Motor City Accident Attorneys

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Selfies: The Latest Distracted Driving Craze

We all know about the dangers that distractions while driving can cause. People usually think of these distractions being texting or talking on the phone. But the latest driving distraction craze is that more and more drivers are getting distracted by taking “selfies.” Selfies, short for self-portraits, have become a cultural phenomenon that has become very popular mainly among young people who use social media. With the development of more social media over the years, selfies are just about everywhere you look while on the web or on social media. And now that phones are being built with impressive cameras, people are taking more pictures with their phones than with an actual camera. This is why taking selfies while driving has increased, because people always have their phone at hand. Most people aren’t carrying around cameras. Therefore, this just adds to yet another distraction that cell phones have while driving.

These selfies are being snapped and uploaded to Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and other social media outlets. Even if you are taking one of these self-portraits while stopped at a red light, you are being distracted from paying attention to your surroundings and when the light turns green.

In a study conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists in Britain, which is like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 500 drivers of all ages were asked about how they use their cellphones while driving. One in five drivers admitted to taking a selfie in the car. The study found that motorists between the ages of 25 and 35 are more likely to snap these photos while on the road. Women took car selfies at a much lower rate than men, surprisingly. One in eight men had taken selfies in the car while only one in twenty women had. While selfies may seem more common on social media among women, it’s possible they are less likely to take them on the road because women tend to drive more carefully than men.

Although the study was conducted in the U.K, the trend of distracted driving stretches around the world. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving car accidents injured 424,000 people in 2013 and caused 3,154 deaths. AT&T launched an anti-distracted driving campaign earlier this year, saying that a recent study revealed seven out of 10 people engage in smartphone activities while behind the wheel. It’s safe to say these activities include picture-taking.

So if you think about snapping one of these selfies next time you’re driving, remember that it can wait. That selfie taken by you while driving could come back and haunt you if you get involved in an accident. It is simply not worth it.

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, May 6, 2016

Drivers Talk On Cellphones Less, Surf and Email More

State Farm has been conducting an annual survey since 2009 that tracks the behaviors of drivers in relation to their cell phones. Surveys show that actual talking on cellphones has decreased, while texting while driving has remained steady. Surfing the web while driving, however, has significantly increased.

According to State Farm, the number of drivers who use the Internet has doubled (from 13% in 2009 to 26% in 2014), and reading emails while driving has nearly doubled as well (15% in 2009 to 25% in 2014). Social media usage while driving has also increased from 9% in 2009 to 20% in 2014.

Since 2007, 44 states and the District of Columbia have placed bans on texting while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Fourteen states and Washington D.C. prohibit the use of hand-held cellphones while driving. No state prohibits all cellphone use behind the wheel, however.

Chris Mullen, State Farm’s director of technology research says it’s not certain why these certain behaviors are increasing, but they are just as dangerous. “People have a perception of what they are able to do with the attention span they have (while driving). They believe they have available attention they can spend on something in addition to driving. They will spend that time with various behaviors.”

As technology continues to advance, people become more and more addicted to their devices. Now that people have their whole lives at their fingertips (email, social life/media, internet, etc.), it’s incredibly easy and common nature to constantly check these things on the phone. No matter if you are texting or checking your email, you are looking down at that phone when your eyes should be on the road. The only safe thing you could do with your phone while driving is to not be on it at all.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Automobile Back Injuries

Car accidents occur every day. Unfortunately, damage from these crashes is not always limited to the vehicles involved. Many of these accidents, even if they aren’t very serious, can cause personal injury. And one of the most common of these injuries is back injuries. Even a minor accident can cause you to harm your back. Even if you don’t feel it at first, you may feel it later.

The spine can be divided into three distinct areas: cervical vertebrae (neck), thoracic vertebrae (upper back), and lumbar vertebrae (lower back). Each section of the spinal cord and its vertebrae are surrounded by discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves, which if damaged can cause anywhere from mild to excruciating pain.

- Thoracic Spine Injuries

The thoracic spine, the upper and middle back, connects to the ribs and chest region. It joins the cervical spine and extends down about five inches past the bottom of the shoulder blades, where it connects with the lumbar spine. Sprains and fractures in this area are primarily caused by high velocity auto accidents, and may result in permanent nerve damage.

- Lumbar Spine Injuries

The lumbar spine is comprised of the five largest vertebrae and the strongest of the muscles necessary to provide stability for the spine. Therefore, a sprain or strain to the lumbar spine can prove to be particularly painful. A sprain involves actual damage to the ligaments, while a strain is a stretching of the ligaments, tendons, or muscles. Either injury may result in limited movement, swelling, bruising, tenderness, and may severely impact the person’s ability to perform daily activities.

- Herniated Discs

Discs are the cushions that separate the vertebrae and protect the spine. A herniated disc occurs when a disc is displaced. The herniated disc usually places pressure on the spinal cord or its surrounding nerves. Sudden and intense pain in the lower region of the back and numbness in the legs are the most commonly reported symptoms.

- Spinal Cord Injuries

The most serious back injuries involve the spinal cord. Such injuries range from bruising or excessive pressure to permanent damage to the spinal cord and nerves, leading to long-term disability. Spinal cord injuries often result in total or partial paralysis, loss of feeling in certain areas of the body, and loss of reflex function.

Oftentimes, certain back injuries require short-term, temporary treatment such as pain medication, injections for inflammation, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. For more serious back injuries, surgery is required. No matter the injury, it is unfortunate when it occurs. So the best way to try to avoid this from happening to you, is to make sure you always have your seat belt on and drive cautiously. A seat belt may not only save your life, but could save you from serious injury as well.

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.

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.