Motor City Accident Attorneys

Monday, November 16, 2015

Tips For A Happy and Safe Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and while it seems like a simple harmless holiday filled with an abundance of food and company, a lot of accidents tend to occur on Thanksgiving. Did you know what Thanksgiving Day has more than double the number of home cooking fires than an average day? Each year, more than 4,000 fires occur on Thanksgiving Day. Not only that, but many car accidents occur the day before and after Thanksgiving because people are traveling to visit their families, which means there are more cars on the highway. With that being said, here are some tips to help you have a happy and safe Thanksgiving:

Cooking Safety Tips

- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the cooking area

- Clean all cooking surfaces to prevent grease buildup

- Stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen, make sure you turn the burners off.

- Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby that you can use to cover the pan if it catches on fire.

- Place turkey fryers outside and away from the house, deck, and garage.

- Turn handles of pots and pans on the stove inward to avoid someone bumping into it causing the cooking pan to fall.

- Keep potholders and food wrappers at least three feet away from heat sources while cooking

Traveling Safety Tips

- Check air pressure in tires and top-off windshield fluid.

- Always wear your seatbelt and obey all traffic signs.

- Avoid distractions while driving such as using the phone or eating something while driving.

- Have a designated driver who won’t be drinking alcohol if you plan to leave after the celebration

- Make sure you are well rested and be careful about driving immediately after the big meal. A full stomach can cause drowsiness.

- Give yourself a little more time to get to where you are going, and be aware of the vehicles around you.

Keeping these safety tips in mind can help you prevent an accident, which would be a terrible way to spend your holiday. Thanksgiving is a great day to spend with your loved ones and enjoy a good feast; just remember to use precaution, be responsible, and be safe.

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, November 9, 2015

The 5 Most Deadliest Days Of The Year In America & Tips To Be Safe

The end-of-the-year holidays are just around the corner, and while they can be fun and great, they can also be dangerous days to be on the road, in addition to other days to be listed below. This isn’t meant to scare or discourage anyone from having a good time on these days, but to simply help drivers stay informed and use caution while on the road. Below are the five days of the year that are more likely for drunk drivers to be on the road.

New Year’s Eve

People are going to parties and events and staying there well after midnight and then attempt to go home in the early hours of the morning, after a long night of drinking. Reports have shown that drunk drivers cause 50% of all New Year’s Day car accidents.

Super Bowl Sunday

People like to have viewing parties for Super Bowl Sunday and it is very common for people to drink while watching the Super Bowl. They then go back home while still being legally intoxicated.

Fourth of July

This is another big holiday known for its festivities and drinking. Many people enjoy being outside and having a BBQ, but end up getting very intoxicated. This can go on throughout any hours of the holiday so always be aware of drivers on the road who could be intoxicated.

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend is always full of festivities due to it being an extended weekend. Drunk driving accidents take an almost 400% increase on Labor Day. It also means the end of summer, so many people like to go out to drink and celebrate. This is by far one of the most deadly days of the year.

Thanksgiving Day

Many people celebrate Thanksgiving not only with an extravagant feast, but by having a couple drinks with their friends and family. Many people go to their friends’ or other family members’ houses to celebrate together, which can be very dangerous when they are going back home afterwards.

Even if you know you’re not going to end up driving after drinking during these holidays, it is still dangerous just to be sharing the road with those who are. It is also important to consider your loved ones. Anyone can become a victim to a terrible accident when drunk driving is so common during these days of the year. The best way to stay safe is to try to stay away from the streets and not drive. But if you do, always wear your seat belt and make sure you watch other cars more carefully than usual, especially later in the day. If you are stopped at a red light, take an extra moment to check crossing traffic as your light turns green. There could be someone that takes a red light as yours turns green. Just remember to use extra caution.

Traffic deaths have increased 14% in 2015: Why?

According to new data from the National Safety Council, traffic fatalities have been up 14% in 2015. This year there have been over 18,600 motor-vehicle deaths from January to June. In 2014, there were 16,400 deaths during the same period of time. The estimated cost of the deaths, injuries, and property damage related to these crashes is $152 billion, which is up 24% from 2014. This has been the deadliest year for drivers since 2007.

So why would the percentage of accidents be higher this year? National Safety Council president Deborah Hersman says some reasons may be that because gas has been more affordable this year compared the recent past years (about 30% down from 2014), people are driving more, and therefore that produces more chances of accidents.

