Posted on July 21, 2022 in Car Accidents

There are certain vehicle designs that make pedestrian accidents more likely. In the past, one such design was the blind spot behind the vehicle, which led to people backing into pedestrians on sidewalks or in parking lots. As a result, all new vehicles in the United States now have backup cameras, which have gone a long way to prevent these accidents.

But that's not the only blind spot that can cause issues for drivers and pedestrians. In many cases, pedestrians can be hidden by the A-pillar of the car itself, which can lead a driver who is making a turn to strike a pedestrian without ever seeing them.

What is the A-pillar?

The A-pillar is simply the support pillar on the side of the front window.

It's called an A-pillar because there are two pillars on each side of the window that go up and connect above it. This is a very important structural part of the vehicle, designed to protect the occupants in the event of a crash – especially a rollover crash. But these A-pillars have to be somewhat wide just to be strong enough to hold the vehicle, and they get even wider when manufacturers add in the aesthetic design of the car.

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 Posted on July 18, 2022 in Car Accidents

Heading out for your busy day, you never expected to end up getting into a crash. When you were driving, a stray tire flew your direction, colliding with your vehicle and making you swerve into traffic. When all was said and done, you were sure that the tire came from the semi in front of you, but can they be blamed?

The truck driver could be held accountable for any damage caused by debris coming from their vehicle so long as you have their information and the police can get in touch. For instance, if you were able to get the license plate number or other identifying information, the police may be able to contact the driver to investigate further.

If it's found that they lost a tire or had a tire blowout that caused a serious collision, then they may be found at fault for any damages or injuries.

You deserve to make a claim for compensation

Any time you're in a crash that is caused by another person, it is possible to take action and to ask that they cover your financial losses. In this kind of case, the driver might not stop at the scene, because they may not be aware that a tire came loose or blew and hit others. Sometimes, truck drivers will pull over due to a flat or blown tire, so if they do, that's a good time to gather information about them (especially if you were involved in a crash).

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 Posted on June 13, 2022 in Injuries

Pedestrians know that each time they are walking on sidewalks near busy roadways that there is always the chance that an accident can happen. Many of the roadways in our communities were not designed with pedestrian safety in mind.

Falls Church is receiving significant attention due to the number of serious incidents that have happened over the years. The Culmore neighborhood has seen more than 15 pedestrian accidents since 2015, resulting in 4 deaths. People who live in the neighborhood, as well as traffic safety experts, attribute the causes of the accidents to many different factors, including poor lightning and vehicles exceeding speed limits.

Officials are examining ways to help improve pedestrian safety, but, significant overhauls can take time to implement. Temporary barriers may be put in place to help protect pedestrians, but they are not a long-term solution.

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 Posted on May 31, 2022 in Pedestrian Accidents

There are loads of guidelines that govern how to drive safely, and abiding by them is important. But, did you know that guidelines also exist for pedestrians? They are designed to keep you safe while walking just about anywhere. Being familiar with them is helpful and may even prevent you from being struck by a motor vehicle while strolling or walking to work or school.

One guideline concerns which side of a street is best to walk on if there aren't any sidewalks on your route. The National Center for Safe Routes to School advises walking on the side of the street where traffic is coming toward you.

Walkers and cyclists get the opposite guidance

People on bikes are generally told to ride their bicycles in the same direction as the traffic goes because bikes are another type of vehicle. For those on foot, however, the situation and the safety recommendations are different.

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 Posted on May 24, 2022 in Motorcycle Accidents

If you're dealing with the aftermath of a motorcycle crash, you're probably anxious to get back on your bike as soon as it's repaired and you're healed. However, you probably need to get a new helmet.

Helmets are built to protect your head, but they are not intended to withstand more than one impact. If your helmet struck the ground or anything else during the crash, you need to get a new one.

Why helmets are only meant to protect you for one impact

The helmet may look fine or have a few light scratches that can be buffed out. However, that's simply the shell. The protection lies in the material that's between the interior and exterior layers of the shell. It's a compound called expanded polystyrene (EPS) that absorbs and diffuses energy so that your head doesn't have to. It's also found in the bumpers of vehicles.

