Articles Posted in Car Accidents

“Kyleigh’s Law” was upheld by the New Jersey Supreme Court. This is the law that requires newly-licensed drivers to display a red sticker on their license plate. New drivers in the state are required to display this red sticker on their plates for a year after they receive a license. This law is named after a 16-year-old New Jersey resident who was killed in a car accident with another teen driver nearly 6 years ago.”There were too many teens in the car. He was new GDL driver. He was speeding. That’s a lot of distractions right there,” said D’Alessio’s mother.

Our Highland personal injury attorneys understand that newly licensed drivers face some of the most serious risks for car accidents. Just like the teens here in Indiana, all young drivers are required to follow strict rules and laws while learning to drive.

In Indiana, a driver has various restrictions during the stages of their intermediate license. During the first 180 days, they’re not allowed to drive from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. After the first 180 days, they are prohibited from driving from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Sunday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday they’re not to drive from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. These young drivers are also restricted from driving with any passengers in the vehicle during the first 180 days of this licensing stage, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These laws are meant to help these young drivers to get the most out of driving education by exposing them to different dangers and driving scenarios in stages.

Officials in New Jersey say that these stickers are the perfect way to help officers enforce rules for these restricted licenses.

Not everyone is buying into the program. Many have chosen not to display them on their vehicles.

“I don’t like to be profiled so I refused to put it on my car,” said Chris Schetelick, teen driver of Bernardsville.

Not having the decal is not a moving violation, but teens can face a $100 fine.

While officers may have a tough time keeping their eye on all teen drivers throughout the state, we’re asking parents to step in and to help. We’re asking you to familiarize yourself with the laws of the state’s graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) program and to even enforce your own household driving laws. Make sure you know where your teen is driving, when they’re coming home, who they’re driving with and how they’re acting behind the wheel. Staying involved in your teen’s driving career may be one of the most effective ways to help keep them alive on our streets. Consider enacting a parent-teen driving contact to clearly lay out the rules and the consequences for breaking any household driving rules.
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Many might think that the summer is a time for care-free fun, vacations and sunshine. Unfortunately, we face some serious risks for accidents in Highland and throughout Northern Indiana through the long, hot summer months. Not only do we face risks for auto accidents because of the increase in traffic over the summer travel season, but we also face severe risks for heat injuries with the rising temps.Our Highland personal injury attorneys understand that many people use the summer season for those much-needed vacations. When more people hit the road, our risks for accidents skyrocket. To help shift the focus back on safety, officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released Cool Tips for a Safe Summer Trip.

Preparation can be your key to avoiding a potentially fatal accident.

One of the most beneficial things you can do is to avoid dangerous driving behaviors. Officials urge you to stay calm behind the wheel. With all of the traffic, we can only expect congested roadways and traffic delays. You’re asked to plan ahead for these scenarios. Leave for your destination with plenty of time to spare. You’ll also want to check weather and traffic reports so that you can plan the smoothest trip possible.

It’s also a good idea to stay focused on the road. You want to be aware of your surroundings at all times. This means keep distractions out of the driver’s seat. When operating a motor vehicle, you should never talk on a cell phone, text message, eat, drink, apply makeup, play with the radio or operate a GPS system. If you have to do any of these, you should first pull over to a safe location and stop the car. Lastly, make sure that everyone in your vehicle is wearing their seat belt during each and every car ride.

Officials are also speaking out about the dangers of the heat! Heat illnesses are extremely likely during this time of the year. Highland has been seeing temps in the mid to upper 90s.

Anyone and everyone is vulnerable in this heat. Young children, our pets and elderly residents are some of the most likely to be injured by a heat illness. Those who are facing health problems, those who abuse alcohol and drugs and those who like to exercise are also highly susceptible to these kinds of injuries. Officials with the National Safety Council (NSC) are working to make sure that everyone knows what to do in the event of heatstroke, heat exhaustion or heat cramps.

How to treat a heat injury:

-Call 9-1-1.

-Move the person to a cool place.

-Remove any excess clothing.

-Cool them as quickly as possible. You can apply cool cloths to their neck or groin.

-Give the person some water or a sports drink.
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There are a number of locations that will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo 2012 within the area this weekend. Before heading out to these celebrations and before slamming some Coronas or tequila shots, we’re asking partygoers to make sure they’ve got a sober ride home.

Cinco de Mayo brings about some of the most intoxicated drivers. With the proper planning, we can all do our part to reduce the risks of alcohol-related car accidents in Highland and elsewhere throughout the area during the weekend fiesta!Our Highland accident attorneys understand that nearly 11,000 people are expected to die this year in drunk driving car accidents throughout the country. That’s a death every 50 minutes. Motorists are urged to be cautious on our roadways over the Cinco de Mayo holiday as far too many drivers are expected to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. Our personal injury attorneys are asking residents to review these few simple safety tips, from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), to help to keep safe and out of an accident over the weekend.

