Personal injury lawyers on safe driving and teen car crashes

Over Labor Day weekend near the Pocono Mountains in Northeast Pennsylvania, three teens died in a tragic SUV crash. According to NBC 10 Philadelphia news reports, an unlicensed 15-year-old girl was behind the wheel of the SUV.

The three teens that were killed in the car accident were all sophomores at Council Rock High School South in Holland, Pennsylvania. The driver was injured in the crash, as well as a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. The Wayne County DA reported that the girl picked up everyone in the SUV to go to breakfast. A witness said the SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed before flipping over at a curve in the road.

This crash is a parent’s worst nightmare and an all too common occurrence with teen drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reports that eight teens a day are killed in car crashes. […]

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys urges drivers to use caution on Labor Day weekend

Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, and is one of the busiest on the roads, as families and individuals take advantage of the weather for last minute summer trips.

AAA travel reported that more people are expected to get away this Labor Day than in the past six years. AAA says that 34.7 million Americans are expected to travel over Labor Day weekend, with nearly 86% likely to head to their destinations by car.

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates there will nearly 400 fatalities in car crashes during Labor Day weekend, with an additional 42,300 injured in car crashes. They estimate the holiday to be from Friday night at 6 thru Monday at midnight.

According to an article in USA Today, there are two major reasons for accidents on highways: losing concentration while driving and ignoring the risk of big trucks. […]

Fatal Vehicle-Train collisions can often be prevented

Last week, WNEP news reported that two men died in Lycoming County after the pickup truck they were riding in collided with a freight train. Police reported that the truck was driving over a railroad crossing when it collided with a Norfolk Southern Train.

About every 3 hours a person or vehicle is hit by a train, according to Operation Lifesaver, a non-profit organization focused on providing education to prevent collisions at a railroad track and highway-rail grade crossings. The average locomotive weighs about 400,000 pounds or 200 tons and can weigh up to 6,000 tons. This makes the weight ratio of a car to a train proportional to that of a soda can to a car. By the time a locomotive engineer sees a person or vehicle on the tracks, it is often too late. It takes a freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile, […]

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys urges motorists to slow down as school children return to the classroom

Millions of students are returning to the classrooms this month, which means extra care must be taken for all who are driving motor vehicles. With the start of the new school year comes increased traffic on area roads, and also an increased risk of accidents.

Drivers must be aware at all time, especially when near school zones and along bus routes. Watch for children walking on sidewalks, in parking lots and crossing streets, they can be unpredictable. AAA estimates that 55 million children across the country are returning to school this fall, warning drivers to be especially vigilant for pedestrians before and after school hours.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the highest percentage (42%) of fatalities among pedestrians under 15 occurred between 4p.m. and 8p.m. The NHTSA reports that 23 million students nationwide ride on a school bus, […]

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer says seat belts can save lives

Wearing a seat belt can help save your life. According to the Just Drive Pa, a seat belt increases your chances of surviving a crash by 60 percent. Seat belt usage rose to 87 percent nationally in 2013, which sounds great, but means that although 184.4 million people are wearing seatbelt, 27.5 million still are not.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), there are several demographic groups that have a lower seat belt rate than others. These groups include 16- to 24-year-olds, African Americans, males, and drivers who are alone in the vehicle. Research also showed that 67 percent of the pickup truck drivers killed in crashes were not buckled up.

The NHTSA released the following startling statistics regarding age and seat belt use. The numbers reflect occupants killed who were completely unrestrained at the time of the crash. […]