Sam Dennis LawValdosta Georgia Personal Injury2024-02-29T14:45:00Zhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1203628/2023/07/cropped-Site-Graphic-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473882023-06-29T19:17:37Z2023-06-29T19:17:37ZWhy multitasking is a danger to you and other drivers
Multitasking is a major form of distraction. According to neuroscientists, multitasking in the car prevents people from noticing what is happening in their peripheral vision. It is likely why inexperienced drivers avoid distractions like talking to passengers or listening to music. However, even the most skilled drivers may lessen their reaction time if they are doing something else while driving.
Driving demands a lot of attention. Motorists must observe other cars, be alert to traffic signs and always look for potential hazards while also operating the vehicle. Switching from driving to another task and back exhausts the brain, making it less efficient. As a result, performance on both tasks suffers.
What you can do instead
You shouldn't risk an accident just to eat your burger or put on your lipstick. Most mornings, folks rush out the door and attempt to get everything done in the car to arrive at work on time. However, it could be as simple as determining the root cause of your multitasking and attempting to eliminate it.
You probably have a good idea of how long it takes you to get ready and how long the travel will be. Going to bed and waking up earlier could probably free up some time in the morning.
Improving your time management skills could help you find more time to savor your meals, feel less pressure to get ready quickly and pay more attention when driving.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473792023-06-15T18:18:32Z2023-06-15T18:18:32Zfatal or disabling injuries.
Actor killed in motorcycle accident by turning SUV driver
The death of actor Treat Williams provides a sad example of what can happen. According to news reports, Williams was riding a motorcycle past the entrance to a parking lot when he was struck by an SUV. Police believe the SUV driver was trying to turn left into the lot and apparently failed to yield to Williams.
The impact threw Williams off his motorcycle. He was later declared dead after being airlifted to the hospital. He was 71.
Negligence is often the cause
While it's too soon to say who was at fault for this incident, left-turn motorcycle accidents like this are often due to carelessness or recklessness from the turning driver. They might be distracted by their phone and not paying sufficient attention to the road. They might misjudge the approaching rider's distance and speed. Whatever the reason, by turning into a motorcycle's path, they are putting the rider in grave danger. Such behavior should mean they are responsible for the financial costs associated with their vicitms' injuries.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473772023-06-09T15:23:26Z2023-06-09T15:23:26Zthe patient might suffer from the following symptoms before recovering fully:
Dizziness
Sensitivity to light or noise
Balancing issues
Fatigue and headaches
Nausea and vomiting
Vision issues
Inability to focus or concentrate
Mind fog and memory problems
Anxiety and irritability
Mood swings
Sleeping issues
Unfortunately, these symptoms could appear later after sustaining the injury. These similarities could make concussions challenging to detect even if the patient receives medical care right after the crash.
Warning signs to watch out for
Despite being mild, concussions and their symptoms might conceal severe harm caused by the collision. Sometimes, the impact could cause blood clots to form against the skull, which could require urgent medical attention. If the patient experiences the following warning signs, seek emergency care immediately:
Persistent headaches that do not improve
Unusual numbness or weakness
Coordination issues
Convulsions or seizures
Persistent vomiting long after the incident
Speech problems and unusual mannerisms
Agitation and confusion
Inability to remain awake
Uneven pupils in eyes
Additionally, individuals involved in a collision should be under observation to look out for these symptoms.
Receiving medical care after a minor crash
Some people might feel fine after a minor collision and pass on going to the hospital. However, it could be best to receive at least an examination to get ahead of any underlying injuries. Doing so could also help detect problems early and prescribe any necessary medication for concussion symptoms that might arise.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473752023-06-09T14:51:18Z2023-06-09T14:51:18ZDangers of road rage
When you get angry at another driver, you may exhibit aggressive driving behavior, such as speeding, unnecessarily hitting the brakes and bumping the other vehicle. Because road rage diverts your attention from driving safely and makes you disregard the safety of others on the road, you risk getting into an accident. Data shows that road rage contributes to fatal crashes.
Unfortunately, many motorists will react to road rage with even more road rage. By trying to get even with another driver, you could unintentionally make things worse by offending another motorist.
