On behalf of Campbell & Associates | Apr 21, 2020 | Firm News
The Covid-19 health crisis and social distancing measures have significantly altered everyday life in America. One result is fewer vehicles on the roads as citizens shelter at home. Unfortunately, it appears that some drivers are taking advantage of emptier roads to drive at speeds over 100 miles per hour (mph), including street racing and other selfish stunts.
According to an article from CBS News, New York City – the eastern epicenter of the pandemic – saw speed camera tickets in March more than double. In the Washington D.C. area, a driver was caught going 111 mph on Interstate 95, typically one of the most congested roads in the country. In Minnesota, traffic deaths have more than doubled. These actions waste critical medical resources.
Most disturbingly, a driver in California was caught going 117 mph without insurance. The prospect of any driver, especially an uninsured driver, being involved in a collision at such high speeds is catastrophic.
As the weather improves, more and more people are leaving their homes to walk, jog and bike as a respite from the monotony of staying home and social distancing. It is therefore even MORE vital now that drivers pay attention and drive within posted speed limits. If you have to go somewhere, please drive safely. After all, what’s the hurry?
If you have questions or need any advice regarding a personal injury matter, you can always reach Campbell & Associates at (716) 992-2222 or https://www.campbellpersonalinjury.com/.
On behalf of Campbell & Associates | Apr 20, 2020 | Firm News
As the warmer months continue, people are going to be cutting their grass. While this is a necessary task, it is one that poses a unique hazard for motorcyclists. Anyone who is going to cut grass must ensure that they aren’t blowing it into the street.
Grass is 85% water and is very slick even when it is dry. Grass that comes between the motorcycles tires and the road can make it impossible for the motorcyclist to steer, which can lead to a crash. The roadway doesn’t have to be covered for this to occur. Even a small amount of clippings can lead to the loss of traction that causes the biker to lose control. The hazard is so great that driving on grass clippings is often compared to riding on a sheet of ice.
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Sections 1219 and 1220 cover the discharge of debris onto roadways in the state. These laws specifically prohibit putting anything onto the road that might cause injury. This shows how important it is to keep the roads safe for everyone, including motorcyclists, to use.
For a motorcyclist who loses control on grass clippings, the injuries can be severe. Road rash (which has a risk of infection), head injuries, damage to the spinal cord, broken bones and other injuries are possible. It’s imperative that they receive the care they need. They might opt to pursue a claim for compensation that can help them to cover the costs of getting treatment for their injuries, as well as any other financial damages they suffer due to the wreck.
On behalf of Campbell & Associates | Apr 7, 2020 | Motorcycle Accidents
Riding a motorcycle is supposed to feel freeing. You have less between you and the environment around you. Motorcycles save money on gas, and you can take them more places.
What is troubling, though, is how often people are hurt while riding. Did you know that 5,172 motorcyclists and their passengers died in crashes in 2017, according to the National Safety Council? Despite making up only .6% of all vehicular miles traveled in the United States, motorcyclists made up 14% of the total traffic fatalities that year.
Who gets killed in motorcycle crashes?
In the majority of cases, it’s men who die in motorcycle crashes, making up 91% of all victims. Approximately 28% of riders who passed away were impaired by alcohol in 2017.
What makes it so easy for drivers to hit motorcyclists?
One of the reasons is because motorcycles are relatively small compared to other vehicles. Drivers just don’t always see them, and once they do, it may be too late to stop.
Another reason that these crashes happen is because of the different way in which motorcyclists move. They have a better ability to move back and forth in lane and to drive in narrower areas. Drivers need to account for those movements to prevent motorcycle crashes.
Finally, many drivers are distracted. This leads to a significant risk of collisions of all types, not just with motorcyclists.
While people often think it’s teens and young adults who suffer more fatalities in these motorcycle crashes, it’s actually motorcyclists who are 50 or older who made up 36% of all fatalities.
As you can see, the roads aren’t always safe for motorcyclists, and there are real risks. If you intend to ride, do your best to be aware of your surroundings. If you get hit, then you may want to look into filing a claim.
On behalf of Campbell & Associates | Apr 2, 2020 | Firm News
Many modern jobs require that people multitask or manage multiple different physical and mental tasks at the same time. Given that people feel comfortable multitasking at work, they might also think that they can multitask at the wheel.
Unfortunately, according to information gathered by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), a distraction lasting more than 2 seconds can be all it takes to increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, many government studies as well as medical authorities such as the “American Journal of Public Health” and the “New England Journal of Medicine” have concluded that collisions due to distracted driving are on the increase and that this trend presents a growing public health hazard.
Although mobile phones are commonly blamed for distracted driving, distraction can also come from the control panel of a vehicle, a Bluetooth conversation, eating and drinking at the wheel or even other people in the vehicle. Any form of distraction could cause several issues that increase risk of a collision.
Distraction keeps you from noticing and quickly responding to changes
Many people think that if they just look down at their phone for a few seconds, they won’t have any real issues as a result. However, they could come around a curve to find that traffic has stopped due to a collision up ahead. That driver may not be able to stop in time because they weren’t watching the road.
Drivers doing something else often drift on the road
The lack of attention that distraction causes is dangerous on its own, but it often combines with drifting to create truly dangerous situations. Drivers may take their hands off the wheel to eat, change the radio station or touch their phone, leading to the vehicle slowly moving to either side. Even if the driver maintains one hand on the wheel, they may not adequately adjust for shifts in the road, meaning that they could swerve or drift out of their lane, drastically increasing the potential for a collision.
Anyone who gets hurt by a distracted driver should consider their legal rights to hold that driver accountable for the injuries and property damage their irresponsible actions caused.
