Articles Posted in Car Accidents

According to weather experts, this winter has seen more snow than any time in the last decade. It has certainly made for an “interesting” winter and challenging driving conditions. With the calendar turning to March and warmer temperatures, there are some concerns that a rapid melt could lead to flooding.

Where there are flooding concerns there are also hydroplaning fears (or at least there should be). Hydroplaning refers to the act of a car losing contact with the road and basically floating on the moisture on the road (like a hydroplane). In these instances, a driver could be potentially lose control of their vehicle and crash. 

With spring coming and warmer weather expected, the possibility of pools of melting snow collecting on roadways cannot be ignored. Even though it remains to be seen how quickly the snow melt will be, drivers must use reasonable care in avoiding situations where hydroplaning can occur. After all, you don’t need a deep puddle in order for a car’s tires to lose contact with the road.

The North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month drew more than 200,000 car enthusiasts who were interested in the latest available technologies as well as concept cars that will eventually be on the road in years to come. Indeed, the prevailing talk is about the future of self-driving cars, and how soon they will be seen on the road. However, the current technologies still bring around a great number of fans. 

An example of this is the “heads up” display that many automakers are incorporating. Essentially, it is a display where a driver will see information from their display panel basically floating in the air in the driver’s line of sight. So a driver can see how fast they are going, obtain turn by turn directions, and know which direction they are going without looking down at the instrument panel; thus taking their eyes off the road.

The notion behind this innovation is that the less the driver has to look away from the road, the chances of a distracted driving accident can be reduced. However, some safety advocates believe that heads-up displays may not curb distracted driving. In fact, a 2013 study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that additional mental distractions (such as those provided by heads up displays) may lead to the brain being overloaded with information and hamper a driver’s ability to react to common hazards (such as stopped traffic or children running into the street). Regardless of whether this actually is the case, it is a reminder of the duty drivers have to use reasonable care while behind the wheel. 

In all of our posts about traffic safety (i.e. driving in inclement weather) we have not discussed school bus safety. It is about time that we do so, given that school bus drivers drive thousands of miles around central New York with children on board every month. Additionally, bus drivers are under a higher level of scrutiny given the precious nature of their passengers.

However, a recent ABC News.com report suggests that bus drivers may not be following the rules of the road. In a number of states, including New York, a number of videos have surfaced showing drivers running red lights, driving above the speed limit and not stopping at train crossings. While the videos do not show drivers in accidents, and not all of them are conclusive in showing children on the buses, they do raise some concerns about bus safety. 

While there may be those who believe that children are safer riding on buses than walking to school, this does not absolve drivers of their responsibility to use reasonable care while behind the wheel. This means that they must obey speed limits and traffic laws, avoid unsafe turns and lane changes and must drive without using handheld devices or social media apps. Most importantly, bus drivers must not drive while under the influence of mood altering drugs or alcohol.

If you are tired of snow and icy conditions, chances are that you are not alone. There’s a reason why the weather patterns in our region have made headline news. Nevertheless, enduring the weather is what makes us strong, resilient and appreciative of spring. In the meantime, we must drive in these conditions, and that is not always easy despite the snow plows and salt trucks that patrol our streets.

Despite their efforts, there are still areas where black ice can form and present hazards. As we have noted in some of our previous posts, black ice can form when snow (or ice) melts and then refreezes on the street. It can be virtually invisible to drivers until it is too late. But when you hit black ice, what should you do? This post will provide some helpful tips. 

Don’t hit the brakes – The natural inclination is to slam on the brakes to avoid sliding into danger, but ironically, hitting the brakes could lead to losing control and spinning into tragedy. Instead, try letting off the accelerator and coasting back into control.

While Groundhog Day was last week, it appears that Central New York is mired in a case of the same. No, people are not depending on the proximity of spring based on seeing their shadows. Rather, they seem to be stuck in the same day, just like Bill Murray was in his hit movie. The snow and ice storms that battered the region last weekend was apparently the culprit in another massive pileup.

According to a recent ABC News.com report, more than 30 cars and four semi-trucks were involved in a chain reaction crash on I-81 near Syracuse. While the crash is still under investigation, it is believed that the weather was a factor. As such, it is unknown at this time whether snow or ice caused the roads to become treacherous or whether it was driver error that led to car after car crashing into one another. 

