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If you are hitting the road for the holidays, make sure you prepare yourself and your vehicle. Traveling via car during the holiday season can be deadly.
According to the National Safety Council, here are how many people died in holiday car accidents in 2015:
West Virginia has one of the highest car accident rates in the country. Reports estimate that one out of every four crashes that occur in the state are a result of driving under the influence of alcohol.
While accidents most often occur on highways and busy streets, a good number of them take place in parking lots. Although vehicles generally do not travel fast in parking lots, a slow-speed crash can still result in substantial injuries and even death. Even though the damage may not seem like much following a parking lot accident, it is important to establish liability in case you sustain an injury or discover significant property damage.
There are car accidents in West Virginia every day that leave drivers injured, disabled and, in the worst cases, dead. These accidents happen for a variety of reasons: disregard of traffic laws, poor road conditions and, sometimes, the effects of medication on a driver. The latter of these is a particularly pernicious problem as the opioid epidemic worsens and more drivers are impaired by prescription medications.
There are a few things everybody on the road should know about driving and medicating. The following are three important facts to keep in mind whether you are taking medication yourself or suspect that you have been in an accident with a driver who was impaired by medication:
Many car accidents that occur in West Virginia are relatively minor in nature. However, any accident involving a logging truck or any kind of big rig could result in much greater damage. Due to their immense size and weight, a collision between a logging truck and a standard sedan is much more likely to result in injuries or fatalities.
Truck drivers receive extensive training to handle the vehicle properly, but staying safe on the road also means other motorists need to be careful when driving around large trucks.
There are many instances where it is extremely clear who is at fault for an accident. Take one recent instance of the West Virginia police arresting a man who drove drunk while traveling on Interstate 81.
In cases where there is greater vagueness concerning who is at fault for the auto accident, you may have to contend with an overly angry driver who wants you to admit you caused the collision. You do not want to admit fault at the scene because that can work against you when it comes to the insurance claim. You may feel angry, too, but it is vital to maintain your cool. You will solve nothing by yelling and getting angry. Instead, follow these steps to defuse the situation.
There are many ways in which whiplash can occur, from contact sports to amusement park rides. However, the most common way it occurs is through motor vehicle accidents.
Although many people talk about whiplash following car accidents, few seem to be aware of the overall impact it can have on a person's life. One scientific study found that it can take up to two years for whiplash symptoms to stabilize. There are also patients who continue to experience the symptoms seven years after the initial incident. Some people may require years of medical treatments and medications.
As a West Virginia resident, you know that driving on our mountainous roads can be problematic at best. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the rate of fatal vehicle accidents in West Virginia is higher not only than the national average, but also than the rates in all surrounding states other than Kentucky.
Last year alone, 242 motorists died on West Virginia’s turnpike, highways and roads by the end of November. The three primary factors accounting for our high roadway death rate are as follows:
West Virginia's economy makes it a unique place for commercial trucking. Trucks that may not be present on roads in many parts of the country, such as coal trucks or logging trucks, can be commonplace in the Mountain State.
Along with these West Virginia industries come the risks inherent in these particular types of trucks. Accidents involving coal trucks and logging trucks can cause injuries that are much more catastrophic than those from a typical passenger car accident.
In West Virginia, you do not have to report an auto accident to the state's Department of Transport. However, you must report the incident to the police if the collision resulted in injury or death or the crash caused over $500 in damage.
There are many steps you need to take care of in the day following a car accident, such as getting in touch with your insurance agency. In contrast, there are plenty of things you do not want to do. Many people make the following mistakes, and a simple error in judgment could cost you dearly if this incident goes to court.
As you spend a great deal of time on the roads and highways of West Virginia, you probably notice many trucks going about their business. As long you do not encounter an imminent accident risk, you might not give a second thought to sharing the road with one of these large semis. However, what about the typical truck driver lifestyle? Can a trucker’s daily habits create a dangerous situation that you would not know about until it is too late?
As you may know, truck drivers are often on the road for hours at a time. Truck driver fatigue is an issue that has plagued the trucking industry since the beginning. Despite regulations that restrict the number of hours truckers can be behind the wheel before getting some sleep, drowsy driving accounts for a large portion of truck accidents across the country. There are other factors, however, in the average truck driver’s lifestyle that commonly result in collisions or near misses. These may include the following:
Romano & Associates, PLLC
230 Capitol Street
Suite 200
Charleston,
WV
25314
Phone:
304-932-4604
Fax:
304-345-7626
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