Pennsylvania “Click It or Ticket” Campaign Focuses on Saving Lives During the Memorial Day Holiday

The Pennsylvania State Police announced it will partner with PennDOT and local police in support of the nationwide “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The campaign, which runs from May 21 through June 10, will focus on seat belt enforcement as well as public outreach to boost awareness of seat-belt safety and laws. 

According to the press release, 509 people died last year in Pennsylvania in unbelted crashes, a decrease from 524 such fatalities in 2010. However, the total number of crashes in which people were not wearing seat belts rose last year to 16,298, compared to 15,442 in 2010. 

The NHTSA reports that in 2010, safety belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.  In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that wearing a seat belt is the most effective way to prevent death and serious injury in a crash. When worn properly, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45 percent, and of serious injury by 50 percent. 

“The ‘Click It or Ticket’ campaign can be a very effective tool for getting people to buckle up,” State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said. “We’re conducting this enforcement operation for one reason: we want everyone traveling on Pennsylvania roads to reach their destination safely.” 

Pennsylvania is one of 31 states with a primary seat-belt law.  PA law requires all drivers and front-seat passengers to be properly restrained, and children under the age of four to be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat. All passengers under 18-years-old must be properly restrained when riding anywhere in the vehicle. 

AAA and IHS Global Insight estimate that during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, which runs for 3.25-days from 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 25, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 28, 34.8 million travelers will travel at least 50 miles from home. According to the estimate, this is a 1.2 percent increase over the 2011 holiday period. 

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates nationwide over the 2012 Memorial Day weekend 420 people will die and 42,000 people will be injured in automobile accidents.  

Our Scranton car accident attorneys urge all occupants of vehicles to wear their seat belts at all times.  We also ask the drivers to make sure your passengers are buckled up before driving.  

“Failing to take this simple step could be the difference between a joyful summer and a tragic one, so please buckle up,” said Noonan. 

Contact Our PA Car Accident Lawyers Today

The Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., firm has years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and handling accident claims. We are familiar with all of the techniques that the insurance companies may use to influence you to settle quickly and for less compensation. Insurance companies have a team of investigators, adjustors, agents and legal help to protect them. As the accident victim, you need your own team of legal experts to protect you.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.

For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online today or call us toll free at 877-605-2888.

PA Teen Drivers With Teen Passengers Are At a Higher Risk of an Automobile Accident

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys have published a variety of articles stressing the importance of educating teen drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.  Last week we presented information regarding Global Youth Traffic Safety Month that kicked off on May 8 to focus on keeping teens safe during the summer when the number of teen car accident fatalities rise. 

While we are not “picking” on young drivers, we believe it is critical to pass on as much information to our readers as we can pertaining to teen driving hazards.  Unfortunately, a distracted driving or impaired driving accident does not only physically ruin lives, it can also lead to legal and financial issues that can permanently alter a teen’s life. 

According to an AP news article, a 16-year-old Connecticut teen is now facing charges, including negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and using a handheld telephone under age 18, after she struck and killed a jogger while she was using her cellphone while driving.  The teen, who was just charged in the March accident, could face six months in jail, a 30-day license suspension and license restoration and court fees. 

Now, according to a new report from AAA, teen drivers run a significant risk of being distracted and being in an automobile accident when they have teen passengers in the car with them.  The study, “Teen Driver Risk in Relation to Age and Number of Passengers,” reports that teens who were driving with one passenger who was under 21-years-old increased the risk of being involved in a fatal accident by 44 percent. When there were two passengers under 21-years-old the risk doubled. Three or more passengers under 21 quadrupled the risk.  

On the other hand, if a teen driver has at least one passenger aged 35 or older in the vehicle there is a 62% decrease in a 16- or 17-year-old driver’s risk of being killed in a crash and a 46% decrease in the risk of being involved in any police reported crash. 

According to Saferoads4Teens.org, 223 people were killed in PA car crashes involving teenaged drivers in 2010.  In the last 10 years, 1,279 have died in Pennsylvania at the hands of teen drivers.  Nationwide, over 85,000 people have been killed in teen driving crashes. 

