Car Accidents

Published on: September 9, 2024

Study Finds Behavior Interventions can Help Reduce Distracted Driving

The use of interventions including financial incentives, goals and social competition can significantly help reduce the incidence of distracted driving on our streets.

Distracted driving causes thousands of car accidents in the metro Atlanta region every year. A new study proves that different interventions could be used to help bring about changes in driver behaviors, resulting in motorists being less likely to reach out for their cell phones while driving.

The study was conducted by an insurance provider and divided more than 1500 participants into 5 groups. The first group was the control group which only received information about the dangers of using a handheld cell phone while driving. Group 2 was given a free phone mount, while group 3 was given habit formation tips over a period of several weeks. Groups 4 and 5 were sent text messages about their performance on handheld cell phone use goals, and were given the chance to win or lose points based on their usage. Participants in group 5 were also given the chance to share in a $2000 prize if they met their goals.

Published on: September 4, 2024

More than Half of all Auto Accidents in Georgia Involve Distracted Drivers

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Distracted driving is now one of the biggest auto accident causes in Georgia with a new study finding that more than 50% of all car accidents in the state involve a driver who was distracted at the wheel.

That information comes from the Governors Office of Highway Safety and the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System, which included car accidents that occurred in 2022. The data was is in the Georgia Traffic Safety Fact Sheet, and according to the data, 53% of all car accidents in Georgia in that year involved a confirmed or suspected distracted driver.

The data does not define whether these distractions involved electronic distractions like the use of cell phones while driving. The term “distractions” can mean different types of activities while driving including having conversations with passengers, snacking and drinking, reaching out for things and other types of distracting activities. Any type of distraction that is manual, physical or cognitive can take a person’s attention away from the task of driving and cause an auto accident.

Published on: September 2, 2024

Lighted Crosswalks Can Help Prevent Pedestrian Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Simple design interventions like illuminated crosswalks can make it easier for motorists to see pedestrians at crossings and prevent pedestrian car accidents. A pedestrian car accident often results in severe personal injuries to the pedestrian or his or her wrongful death.

The issue of pedestrian safety is one that has been front and center for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as it grapples with an increase in the number of people being killed in car accidents. Several studies have found that simple improvements to design and infrastructure can help prevent many of these accidents.

Many of these interventions are focused on making pedestrians more visible to drivers. Very often, motorists fail to notice motorists with devastating consequences. A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that something as simple as illuminated crosswalks can make motorists more visible and help reduce the chance of pedestrian car accidents.

Published on: August 27, 2024

Five Tips to Prevent Driving While Drowsy

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accidents caused directly by drivers who were drowsy at the wheel caused 693 wrongful deaths in 2022.

Drowsiness due to lack of sleep could be because of overwork, a new baby, stress, or a hectic social life. Whatever the reason, the consequence is fewer hours of sleep. Sleep advocacy groups, including the National Sleep Foundation, recommend 8 hours of sleep for the average American adult. Unfortunately, far too many drivers are getting less sleep than the recommended amount, which means that many of them are driving at less than optimum levels of wakefulness and alertness in the morning.

Even getting one hour less sleep a night can affect a person’s ability to drive safely. Drowsiness can mean irritability which, in turn, can affect your judgment and reasoning behind the wheel. It can also mean an inability to pay attention to visual cues on the road, and failure to respond appropriately to stop signs. It can mean getting lost while driving the wrong way, or driving at high speeds.

Published on: August 23, 2024

How a Lower BAC Limit Could Help Prevent Drunk Driving Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Nationwide, the maximum legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is .08. However, most motorists are not aware their auto accident risks begins to increase long before their BAC levels reach that figure.

While .08 is the maximum limit for blood alcohol concentration across the country, the fact is that many motorists, especially light or moderate drinkers, are likely to experience deterioration in their driving abilities that significantly increases their risks of being involved in an auto accident, even at .04 or even lower. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol can impact driving ability even after one drink. The average drink in the United States can result in a blood alcohol concentration of between .02 and .04 for a light to moderate drinker. This is sufficient to affect the person’s vision as well as his or her ability to multitask. Imagine a person with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 trying to drive as well as respond to phone calls at the same time. His or her ability to multitask is markedly reduced, significantly impacting his or her safety and the risks of being involved in a car accident.

When blood alcohol concentration level rises to .05, there is a significant deterioration in driving abilities. At this point, the person is not legally drunk, but his coordination skills are impaired, and he or she might find it difficult to steer effectively. Vision is further reduced during this stage of alcohol intoxication, and he may find it difficult to track moving objects which makes it very dangerous when he is on the road and needs to observe the behaviors of drivers around him. His or her ability to respond to emergency driving situations is also significantly lower at this point. All of these factors increase his or her chances of being involved in a car accident causing serious injuries or even a fatal car accident.

Published on: August 21, 2024

What Family Members Can Do to Prevent Senior Auto Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Senior motorists experience a range of deficiencies in their physical and mental faculties that make it difficult for them to drive safely and increase their risks of being involved in auto accidents. Family members and caregivers have a major role to play in encouraging seniors to give up their car keys when they are no longer in a position to drive safely.

It is important to remember that seniors benefit both physically and mentally from the independence that comes from being mobile and able to drive. However, there may come a time when your loved one is simply unable to drive without being a risk to himself and others. At this point, you must step in and take away the car keys. Remember that failing driving faculties may have more to do other issues than with the person’s age. In other words, you must consider your loved one’s driving performances and abilities, and not just his age while deciding to curtail his driving privileges.

