Automobile Accidents

Ready to Ride: Five Ways to be a Clutch Copilot

Published on: April 30, 2016 | O'Connor Law

You and your friends are about to pile into the car to embark on a day trip that is sure to be packed with all sorts of fun and adventure. The driver knows their role, but the fight for the front has only just begun as the passengers try to wage their arguments for who deserves the highly-coveted front passenger “shotgun” seat in the car.

After numerous futile “dibs” calls, a footrace that likely ended with a physical struggle in front of the car door, and pleas for sympathy from one friend claiming severe car sickness, a victor emerges and assumes their rightful throne while the less fortunate squeeze into the back where they will immediately begin barking for more leg room.

The story illustrated above is a familiar occurrence for friends and groups as they prepare to travel, but there’s actually a lot more that goes into “riding shotgun” than just full control over legroom and air vents.

Potential Recall of 24-Million Vehicles Following Death Caused by Forceful Airbag in Ford Ranger

Published on: January 31, 2016 | O'Connor Law

More than 390,000 Ford Ranger pickup trucks are being recalled due to overly strong driver’s side air bags.

The airbags in the recalled 2004-2006 vehicles have been found to cause injury upon release. The faulty airbags played a role in the death of 52-year-old Joel Knight, a South Carolina native whose truck crashed and caused deadly shrapnel to penetrate his neck.

In addition to Knight’s accident, the airbags are responsible for nine other deaths and more than 100 injuries. Many of the airbags have also simply failed lab tests as well.

PennDOT’s Winter Driving Awareness Week Reminds Us To Exercise Caution While Driving This Winter

Published on: January 11, 2016 | O'Connor Law

January 10-16 is PennDOT’s annual Winter Driving Awareness Week and the department is urging all drivers to exercise winter-appropriate driving practices and to have their cars checked by mechanics as temperatures drop and winter conditions take hold of our roadways.

In order to stay safe this winter and prevent automobile accidents that could endanger your life as well as the lives of others, PennDOT is urging drivers to have vehicles professionally serviced. The unseasonably warm weather that blanketed the state earlier this winter has seemingly ended, with 2016 already proving to be colder in the first few weeks. That being said, a visit to the local mechanic is highly encouraged for all.

Mechanics are able to inspect things such as your car’s cooling system, battery, hoses, drive belts, tires and windshield wipers to confirm that they all are working correctly and doing their jobs to keep passengers safe. In addition to a professional inspection, drivers themselves are asked to keep an eye on their own tires, fluid levels, lights and other things that can be easily checked.

The U.S. Department of Transportation

Published on: December 19, 2015 | O'Connor Law

U.S. regulators have proposed an updated version of the five-star crash-test rating systems that will incorporate new technology and test dummies. The five-star crash-test ratings has been in place by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since the late seventies and although they have proven themselves highly credible among both car dealers and buyers, this update seeks to even further improve safety.

Some changes to the rating system include testing collisions that happen in the front at an angle in the hopes of decreasing pedestrian accidents, as well as adding half-star rating options so as to more closely gauge the accuracy of the rating. Dummies will also be updated to more truthfully simulate the human body, with bendable spines and necks. The NHTSA does not want to make things more complicated, but rather, more safe.

Safety can never be taken too seriously, especially when it comes to the road.

Does Your Car Have A Smart Dash Display?

Published on: July 9, 2015 | O'Connor Law

If you have a car that has been made in the last few years, chances are you have some type of smart display on your dashboard. These displays can link to your phone, control functions in your car, and have many uses that many drivers find convenient. As these displays become more and more intricate and advanced, some people are calling the safety of these interactive displays into question.

Automakers and many drivers are in full support of these displays. Saying that with large icons, controls right on the steering wheel, and advanced voice control features, these displays will make driving safer since drivers won’t be as tempted to fumble around to use their cellphones while driving.

But many lawmakers and driving experts disagree that these displays will increase safety. While this may provide a slightly better alternative to using your smartphone while driving, experts say that taking your eyes off of the road to look at any screen is dangerous.

