Common Causes of Car Accidents #10: Improperly secured trailer load. A friend once saw a highway accident occur when a metal pipe flew off an open bed trailer, causing the truck immediately behind it to swerve and collide with a car in the next lane. Trailers are a convenient way to transport motorcycles and boats, [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #9: Nighttime driving. Drivers face many hazards when driving in the dark including drowsy or impaired drivers, reduced visibility of roadside obstacles such as animals, cyclists, and pedestrians, headlight glare, and more. Protect yourself and others by:• Avoiding driving if tired or you’ve been drinking• Clean your windshield and mirrors [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #8: Driving on snowy or icy streets. Last week's polar plunge brought plenty of ice and snow to Western New York. While we previously posted a series of winter driving safety tips (find them at multererlaw.com), it's important to remember just how dangerous these driving conditions can become. Snow and ice [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #7: Speeding. Speed limits were set in place for a reason: to keep roads safe for drivers and pedestrians alike. Late for work? Another vehicle driving faster? In a hurry to get home? None of these are good enough reasons to exceed the speed limit. Driving too fast puts you [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #6: Tailgating. Leave tailgating for Buffalo Bills games, not the road. Driving too close to the vehicle ahead puts you at a greater risk of not stopping in time if traffic slows or even stops, especially at high speeds on the highway. While it’s easy to stick close, try to [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #5: Drowsy driving. Driving while tired can be just as dangerous as drunk or impaired driving. In fact, drowsy driving is impaired driving. Being overtired behind the wheel can cause repeated yawning, swerving or tailgating, slow reaction times, blurred or reduced vision, poor judgement, and difficulty concentrating. There’s even a [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #4: Not obeying yield or stop signs. Like traffic lights, directional signs such as STOP or YIELD are a safety precaution that manage the flow of traffic, assign the right of way, and ensure the safety of drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Commonly placed in neighborhoods or on the off-ramps of [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #3: Impaired driving. One second is all it takes to get into an accident because as soon as you take your eyes off the road, you lose Driving while under the influence of drugs (legal or illegal) or alcohol is considered “impaired” driving. Some medications, including both prescription and over-the-counter, can [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #2: Distracted driving. One second is all it takes to get into an accident because as soon as you take your eyes off the road, you lose awareness of the car ahead of you, any light or traffic changes, and any unexpected obstacles, such as a child chasing a ball into [...]
Common Causes of Car Accidents #1: Not obeying traffic lights Two common things happen at traffic lights that shouldn't: vehicles speed up to beat a red light and vehicles jump the light (start driving before it turns green). Both practices are dangerous and can lead to serious accidents, especially when one driver runs a yellow [...]
