it is eating, sleeping, or taking care of its puppies.

Don’t pet a dog without letting it see and sniff you first.

Pay attention to its body language. If its body is tense, its ears are pulled back, or its got furrowed brows, this indicates that the dog is not in a comfortable and relaxed state.

Following these tips may help prevent you from getting bitten in a potential situation. Respect the dog and be mindful of its environment and mental state.

Monday, July 6, 2015

Offices: Injury Prone Zone

Believe it or not, a typical office environment can be the scene of many potential dangers as the top injuries happen to people who work 100% indoors. An injury can happen from just about anything; objects improperly placed (causing trips), or sitting for long periods of time typing (back, neck, wrist and hand pain).

The most common office accident is falls. Not only are falls common in the workplace, they are also responsible for causing the most disabling injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People who work in an office are up to 2.5 times more likely to suffer a disabling injury than those who do not work in an office.

Common causes of falls:
• Reaching or bending for something while sitting in an unstable chair.
• Tripping over an open file or desk drawer, loose carpeting, electrical cords/wire or objects in walkways/hallways.
• Slipping on wet floor.
• Using a chair instead of a ladder.

Be careful whenever you are lifting. Even the smallest loads (computer paper, stacks of files, computer monitor, etc.) can still lead to a back, neck or shoulder injury if not handled properly. Before lifting anything, make sure it’s not too heavy for you. If it is, ask someone to help you. Never use your back when lifting and keep it in a straight position. Pick up objects with your entire hand (not just fingers) and hold it close to your body while refraining from twisting.

According to the CDC, office workers often bump into objects themselves, get struck by objects or get caught in or between objects, causing injuries. How your workstation is set up plays an important role on your risk of getting injuries. A workstation that is properly positioned will allow your elbow to be at 90 degrees and your computer monitor at eye level and will reduce your risk of suffering from musculoskeletal problems.

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.