Bus and Tractor Trailer Crash Near Mount Pocono Leaving 3 Dead

Published on: June 10, 2015 | O'Connor Law

The accident occurred on Wednesday June 3^rd 2015 while a charter bus was taking tourists to Niagara Falls. The bus collided with a tractor trailer which ended in 3 people being killed, including the driver.

The accident happened around 10 AM as the bus was travelling from New York City to Niagara Falls on Interstate 380. Over a dozen people were taken to the hospital where 4 of them remain in critical condition, according to the latest reports. The bus was carrying Italian tourists who were en route to see the well known waterfalls.

Investigators have yet to determine exactly what happened in the accident. The bus was upright and had torn through the middle of the trailer, while the cab of the truck was on its side. Another truck was reportedly involved in the incident, but no information has been released as to how.

1 In Every 7 Cars In The U.S Are Being Recalled

Published on: May 20, 2015 | O'Connor Law

Exploding airbags that can send shrapnel through your body like bullets sounds like something from a James Bond Film, but no this is real life and now about 1 out of every 7 cars in the U.S. are being recalled.

Takata airbags, which you may have heard of due to their previous 18 million car recall, is doubling the size of their recall. Now over 34 million cars are being recalled to have their airbags replaced. Most of the popular cars sold in America are on the list including Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Honda, GM, Ford, Daimler, Chrysler and BMW, and majority of the cars were made from 2000-2011. The list of cars in this recall is lengthy and can be found at http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/index.html along with details on how to get your airbags replaced if your car is one of the cars being recalled. The full list of vehicles is not yet available from the automakers, but it can be found at that link once it has been released.

The issue with the airbags is a scary one. The inflators in the airbags can malfunction causing pieces of metal shrapnel to shoot out into the driver or passenger of the car. Six people have died worldwide from this malfunction and emergency responders have reported that it looked like they were shot.

Record Low Amount of Deaths Due To Traffic Accidents

Published on: April 16, 2015 | O'Connor Law

2014 saw the lowest amount of deaths from traffic accidents in Pennsylvania since they began recording traffic deaths in 1928. The total number of deaths from traffic accidents for Pennsylvania in 2014 was 1,195.

PennDOT gives credit to a large decrease in unbuckled driving, drunk driving, and drivers hitting trees.

Unfortunately the number of fatalities from fatigued drivers, and drivers falling asleep at the wheel went up from 2013 to 2014, even though PennDOT has invested in measures to counter this in recent years. Approximately $50 million has been invested in the last 5 years in adding rumble strips and other safety measures to counter this, but the fatalities are still growing.

GM Faulty Ignition Switch Now Responsible For 57 Deaths

Published on: February 26, 2015 | O'Connor Law

The faulty ignition switches in GM vehicles that were recalled last year has so far been the cause of 57 deaths in the U.S. GM, based in Detroit, admitted to knowing about the fault in their ignition switches for years, but only recalled the cars in 2014 to have them replaced.

The issue is that the ignition switch on small cars, including the Chevy Cobalt, can slip out of the on position while driving. This is very dangerous since the car will stall, the power steering will not work and the airbags are then disabled.

Each accepted death claim is being paid a $1 million dollar settlement according to GM’s attorney. Injury claims are being decided on a case to case basis.

Deep Freezing Temperatures Lead To Injuries

Published on: February 13, 2015 | O'Connor Law

With the temperatures dropping and some places having wind chills well below freezing, you need to be careful. A blizzard is going to hit much of the northeast of the U.S. including PA. We may not see too much snow from the storm, but there are other dangers you need to be careful of.

Such low temperatures mean that water can freeze almost instantly. Black ice will be on roadways and sidewalks and even if you are careful it is easy to be injured from slipping in your car or on foot. Remember if you are driving and hit a patch of ice, do not hit your brakes, you want to maintain you current speed so you keep going straight.

If you see ice on sidewalks or in parking lots, do your best to avoid it. Remember the slower you are going the better off you will be.