When the helmet hits a surface – even if it's a relatively minor impact – some of the beads in the EPS are crushed. That means the helmet has lost some of its protective quality. If you wear it again, you're risking your safety and maybe your life if you're in another crash or even fall over on your bike.

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 Posted on May 20, 2022 in Motorcycle Accidents

For more than a decade, the nation has recognized May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Such a campaign is a necessity due to the challenges motorcyclists face when sharing roads with the much larger cars, SUVs, pick-ups and tractor-trailers.

Any crash between these much larger vehicles and a motorcycle does not lead to a positive outcome. A motorcyclist and his or her passenger may sustain life-changing injuries such as head trauma, paralysis, loss of limbs and fractures. The primary focus of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is to reduce serious and fatal injuries among motorcyclists.

Driver mistakes harm bikers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 84,000 people sustained injuries in motorcycle-related crashes in the country in 2019. In addition, more than 5,000 people died in such crashes with Virginia reporting 102 motorcyclist fatalities that year.

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 Posted on May 09, 2022 in Car Accidents

Most car accidents are attributable to nothing more than human error. However, there are accidents where external factors like poor road conditions and bad weather may be at play. However, mechanical failures can also lead to wrecks.

Car accidents resulting from mechanical malfunctions can be devastating because they are usually sudden and unanticipated. Here are some of the mechanical problems that can result in a car accident:

Tire failures

According to the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA), tire failure contributes to approximately 35% of motor vehicle accidents that are caused by mechanical failures. Tire failures can take the form of worn tires or tire blowouts. The outcome of a tire failure can be devastating. The car may swerve off the road or into oncoming traffic or even roll over if you were speeding.

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 Posted on May 02, 2022 in Car Accidents

As technology improves, vehicles have more and more features that are designed to minimize the risk of crashing. Lane sensors are just one of the current features that help people stay in lane and know if they're drifting.

These sensors can be helpful, but they can also be hurtful. While they're beneficial to someone who is paying attention to the road, they may also give people a false sense of security while behind the wheel. This false sense of security could lead to an auto crash.

The importance of lane departure warning

Lane departure warning is a helpful tool that keeps drivers aware of their positioning within a lane of travel. The warning alerts the driver if they are about to go out of the lane, so they have time to move back over.

Some forms of lane departure warning, such as lane keep assist or lane centering assist, now work proactively and help keep a vehicle centered.

The problem with lane warnings

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 Posted on April 27, 2022 in Pedestrian Accidents

It is the perfect weather to get out and get some air. You and millions of others have this same thought running through their head. You might be considering walking when others are dusting off their bikes. Walking alongside cyclists, however, could spell danger for you.

A thin-framed bike may not seem intimidating at first but an absent-minded cyclist colliding at fast speeds can cause you serious injuries. Bicycle collisions can be as serious as car, bus, or motorcycle collisions.

Here is how you can stay safe around cyclists:

Stick to sidewalks whenever possible

Using sidewalks whenever possible immediately provides you with safety. You may come to realize when going for walks that not every street has a sidewalk. This means you are not only sharing the road with cars but sharing the side of the road with bikes. Hundreds of pedestrians are fatally injured without access to roads.

Not every cyclist finds riding on the road the safest and can hug the side where you might be. If a cyclist fails to announce their approach or does not give pedestrians a wide berth then they might suddenly collide with you. (Plus, even sidewalks may not be totally safe, if a cyclist decides to use them.)

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 Posted on April 13, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Accidents involving unsecured cargo are not uncommon, and you need to be wary of the risk of such incidents — especially if you are driving close to large commercial trucks. Its cargo can weigh several tons, and if it is not well secured, the safety of both the truck driver and other motorists is at risk.

Unsecured cargo can cause an accident in several ways. It can fall on other cars or shift the truck's balance and lead to loss of control by the driver. Either instance could be deadly. Given the sheer weight of such cargo compared to your car's, you could suffer catastrophic injuries.

Who is to blame in an accident involving unsecured cargo?

If improperly secured cargo on a truck caused your accident, several parties could be liable for your injuries. The driver and their trucking company are likely to bear responsibility if the cargo was unsecured out of negligence. If the load became unsecured because of defective equipment, the manufacturer could be held liable.

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