Jun 20, 2018 | Car Accidents, General, Personal Injury
As we enter the summer months, people begin planning for vacation. While some head to the beach or mountains, you may plan to hit both by RV. Although nothing can be more fun than sight seeing across the country in your RV, it does present some obstacles when it comes to RV driving safety. With each new state comes new traffic laws and rules to abide by. But, there are some general rules you can use as a jumping off point. However, depending on where you’re driving, you should check local laws. Just because North Dakota says it’s okay, does not mean Montana is on board…
RV Driving Safety: Following Local and Federal Law
Know Your State
As you hit the road in your RV, be sure to become familiar with the traffic laws in different states. While you’re probably thinking, aren’t they all the same?–the answer is, not quite. For instance, some states allow you to make a right turn at a red light. However, other states do not permit this. So, before you head out, become familiar with basic traffic laws as you pass through different areas.
Trailer Lights
Before hitting the road, you certainly want to do a light check on your RV. Since you’re in such a large vehicle, other drivers will need a warning before you make any moves. Therefore, you want all brake lights and turning signals to be functioning correctly. Also, in the event of bad weather, you want to make sure other drivers can see you clearly. So even after making a quick stop, make sure to do a light check once again just for good measure.
RV Size
One of the lesser known RV rules is that sometimes you may need to carry certain items along with you. Depending on how large your RV is, there may be a requirement about what you need to bring with you. For instance, you may need to carry safety chains or trailer brakes. In order to know the specifics RV rules for your vehicle, check your owner’s manual, and ask the dealer upon purchase.
Seat Belt Safety
While RV’s allow the family to roam while you ride, you still need to remember to wear a seat belt. As a driver, you aren’t exempt from North Carolina’s seat belt law. Or any other state’s law that you may be traveling through. So, wear your seat belt as a number one priority for RV driving safety.
In short, it’s important that you know the RV rules for each state you travel in. While some violations may only make for minor traffic tickets, others can be more serious. No matter the penalty, you don’t want to face these troubles at home, much less out on the road. So before planning your summer trips, brush up on your knowledge of RV rules depending on the states you plan to travel through. You never know what might be that one piece of information you were missing…
Apr 24, 2018 | Car Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents
Whether you fail to yield on a blinking yellow, someone else fails to adhere to a stoplight, or you drift into oncoming traffic during the turn; left turn collisions are a pretty common occurrence on the roadway. Left turns are a bit less protected than, say, a right turn. Because of this, typically they are a bit more serious. Now, you add a motorcycle into the mix and they quickly become deadly. At any rate, drivers and riders are at an increased risk when a car overestimates just how much time and space they have to turn left.
Left Turn Collisions: Serious or Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
Anyone who has driven on a busy roadway knows that it can be pretty difficult to execute a turn quickly in traffic. Whether you overestimate, don’t see a vehicle, or if they make an error… We may find ourselves in a hurry to get where we’re going. But, keep in mind that safety is of the upmost concern. Getting there safely is way more important than getting there quickly. Left turn collisions are typically some of the more serious accidents. So, taking a few more minutes to pick the right gap could save your life.
Left turns can be quick and easy, or extremely difficult
It seems that, more often than not, traffic goes one of two ways. Either you have a crystal clear roadway for turning. Or, traffic keeps coming at what seems like an unstoppable rate. Between traffic, and stoplights, sometimes you might start to feel like you’ll never turn. But, taking that chance and going for it a bit too quickly can be dangerous for every person on the roadway. Especially if a motorcycle happens to be the next vehicle in line.
Motorcyclists can only withstand so much impact before an accident becomes serious.
Ultimately, motorcyclists cannot control or predict the behavior of other drivers. While this remains the case for both drivers and riders, motorcycle accidents become serious a bit more quickly and frequently. So, watch where you’re going! Stay alert on the roadway, and don’t rush to make risky moves. Driving, even though we do it every day, is a dangerous thing. Sometimes we fail to remember that we are operating a potentially deadly weapon. Especially in reference to smaller vehicles on the roadway.
Mar 20, 2018 | Car Accidents
Tempe, Arizona has been one of the testing grounds for self-driving vehicles for a few years now. They were excited by the opportunity, and up until yesterday— it had only proved to be fortuitous. But, Sunday evening, this testing took a turn for the worse when one of the autonomous vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian in the street. While there was a backup driver in the vehicle, she did not intervene; leading to the first incident that will bring into question the credibility and safety of a vehicle without a driver.
