Car accidents injure or kill 50 to 73% more California women than men annually. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), decades of research and human factors engineering goes into the creation and calibration of each male or female crash dummy. Female crash dummies are five feet tall, and they weigh 110 pounds. Becky Mueller, IIHS senior research engineer, reports that it will take at least 10 years of real accident and injury data to create more accurate crash-dummies. IIHS is waiting patiently for real accident victims' data to be collected.
]]> Women's hips tend to be broader than men's. The biological differences between men and women are nothing new. Does it really take 10 years to design and build anatomically correct crash dummies?In a situation where a person was injured or someone died in a car accident in the state of California, an experienced personal injury lawyer may be able to prove that a third-party breached a duty to the injured party and is liable for his or her injuries or the death of a loved one. The personal injury lawyer may be able to negotiate a settlement or prepare the case for trial to obtain financial compensation for medical expenses and other losses.
]]>As for the safest states, the top five are New Hampshire, South Dakota, Delaware, Hawaii and North Dakota. While population has a lot to do with the rankings, there are some outliers. For example, Tennessee is not among the most populous states, but it had the eighth highest number of accidents involving seniors.
]]> About 42 million licensed drivers in the U.S. are 65 or older, a 60% increase from 1999. The number of seniors dying in traffic accidents is also increasing, with 2017 seeing nearly 7,000 deaths. They composed 18% of the traffic deaths that year. The number of fatalities among younger drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians has been declining since 2009.Signs that a senior should not drive include hearing, vision and motor impairment in addition to slow reaction times. However, it is hard for many to give up the freedom that a driver's license provides.
If a senior causes a car crash, their auto insurance company will likely have to face a claim from any injured victims. A successful personal injury claim could reimburse a plaintiff for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and more. It all depends on the severity of the collision. In any case, a victim may want to retain legal counsel because insurance companies can be aggressive in denying payment or getting plaintiffs to agree to a low settlement.
]]>Although universally used, the term "car accident" can be somewhat misleading. Accident implies an event that may have occurred due to unfortunate and unavoidable circumstances. While some vehicle crashes are in fact the result of occurrences that could not have been prevented by the drivers involved, insurance analysts report the majority of incidents involving injury and/or property damage on the nation's roadways are caused by the negligent driving.
]]> Far exceeding all other causes, distracted driving leads the list. Distracted driving is any activity that causes the driver to not pay attention to the task at hand. It generally leads to taking hands of the wheel or eyes off the road. Phone use and texting are common modern distractions. Other preventable accident causes are drunk driving and violating laws such as speeding, running red lights, or other forms off reckless driving.Even when inclement weather is a factor, drivers are charged with the duty of driving safely under the conditions and not presenting a danger to others on the road. If someone has been hurt by a negligent driver, compensation for damages may be warranted. An experienced personal injury lawyer could help a crash victim obtain a fair settlement.
]]>However, LA wasn't the only California city to be included in the top 15 most dangerous for drivers. Oakland, San Francisco and Glendale all made the cut as well. Highway 880 was considered the most dangerous in Oakland, and it was also considered the most dangerous in Hayward, which was number 15 on the list. Highway 101 was the most dangerous in San Francisco. Other cities to make the most dangerous list included Baltimore, Providence and Philadelphia. Baltimore was named the most dangerous city to drive in overall.
]]> The report also listed the 15 cities that were the safest for drivers. Brownsville, Texas, was considered the safest city as the average motorist there could expect to go almost 15 years before getting into a collision. Laredo and McAllen were other cities in Texas that made the safe driving list. Some relatively major cities to make the list included Boise, Scottsdale and Kansas City.Someone who has been hurt in a car crash may try to obtain compensation for medical expenses and other damages. This assumes that another person or entity is liable for the accident that caused the victim to incur those damages. An attorney could use witness statements, photos or a police report to establish that another party was responsible for the accident. While an attorney may file a lawsuit, cases can be resolved through a settlement.
