Motor City Accident Attorneys

Monday, December 7, 2015

Automatic Emergency Brakes soon to be required for 5-star vehicle safety rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced it will soon require new vehicles to come equipped with automatic emergency braking systems if they are to be given a 5-star safety rating. This new mandate will begin with model year 2018.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) technology relies on sensors in the vehicle that detect when a crash is likely about to happen and warns the driver, and then engages the brakes if necessary. This technology is mainly used to prevent rear-end collisions, as well as other scenarios where drivers fail to brake on time in order to avoid a crash.

U.S. Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx, states that this automatic emergency braking system has the potential to “substantially” increase safety, especially considering the large amount of distracted drivers on the road. Unlike drivers who may feel drowsy or distracted while driving, the AEB system is always on alert in the event that a driver’s reaction time and motor skills are delayed.

This system is important and will be a benefit to future car-buyers who can’t afford expensive vehicles, considering this safety technology right now is only available with the most expensive models of vehicles. Therefore, while this technology already exists, the majority of people don’t have access to it. So by making this technology a standard feature, soon more drivers may be able to benefit from this feature.

So far, there are 10 auto manufacturers that plan to make AEB technology a standard feature in all future vehicles. These manufacturers include: Volvo, Volkswagen, Toyota, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, General Motors, Ford, BMW, and Audi. And although the 5-star rating system is used for “recommended safety technology,” auto manufacturers do not legally have to include it. However, being able to market a vehicle with a 5-Star rating title is very useful seeing as how safety is a major concern to many consumers.

Consumer Reports recently evaluated a number of AEB systems available and the director of auto testing believes this technology can be the “biggest safety advancement since the introduction of stability control,” which was introduced over 20 years ago. A report by the National Transportation Safety Board also indicates that AEB technology could possibly prevent 80 percent of all rear-end collisions, which in turn could end up saving about 1,700 lives each year.

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, December 4, 2015

Smartwatches More Distracting Than Cellphones?

Cellphones and smartphones have been blasted within the past decade for being the cause of many distracted-driving accidents. As a result, many states have passed laws banning the use of cellphones while driving. These days, however, your watch could be next. If you have a smartwatch, that is. As new gadgets and devices come out every year, the next big thing could be smartwatches, which are still fairly new to the market but steadily growing. This means in time more people will have smartwatches and therefore this will add to the list of driving distractions.

A study by the U.K. Transport Research Laboratory found smartwatches are far more distracting than smartphones. The study found that it takes 2.52 seconds for someone to react in the event of an emergency after looking at their smartwatch, compared to 1.85 seconds if they were using a handheld cellphone.

These smartwatches such as the Apple watch, can beep and light up with new texts, emails, social media notifications, calendar and other app notifications. It also taps you on the wrist with a light vibrating touch to get your attention. It’s just like your smartphone but this one is conveniently placed on your wrist. It may be more convenient for faster checking, but that also means you get distracted more easily. All you have to do is look at your wrist when you see it light up, which even if you know you shouldn’t do while driving, you might naturally do it anyway without realizing.

Despite tougher enforcement of banning cellphone use while driving, the amount of related crashes is not decreasing. According to the National Safety Council, cellphone-related car accidents already account for 27 percent of all accidents in the United States. Can you imagine this percentage increasing if we throw smartwatches into the mix?

With the likely increase in popularity of smartwatches in the near future, especially with the holidays around the corner where people may be gifted one, this is a cause for concern. If you have one of these watches or will have one in the future, treat it just as you should with any other distraction while driving and leave it alone. Drivers don’t need another distraction behind the wheel.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Can Child Restraints Be Re-used After Minor Car Accidents?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that child car seats be replaced after a moderate or severe crash to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers. However, it is not necessary to replace child safety seats following a minor car accident.