The best way to confirm whether your loved one’s abilities to drive safely are compromised, is to observe him when he is driving. Look for prime indicators of decline in driving skills. These can include failing to stop and check both ways for traffic, failure to stop at red or stop signs, or failure to stay in the lane while driving. A safe driver must be able to drive appropriately for the traffic and weather conditions, and must be able to take into consideration the driving of other motorists, motorcycles and other users of the road while driving.

Published on: August 19, 2024

Eliminate These Common Causes of Speeding-Related Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Speeding- related car accidents kill thousands of Americans every year. Learn how you can reduce the chances of becoming another speeding auto accident statistic.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accidents caused directly by speeding drivers contributed to 12,151 fatalities in 2022. The federal agency has been concerned enough about speeding to spearhead several campaigns against these behaviors, including one earlier this year called “Speeding Catches Up with You”. The campaign warned drivers that speeding accounts for one-third of all auto accident wrongful deaths every year and implored motorists to drive at safe and appropriate speeds.

It is important to understand that there are just a few primary reasons why people end up driving at unsafe speeds, even when they know it is dangerous to do. Number one among these causes is frustration and aggression caused by traffic conditions. Being stuck in traffic can be frustrating, and can increase the risks of rash driving or speeding. Keep updated with the traffic conditions on your way to work, so that you are prepared for bad traffic or can take alternate routes instead.

Published on: August 13, 2024

Georgia Anti – Speeding Campaign to Prevent Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

An anti- speeding campaign that aims to tackle speeding across Georgia and several Southern States ends on July 21. These types of campaigns are extremely important in the effort to reduce the number of auto accidents involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful deaths.

Operation Southern Slow Down included Georgia as well as a few neighboring states and involved additional enforcement against speeding drivers. The campaign started on July 15, and targeted both speeding as well as aggressive or rash drivers. The aim was to crack down on these drivers and pull them off the roads. This was the eighth such campaign that included Georgia and the other Southern States, and officials believed that this was the right time to remind drivers about the need to drive at safe speeds at all times.

The need to remind drivers of the risks of speeding is especially stronger during summer when there are far more motorists on the road and when everyone is in a hurry to get to their holiday destinations. Speeding is one of the biggest killers on American roads with more than 11,000 car accident wrongful deaths in 2022 directly linked to high speeds. The number of speeding-related car accidents in 2022 was a 25% increase from the numbers in 2018. Georgia continues to grapple with a large number of motorists who drive at high speeds putting themselves and other motorists at risk of serious personal injury or even death. In 2022, approximately 422 car accident wrongful deaths in Georgia were directly linked to speeding motorists. That was a significant 56% increase from the number of speeding-related auto accidents in 2018.

Published on: August 10, 2024

Campaign to Prevent Red Light Violation Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Next month, federal transportation safety authorities will kick off a campaign that is aimed at helping motorists understand the dangers of running red lights. The campaign hopes to avoid serious personal injuries suffered by motorists and pedestrians each year by persons failing to obey traffic control signals.

Violation of stop lights is a major traffic offense that is responsible for thousands of car accidents every year. According to some estimates, every year, close to 1,000 people are killed in more than 100,000 car accidents caused by motorists who run stop signs. These are some of the more common violations, and are responsible for many deadly intersection accidents annually. More than 50% of the people killed in these car accidents are pedestrians, bicyclists or passengers in vehicles involved in the accident. These are absolutely devastating auto accidents, and very often, also high-speed accidents.

Next month will see a special commemoration aimed at preventing such accidents. Stop On Red Week is marked during the first full week in August every year. In 2024, that first week falls between August 4 and August 10. The very first Stop On Red Week was commemorated by the Federal Highway Administration in 1995, and every year, during this week, the federal administration along with the National Safety Coalition promotes greater awareness of the dangers of driving recklessly or violating traffic safety rules. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that between 2004 and 2018, there were close to 12,000 car accident wrongful deaths caused directly by motorists running red lights.

Published on: August 5, 2024

Simple Street Design Changes can Help Prevent Pedestrian Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Reducing the number of pedestrians killed in car accidents every year is key to reducing the number of auto accident wrongful deaths recorded across the country. Simple design interventions can help accomplish this goal.

According to a report titled Dangerous By Design by Smart Growth America, basic design interventions that may be simple to execute are often all that are required to reduce the number of auto accident fatalities involving pedestrians every year. Pedestrian crash deaths have been driving the increase in car and auto accident deaths across the country, and the expert consensus is that unless these deaths are minimized, there will be very little progress made in keeping our roads safer.

The U.S. does not boast the type of pedestrian – friendly infrastructure that is the hallmark of roads in Europe, but small steps can minimize the risk to pedestrians even on our roads. The report Dangerous By Design finds that simple design interventions can reduce auto accident risks. For example, brighter lighting and illumination at key pedestrian -heavy areas can make a huge difference for pedestrians. A brightly-lit street means pedestrians can be seen clearly and avoided by motorists. Similarly, shorter crossing distances for pedestrians can also help. Multi-lane roads provide minimal opportunities for pedestrians to cross safely. Better designed medians and brighter markings at curbs can also help reduce the risk to pedestrians. Even simple steps like more striped crosswalks and stop signs will alert motorists to pedestrian activity in the area. The use of pedestrian refuge islands and curb extensions are also strategies that can help minimize the risk of pedestrian accidents.