Uber’s Self-Driving Vehicle Kills A Pedestrian: Where Do Autonomous Vehicles Go From Here?
Tempe exists as a testing ground for plenty of companies testing out autonomous vehicles. From Uber to a few other technology companies that have been toying with the idea. The idea itself is quite attractive, and if done correctly, it could potentially make the roads much safer. There’s no room for human error, distracted drivers, or even drunk drivers. But, even though there’s no room for human error— what happens when there’s a technology glitch?
Think about you cell phone, your computer, your nav system in the car. Those are all technological systems. But you, just as I, have inevitably faced some frustration from time to time over it not doing it’s job. “Stupid technology,” we say, and then go about our day. But what happens if that same type of glitch occurs in an autonomous vehicle?
So, who’s fault is it?
The footage from cameras facing inside and outside of the vehicle has led the police chief to question who’s at fault for this incident? It came as a shock to many, and led them to question the integrity of that police department. According to the police chief’s statement, “it would have been difficult to avoid this collision in any kind of mode based on how she [the pedestrian] came from the shadows right into the roadway.” According to reports, she was also crossing from outside of a crosswalk— making it more difficult for the autonomous vehicle to account for her entrance to the roadway.
But, there was a backup driver, a human being, inside the vehicle that is supposed to take over if need be. It’s safe to assume that this circumstance would be one in which a backup driver should take over. But, how do we determine who’s at fault? Is it the self-driving vehicle, the backup driver, or the woman crossing the street, from the shadows, after dark?
Where does Uber go from here?
While the investigation is ongoing, Uber has suspended it’s testing. They are working with authorities to better understand what happened, and where to go from here. Research is being done, but as of now, the future of Uber’s Self-Driving Vehicles is unclear. Accidents will inevitably happen on the roadway. Fender bender’s are a part of everyday life for driver’s. But, when there is no driver— how do we determine where the fault lies?
Feb 15, 2018 | Car Accidents
If you’ve just been in a minor car accident, it’’s very likely that you aren’t thinking straight. You might have minor whiplash, you’re angry, and you have a damaged car. First things first, it’s important to remain calm. Then you’re going to want to start a quick process to protect yourself and your future claim. You might have never been in this situation before, in that case— we have you covered. Following, you will quick to do list for handling a minor car accident in a timely, and efficient manner.
How to Handle A Minor Car Accident: Making Sure You’re Safe and Covered
First things first, are you okay?
Are you dizzy? Can you see straight? Do you have feeling in your extremities? It is important to give yourself a once over. Adrenaline is likely pulsing through your body, and that typically makes it difficult to know the extent of your injuries right away. If you need emergency medical attention, then the rest of the accident can be handled secondarily. First things first, you need to make sure you are okay to handle the situation. Not to mention, it’s a bit more difficult to place a claim for injuries after you’ve left the scene of the accident.
If you are able— move your vehicle out of the roadway
It is the law to do so, for one. But also, trying to hash out this whole process while cars are whizzing by and honking— is pretty nerve wracking. You’re likely to forget something. So, if your car is not smoking, or totaled, then it is important for you to get it to the shoulder— same goes for the other party.
Call the police
Many choose to lead with this— others choose not to do it at all. My advise? Call in the accident. It is not uncommon for the at-fault party to suggest handling the claim outside of the law and between the two of you. That is entirely up to you, but often ill-advised. What happens in most of these cases, is that the guilty party will avoid paying and eventually disappear. Obviously, you are welcome to handle the accident in whatever manner you see fit— but, coming from experience— call the police and have them create an official accident report
Check out the damage, exchange insurance information, and call as soon as possible
Examine both vehicles as you wait. Take pictures of both vehicles and their damage, as well as the scene of the accident. Both of you will want to do so for your own records, and in the case of disagreement. Swap insurance information, names, phone numbers, write down license plate info— document everything. When you have all information, call your insurance company. It is best to do so as soon as possible. Dealing with an accident always takes a while, and most of it is waiting around. So, use the time to call your insurance. Ask their opinion, make sure before you leave that you’ve gotten everything they need— let them guide you.
The key here, is to remain calm and get it handled as soon as possible. An accident is less than ideal, but it is not the end of the world. So, follow your steps, document, and move on with your day. We wish you luck in dealing with this process.
