Tag: car accidents

A researcher from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) wants Americans to know that traffic crashes are the single most common cause of death among teens in the United States. That’s shocking, but it’s not inevitable. There are concrete steps that we can take to reduce teen crash rates. Those steps include education, engineering and enforcement. “Teen drivers, particularly novice ones, are overrepresented in U.S. fatality and injury crash statistics. The extraordinarily high teen crash rates are unacceptable and it is our core mission to save lives,” said the expert, who

Continue reading Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens…

A recent study for AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety by a University of Utah professor indicates that the “infotainment” technology automakers are increasingly adding to vehicle dashboards is highly distracting. The professor notes that previous studies have noted the problem but that an “explosion of technology” usable behind the wheel is making the problem worse. The problem is not only that automakers are including a lot of this technology but also that it’s becoming more complicated. Instead of a few knobs and buttons, some vehicles now sport 50 multi-functional buttons on

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It is easy to understand why many people are eager to see the arrival of driverless cars. The technology has the potential to ease congestion and reduce the number of traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities. While it is not yet clear that the promise of driverless tech will be delivered, it is increasingly clear that Rockville streets will one day soon be populated with at least some driverless vehicles. One of the looming questions is whether all of those driverless vehicles will have humans in them. Not far from us, members

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We’ve all had the experience of driving tired. A cup of coffee helps, but there is no real substitute for 8 hours of sleep. But we all have busy lives, and sometimes driving tired is unavoidable. Unfortunately, the frequency with which drowsy driving occurs is staggering. Millions of accidents occur every year due to drowsy driving. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 8,000 people lose their lives in accidents involving drowsy driving every year. Every day, 83.6 million drive drowsy. That is why the NHTSA began a national

Continue reading New PSA campaign seeks to prevent drowsy driving…

In the winter, car accidents occur far more frequently. This is particularly true in states that receive a substantial amount of snow and ice. Oftentimes, these brutal wrecks completely obliterate the vehicle. However, drivers and passengers inside can survive in spite of the dismal state of the vehicle. This has led many to ponder the question, “how do our cars keep us safe?” Why are cars safer now? Certainly, safety features like airbags, combined with more drivers and passengers wearing seatbelts, has contributed to the decrease. However, the construction of

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We all know how distracting smartphones can be. Yet while they pose an almost unlimited potential for distraction and danger, smartphones can tell us where we are, where we are going, and link to a car’s Bluetooth system for hands-free dialing. Simply put, smartphones are evolving to work within vehicles. They are not going away. Too often, however, the devices are not used optimally for safety. For example, in some newer model vehicles the driver can hear the navigation on the phone telling him or her to turn left over

Continue reading Feds close to finalizing driver safety guidelines for smartphone manufacturers…

New research and medical advancements are coming out that show promise regarding treatment for spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Nathan Copeland experienced the difficulties associated with paralysis firsthand. More than a decade ago, Mr. Copeland lost his ability to move his hands as well as his ability to feel what his fingers touch due to a spinal cord injury sustained in a car crash. Now, thanks to research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mr. Copeland has gained a new way to connect to the world around him.

Continue reading Brain implant allows paralyzed man to regain sense of touch…

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a drunk driver injures someone every two minutes. Unfortunately, this means thousands of people are killed in drunk driving crashes every year, and countless more are injured. In spite of stringent drunk driving laws in most states, DUI remains a common criminal offense. Everyone agrees that a drunk driving accident involving serious injury or death is tragic. The question is how best to reduce or eliminate drunk driving injuries. In some states, one answer is to allow punitive damages for victims. If you

Continue reading Victims of DUI accidents may be able to obtain punitive damages…

Everyone knows, or should know, that auto accidents can cause serious injuries, and victims may need hospitalization or medical care. Car accident victims whose injuries resulted from another driver’s negligence need to be aware of their legal options for pursuing compensation for medical bills and other costs resulting from the crash. Even if you were inside a car driven by a negligent driver, you still have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. On Jan. 8, the driver of an SUV was allegedly fleeing police when the vehicle crashed

Continue reading 2 injured after police chase in Herndon…

Vehicle accidents are not something that should be taken lightly, particularly when injuries are involved. Those injured in car accidents can be faced with an array of challenges after a crash, including medical expenses, lost wages and other serious damages. A multicar accident involving a school bus in Washington, D.C., has left a number of people injured and facing these types of uncertainties and challenges. The terrifying four-vehicle crash sent 21 people to the hospital around 8 a.m. on Nov. 26. Police report that a school bus was traveling west on

Continue reading Multiple injuries reported after school bus crash in D.C.…