Everyone is urged to designate a driver before heading out for the celebration. This means designating a sober driver. The person who has had the least to drink does not count as a designated driver. If you find yourself out without a designated driver, don’t worry because there are other safe ways to get around. You can call a friend or a family member to come pick you up. You can call a taxi or take the bus. You can even grab a hotel room or stay at a buddy’s house. Whatever you do, you do not want to get behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol.

Remember that even if you’re not planning on drinking, there are a ton of people who are. This means you’ve got to be extra careful if you’re driving on our roadways over the weekend. Stay one step ahead of the traffic around you. If you think you’ve spotted a drunk driver, you’re urged to call local authorities and report them. Getting a drunk driver off of our roadways can help to save lives.

How to Report a Drunk Driver:

-Stay away from the suspected vehicle. Getting too close to an intoxicated driver puts you and your vehicle in unnecessary risks for an accident.

-Don’t try to pass the vehicle or try to stop them yourself.

-Get the vehicle’s license plate. Also, get the make, the model and the color of the vehicle. If you can, get a description of the driver.

-Call 9-1-1 and report this information to authorities. Include information regarding the location of the vehicle and the direction it’s heading.

Everyone is encouraged to go hang out and enjoy the holiday. Go out with old friends. Go out and make some new ones. Go out with a plan and return home safely!
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According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), there were more than 5,400 people who were killed in distraction-related car accidents in 2009. There were thousands more who were injured during this same period. Distractions and driving just don’t mix.According to the Indiana Department of Labor, a lot of workers spend all or some or their day behind the wheel. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (2009) reports that the single highest cause of worker death in the state of Indiana is attributed to highway vehicle accidents.

These kinds of car accidents in Highland and elsewhere account for about 20 percent of all fatal work-related accidents.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand there are a few companies that enact cell phone policies for driving workers. In recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012, we encourage all employers to make sure that driving employees are safe on the road and aren’t engaging in distractions. For this year’s campaign, the National Safety Council (NSC) has provided employers with a sample Cell Phone Policy Kit to help kickoff safer driving habits among all employees.

In addition to targeting workers, this year’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month is also asking non-working drivers to make the pledge to curb the distractions while driving. This includes talking on cell phones, text messaging, talking with passengers, grooming, adjusting in-car controls and engaging in other forms of distraction behind the wheel.

During this month-long campaign, parents are urged to talk with teen drivers about the risks associated with distracted driving. Nearly 20 percent of all teen drivers who were involved in a fatal accident in 2009 were reported to have been distracted during the collision. As a matter of fact, about 40 percent of teens say they’ve been in a vehicle with a driver who was using a cell phone in a way that put the people in the car at serious risk.

Drivers who use hand-held devices behind the wheel are nearly 5 times more likely to get into a serious accident. Drivers who text message at the wheel are nearly 25 times more likely to get into a serious accident.

Here’s why: Drivers who text behind the wheel take their eyes off of the road for an average of about 5 seconds each time. If you’re traveling at 55 mph, that’s the entire length of a football field you’d drive without even looking at the road. It’s so bad that driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity that’s associated with driving by close to 40 percent.

Drivers are asked to curb the distractions behind the wheel. Keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road and your mind on driving. You can help to keep you and your passengers safe on our roadways. Spread the word. It’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012!
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Car accidents in Highland and elsewhere are the top killers for teenagers in the United States. This young driving age group possesses much less experience behind the wheel than you and I. Not only do they have less experience, they’re also more likely to engage in distractions while driving, distractions that can produce both serious and fatal accidents.

According to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, female teenage drivers are the worst of the bunch. They’re more likely to engage in distractions including cell phones and text messaging devices, than males of their same age, according to US News.Researchers at AAA looked through roughly 8,000 video clips from the inside of teens’ cars in North Carolina. It was concluded that cell phones and smartphones were the number one kind of distraction for these young drivers, especially the teen girls.

Our Gary car accident lawyers understand that teens need coaching through their driving career. This doesn’t mean that parents can rely on the state graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) program. Parents need to stay involved in their teen’s driving habits to make sure that they’re staying safe behind the wheel. Enforce your own rules to help keep them safe on our roadways.

The study concluded that females were engaging in electronic distractions behind the wheel about 7 percent of the time. Male teens were only engaging in these distractions just 4 percent of the time. While we’re proud of the boys for keeping their phones down a little bit more, the truth of the matter is that any use of these devices greatly increases accident risks. While this study focused on electronic distractions, other kind of distractions were witnessed in 15 percent of the clips, including eating, drinking, grooming and adjusting various controls.

Believe it not, older teens were more likely to engage in these distractions, too. It seems like the more comfortable they got behind the wheel the more likely they were to whip out their cell phones.

Researchers concluded that females were twice as likely to use an electronic device while driving, 10 percent more likely to engage in other distractions, 50 percent more likely to reach for objects and 25 percent more likely to drink and eat at the wheel. The only thing boys were more likely to do was to turn around in their seats and to talk to people who were outside of the car.

It was also noted that teens were more likely to talk loudly and horseplay with one another when there was more than one passenger present in the vehicle.