A number of pictures and videos of the accident scene made its way to the Internet, with people indicating how they felt and expressing thanks for first responders. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured.

When you think of the phrase “oh, the weather outside is frightful” you may think about how cute the snow is during the holiday season. In the first week of February, however, the snow is just an eyesore and may be behind seasonal depressive disorder. Nevertheless, another snowstorm is bearing down on Central New York.

The band of snow is apparently massive, and stretches from Chicago to Boston. Yesterday, thousands of flights were cancelled due to the weather, and locally, schools were closed or start times were delayed. Indeed, people in this region are used to dealing with snow, but sometimes they do not pay attention to the conditions and how dangerous they may be.

Indeed, the snow on the ground is a concern, but as cars and plows go by, the concern for black ice also grows. It is not uncommon for small patches of ice to form after some snow melt freezes. This can cause unsuspecting drivers to lose control of their cars and crash.

For sports fans, this weekend is made for snowstorms. Oh by the way, another swath of storms is expected through the end of the week. So if you are poised to sit on the couch and watch college basketball, hockey games, and Super Bowl XLIX, no one is going to be upset with you.

However, there are those who are going to brave the roads and travel this weekend. For those hearty souls, this post is for you. 

We have posted about the dangers of winter driving, and this weekend deserves a reminder of not only the duty to drive with reasonable care, but also of the common hazards that can arise. Essentially, when driving conditions deteriorate, it is imperative that drivers slow down. The reasons are simple. By reducing speed, a driver reduces the likelihood of losing control of his or her vehicle after hitting a patch of ice. Also, the amount of space needed for a safe stop can be reduced as well. Simply put, less speed equals less sliding, and less of a chance to crash into someone (or something).

Just when you thought that winter hasn’t been so bad with regard to snow, a major winter storm is bearing down on our region and threatens to bring at least a foot of snow before all is said and done on Tuesday. Indeed, we have had our share of snow this season, but since the last major snow storm before Christmas, things have been relatively light.

That said, officials are telling people to stay off the roads, and thousands of flights across the northeast have been cancelled. Also we have written about safe travel in snowy weather as well as how to avoid ice missiles after a storm. With this post, we venture into the area of “Good Samaritan” laws.  

Essentially, “Good Samaritan” laws are statutes that provide legal immunity to those who stop and help someone in distress. Normally, a person does not owe a legal duty to help someone (who is hurt or trapped, for example) absent some type of special relationship between the person in distress and the rescuer (i.e. a parent and child). However, once a person proceeds to rescue someone, he or she has a duty to continue, or to do so in a reasonable manner that would not put others in danger.

If you are venturing out today, it is likely that you have heard warnings about black ice being present on roads across New York. Streets and highways likely provided drivers on Sunday with harrowing experiences because of the thin, invisible sheets of ice that coat the roads once freezing rain actually freezes on the ground.

ABC News reports that nearly 500 accidents occurred over the weekend across the northeast, with huge accidents occurring in New Jersey and New York. On I-95 in the Garden State, a 30 vehicle accident injured 16 people. Outside of New York City, a 60 vehicle crash injured more than 30 people and left one dead. In fact, the New York City Fire Department received more than 3,500 calls for accidents due to slippery roads. 

Indeed, the weather calls for another reminder for drivers of the legal implications of failing to use reasonable care on the road. Yes, there are instances where the weather can cause conditions so unpredictable that an accident may occur despite one’s best efforts. But drivers should be wary of conditions and realize that reducing speed on potentially icy roads can also reduce the chances of being in a crash.

It’s a rite of passage in homes across New York and around the nation: Parents handing over the keys to the household’s oldest — and perhaps worst — vehicle to their newly licensed teen driver.

While the idea of driving around in an older model vehicle likely makes little difference to the teens driving them and makes sound financial sense to the parents doing the gifting, a recently released study by two researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that this might not be the safest course of action.

Specifically, the study — published in the latest edition of the journal Injury Prevention — examined figures in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and made some shocking findings concerning fatal car accidents involving teen drivers between 2008 and 2012.