Articles Posted in Auto Accidents

As we recently reported on our Maine Injury Lawyer Blog, teenage drivers are most likely to be involved in distraction-related car accidents. It’s not only that they’re most likely to be involved in these kinds of accidents, but they’re pretty much most likely to be involved in most accidents.

According to new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 2,000 teenage drivers who died in motor vehicle accidents nationwide in 2010. In addition to that, there were another 180,000 teen drivers who were injured. The truth of the matter is that car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for this young age group.In the state of Maine, there were nearly 20 teenage drivers who were killed in auto accidents in 2010. In addition to these driver fatalities, there were also 5 passengers and 6 occupants of other vehicles who were killed in accidents involving young drivers.

This age group is so dangerous behind the wheel that about 10 percent of all of the drivers who were involved in fatal car accidents in Bangor and elsewhere in 2010 were between the ages of 15- and 20-years-old. That’s alarming when you consider how small of a percentage of the driving population that this young age group makes up. Did you know that there were nearly 1,340,000 police-reported accidents from this young age group during this time?

These young drivers are just as dangerous on motorcycles, too. During 2010, there were nearly 220 teenage motorcycle drivers killed and another 5,000 injured in traffic accidents.

You might not believe it, but these young drivers are also likely to be involved in alcohol-related accidents, too!sIn 2010, 30 percent of these young drivers who were killed in car accidents were under the influence of alcohol. About 25 percent of them were legally drunk.

Officials with the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) urge parents to talk with their teen drivers about the dangers they’re bound to face on our roadways. Be sure to enact household driving rules to help to assist the state’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) program. Make sure you lay down the consequences for breaking these rules, too. Awareness and enforcement can help to significantly reduce the risks of accidents for this young driving population.

Teen Driver Safety Tips:

-Make sure teens drive sober. If they’re busted with any amount of alcohol in their system, they could lose their license for a year.

-Always wear a seat belt.

-Make sure that the vehicle is safe to drive. A teen learning how to drive safely does not need to be further distracted by bad brakes or a sticky clutch.

-Drive defensively. Share the road with others.

-Be home before curfew.

-Limit the number of teen passengers in the vehicle.

-Obey all road laws and posted street signs.

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To help reduce the risks of car accidents in Bangor and elsewhere, we’ll be using the entire month of April to raise awareness about National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. While this month-long campaign is used to urge drivers of all ages to curb the distractions behind the wheel, we’re going to focus this effort on teenage drivers. According to a recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teenage drivers are most likely to use cell phones, text messaging devices and other electronic devices behind the wheel in Bangor and elsewhere. The study even took it a step further and determined that it’s the teenage girls who are most likely to engage in distractions, twice as likely as male teen drivers of the same age group in fact, according to Consumer Reports.Our Bangor injury attorneys understand that more than 3,000 people were killed on roadways across the U. . in 2010 because of distracted drivers. As a matter of fact, officials estimate that about a quarter of all auto accidents involve a distracted driver. These kinds of risks are much higher for teenage drivers, experts say. The recent study, conducted by AAA, looked at in-car video from more than 50 families in North Carolina and took notes on the novice drivers and their driving behaviors. Researchers noted distractions and how they affected driving behaviors. Texting and talking were the two top causes of distraction for these young drivers — found in nearly 10 percent of the video. Some of the results from these distractions included rapid acceleration, jerky braking and swerving. Unfortunately, the distractions didn’t stop at talking and texting. These young drivers were also commonly witnessed eating, drinking, grooming and adjusting controls behind the wheel. These actions were observed in nearly 20 percent of the video. All of these distractions were more common among female drivers. These drivers didn’t grow wiser with age either. Video footage determined that the older the teens got, the more likely they were to engage in dangerous distractions behind the wheel. Researchers believe that they did this because they eventually got more comfortable behind the wheel, ultimately feeling safer even as they were engaging in more dangerous driving behavior. Although girls were witnessed engaging in more kinds of distractions, it’s clear that both boys are girls are facing problems in the driver’s seat. Car accidents are a very serious threat to our teenagers. Car accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for this age group. In recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012, sit down with the teen driver in your family and talk to them about the dangers and the risks that are associated with this dangerous driving behavior. Your talk could help to save their life. Believe it or not, parents have been proven to be some of the most influential people in the lives of teenage drivers. Continue reading