Teenage drivers who use electronics at the wheel take their eyes of the road about a second longer than those who were distracted in other ways. It may not seem like a lot, but it could mean the difference between life and death.

“That extra second can mean the difference between managed risk and tragedy for any driver,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of AAA.
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When you are in a car accident, you are usually left shaken both physically and mentally. You can even sustain permanent injuries that require extensive medical treatment and maybe even surgery. This is a very serious matter that requires the right a Highland injury attorney to get you the award you deserve.If you are involved in a Highland car accident, Padove Law has the experience in personal injury to guide you through the entire process of a lawsuit.

The case Roache v. Charney highlights some important aspects of a personal injury case. This case was decided by the Delaware Supreme Court and arose because of a car accident. This victim suffered injuries to her neck and back when she was twice rear ended by the defendant. This accident led to months of physical therapy for the victim as well as disc replacement surgery. The doctors treating the victim even found that these injuries would be permanent.

I am drawing your attention to this case because it is very typical of the results of car accidents that happen every day. These accidents can lead to injuries that if left untreated, can lead to pain and suffering for years to come. This is why choosing the right attorney to fight for your rights is such an important decision.

Injuries related to car accidents are very common, but so often people do not take the initiative to get help.

Roache is significant to Indiana personal injury claims because it illustrates some of the common laws surrounding car accidents that you need to know. Although the specific laws vary depending on the state, the central principles cross state lines. The Court in Roach clearly says that when a plaintiff is involved in a personal injury lawsuit, they have to prove that their injuries are the result of the defendant’s negligence. Essentially, the plaintiff has to show that it is more likely than not that their injuries were sustained because the defendant breached their duty of care and drove negligently.

Causation is one of the most crucial parts of most lawsuits. This is the proof of the connection between the defendant’s negligent actions and the plaintiff’s injuries. The court in Roache found that if a plaintiff is alleging that their injuries were sustained because of the defendant, they must provide a medical expert to testify directly. The court goes on to affirm that the plaintiff’s expert must be competent in medically proving a link between the defendant’s negligent actions and the plaintiff’s injuries.

Roache had a difficult time proving this link between the defendant’s negligence and the plaintiff’s injuries, leading to significant confusion. Our attorney’s know what it takes to prove causation as we have been doing it for many years. We can help you navigate through the medical terminology and explain what these personal injury medical reports actually say and how they can affect your case.

Your litigation experience and your award are dependent on the attorney you hire.We will take your case very seriously and assist you in getting the justice you deserve.
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A number of storefronts have sustained damage, due to car accidents in Lafayette.

According to the Chicago Tribune, a number of those crashes involved drivers who were over the age of 65.

Thankfully, it doesn’t appear any of those involved suffered any serious injury as a result of these crashes.Our Indiana car accident attorneys know that as the elderly population continues to grow, the number of seniors behind the wheel increase as well. Not only that, but these older residents are holding on to their drivers’ licenses longer than ever before.

According to the AAA Foundation, nearly 95 percent of people between the ages of 65 to 69 have a driver’s license, and nearly 80 percent of those 70 and older had a license. Compare that to statistics from 1983, when the percentages were 80 percent and 55 percent, respectively.

The number of older drivers is increasing at a much faster pace than ever before. The AAA Foundation further reports that the number of young drivers (under the age of 40) decreased by 10 percent during that same time frame.

In Indiana, older drivers don’t face as many driving restrictions as you might think.
Drivers between the ages of 75 and 85 have to renew their licenses once every three years, compared to younger drivers who have to renew every six years. If you’re over the age of 85, you have to renew every two years.

Officials with the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles told reporters that the only thing that might prevent an older driver from renewing their license would be if they can’t pass the vision tests. Even if they do fail it, they can wait two weeks and take the test again. If they fail it a third time, they can get a six-month learner’s permit before retaking it yet again.

While no one wants to take away a person’s ability to be self-sufficient, that independence should not come at the cost of everyone else’s safety.

In what we think is a fair compromise, some organizations – including the AAA Foundation – are offering classes for aging drivers. The incentive for older drivers, in addition to decreasing their chances of an accident, is a break on their insurance, which tends to go up after a certain age.

Many older drivers do take certain safety precautions on their own, often avoiding driving at night, on the highway and during rush hour. They also are less likely to drink and drive and wear their seat belts, more often than younger drivers.

However, recent research has shown that older drivers, while they may have fewer actual crashes per person, have more crashes per miles driven. They may be generally safer on the road than younger drivers, who are more apt to take dangerous risks.
The risks they do pose are serious, though, and need to be addressed.

It’s a difficult conversation to have with an older loved one. The Hartford insurance company offers some excellent advice on how to open the conversation. This is particularly important if you have noticed that your loved one has been experiencing health changes, car accidents or near misses.

Some suggested conversation openers:

— “I’m glad you’ve cut down on driving at night. I wouldn’t ever want you to drive if it makes you uncomfortable.”

–“Have you talked to your doctor about how your medication might be affecting your driving?”

–“Yesterday was a close call. I’ve been worried about your safety when you’re on the road.”

–“I’ve been worried about you getting lost.”
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