Facebook and Twitter to be Offered as Features in New Cars

Earlier this year U.S. automakers unveiled their latest features, including improved airbags and seatbelts, focused on saving lives and preventing serious injury in automobile accidents.  These features were applauded by safety advocates for helping to keep car occupants safe on America’s highways. However, as carmakers unveil their latest Internet-based features, safety advocates fear automakers are contributing to the distracted driving epidemic.

According to the New York Times, automakers are planning on offering high-tech features in some of their 2013 models allowing drivers to stay ‘wired’ while in the car, without accessing their smartphones.  Some of the apps that will be offered by Mercedes-Benz, Acura, Honda, Lexus, and Subaru, among other automakers, include GPS, Pandora streaming music, movie ticket ordering and even restaurant reviews from Yelp.  However the carmakers aren’t stopping there.  Some of the dealers will be offering access to social media sites, […]

Teen Sentenced to Prison in Distracted Driving Accident

Just this month one judge ruled in a first-of-its-kind case that someone sending a text message cannot be held liable for a distracted driving accident.  Now, in the first ruling in Massachusetts history where someone has been convicted for causing a fatal accident while texting behind the wheel, a judge found a teen guilty of killing someone when distracted by his cellphone while driving.

In February 2011, the then 17-year-old killed a 55-year-old man and seriously injured the man’s 50-year-old girlfriend when he crossed the center line and crashed into the oncoming vehicle.  After just four hours of deliberation the jury returned a verdict of guilty in the fatal accident, according to CBS News. The teen was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail, with a year to serve and the remainder suspended.  In addition, the teen lost his driver’s license for 15 years and owes an unspecified amount of restitution. […]

Pennsylvania State Police Announce Pursuit Statistics

The Pennsylvania State Police announced Monday that the number of pursuits across the state increased in 2011.  Pennsylvania police were involved in 1,453 vehicle pursuits last year, a slight increase over the 1,413 pursuits reported in 2010.

A pursuit is initiated by police “when the driver of the vehicle is resisting the apprehension by maintaining or increasing his speed or by ignoring the police officer’s audible or visual signal to stop.”

According to the press release, thirteen pursuit-related deaths were reported in 2011. Twelve of those killed were fleeing from police; one death involved an uninvolved person. No Pennsylvania police officers were killed as the result of pursuits. However, in a case we reported in February, a West Virginia policeman died in the midst of a pursuit that crossed the PA line.

Many police chases result in serious car accidents.  Last year, […]

Police Reconstruct Fatal Pennsylvania Accident

After a double-fatal car accident in Rome Township, PA, on Friday night, state police closed a portion of the road to reconstruct the deadly accident.  According to news reports, police closed State Route 1022 Monday morning in Bradford County in an effort to help determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

A couple died in the Friday night accident when the driver of their car, their 49-year-old son, apparently veered into the oncoming lane, where the vehicle was then struck by a dump truck.  The man’s mother and father died at the scene of the accident.  He was taken by helicopter to the nearby hospital.

The driver of the dump truck said he saw the SUV coming towards him and swerved to avoid the SUV, however, the two vehicles still struck nearly head-on.  The dump truck driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, […]

Education and Helmet Usage May Decrease Risks for Pennsylvania Motorcyclists

Summer is just about here, and as the days grow warmer more Pennsylvanians take to the road on their motorcycles.  Although the start of June brought an end to May’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys want to reiterate to motorists to be vigilant for motorcyclists sharing the road with you.  Unfortunately, a recent study about the continued high number of nationwide motorcycle accident fatalities reminds us all that motorcyclists are still faced with serious dangers when taking to the roadways.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, even though the number of fatalities among automobile accidents has reached the lowest number since 1949, a nearly 2% decline over last year’s numbers, “motorcycle deaths remain one of the few areas in highway safety where progress is not being made.” The GHSA reports that motorcycle fatalities remained unchanged at about 4,500 in both 2011 and 2010.   […]