Get ready!sSuper Bowl Sunday is this weekend!s

With the festivities revolving around the unofficial American holiday and our Patriots, drunk driving car accidents in Portland and elsewhere are sure to happen, unfortunately. That’s why we’re asking all football fans to go out with a plan. Make sure your party activities are planned out before kickoff to help avoid a drunk driving accident or arrest.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there will be more than 150 million football fans sitting in front of a television to catch the big game between the Patriots and the Giants. During this time, fans are expected to consume nearly 350 million gallons of beer. That’s enough to fill about nearly 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Unfortunately, a lot of that booze will be consumed by fans who are planning on hopping behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after the game. And since the Patriots are in the big game, you can expect a lot of Maine residents to be a part of the celebrations.

Our Portland drunk driving accident attorneys understand that there were more than 10,000 people across the county who died in drunk driving-related traffic accidents in 2010. These types of accident fatalities accounted for nearly a third of all traffic fatalities. On Super Bowl Sunday — ranked one of the most dangerous days of the year to be on the road — about half of fatal accidents are the result of alcohol-impaired drivers. Football fans are reminded that officers will be out in full force over the weekend, combing the roadways for alcohol-impaired drivers. Do your part to cheer on our team responsibly by joining the 200,000 people who have already pledged to be a designated driver this season. These pledges were all made as a part of the “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” safety Campaign.

The “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” campaign coveys a message that responsibility has its rewards. Through this program, NFL teams constantly recognize those who have pledged to be a designated driver. That includes fans of the Patriots.

The Pledge Includes:

-Vowing to never drive drunk.

-Always find a designated driver when you go out drinking.

-Never offer alcohol to someone who is under the age of 21.

-Wear a seat belt during every car ride.

Maine’s Bureau of Highway Safety encourages all football fans to have a safe and sober way to get home this Sunday. Those who are planning on drinking need to not plan on driving. A designated driver should be a part of everyone’s plans who will be drinking,sIf for some reason a designated driver is not in your plans, we’re hoping that a taxi, hotel or a friend’s house are. We hope that everyone enjoys the big day and that the Patriots bring home a win!

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We’d like to believe that everyone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle has the proper knowledge to operate the car, as well as the proper licensing and insurance to back it up. Unfortunately, a recent report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety concludes that’s not always the case.
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In fact, the recent study concluded that about one out of every five drivers who is involved in a fatal car accident in Bangor and elsewhere does not have a proper driver’s license. The new study examined crash stats from 2007 all the way through 2009 to determine just how big of a problem improperly licensed driving is in the U. .

Our Bangor car accident lawyers understand that nearly 90 percent of drivers who were involved in fatal accidents from 2007 to 2009 on U. . roadways had a valid driver’s license. Unfortunately, the rest did not. When the statistics are broken down, more than 6.5 percent of drivers had a driver’s license that was either suspended or was revoked, more than 1 percent of drivers had a driver’s license that was either canceled or denied and a whopping 5 percent of drivers were completely unlicensed. This means that nearly 20 percent of drivers who were involved in a car accident in which a life was lost from 2007 to 2009 were not even allowed to be driving in the first place.

Between 2007 and 2009, nearly 21,100 people died in accidents in which the driver wasn’t properly licensed. Recent statistics illustrate that the number of unlicensed drivers’ involvement has been reducing, if not reversing, since 2007. Researchers don’t know if this is a long-term trend, and will be continuing to keep an eye on the numbers.

Through this study, researchers determined that a driver’s age has to do with his or her licensing, as well as involvement in fatal crashes. As a matter of fact, drivers aged 21 to 34 are more likely than drivers in any other age group to not be legally licensed. Statistics concluded that about half of the fatal accidents with unlicensed drivers, the driver was in that age group.