Manage your rage and drive safely
Controlling your emotions in a heated situation is easier said than done, but it is important. Realizing when you are starting to get angry and keeping in mind that it is better to arrive safely at home than sorry can be helpful.
If you come across an aggressive driver, the best thing you can do is avoid getting even. Take a deep breath, calm yourself and keep your attention on the road. Another option is to reframe your thinking and consider the reasons an aggressive driver may behave that way. Maybe they have poor time management or are very late to a life-changing appointment.
No one should risk a car accident just to flip someone off or to prove they are the better driver. Planning your route ahead of time may help you avoid stressful driving situations like rush hour traffic jams. Plus, when you are relaxed, it becomes much easier to keep your emotions in check.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473742023-06-06T03:35:51Z2023-06-06T03:35:51ZCalculating the full cost of a distracted driving crash
Using a cellphone, checking navigation apps, changing the radio, eating or interacting with passengers can cause distraction. When distraction occurs, drivers might rear-end vehicles in front of them, drive off the road, have head-on collisions and hit pedestrians.
Statistically, one in four auto accidents are believed to happen because of distraction. In accidents that result in fatalities, distraction is believed to have played a role in 8 percent of them. Employers who are lax about ensuring their drivers know and understand policies against distracted driving can be confronted with a significant financial burden.
There is a litany of costs associated with distracted driving. Missed workdays are expensive for a business. Additionally, there might be a workers’ compensation claim. Property damage can necessitate major repairs or the need to purchase a new vehicle. Insurance costs are likely to increase. Cargo that was to be delivered at the time of the accident may have been destroyed or left unusable.
Employers should educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving
Government entities, law enforcement and safety advocates have long been trying to emphasize how distracted driving is risky. Despite that, drivers continue to take part in distracting activities and put themselves, others on the road and their employers in jeopardy. Employers are wise to remember the extended costs and take a harder line against distraction behind the wheel.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473722023-05-24T05:27:41Z2023-05-24T05:27:41ZBiology
One key component of car crashes is biology. Drivers are human beings with imperfect reaction times and sometimes distorted perception. The imperfect nature of human driving causes the vast majority of car accidents. The science of perception can help drivers be safer on the road. For instance, response times decrease rapidly as speed increases. Driving slower allows for more time to react, brake, and avoid accidents. In addition, drowsiness and drug responses harm perception and can increase the chances of an accident. Driving while sober and at times when there are fewer drunk or tired drivers on the roads can decrease the chances of an accident.
Physics
Physics is the other key scientific component of car accidents. An accident involves forces, vectors, and the way that forces affect materials and people. The force of an automobile accident involves thousands of joules that must be absorbed at different points, especially if a car is speeding. One of these points is often the airbag, which deploys at an intense speed to take the impact that a driver or passenger may have otherwise had to take.
Another is the shell, engineered in recent years to crumple. Understanding force can also help guide a car that may be forced to drive into another car or a stationary object. Stationary objects often do not crumple or break and redirect all of the force applied to them back to the driver. Keeping these factors in mind may not end accidents, but it may help slightly lessen their impact and frequency in the long run.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473682023-05-08T21:15:16Z2023-05-08T21:15:16ZTraffic goes up
Your risk of an accident increases when more cars are on the road. This is because there are more chances to be bumped by a driver on a cellphone or to collide with a vehicle making an improper lane change. Regardless of how busy a road or highway may be, your risk of an accident may also increase if you are on your phone or are otherwise distracted. Therefore, be sure to put the phone away and to refrain from doing anything that might take your focus off a congested highway.
Watch out for motorcycles
Motorcyclists tend to come out in droves during the warmer seasons. It's important to be extra cautious around motorcycles because they don't offer the same protections that cars or trucks do. Therefore, riders will take the brunt of any collision between themselves and passenger vehicles.
Be aware of pedestrians
You will likely see more people biking, jogging or walking this time of year. Ideally, you will take a few seconds to scan for pedestrian traffic before going through an intersection or making a turn to avoid a motor vehicle accident resulting in significant injuries or death. It's also a good idea to look for pedestrians before opening your door so you don't strike anyone.