Pennsylvania’s graduated driver licensing program does not limit the number of passengers in a teen’s vehicle.  The program does prohibit unsupervised nighttime driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

“The connection between carrying young passengers and increased fatal crash risk is clear, and placing appropriate limits is a key part of graduated driver licensing,” said Beth Mosher, director of public affairs for AAA Chicago in the AAA press release. “By limiting the number of passengers that 16- and 17-year-old drivers can have in the car, these policies help ensure that teens stay focused on the road and gain the experience they need to become safe drivers.” 

We encourage parents and adults to follow safe driving behaviors when in the car with teenage drivers. We also ask parents to restrict their children from transporting other teens without another responsible adult in the vehicle.  Teenagers are known to take risks when driving; however, when educated properly they will drive responsibly and safely. 

Contact Our PA Car Accident Lawyers Today

The Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., firm has years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and handling accident claims. We are familiar with all of the techniques that the insurance companies may use to influence you to settle quickly and for less compensation. Insurance companies have a team of investigators, adjustors, agents and legal help to protect them. As the accident victim, you need your own team of legal experts to protect you.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.

For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online today or call us toll free at 877-568-6024.

National Dog Bite Prevention Week Brings Awareness to Responsible Dog Ownership in Pennsylvania

Just last month we wrote about the significant injuries that can result when dogs turn aggressive and attack and bite someone.  The Humane Society of the United States reports, there are over 78 million dogs owned by Americans, with nearly 40% of U.S. homes owning at least one dog as a pet.  Keeping Americans safe from these pets is the focus of National Dog Bite Prevention Week that runs May 20-26. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year.  800,000 people will seek medical attention for the bites, and approximately 386,000 of the injured will require treatment in an emergency department.  These statistics translate to a dog bite occurring every 75 seconds in the U.S. with over 1,000 requiring emergency medical care to treat these injuries daily.  Sadly, about 16 Americans die each year from their dog bite wounds.   

In order to educate the public about the dangers of dog attacks, the U.S. Postal Service, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the CDC join together in sponsoring National Dog Bite Prevention Week. 

Through its Facebook campaign, the AVMA asks the public to follow these guidelines to keep your family members and others safe from dogs: 

• Be a responsible dog owner: keep your dog on a leash when outside; train your dog to obey basic commands; exercise your dog appropriately and keep it healthy and vaccinated; and don’t put your dog in situations where it might be prone to bite.
• Teach children to be safe around dogs: be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your own pet with respect; teach them not to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences; and teach children to ask permission from the dog’s owner before petting the dog.
• NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog. 

DogsBite.org, a national dog bite victims’ group dedicated to reducing and preventing serious dog attacks, reports that victims of serious dog attacks may require up to one million dollars of specialized medical care treatment. Multiple reconstructive surgeries over a period of years may be necessary to alleviate the pain and to rebuild damage. 

Pennsylvania law protects victims of dog bite injuries.  A dog bite victim should not have to pay for their own medical care.  If you are the victim of a dog bite injury, contact a Pennsylvania dog bite attorney to find out if you are eligible for compensation.  Dog owners can be held liable for injuries caused by their dogs.

 Our Pennsylvania personal injury attorneys ask that all dog owners throughout the state take appropriate measures to prevent others from being attacked and bitten by your dog.  We also ask everyone to be cautious when encountering an unknown dog.

Contact Our Dog Bite Injury Lawyers

The Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright make it a point to help those who have been wronged.  Our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through team work and the use of our considerable resources and experience.

The law firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright has substantial experience in the handling of dog bite claims.  If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog and feel you may have sustained an injury, contact us online for a free consultation or call us now, toll free, at 1-800-318-LAW1. We can help.

Pennsylvania Parents Urged to Keep “Button Batteries” Out of Reach of Children

In March we published an article regarding the choking hazards posed to children that swallow “Buckyballs,” or small, round magnets from an adult stress-relieving desk toy.  Now, health officials are targeting a new choking hazard for children – “button batteries.”

“Button batteries” are common, coin-sized batteries that are found throughout the house.  These batteries are found in electronic games and toys, flashlights, calculators, remote controls, key fobs and even in electronic greeting cards.  Unfortunately, children find the small, shiny objects appealing and are swallowing the batteries, holding them in their mouths, or inserting them in their ear canal or nasal cavity.