Feb 14, 2018 | Car Accidents
The aftermath of a car crash is often more difficult to deal with than the crash itself. From insurance claims, to fixing a vehicle, and taking care of your body. Whiplash, back pain, and concussions are some of the most common injuries and ailments following a car crash. And while the method for dealing with these is often not much, you might benefit greatly from visiting a chiropractor. Chiropractic care following an accident often goes unconsidered, but it could be one of your greatest allies. You’re trying to find a means of getting your body back to 100%, and you ultimately cannot do that on your own.
Chiropractic Care For Crash Recovery
What can a chiropractor treat?
A chiropractor deals with spinal misalignment. Ultimately any head and neck injury is rooted in your spine so they manipulate it from the stem of the injury. They do not deal with bones, bruises, or anything of the like— they just manipulate and help your body to decompress after an accident or injury. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries, as we’ve said, and whiles can heal much quicker with the intervention of a trained professional.
What are the benefits of chiropractic care?
Well, for starters, chiropractic care is non-invasive. Meaning no needles, no incisions— it is a completely natural means of combatting neck and back pain. Chiropractors go through tons of training to gain an expertise in bones, muscles, and tissues. This means that they’re familiar with the way the body works and how to get it back to that 100% we talked about. Also, there are tons of ways to go about visiting a chiropractor. There are formal settings, or quick ones where you pay a monthly fee and drop in whenever you want. Because of this range in setting, chiropractic care is easily accessible, and obtainably cheap.
Let’s talk whiplash…
Whiplash is cause by sudden, unexpected movement in your neck. This can occur in any car accident, but especially one where you’re rear-ended. A chiropractor can help with this because it has essentially jammed up your spine and likely tweaked your neck pretty badly. So, they’ll use hands-on techniques and handheld instruments to help correct it over time. It’s non-invasive and could likely prevent you from having to have surgery in the long run.
How long do I have to go?
It ultimately depends on the severity. But, many people go to a chiropractor as a means of preventative care. While visiting during your injury is helpful to a large degree, visiting the chiropractor once a month for maintenance anyways— can work wonders in keeping your body and your bones where they should be. We all slump, sit at desks, and put a lot of stress on our bodies every day. Regular chiropractic care can be a great preventative measure.
Feb 8, 2018 | Car Accidents
Getting older comes with changes. As the years pass by, we face changes. Some good, some bad. But, through all that time— we learn a little bit more. One of the toughest things about getting older is staying safe while driving. Our vision typically gets worse, reflexes start to waver, and in some ways, we don’t have the same abilities that we used to. Staying safe behind the wheel is always a concern, it has been since we started driving.
We’ve always worked hard to be good drivers, and good participants in our roadway systems. But, with age, the implications of this get to be a little bit more than they were. So we’re here to help you, senior drivers. Whether you need to hire a driver, call in your kids, or you’re doing just fine— there are a few steps to take before you get behind the wheel as a senior driver.
Staying Safe Behind the Wheel: Senior Drivers
Timely Hearing and Vision Tests
The first step to staying safe behind the wheel, is making sure you’re equip to be there in the first place. Taking part in annual or semi-annual hearing and vision tests are the best way for you to make the decision. If either of the two are getting progressively worse from year to year, it is best to start finding ways to limit your driving. If your eyesight and hearing are still tip top— that’s great! But, it still wouldn’t hurt to have a plan in place for when/if the day comes. Whether that be delivery grocers, hiring someone to do your shopping and errands for you— whatever it is, making a plan for that time is a responsible and smart way to be prepared.
If It’s Nasty Out, Stay In
Driving when the weather is nasty, always comes with a higher risk. So, try to avoid those times if you can. No one wants to get stuck out in a bad storm or very heavy rain. If you can avoid it, do so. While this article is poignant to senior drivers, this is a fact anyone should adhere to. Whether you believe yourself to be an amazing driver, or not, you cannot account for the actions of other people. So, if you can skip it— skip it.
Do Not Drive Under the Influence
Prescription medications can have some pretty nasty side effects. From hallucinations, to blackouts, to headaches, stomach aces, suicidal thoughts… the list is, quite literally, endless. Any one of these side effects could be detrimental if you are behind the wheel of a car. So, the best choice you can make is to not drive and take medications at the same time. If you are still under the influence, ask for help or hold off on running your errands to ensure yours, and everyone else’s, safety.