A motor vehicle accident may cause significant injuries and property loss. However, it may be possible to obtain compensation from the defendant to cover the cost of repairing your car or obtaining medical treatment. This may be true if the defendant was negligent in allowing a crash to happen.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473702023-05-09T20:25:47Z2023-05-08T20:24:38Zcar accidents. Still, single-vehicle accidents also have some unique features and things to keep in mind in the immediate aftermath.
What is a single-vehicle accident?
A single-vehicle accident is one in which only one vehicle is involved. But the circumstances can be varied. Examples include:
Striking a pedestrian or any other human, whether on foot or a bicycle
Hitting a pet
Hitting a large wild animal like a deer
Colliding with a building or other property and structures like a pole or mailbox
Hitting an object in the road
Drifting into a ditch or embankment
What to do after a single-vehicle accident
It's very important that you not drive away or leave the scene after a single vehicle accident. The law may consider this a hit-and-run, which carries significant penalties.
In the aftermath of a single-vehicle accident:
Assess your own condition, especially if you've collided with something large or solid. If you believe you might need medical attention, call 9-1-1 or emergency services immediately.
If you've collided with a person, attempt to render aid.
If you've hit a pet, attempt to move it out of the road and remain with it until others arrive.
If you hit a large wild animal, keep your distance, as it may be unpredictable and dangerous.
If you've damaged any property, take pictures to document the scene, then attempt to find the property owner to let them know what happened.
Finally, contact the authorities if you haven't already done so, as well as your insurer.
If you find yourself involved in a single-vehicle accident, it's crucial that you remain calm and follow the above steps. This will ensure you're protected both health-wise and legally.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473672023-11-02T15:26:06Z2023-04-27T19:32:13ZHandheld phone bans
To reduce distraction and deter this kind of behavior, drivers in most parts of the country are prohibited from using handheld devices. States passed these laws because hands-free devices allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel when they make or receive phone calls. Handheld phone bans address visual and manual distraction, but they do nothing to prevent cognitive distraction.
Hands-free phone study
The safety benefits of hands-free mobile devices were studied by researchers from the Queensland University of Technology in 2016. The researchers asked volunteers to use hands-free and handheld devices in a driving simulator, and then they observed how well they coped with unexpected events like a pedestrian stepping into the road or a car pulling out. The subjects’ reaction times were 40% slower with either kind of device. This suggests that handheld phone bans are doing little to prevent distracted driving car accidents.
Things are likely to get worse
Distraction is likely to become even more common in the years ahead because automobile information and entertainment systems are becoming more sophisticated and studies show that drivers are happy to use technology while behind the wheel even though they know it is dangerous. Almost all of the drivers surveyed by AT&T said that using mobile devices caused accidents, but 90% of them admitted to engaging in this dangerous behavior on a regular basis.]]>On Behalf of Sam Dennis Lawhttps://www.samdennislaw.com/?p=473652023-11-02T15:25:31Z2023-04-10T05:15:30ZSouth Carolina
Drivers in South Carolina have the most accidents. About 12% of all South Carolina drivers have an at-fault car accident on their record.
Massachusetts
Drivers in Massachusetts have the second most accidents, with 11.9% of drivers having an at-fault accident on their record. Statistics also show that traffic fatalities per mile driven is 53% lower than the national average, and motor vehicle fatalities per capita are 58% lower than the nation’s average.
Ohio
Drivers in Ohio may want to be more careful when driving because 11.4% of drivers have an at-fault accident on their records. Yet, the number of traffic fatalities in the Buckeye State is 11% below the national average.
Nebraska
Perhaps the icy conditions in the cold Nebraska winters cause drivers to have more accidents. Regardless of the reason why, 10.6% of drivers have an at-fault car accident on their records.
Georgia
Georgia has the fourth highest fatality rate from car accidents in the U.S. Per the statistics released in the NSC study, 1 in 6,452 residents are killed in car accidents each year. These are sobering statistics for a state that is only the eighth largest in the country.
The nation’s highways are safer than 50 years ago, but there is still much room for improvement.]]>