Wrong-way driving accidents are a serious problem on our roadways, accounting for approximately 500 fatalities every year. Wrong-way collisions (defined as a driver who operates their vehicle in the opposite direction of travel on a freeway or highway and collides with a vehicle traveling in the right direction) are a safety problem all drivers should be aware of.
According to the NHTSA, distracted driving claimed the lives of 3,308 people in 2022, and every day, approximately 9 people die in the U.S. because of distracted driving. Driving demands your attention all the time, and you should be aware of three types of driving distractions.
Car accidents are a time of extreme emotion and oftentimes chaotic activity. You are talking with emergency responders and police, witnesses and other occupants of your vehicle, and more. It can take time for both your body and your mind to process what has happened, which may mean that some injuries may be delayed. Two common car accident injuries often delayed are soft tissue and concussions.
Have you been involved in a car accident? Did you suffer serious injuries? Wondering if you should contact an attorney and when? If your car accident was severe or complicated, contacting a car accident attorney (aka, personal injury lawyer) should be top of your to-do list. Call a lawyer right after the accident occurs (and before any settlement with the insurance company) to protect your rights and find out your legal options. While many cases settle, it is always best to have the experience of a car accident attorney in case your case does go to trial.
In 2022, 14% of motorists, or about one in seven drivers were uninsured, according to a 2023 study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) (in Missouri, it was 16%). While all states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of car liability insurance on a vehicle, not everyone does so you want to make sure you have enough uninsured coverage.
In Missouri, drivers are required to carry a car liability insurance to protect and compensate others injured in a car accident where you are legally at fault, and uninsured insurance (UM) to protect you from drivers who do not have car insurance.
Thanksgiving weekend is the most traveled holiday period of the year and DUI arrests are at their highest between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Impaired drivers make it a dangerous time to be on the road. Why? Because alcohol and drugs decrease your ability to drive a motor vehicle safely. The more you consume, the more you are impaired. Impaired driving alters your judgment, response time and other driving abilities so when you decide to get behind the wheel to drive, there is a higher likelihood that you will be involved in a car accident.
This general overview may help you gain a better understanding of how alcohol and drugs can affect your driving abilities.
In any personal injury accident claim, insurance companies look for reasons to offer you a low settlement. If a pre-existing injury exists, they might use this when determining an offer. But having a pre-existing condition or prior injury does not mean you do not have a claim or have not suffered trauma. Being in a car accident can worsen an existing injury and contribute to the treatment you need.
For many, impaired driving might be defined as being under the influence of alcohol when operating a motor vehicle. Impaired driving is really driving under the influence of ANY substance that alters your judgment, response time and other driving abilities. That includes both alcohol-impaired and drug-impaired driving.
Driving impaired by any substance—alcohol or other drugs, whether legal or illegal—is against the law in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
It is easy to get distracted while driving. But the good news: Distracted driving accidents are preventable. By following a few safety tips, you can minimize distractions, stay focused, and help protect yourself, your passengers, and others on the road.
Distracted driving is a dangerous driving behavior. Between 2012 and 2020, more than 29,000 people have died in crashes related to driver distraction. In 2020 alone, 3,142 people died and 324,652 were injured. While we hear catch phrases centered around texting and driving (‘Arrive alive, don’t text and drive.’), distracted driving involves many activities that fall in three types, visual, manual and cognitive.