You may be wondering how do you distinguish between a minor and moderate/severe accident? The NHTSA defines a minor crash as the following:

- The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site

- The vehicle door closest to the child’s car seat was undamaged

- Nobody present in the vehicle during the crash was injured

- The air bags did not go off

- There is no visible damage to the safety seat

Crashes that meet all of these criteria are much less severe and therefore highly unlikely to affect future child safety seat performance. Therefore, parents and caregivers can feel confident that child restraints involved in these types of minor accidents will continue to provide proper protection. However, it is still a good idea to check the manual that came with the child restraint and see what it says. If you’re still uncertain, contact the manufacturer.

In the past, the NHTSA recommended to replace a child restraint whenever it was involved in a crash no matter the severity of the crash. However, they have now revised that recommendation in order to reduce the number of children without a safety seat while their seat is being replaced, as well as to reduce the costs for consumers and insurance companies. The NHTSA has also cited many international studies since then that shows that child restraints still perform well in subsequent crash tests after being tested in minor crashes.

However, in severe crashes, car seats should be replaced, even if the child was not in the car seat or booster during the crash. The force of car crashes can be extreme as they can even bend the steel in your car’s frame, therefore, powerful enough to damage the plastic in your child’s car seat.

Monday, November 30, 2015

The Dangers of Intersections, Even During Green Lights

Green light at an intersection? Well it’s still a good idea to pay close attention around you. While you may have the right of way to cross the intersection, there have been times when severe accidents are caused by a vehicle in the opposite direction running the red light.

It is common knowledge that a yellow traffic light means to slow down, yet many drivers do the opposite of that and speed up in an effort to avoid catching the red light. The thing that many of these drivers don’t realize is that by doing this, you may end up crossing the intersection simultaneously while the cars perpendicular to your direction also begin to cross the intersection. Many drivers underestimate when that yellow light will turn red and therefore end up taking a red light. This is extremely dangerous because those whose light turns green can be tragically smashed into from the side.

This is why it is so important for drivers to keep a close lookout whenever they approach, enter, and cross through an intersection. It’s a good idea to wait even just one second when your light turns green before you cross that intersection. That second could be the second that another car runs that red light. You should look both ways before you pass through the intersection to make sure it is clear and that it is safe to go.

You should also be aware of intersections when driving late at night because that’s when there is most likely to be drunk drivers on the road, who may pass a red light even while the light for you has been green for a while. Unfortunately, driving comes with potentially having to be affected by the risky behavior of others and sometimes accidents will be inevitable. However, using caution can help you take some kind of evasive action that might turn a fatal collision into something a lot less severe. A large percentage of all accidents occur at intersections, so pay close attention and drive safely.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Traffic accidents among leading causes of child deaths

Despite plenty of public service advertising campaigns and state enforced child restraint laws, many parents still need to do more to protect their children while driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are a leading cause of death in children. Following proper safety guidelines, however, can help prevent a great number of these deaths.

The proper use of car seats for infants reduces the risk of death by 71% and by 54% for toddlers. The use of booster seats for children aged 4-8, reduces the risk of serious injury by 45%, as compared with the use of a seat belt alone. And the use of seat belts for older children reduces the risk of serious injury and death by 50%.

According to a study by the CDC, 72% of 3,500 observed car and booster seats were incorrectly used in such a way that they actually increased the risk of injury to a child.

Parents need to practice and secure proper use of restraint. Following these tips can help reduce the risk of injuries and more seriously, death, if involved in a car accident:

- Use the proper restraint system every time, no matter how short the trip is.

- The middle of the back seat is the safest place in the car.

- Never seat children in front of an airbag.

- Use a rear-facing car seat for infants under the age of two.

- Use a forward facing car seat for children ages two to five.

- For children five and up, use a booster seat until a seat belt fits them properly. Seat belts should fit so that the lap belt lays across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt lies across the chest.

- Make sure you install and use the car and booster seats correctly. If you need help, you can contact certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians who can assist you.

The consequences for improperly using car seats can be severe. Therefore, it’s extremely important to make sure your child is well secured in their car seat. It could make all the difference in a life or death situation.