According to a study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy, an estimated 65,788 patients under 18-years-old have visited a hospital emergency room due to a battery-related exposure incident between 1990 and 2009.  That equates to nearly 3,289 battery-related emergency room visits annually. 

An article in Reuters Health reports that the batteries can become lodged in a child’s esophagus and push against its walls. Older batteries can potentially leak acid damaging the tissue in the child’s throat and esophagus. There is also a potential that the battery will generate an electrical current flowing through tissue and burn a hole in the trachea or the esophagus.  This can occur even with batteries that have been discarded after being deemed “dead.”

Fortunately, however, according to the study, 92 percent of the children who came to the emergency room were treated and released.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that many times parents don’t realize that a child swallowed the battery and discount their symptoms as just a temporary illness.  A child that has swallowed a battery that begins to leak will have symptoms similar to a common viral illness, or potentially none at all.  However, it takes just two hours for serious damage to result.

CPSC recommends the following steps to prevent unintentional battery ingestion:

• Keep remotes and other electronics out of your child’s reach if the battery compartments do not have a screw to secure them. Tape may be used to help secure the battery compartment.
• Keep button batteries out of your child’s reach. Discard button batteries carefully.
• Do not allow children to play with button batteries.
• Never put button batteries in your mouth for any reason; they are slippery and easily swallowed accidentally.
• Always check medications before ingesting them. Adults have swallowed batteries mistaken for pills or tablets.
• Caution hearing aid users to keep hearing aids and batteries out of the reach of children.

Our Pennsylvania product liability attorneys encourage all parents and adults to follow the CPSC’s advice and to keep a close watch on the potential for small, lithium batteries to fall into your young child’s hands.  If you believe your child has swallowed a battery, do not hesitate to take him or her to the nearest emergency room.  Immediate care may make the difference in the recovery of your child.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., has offices throughout Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton and Hamlin. To contact the law firm, call (800) 318-LAW1, or visit the firm’s website.

PA Teen Drivers Encouraged to Participate in Global Traffic Campaign Focusing on a Safe Summer

Just Friday we presented information from a study that shows that teenage drivers are in denial that they will be the cause of a distracted driving accident. That may not be the case for all teens, however, and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is hoping to rally teen safety advocates to help spread the word to other teens to drive safely. 

NOYS announced Tuesday the start of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month.  With a focus on a safe summer, the campaign is “targeting young drivers to commit to the safest summer ever to put an end to motor vehicle crashes.” 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers aged 15- to 20-years old are especially vulnerable to death and injury on U.S. roadways. In fact, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America with approximately 5,000 teenagers killed every year.  The NHTSA also notes that, mile-for-mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.

“Summer is the deadliest time of year on the roads for teens,” said Sandy Spavone, Executive Director of NOYS, pointing to NHTSA data that an average of 422 teens die in traffic crashes during each of the summer months as compared to a monthly average of 363 teen deaths during the non-summer months. 

The events for the month kicked-off with a rally in Washington, D.C., with activities to encourage teens to sign pledges and participate in distracted driving and impaired driving prevention activities. Teen drivers were asked to take a pledge signing links to represent a student’s commitment to promote safe driving. The links were to be constructed into a chain to be displayed at a school or community center. 

Speakers included U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt and Peter Kissinger, CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. 

“National Youth Traffic Safety Month is an important reminder of the obligation we all share to help keep our youngest drivers safe behind the wheel,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I’m tremendously grateful to the young leaders across the country who are stepping up to raise awareness about traffic safety in their communities.” 

Various competitions among schools have been conducted throughout the year and will continue through the duration of the campaign. Act Out Loud is one competition encouraging youth to raise their voices in their school and communities for stronger teen driving safety laws.  Act Out Loud is sponsored by NOYS and The Allstate Foundation, and offers a grand prize of $10,000.  See NOYS for a full list of events. 

Some of the PA schools participating include Central Mountain HS in Mill Hall, PA; Central Tech, Erie, PA; Fayette cCounty Career and Technical Institute, Uniontown, PA; James M Coughlin HS, Wilkes-Barre, PA; and Deer Lakes HS, Creighton, PA. 