]]>Truck drivers are required to have special licenses, and they have a heightened responsibility to use care and drive safely. However, some drivers make mistakes. For example, many drive while tired, distracted or intoxicated. Despite all these potential issues, statistics indicate that most semi truck accidents are the result of an error by a passenger vehicle driver.
]]> There are thousands of moving parts on a large truck, and the failure of any piece of equipment can lead to deadly consequences. A particular part can fail because of manufacturer negligence or because of maintenance shortfalls. If the manufacturer has been negligent in making the part, that negligence might be actionable.Trucking companies are required to perform regular maintenance on their fleets to make sure the trucks are safe to be on the road. Worn or damaged brake pads, cracks in windshields and other seemingly minor issues can lead to major accidents.
Someone who has been injured in a truck accident might be able to file a claim for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses or other damages. An attorney with experience in personal injury law could help in such cases by examining the causes of the crash and identifying potential sources of recovery. Legal counsel might draft and file a complaint for relief in civil court or negotiate a settlement with at-fault parties or insurance companies.
]]>The years 2015 and 2016 were the worst in terms of traffic fatalities since at least the 1960s, prompting many to suggest that a new era in driving had begun. There are grounds for such concerns: More drivers are, for example, letting smartphones and in-vehicle technology distract them from the road. But 2017 saw a 2% decline in traffic fatalities with 37,133 dying in motor vehicle crashes. In 2018, that number went down about 1% to 36,750.
]]> At the same time, 2018 was a worse year for pedestrians and bicyclists, both of whom are becoming vulnerable as urbanization continues. NHTSA estimates that there were 4% more bicyclist deaths and 10% more pedestrian fatalities. Data from Automotive News confirms the long-standing nature of this trend. In 1996, 80% of all traffic deaths in the U.S. were vehicle occupants, while 20% were pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. In 2017, the latter formed 33% of all traffic deaths.Pedestrians, motorcyclists and vehicle occupants who are injured through no fault of their own may file a claim and be reimbursed for medical expenses, income lost during the physical recovery and more. It may be a good idea, though, to see an attorney who works in personal injury law. After seeing if the case is valid under California's rule of comparative negligence, the lawyer might proceed to build the case with evidence gathered by investigators. If the other side is willing, the lawyer may negotiate a settlement.
]]>Another problem is that employers cannot submit hair test failures to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a database said to go into effect in 2020. Employers, then, will have no way of knowing that a potential employee has failed previous tests. The reason is that the DoT only recognizes urine analyses. The Department of Health and Human Services has yet to produce guidelines for hair analyses.
]]> Employers are free to require a second drug test besides the urine analysis, but many in the trucking industry are beginning to see hair analyses as something essential rather than optional. In fact, the Alliance survey found that urine analyses by themselves fail to catch 9 out of 10 drug users.Cocaine, opioids and marijuana are the three most prevalent drugs among truckers. Drugged driving is likely partly behind the rise in trucking accidents.
Sometimes, though, drug users may slip by because of trucking company negligence. Whoever is to blame, though, an accident with a commercial truck can lead to serious injuries. Those who have been harmed through no fault of their own are entitled to compensation, so they may want to see a lawyer about filing a claim. This means gathering evidence against the driver, the trucking company, or another responsible party.
]]>The management systems provider considered several different factors related to commercial trucks, including average speeding events per day and mile as well as fatalities per vehicle miles traveled. Based on these criteria, the safest area for fleet drivers is within the East Coast, even with the infamous I-95 corridor and other common "problem" areas. Virginia, Washington and New Hampshire are among the states that ranked as the safest places for commercial fleet operators. The most dangerous states were in the South and Midwest with Oklahoma and Texas topping the list.