Unlicensed drivers aren’t only common in fatal accidents, but they pop up quite frequently in alcohol-related and drunk driving car accidents as well.

Unlicensed drivers don’t like to stick around at the scene of an accident either. The AAA study revealed that more than 51 percent of the people who left the scene of a fatal car crash from 2007 to 2009 were unlicensed drivers. When an unlicensed driver leaves the scene of an accident, you can probably assume he or she wasn’t insured either. Drivers who are unlicensed oftentimes lack the proper car insurance.

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Officers are attributing road rage to a recent car accident in Bangor. The accident happened on Essex Street after a driver stopped for improperly passing and hitting another vehicle. The driver was cited for not having their current insurance card as well, according to the Bangor Daily News.Officers report the driver said he felt a vehicle was following too closely, so he asked the female passenger to scream out of the window to get the driver to “back off.” She did. The female driver being yelled at reportedly passed the vehicle to get away. As she passed the vehicle, she hit the side-view mirror and driver’s side door.

Our Bangor car accident attorneys understand that we see aggressive and dangerous driving habits on our roadways every day. These incidents often result in road rage. According to recent studies, these occurrences have increased significantly over last year. Avoiding one of these incidents is quite simple if you’re equipped with the proper safe-driving knowledge.

According to 2005 stats from the Status of Transportation Safety in Maine, aggressive driving has increased the total number of accidents and accounts for nearly 40 percent of accidents. These statistics indicate 2005 was the most dangerous year to date. Road rage incidents are often the result of unsafe lane changes, tailgating, traveling at unsafe speeds and improper passing.

According to recent statistics, aggressive driving leads for about 6 million accidents every year. Many of these accidents result in serious injury or even death. Officials believe that these statistics could even be much higher.

More studies on road rage and aggressive driving reveal that road rage accidents are up more than 50 percent in recent years, with nearly 65 percent of people driving less courteously and more dangerously and roughly 80 percent of drivers saying they are angry during most of their time behind the wheel.

Maine’s Bureau of Highway Safety offers you some safety tips to help you avoid road rage. With these incidents so common on our roadways, you’re urged to review the following tips and share them with your friends and family members.

Tips to Help Avoid Road Rage:

-Leave for your destination with plenty of time to spare to avoid rushing.

-Avoid traveling during rush hour and in congested areas.

-Keep an eye on your vehicle. Make sure the air conditioner and radio are working properly and that your seat is comfortable.

-If you’re being hassled by another driver, do your best not to react.

-Keep your driving steady. Avoid braking, swerving or accelerating suddenly.

-If you think an aggressive driver is following you, drive to the closest police station for help.

-Get out of the way of aggressive drivers and allow them plenty of room to get around you. This can help you to avoid a potentially costly accident.

-If you’re being challenged by another vehicle, do not insist on your right-of-way.

-Never tailgate.

-Use your vehicle’s horn sparingly.

-Never block the passing lane.

-Refrain from using obscene gestures or expletives.

-Use your blinker to alert other drivers of your intended maneuvers

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According to WMTW 8, there are 12 counties that, as of Friday the 13th, were under weather advisories, watches or severe weather warnings. During the same time, there were more than a dozen road closings and delays that had already been reported. During these wicked weather conditions, drivers are asked to be cautious and alert behind the wheel to help reduce the risks of a weather-related car accident in Portland and elsewhere.Serious accidents are already plaguing the roadways. In Kennebunk, the Maine Turnpike was closed in the area after a tractor-trailer flipped over on the icy roadway. The tractor-trailer’s fuel tank was ripped open in the accident, causing diesel fuel to pour all over the roadway. The speed limit on that roadway is 55 mph, but was reduced to 45 mph to accommodate snow removal equipment.