In Pennsylvania in 2010, there were 121,312 total automobile accidents.  Of those, 27,351 involved drivers under the age of 21.  

Our PA car accident attorneys encourage all teens to be actively involved in all educational campaigns aimed to educate about safe driving behaviors.  Following the activities of NOYS throughout the month may just help you prevent an accident this summer. 

Contact Our PA Car Accident Lawyers Today

The Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., firm has years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and handling accident claims. We are familiar with all of the techniques that the insurance companies may use to influence you to settle quickly and for less compensation. Insurance companies have a team of investigators, adjustors, agents and legal help to protect them. As the accident victim, you need your own team of legal experts to protect you.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.

For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online today or call us toll free at 877-568-6024.

Young Drivers In Denial That Distracted Driving Affects Them

Just last week we reported on a study from the University of Leeds that found drivers with just one hand on the wheel that are engaged in a “secondary task” are at increased risk of an accident.  Now, researchers at Bridgestone Americas report that while teenage drivers realize distracted driving is dangerous, they don’t see everything that takes one hand off the wheel as a distraction. 

The survey, that underscores the findings by those at the University of Leeds, found that even though many teenagers and young adults claim they understand distracted driving, they are in denial that it affects them. In fact, one-third of those surveyed admit to reading text messages while driving, and nearly 25% surveyed do not believe that talking on the phone while driving is dangerous. 

The company surveyed 2000 drivers aged 15- to 21-years-old.  Among the findings, the researchers found that the young drivers measure their level of safety as a driver by the fact that they haven’t been in an accident or ticketed.  

In an effort to raise awareness among teens of the hazards of distracted driving, Bridgestone has initiated the “Teens Drive Smart” scholarship contest.  The contest has students, age 16-21, create a short automotive safety-themed video to be used as a public service announcement that encourages their peers to make better decisions behind the wheel.  Winners will receive college scholarships:  first place receives $25,000; second place receives $15,000 and third place receives $10,000. 

“We need to help the public understand exactly how dangerous it is to drive while talking on the phone or texting,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in his Fast Lane blog. “We did it for drunk driving. We did it for seat belt use. And, with help from safety partners like Bridgestone and Teens Drive Smart, we will do it for distraction.” 

Our Scranton car accident attorneys have seen the tragedy distracted driving accidents can cause.  And the statistics are clear: 15 people die, and 1,200 more are injured, nationwide every day due to an accident caused by a distracted driver, according to government data.  We encourage all Pennsylvania drivers to stay focused while driving.

Contact Our PA Car Accident Lawyers Today

The Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., firm has years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and handling accident claims. We are familiar with all of the techniques that the insurance companies may use to influence you to settle quickly and for less compensation. Insurance companies have a team of investigators, adjustors, agents and legal help to protect them. As the accident victim, you need your own team of legal experts to protect you.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience.

For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online today or call us toll free at 877-568-6024.

NHTSA Campaign Warns of Risk of Heatstroke Death When Children Are Left in a Parked Car

In anticipation of another hot summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has kicked off a campaign warning Americans of the dangers of leaving children unattended in a hot car.  The NHTSA reminds adults that children left alone in a car, even in the most moderate temperatures, can be seriously injured or die from the heat in the vehicle. 

To educate the public, the NHTSA announced its first-ever national campaign to prevent child heatstroke deaths in cars, urging parents and caregivers to think “Where’s baby? Look before you lock.” 

The NHTSA reports that 33 children died due to hyperthermia (heatstroke) in 2011. Two children have died due to hyperthermia thus far this year. According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, since 1998 there have been at least 529 vehicle-related hyperthermia deaths.  More than half of the deaths occurred in children under 2 years of age, with 30% of the deaths in children less than one-year-old. 

An unknown number of children are also injured each year due to heatstroke in hot cars, suffering ailments including permanent brain injury, blindness, and the loss of hearing, among others, according to the NHTSA. 

In Pennsylvania in 2011, one toddler died from heatstroke after being found inside a car, according to the report. On August 17, a 2-year-old died in Alsace Township after crawling into a car in the driveway. The child was found just one hour later, but he had already succumbed to the heat.  The outside temperature was 87 degrees.

