Being involved in a car wreck can lead to serious injuries, so the victims must ensure that they get the medical care they need. This is sometimes a costly endeavor when the co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses come into the picture. Unfortunately, not obtaining the care and other items that are necessary for treatment isn't really an option. This puts the financial pressure on the innocent victims of these crashes.
You only have 2 years to take legal action after a car wreck
A person who's involved in a car wreck is likely going to have some injuries. Some of these might be catastrophic. For those who suffer an injury in a wreck that's caused by another person's negligence, the thought of being responsible for their own medical care and other crash-related expenses might be infuriating. We're here to help you work to shift the financial responsibility to the liable party because no victim should be left with the bills for these situations.
Fatigued driving is a serious problem in West Virginia
Drowsy drivers pose a risk to everyone else on the roadways. Anyone who is going to drive needs to be sure they get ample sleep and are mentally prepared to drive. This can help keep them and others on the road safe.
Spring DST linked with higher fatal crash rate for first week
West Virginia residents may have no choice but to drive drowsy after losing one hour of sleep with daylight saving time. They should know, however, that the first week after DST always sees a rise in fatal car crashes. This was the conclusion that researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder came to. Their study, the most comprehensive yet on the subject, analyzed more than 730,000 fatal crashes in the U.S. that occurred between 1996 and 2017.
School start times may affect how safely teens drive
Teenagers tend to sleep long and into the late morning due to changes in their internal circadian rhythm. If they do not achieve the 8 to 10 hours of sleep recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, they may drive distracted, forget to wear their seatbelt and take more risks. West Virginia residents should know that one way to minimize this risk is to change school start times.
Report calls for updating of NHTSA's car safety rating system
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established a five-star car safety rating system in the 1990s, and it has no doubt helped automakers continue to build safer vehicles. However, one report argues that the system is becoming outdated in the face of technological advances. West Virginia drivers should know that the safety rating is based on a series of crash tests conducted in a lab with crash dummies.
Running red lights can cause dangerous car accidents
Red light accidents continue to present a serious threat to highway safety in West Virginia and across the country. According to studies, as many as 800 people are killed each year in crashes linked to drivers illegally running red lights while thousands more are severely injured. Red light cameras are one method that municipalities across the country have adopted to reduce violations. The cameras monitor for cars that speed through red lights and their license plate information. Drivers in violation will often receive a ticket in the mail.
Car accidents linked to drunk driving prevention device
Many people in West Virginia and across the country promote the use of ignition interlock devices. These machines require people driving a car to blow into an in-car breath test before starting their vehicles. In most cases, they are installed in a car only after a person has been convicted of drunk driving. However, some people urge that the devices be used more broadly. In Sweden, all government vehicles have ignition interlock devices installed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also come out in support of wider use of the devices, noting their success in reducing repeat drunk driving incidents by 70%.
Safety features may lead to distracted driving
According to research conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, advanced driver safety features may actually increase the risk of distracted driving. Researchers found that drivers who used lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control were twice as likely to be distracted than those who didn't use them. This is partially because drivers tend to believe that the car will automatically avoid any obstacles it may face. However, the truth is that advanced safety features only augment a driver's ability to avoid dangerous situations.
AASM: Too many Americans are driving drowsy
West Virginia residents should know that drowsy driving is involved in an average of 328,000 car crashes every year. AAA claims that 6,400 of these are fatal. In a recent survey of 2,003 U.S. adults, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found out just how prevalent drowsy driving is. Roughly 45% of respondents admitted that they have had to struggle to keep their eyes open behind the wheel.