]]> Commercial vehicle drivers in Virginia and Connecticut were less likely to be speeding while getting from point A to point B. But drivers in South Dakota had the most frequent cases of "lead foot," followed by fleet drivers in North Dakota and Montana. Another fleet management systems provider asked truck drivers to identify their top safety concerns. Passenger drivers cutting off trucks, the need for sufficient space between trucks and other vehicles, and a lack of proper turn signal use were among the top concerns mentioned. Some truck drivers also expressed concerns about texting, other distractions and driver fatigue.Should personal injuries be experienced as a result of a commercial fleet driver's negligence, a truck collision attorney may pursue a case against the at-fault driver. It's also possible for a commercial fleet company to be considered a responsible party if they failed to screen a negligent driver or properly discipline a truck driver involved with previous incidents while on the job.
]]>Identifying the responsible party in a truck accident might become difficult when drivers operate trucks owned by separate companies. The cargo could possibly belong to a third party, which adds another layer of complication. When ownership and responsibility lack clarity, the assignment of liability could become contentious.
]]> Liability might also hinge upon the violation of trucking regulations. A driver exceeding the maximum number of hours behind the wheel might support a claim of trucker fatigue, but the injured party needs to access this information to bring it up during a personal injury claim. Similarly, some trucks record information that could indicate the speed that the truck was traveling at the time of the accident.Trucking companies and their insurers typically work to deny or limit accident claims. Victims can expect these entities to discredit or discount accusations about who caused the accident.
Because a victim of a truck accident might have severe injuries that require a long and costly recovery time, the responsible parties have strong motivation to fight a claim. The representation of an attorney might counteract these efforts and relieve a victim of the need to navigate unfamiliar insurance and legal systems alone. An attorney might find evidence of trucking company negligence after investigating truck data, truck driver logs and police reports. This information could support an insurance claim or lawsuit. Ultimately, legal services may shield the person from accepting a low settlement out of desperation as medical bills pile up.
]]>The study indicates that human drivers perform better at changing lanes than the Navigate on Autopilot feature. Plus, the Autopilot feature was responsible for other possible risks. For instance, it often failed to leave enough room between cars. The feature is not fully capable of self-direction because drivers must get involved in order to prevent possible collisions. The Autopilot feature has already failed to prevent three fatal car collisions.
]]> According to researchers, the Navigate on Autopilot feature also performs poorly at merging into traffic on a busy freeway. Testers noted that the system frequently initiated sudden stops for no apparent reason. In response, a Tesla official stated that the report was flawed. The spokesperson said that the Autopilot feature has already been used for millions of miles by Tesla drivers without experiencing any problems.No matter how sophisticated a car's safety features may be, the driver is still responsible for maintaining control and exercising a certain duty of care while on the road. A driver who fails at this may be considered negligent. The victim of a car accident caused by a negligent driver or malfunctioning vehicle may want to partner with a personal injury attorney. A lawyer could help the client file a claim to cover medical expenses, lost wages and other accident-related damages.
]]>In particular, drivers do not understand the limitations of car safety tech, and not everyone will take the time to read through an owner's manual. Therefore, switching to a car with semi-automated technology, especially a rental car, will not always be smooth.
]]> In a recent survey, 11% of respondents thought that semi-automated technology allowed them to use their phone, read or engage in some other activity while behind the wheel. About half of all new vehicles being manufactured are semi-automated, so this confusing of semi-automated cars with fully automated cars may only lead to more and more accidents.Car safety tech includes automatic emergency braking (set to be a standard component on all new vehicles by 2022), adaptive cruise control and blind spot cameras. These all have their shortcomings. For example, rear-facing cameras often fail to detect children and small objects.
Safety tech does not take away a driver's responsibility to maintain control of their vehicle. If a driver crashes because they were distracted, then they could be held liable. Someone who incurs an injury may be able to seek compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering and other losses. This means filing a personal injury claim against the negligent driver's auto insurance company. An attorney could help with this process.
]]>According to data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding played a role in 94% of all traffic accidents in 2015. In 2017, speeding played a role in 26% of all traffic-related fatalities. The CVSA also reports that speeding has been a factor in almost a third of all traffic deaths for over 20 years. The organization says that traffic tickets and warnings are a proven way to get drivers to slow down. This results in fewer accidents, injuries and deaths.