Children’s body temperatures can rise up to five times faster than that of an adult, and heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80° day, for example, a car can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.

According to the NHTSA, more than half of all vehicle-related heatstroke deaths in children are caused by a child accidentally being left in the car, and more than 30 percent are from a child getting into a hot car on their own.  Changing up even a small part of a daily routine can result in forgetting a child is in the car back seat.  This can and does happen when one breaks a well-established routine. 

“Everything we know about this terrible danger to children indicates heatstroke in hot cars can happen to any caregiver from any walk of life – and the majority of these cases are accidental tragedies that can strike even the most loving and conscientious parents,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

SafeCar.gov, a website by the NHTSA, offers the following important tips for preventing heatstroke accidents:

• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
• Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.
• Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open.
• Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away.
• If you are dropping your child off at childcare, and normally it’s your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan.

Our Scranton personal injury attorneys urge all parents and caregivers to review the NHTSA’s information carefully. Please make sure you take a second look before locking your car to ensure no one has been left behind. 

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., has offices throughout Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton and Hamlin. To contact the law firm, call (800) 318-LAW1 or visit the firm’s website.

Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer Marion Munley Inducted To International Society of Barristers

Scranton, PA, May 04, 2012 — Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer Marion Munley was inducted as a Fellow to the International Society of Barristers during the organization’s recent annual convention in Newport Beach, California.

Munley is a board-certified civil trial lawyer with more than 24 years of experience in complex personal injury litigation, including representing victims of truck accident and car accident cases in Pennsylvania, New York and across the Northeast.

She joins two other attorneys from the Pennsylvania personal injury firm of Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., as Fellows of the prestigious society of civil trial lawyers – Robert W. Munley and Matthew A. Cartwright.

The International Society of Barristers (ISOB) was created in 1965. The organization is dedicated to preserving trial by jury, the adversary system and an independent judiciary. The organization also promotes civility by bringing together members of both the plaintiffs’ and defendants’ side of the bar.

“The International Society of Barristers is committed to promoting the highest standards of excellence and integrity in advocacy and in promoting fellowship in the legal profession,” Munley said. “I am deeply honored to be a member.”

Munley, who recently conducted a seminar on truck accident litigation on April 27 at the New Jersey Association for Justice’s Boardwalk Seminar 2012 in Atlantic City, is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New York, including the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

She is Board-Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal named Munley to its list of Top 25 Women Business Professionals for 2011. Every year since 2004, she has been among the 5 percent of Pennsylvania lawyers named a Super Lawyer by Pennsylvania Magazine.

In 2006, Lawdragon Legal Rankings rated Munley as one of the 500 leading plaintiffs’ lawyers in the country. In 2007, she was named by Lawdragon as one of the 2,500 leading attorneys in all practice areas in the U.S.

Munley serves on the Executive Committee of the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group.

She frequently lectures across the U.S. on trial skills, trucking litigation and other legal topics, giving presentations for organizations that include the American Association for Justice, Pennsylvania Association for Justice, Pennsylvania Bar Institute and Lackawanna County Bar Association.

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., has offices throughout Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton and Hamlin. To contact the law firm, call (800) 318-LAW1 or visit the firm’s website

Pennsylvania Drivers Urged to Keep Both Hands on the Wheel for Improved Safety

Studies on distracted driving seem to be dominating the news.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 15 people die, and 1,200 more are injured, nationwide every day due to an accident caused by a distracted driver.  While cellphone use is the primary focus of distracted driving campaigns, a new study found that when a driver has just one hand on the steering wheel the risk of an accident increases. 

In a study conducted using a driving simulator in Great Britain, researchers at the University of Leeds found that people who eat while driving have a reaction time that is 44 percent slower than those who have both hands on the wheel.  The report, “Two Hands are Better Than One,” also found that drivers who sip coffee while behind the wheel are 22 percent slower in their reaction speed and were 18 per cent more likely be unable to maintain a steady central lane position.

“Results from these driving simulator tests give great cause for concern and indicate how dangerous it is for motorists to engage in activities that involve driving with just one hand on the wheel,” said Mike Pickard, Head of Risk and Underwriting at Esure car insurance, sponsors of the study. 

