Distracted driving is a growing and fatal problem

Nearly everyone agrees that texting and driving is dangerous, yet an overwhelming number of drivers continue to do it. Each time you take your focus off of the road, even for a second, you are putting your life and the lives of others in danger.

Police in Linden, New Jersey, issued 110 summonses to drivers they say weren’t paying attention to the road during two distracted driving enforcement operations this past week, according to the Jersey Tribune. Police data indicates that driver inattention was cited as a factor in more than 30% of the fatal car crashes in New Jersey last year.

Earlier this month, the New York Daily News reported that stricter laws against texting while driving would take effect in New York. Under the new law, newly licensed motorists convicted of texting while driving will have their license suspended for 120 days on the first offense. […]

Personal injury lawyer warns icy roads can cause fatal crashes

It’s that time of year again in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and across the country, when icy and snowy road conditions contribute to many accidents, some fatal.

A fatal tractor-trailer crash occurred this past weekend on I-80 in Luzerne County. Pennsylvania state police blamed icy roads for the one-vehicle crash that killed a 43-year-old New York man. There were many more fatalities caused by icy road conditions across the country this weekend. In Minnesota, NBC station KARE reported that six people died in crashes on icy highways. Minnesota state police reported that in just about every accident, it started with a vehicle losing control on the icy roads.

According to the Avalanche Journal, in Texas, the Lubbock police department reported they responded to 103 accidents in a 12-hour period on Sunday, four of them fatal. Heavy snow and sleet contributed to the crashes. […]

Nov. 16 is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we know as well as anyone that car accidents, and the tragedies they can leave behind, are all too common. Each year, over 30,000 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States alone. Hundreds of thousands more are injured. We hear about these incidents every day, but there is nothing routine about the pain and trauma that they can cause. That is why, on November 16, we will pause to remember the victims of traffic accidents and their families.

According to the World Health Organization, The World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims was first observed in 1993. In 2005, the United Nations endorsed it as a day of remembrance to be observed annually on the third Sunday in November.

All across the United States and the world, […]

Daylight savings time leads to more accidents

Last weekend, Americans gained an hour of sleep as daylight savings time (DST) ended and the clocks were set back one hour. For most people, the time change means a slight adjustment to our sleep schedules and to the evenings becoming darker earlier. However, the overnight time change can also lead to an increase in car and pedestrian accidents.

Not surprisingly, traffic and pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur in darkness. Loss of daylight means lower visibility, which is especially dangerous for pedestrians. Darkness is also more conducive to drowsy driving, a leading cause of car and trucking accidents.

According to CBS New York, the Monday after clocks are set forward when DST begins in the spring is “one of the deadliest days on the road,” as drivers are more likely to be tired, having “lost” an hour of sleep, […]

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer warns that Halloween is one of the deadliest days for pedestrians

As children head out in their Halloween costumes to trick-or-treat this Friday, parents should be aware of the dangers they face. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that children are four times more likely to be struck by a motor vehicle on Halloween than any other day of the year. An estimated 41 million children will be out trick-or-treating in the United States this week. Young trick-or-treaters are often dressed in dark costumes and masks, they are excited and rushing, and may forget about safety when crossing streets or when walking near traffic.

A study by State Farm released in 2012, found an average of 5.5 pedestrian fatalities each year on Halloween, which is more than double the average on other days. The report found that a quarter of the accidents occurred between 6pm and 7pm and over 60% between the prime trick-or-treating hours of 5pm to 9pm. […]