Another reason is that since the unemployment rate has also gone down compared to the past couple years, people are working more so there are more cars on the road. As stated earlier, more cars on the road means higher chances of accidents. Also, cell phone use has gone up; people are using their phones more and more now for more things – not just to talk or text. Social media use on phones while driving has gone up. The more distracted drivers and the more drivers there are, the more accidents.

While it’s difficult to measure exactly why fatalities this year have been on the rise, these are all probable causes. The best way that you can make sure you do not become part of this increased statistic is by practicing safe driving. You can’t control how many people are out on the road, but you can at least control how you drive your vehicle.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Five Safety Habits For Motorcyclists

We’re all well aware that motorcycles don’t have an exterior frame like cars do. This is the main reason why they are deemed as more dangerous than vehicles. A vehicle that is involved in a minor accident or a fender bender can be a serious accident for a motorcyclist simply because of the lack of protection between the rider and outside forces. Therefore it is riskier to ride a motorcycle so if you own a motorcycle or are thinking about owning one, you should practice the following guidelines to increase your safety on the road:

Maintain your motorcycle

Make it a habit to regularly check that your lights, horn, turn signals, and other critical components like the brakes, chain, and tires are working. Tires that are underinflated can make steering and handling the bike more difficult. Any of these components failing to work properly while on the road can result in a serious accident, especially since a motorcycle offers no physical protection like that of a vehicle.

Dress for Safety

Always wear a helmet, even if you’re going on a short ride. You need some protection to make up for the lack of physical protection that motorcycles don’t provide. Motorcycles also don’t have seatbelts so it’s very easy to get thrown off your bike and severely inure your head. While a helmet is the most important gear, it is also important to wear protective clothing such as leather or thick jackets, long sleeves/pants, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, etc. This type of protective clothing protects you from if you happen to hit and slide along rough asphalt. That could scrape you up very badly.

Maintain visibility

Be aware of the blind spots cars and trucks have. Use lane positioning to be seen. You should ride in a part of a lane where you are most visible and try to stay in front of the visibility of other motor vehicles to avoid their blind spot. Avoid weaving between lanes. It’s also a good idea to use reflective strips or decals on your clothing and on your motorcycle.

Leave enough space

Give yourself and other motorists enough space and time to respond to each other’s actions. Practice stops on your bike in a safe environment so that you know how much space you need and then give yourself that space in traffic. It’s important to leave good space between your bike and the vehicle in front of you, and you should also try to keep an escape route open to the side if you can’t stop in time.

Know your bike and how to use it

Be familiar with your bike and how it rides and responds to your actions. Know how to handle your bike in rainy, windy, and snowy conditions, as well as uneven surfaces. The more you develop your riding techniques before going into heavy traffic, the better you will know how to handle your bike on the road. Always ride within your skill level. Don’t attempt a maneuver during heavy traffic that you’re not familiar with.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Texting While Walking: How Dangerous is it?

If you’re someone who checks your phone a lot while you’re walking down city sidewalks, crossing street to street, you may want to start keeping your eyes on what’s in front of you. It is well known that you should never text while you drive, but how dangerous is texting while walking? Texting while walking across streets can have serious consequences as well.

Texting while walking decreases the ability to walk in a straight line, just like it may cause you to swerve while driving. In an experiment performed by Jack Nasar, a professor emeritus at Ohio State University, he found that pedestrians who use their phones while walking are 48 percent more likely to walk into oncoming traffic.

Distracted walkers also take longer to cross the street because being distracted on your phone slows you down. Because you are distracted, you are also more likely to ignore traffic lights or fail to look both ways. All these actions increase your chance of getting into a pedestrian/vehicle accident.

This issue especially has been prevalent among teens. Nearly 40 percent of teens in the U.S. have either been hit or close to being hit by a passing car, motorcycle, or bike due to cell phone-related distractions.

Pedestrian deaths in general have risen by 15 percent since 2009, and the number of pedestrians injured while on their phones has more than doubled since 2005, according to a study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University. This could be due to the fact that people use their cellphones for more tasks now, now that smart phones and social media have become a lot more common over the years.

The fact of the matter is that while it might be more dangerous to text and drive because you’re using a multi-ton vehicle and potentially threatening the lives of others on the road, using your phone while walking is still very risky and dangerous for your own safety. It is simply best to just leave the phone away especially while crossing an intersection, or it may increase your chance of becoming another pedestrian accident statistic.