The researchers found that when drivers had just one hand on the wheel but were not engaged in a secondary task, they were able to maintain the same level of performance as when driving with both hands.  The findings indicate that the poor performance was due to the additional visual demand experienced with drinking and eating such as unwrapping the food or tipping the bottle up in order to drink from it.

Texting while driving is illegal in Pennsylvania now.  It is doubtful that activities such as eating, drinking or applying makeup while driving will be outlawed, but it is critical that motorists be aware that anytime they look away from the road they introduce the possibility of crashing. 

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys urge all drivers to keep both hands on the wheel while driving and stay focused.  Taking a few extra minutes to grab a bite to eat before getting behind the wheel may keep you from being involved in an accident.  

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., has offices throughout Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton and Hamlin. To contact the law firm, call (800) 318-LAW1 or use the firm’s online contact form.

Pennsylvania Motorists Asked to Share the Road With Motorcyclists During Motorcycle Awareness Month in May and Throughout the Year

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Each year, the NHTSA runs campaigns to help raise the public’s awareness about dangers on the highways, such as drunk driving and distracted driving. This month it announces its latest campaign – Motorcycle Awareness Month. 

Citing the fact that motorcyclist fatalities increased nationwide in 2010 to 4,502, accounting for 14 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year, and that the increase is part of a 13-year trend, the NHTSA has launched the campaign with a goal to change the driving habits of motorists and motorcyclists alike to help decrease the numbers of motorcyclists killed and injured in crashes.  The safety campaign is aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to “share the road” with each other.

Pennsylvania has nearly 900,000 registered motorcyclists, and according to Just Drive PA, that number continues to rise.  In 2010, there were 4,018 crashes and 223 motorcycle fatalities in the state.   Over half of the motorcycle deaths involved alcohol. 

Although Pennsylvania law does not require motorcycle riders over the age of 21 who have been cycling for more than two years to wear a helmet, the NHTSA estimates that helmet usage is 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists and 41% for the passengers.   As of 2009, the NHTSA estimates that 67% of motorcyclists wear safety helmets.  

Pennsylvania also runs a motorcycle awareness campaign, “Live Free. Ride Alive.”  The campaign notes that while many motorcyclists ride for the freedom it gives them, educating riders about the rules of the road and safety tips is critical for allowing them to stay alive when riding Pennsylvania highways. 

The campaign’s website contains important safety messages relating to getting properly licensed, reducing aggressive driving behaviors, avoiding drinking and riding and encouraging the use of wearing all protective riding gear. The PA campaign also asks riders to take it easy on the roads and in the bars.  A pledge is available for riders to sign to commit to being one less statistic by driving sober. 

Motorcyclists should do their part to stay safe on Pennsylvania highways.  In addition to wearing a helmet, motorcyclists should obey all traffic rules, be alert to other drivers and never ride while impaired or distracted. 

Motorists are urged by Just Drive PA to follow these safety tips when sharing the road with motorcycles:

• Look out for motorcyclists – be aware that motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see. Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections. Large vehicles can also block a motorcycle from a motorist’s view and a motorcycle can suddenly appear out of nowhere.
• Allow more following distance – leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
• Respect a motorcycle as a full-size vehicle with the same rights and privileges as any vehicle on the roadway. Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions.

Our Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorneys strongly encourage motorcyclists to wear a helmet when traveling Pennsylvania highways.  In addition, we ask all motorists to become familiar with the material offered by the NHTSA and Just Drive PA for safely sharing the road with motorcyclists.  Motorcyclists have the same rights to the highway as all other motorists – please do your part to keep them safe. 

About Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., is a Pennsylvania accident and injury law firm that represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, including those injured in accidents that involve speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, fatigued driving, aggressive driving and careless driving in hazardous weather conditions. The Pennsylvania personal injury law firm’s additional practice areas include trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, defective products, toxic chemicals, workplace injuries, nursing home litigation and other serious accidents.

Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C., has offices throughout Pennsylvania, including Scranton, Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Plains, Hazleton and Hamlin. To contact the law firm, call (800) 318-LAW1 or use the firm’s online contact form.