]]> Speeding isn't the only traffic violation officers will be focusing on during Operation Safe Driver Week, which will take place from July 14 to July 20. Officers will also be looking for distracted drivers, texting behind the wheel, seat belts noncompliance, drunk or drugged drivers, reckless drivers and drivers who tailgate. During the 2018 initiative, 51,000 officers interacted with 113,331 commercial and passenger drivers. Of the 57,405 citations issued, 18,817 were issued for speeding violations.Commercial truck drivers are required to follow all road safety rules, including speed limits. If a truck driver fails to obey the speed limit and causes an accident, he or she could be held accountable in court. A personal injury attorney could represent an injured victim and help prepare a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages. If the claim is successful, the at-fault parties may be ordered to pay a settlement that covers medical expenses, lost wages and more.
]]>While a teenager might not be doing drugs or drinking alcohol themselves, they could be riding in a vehicle operated by someone who is. It's also important that young people understand how to avoid being a distraction while in the role of passenger. Ideally, they will refrain from doing anything that takes the driver's focus off of the road. Furthermore, they should assume the responsibility of answering calls or providing directions.
]]> This allows a driver to avoid looking down at a dashboard or while reaching for a phone. Passengers can also help a driver determine if he or she is too tired to drive. In just a few seconds, a vehicle can travel the length of a football field. When a driver is tired, he or she could actually fall asleep for up to five seconds at a time. This could pose a serious danger on the road.With help from a lawyer, someone who has been hurt in an auto crash may receive compensation for their injuries. This might happen if another party was negligent for the accident occurring. The negligent party could be both a person or a company. For instance, someone who ran a red light would likely be negligent for causing a crash. However, if a driver ran a light because the vehicle's brakes failed, the brake manufacturer may be liable instead.
]]>However, those same respondents admitted to using their phones while driving, too. The study calculated the average time spent on their phones to be 13 minutes per day. Moreover, almost two in five respondents said they do not put down their phones at the sight of law enforcement.
]]> At the same time, most respondents thought of themselves as good drivers with 90% contrasting themselves favorably with ride-hailing drivers. About 89% said they would give a bad rating to any ride-hailing driver who texted while on the road, and 39% even said they have done so before.Among phone-related distractions, group chats were the most widely represented; 52% admitted to participating in them. Another 33% said that social media, including memes and newsfeeds, frequently distract them. About 18% said that streaming videos takes their attention from the road.
The study was conducted by the market research firm Wakefield Research. Root Insurance, a company that provides discounts to drivers who avoid phone use, recently shared the study's results.
When distracted driving is behind an auto accident, the victims of the distracted driver may be able to file a personal injury claim. In California, even those who are partially at fault may recover damages although the amount will naturally be proportionate to that degree of fault. Victims may be reimbursed for medical bills, lost wages, a diminished capacity to work, pain and suffering and whatever else is applicable. They may want a lawyer to assist them in filing a claim.
]]>Moreover, respondents tended to be critical of distracted driving when others engage in it. 89% said they would give a bad rating to an Uber or Lyft driver if he or she was texting while driving. 90% considered their driving better than that of Uber/Lyft drivers.
]]> The presence of law enforcement does not dissuade 38% of respondents from using their mobile devices. Besides phone use, respondents admitted to unsafe activities behind the wheel like shaving, putting on makeup, playing with a pet and changing clothes. 29% even claimed to drive with no hands, using their knees, chin or another body part to steer.Root Insurance is a company that provides discounts to drivers who avoid phone use. It believes that incentives, as opposed to fear tactics, can effectively reduce distracted driving. Its Focused Driving Discount provides 10% additional discounts for insurance quotes.
Car accidents caused by distracted driving can be severe, leaving victims to deal with injuries that require long-term care. However, individuals who are hurt may be reimbursed for their medical bills, pain and suffering and other losses if they file a personal injury claim. A lawyer's case evaluation may determine if they are eligible for compensation and how much. An attorney may hire investigators to strengthen the case as well as negotiate for a settlement out of court.
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