Posted by rozeklawoffice on March 22, 2010 under Avoiding Car Accidents, Car Accidents, General, Safe Driving Tips, Wisconsin Law | 
Nationwide and throughout the State of Wisconsin, authorities are reporting more crashes caused by distracted drivers.
According to a National Highway Traffic Administration study, distracted driving accounts for 80% of all car accidents.
The Top 7 most distracting tasks that should be avoided while driving include:
- Reaching for a moving object
- Reading and Writing
- Applying Makeup
- Dialing a Hand Held Cell Phone
- Eating, and Drinking
- Texting, Talking and Listening on a cell phone
- Adjusting the Radio or CD Player
The most common distraction that causes the most car accidents involves dropping one’s cell phone while trying to dial or text and then trying to pick it up while driving. Reaching for dropped objects is twice as dangerous as other non-driving tasks including reading and changing the radio channel.
Not paying attention when driving can result in relatively minor car accidents such as collisions in parking lots; however, many times it results in serious crashes causing extensive damages, injuries, and fatalities. The good news is that distracted driving is avoidable.
According to the Wisconsin AAA, the average driver makes approximately 200 driving decisions per mile. As the number of activities increase so so the chances of an accident. And today, more than ever, we have so many opportunities to be distracted, changing songs on your iPod, glancing at the DVD your child is watching, entering an address into your navigation system, and texting a friend. A study done by the Virgina Tech Transportation Institute found that for every 6 seconds of drive time, a driver sending or receiving a text spends 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road.
To reduce distractions, plan ahead. Map out your route before entering the vehicle. Eat before you leave the house. Shut off your cell phone and put it out of site. Once in the car, make a point to concentrate on keeping your hands on the wheel.
Many individuals do not believe that anyone will know if they are texting or talking on the cell phone and happen to be in an accident. It is important to understand that even if you are in a car accident caused by another driver, the insurance company will request your phone bill, review it, and determine if you were talking or texting at the time of the accident. If you were injured in the accident and are pursuing the other driver’s insurance for medical bill payment, you may loose your case based on your phone records.
Now before the Wisconsin State Assembly is a bill that was passed by the Wisconsin Senate banning texting while driving. This ban is proposed to help keep our roads safe. To assist with getting this bill approved, visit legis.wi.gov to contact your local legislator and request the passage of this bill.
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For more information on Wisconsin Car Accidents or to speak with a Wisconsin Car Accident Attorney about an accident that involved distracted driving.
Tags: car accident and fatalities, car accident and injury, Car Accidents, cell phone and car accident, distractions and car accidents, texting and car accident, wiconsin car accident attorney, wisconsin AAA, wisconsin car accident, wisconsin car accident and injuries, wisconsin car accident and phone records, wisconsin distrated driver, Wisconsin texting ban
Posted by rozeklawoffice on February 18, 2010 under Recreational Accidents, Safe Driving Tips |
Wisconsin recreation safety specialists recommend that you take the following 6 top precautions to stay safe this winter when snowmobiling:
1. Slow Down: Speed is a contributing factor in nearly all fatal snowmobile accidents. Moderate speed is urged to allow for adequate reaction time in any situation.
2. Always Carry a First Aid Kit: The kit should include a flashlight, knife, compass, map and waterproof matches. And a cell phone (turned on for emergencies- but never in use while driving.
3. Dress Appropriately: Always wear a helmet! Also wear goggles or some form of a face shield to prevent eye injuries from twigs or flying debris. Wear layers, water proof material, and make sure there are no loose strings or materials to catch on things you drive by.
4. Avoid Water and Ice: The thickness of ice is always tricky to judge. Wisconsin weather changes rapidly and water movement tends to be unpredictable by the eye alone. Snow cover can also trick people into thinking the ice is solid and it also can prevent the ice from solidly forming.
5. Stay On Marked Trails: Always be on the alert for fences, tree stumps, and other ground impediments. If there is not a marked trail, stay on the right shoulder of the road.
6. Travel In Pairs: Most snow mobile accidents result in personal injury. The most dangerous situation occurs when a person is injured alone. If you have to travel alone, please tell someone your destination, planned route, and approximate time that you will be returning.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a snowmobile accident and needs advise, contact an experienced Wisconsin Snowmobile Personal Injury Attorney to help you understand your rights.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on February 10, 2010 under Avoiding Car Accidents, Car Accidents |
American Honda Motor Co. is joining Toyota as the 2nd Japanese auto manufacturer with major recall problems. Honda is recalling more than 378,000 vehicles to replace possibly faulty driver’s side airbags.
Honda has confirmed at least 12 incidents with the faulty airbags. The recall applies to 2001 and 2002 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V and selected 2002 Acura TL vehicles. The company also is recalling the Honda Pilot and Acura CL, each produced in late 2002.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Wisconsin while driving a Honda vehicle listed in this recall, please get in contact with an experienced Wisconsin Car Accident Attorney.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on January 29, 2010 under Avoiding Car Accidents, Car Accidents, General |
By now, most people understand (although many time begrudgingly) that hand held cellphone use while driving can distract the driver and cause an accident. Many state, including Wisconsin, have adopted laws that make it illegal to use the cell phone to talk or text while driving.
In January of this year, a national study came out reporting that 28% of all auto accidents were attributed to the use of cell phones by active drivers. This sparked national attention to the on-going discussions over hand held cell phone use while driving.
Now, a new national report released last week by the Insurance Institute for highway safety concludes that not only hand held cell phones are a driving distraction but hands-free cellphones are equally as distracting. Behavioral testing in laboratory settings indicates that hands-free cellphone conversations are just as distracting as the hand-held variety. Using actual crash statistics, results show there was no significant difference in the number of accidents in the District, California or New York in the months before and after hands-free laws went into effect.
Recently, commercial truck and bus drivers have been prohibited from texting, and last year President Obama required that federal employees refrain from texting while driving government vehicles as well as their own cars if they use government-issued phones or are on official business.
Many national advocacy and non-profit agencies are calling for a complete ban on any type of cell phone use while driving. This includes hand- held and hand-free cell phones. However, with approximately 81% of drivers acknowledging that they talk on cellphones while driving, and an estimated 812,000 drivers are using their phones at any given moment during daylight hours, any movement to ban all use while driving is likely to face opposition. Not to mention the difficulties that enforcement of the ban would bring.
For now, the best that everyone can do is promote awareness of the dangers and think twice before using any device while driving that can pose as a distraction.
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