Our Maine car accident attorneys understand that the winter weather conditions that we’re enduring are significantly increasing motorists’ risks for traffic accidents. We’re asking all motorists to be safe out there. We would like to remind you that safety doesn’t happen by accident – it’s planned. With the help of safercar.gov, we’re here to offer you some simple winter weather driving tips to help keep you and your family safe out there.

Safe Winter Driving Tips:

-Get your car serviced now. To help to keep your car in good working condition and to help you to stay in control in these dangerous driving conditions, take your vehicle to get serviced. Ask you mechanic to provide your vehicle with a tune-up and other routine maintenance.

-Check the condition of your battery. You don’t want to be left stranded with no power in the middle of a snowy storm.

-Be sure to fill your vehicle with an adequate amount of coolant. When coolant freezes, it expands. Make sure the coolant you use is designed to withstand the winter’s cold temps.

-Make sure that your windshield wiper fluid is also no-freeze, high-quality fluid.

-Make sure your windshield wipers aren’t worn.

-Be sure that your window’s defrosters are working well.

-Check the condition of your tires. Bald, worn tires are a sure way to increase your risks of slipping and skidding around on the slick roadways.

-Make sure that you always have at least half a tank of gas.

-Slow it down. Speed limits are set to be adequate in ideal weather conditions. Slow it down to increase safety.

-Check the weather, road and traffic conditions in Maine before heading out.

-Leave for your destination with plenty of extra time to avoid rushing.

-Always keep a charged cell phone with you.

-Make sure you have an emergency kit in your car, including a first-aid kit, blankets, nonperishable food, bottled water, etc.

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As we recently reported on our Maine Injury Lawyer Blog, the dangers of distracted driving are raising concerns among safe driving advocates around the country. Distracted driving laws vary across the country from state to state. Many state’s distracted driving laws are difficult to enforce, if they’re even enforced at all. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were roughly 3,100 people who died on U. . roadways because of car accidents involving distracted drivers in 2010.To help reduce the risks of distraction-related car accidents in Portland and elsewhere, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently stepped forward with a proposal for a nationwide ban on all portable electronic devices for drivers, according to My Fox Maine. The NTSB doesn’t have the authority to make these kinds of laws, but previous recommendations from the Board have proven persuasive to lawmakers.

Our Maine car accident lawyers understand that our state has some pretty relaxed distracted driving laws. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, only drivers in the state who are under the age of 18 are prohibited from talking on a hand-held cell phone at the wheel. All drivers are prohibited from text messaging while driving. Current laws state there are 9 states banning all drivers from using hand-held cell phones and another 35 that ban drivers from texting at the wheel. Recent studies conclude that a distraction is a distraction, meaning that hands-free devices are just as dangerous as hand-held devices. The NTSB is looking to ban all of these dangerous activities.

“The data is clear; the time to act is now. How many more lives will be lost before we, as a society, change our attitudes about the deadliness of distractions?” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.

According to CNN, a nationwide ban may not go over well with lawmakers, drivers and residents of the United States. Experts predict that elected legislators will have a tough time bringing up concerns about this ban in fear of upsetting constituents. Many believe that it would be tough to ban something that is already a part of nearly everyone’s daily routine.

Studies conclude that talking on a cell phone makes someone nearly five times more likely to get into a serious traffic accidents. In fact, talking on a cell phone gives a driver the same reaction time as a driver who is legally drunk. Still, a majority of drivers admit to engaging in the dangerous behavior.

As we head into the New Year, drivers are asked to behave in the spirit of Maine’s distracted driving laws. Although most of the drivers on our roadways aren’t banned from talking on a hand-held phone, we’re still asking driving to curb the distractions to increase road safety for everyone. Hands-free devices are no safer than hand-held devices and nothing is as safe as focused, distraction-free driving.

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With Maine’s worst storms typically coming our way in December, we usually see a spike in the number of vehicle accidents during this time. This is because even some of our most experienced drivers seem to have “forgotten” how to drive in winter conditions. As the holidays approach, more and more motorists travel through the state to visit with friends and family. This increase in traffic causes a significant increase in your risks for a car accident in Portland.Our Portland car accident lawyers understand that the winter serves as the most dangerous time on our roadways. Motorists are urged to be cautious behind the wheel when navigating through the congested holiday traffic. To help reduce the risks of an accident, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) offers some important driving tips to keep you safe as the slow flies, through the holidays and through the entire winter season.

Safe Driving Tips from MaineDOT:

-Always drive slowly through ice and snow.

-Remember that stopping on ice without skidding takes time and distance. For this reason, you should never follow too closely to the vehicles around you, you should always drive under the posted speed limits and always keep all of your attention on the roadway. Skidding is common near bridges, off ramps and intersections as this is where black ice can form without ever being noticed.

-Don’t turn your four-wheel drive vehicle into a true “off-road” vehicle!

-Keep in mind that four-wheel drive can help you to get going faster, but it really does nothing to help you to stop any faster or help you to keep better control of your vehicle once you’ve lost traction. Yes four-wheel-drive vehicles drivers need to be cautious, too!

-Never tailgate.

-Keep extra distance between you and other vehicles to avoid becoming a part of a chain-reaction accident.

-Don’t take chances and pull out in front of oncoming vehicles.

-Remember that when the roadway is wet that you might not be able to slow down and that you’re probably not able to accelerate as quickly either. Go easy on the pedals.

-Avoid using your cruise control in winter weather.

-Try to avoid any sudden or exaggerated steering, accelerating or braking.

-If you need to stop and you’ve got anti-lock brakes, push the brake pedal down firmly and hold it down. If you don’t have these kinds of brakes, remember to pump the pedal when you need to stop quickly.

-Curb distractions, and stay alert and focused.

-Keep an eye on the vehicles ahead of you. They can help to locate problem spots on the road which may give you the split second you need to avoid an accident.

Motorists are asked to be extremely cautious on our roadways throughout the holiday season, regardless of the weather conditions. Please be safe and enjoy your holiday season.

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Recently, law enforcement officers in Maine started enforcing a relatively new law – no texting behind the wheel, according to The Maine Public Broadcasting Network. This law was recently enacted as a primary offense, meaning that officers can pull over a driver for texting without witnessing any other traffic infraction first. The law allows officers to hand over a $100 fine for anyone who is writing or reading at the wheel, including texting, using Facebook, sending or reading e-mails and fiddling with music libraries. All of these behaviors greatly increase a driver’s risk for a car accident in Portland.”Really what we’re trying to do here,” said state police Col. Robert Williams, “is get voluntary compliance because in 2010 about 39 percent of the traffic crashes’ … contributed to some type of inattention or distraction.”

Our Portland car accident lawyers understand that texting by teenage drivers in particular has become a problem throughout the U. . To help fight the problem, the U. . Department of Transportation (USDOT) launched a new public service announcement campaign called “OMG” to raise awareness about the dangers of texting behind the wheel. The campaign consists of two PSAs that will be shown at more than 525 Regal Cinema theaters, roughly 12,000 gas station pump-top screens nationwide and on the Distraction.gov website throughout December. The USDOT feels that these mediums will help reach a significant number of teenage drivers throughout the country.

As the holiday season draws near and Portland schools let out for winter break, teenage drivers will be setting out on our roadways to visit with friends and family members to enjoy some time away from class. To help spread the message about the potential consequences of texting while driving to teenagers, the USDOT has included popular texting lingo, like “LOL” and “L8R,” in its “OMG” campaign.

Greg Dunn, the President and COO of Regal Entertainment Group, says that he and Regal Entertainment Group is pleased to join forces with the USDOT for this campaign. He says that the partnership can help to make a difference on roadways nationwide, especially during the busy travel season.

As of right now, there are 35 states have made it illegal for all drivers to text behind the wheel. Nine states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia have made it illegal for drivers to talk on the phone.

Parents should talk with teenage drivers about the risks, dangers and consequences of distracted driving. You’re talk can help your teen make smart and responsible decisions behind the wheel and to avoid a potentially fatal accident.

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