Automobile Safety

Summer Auto Accidents

Published on: June 22, 2021 | O'Connor Law

In the summer, many vehicles will be on the roads for long travels. During the summer season, auto accidents and injuries can become prevalent. In addition to accidents, drivers and passengers can also experience health issues. Before driving during in the summer, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers that can occur.

With many cars, tractor-trailers, motorcycles, and public transportation systems traveling, there is an increased chance of any auto accident occurring, including rear-end collisions. Since many people go on vacations during the summer, there are also drivers who have been on the road for long period of time. Accidents are more likely to occur when there are many vehicles driving on congested roads. Statistically, there are also more inexperienced drivers on the road during this time, and they do not have years of experience with heavy traffic and auto accidents. As a result, they can have the potential of being involved in an accident if they are not aware of their surroundings.

Tire accidents are common to occur in summer. In fact, the summer season is sometimes referred to as “tire blowout season”. When temperatures are high, roads can become extremely hot. It is not unusual in the summer for tractor-trailers and other vehicles to have tire blowouts, which occur as a result of low tire pressure. Tire tread separation can also cause tire blowouts. In addition to tire blowouts, temperatures can also affect the performances of vehicles. In most cases, it can cause vehicles to use more fuel to operate. To support your car’s engine during the summer months, it is recommended to stay updated on oil changes and other safety precautions. If these factors are not maintained, vehicles can experience internal damages.

Mercedes-Benz Announces Another Huge Recall

Published on: January 7, 2020 | O'Connor Law

Following a disturbing trend, Mercedes-Benz has announced another recall of nearly 750,000 vehicles in the United States. The recall, which is due to faulty sunroofs at risk to detach from the car, impacts Mercedes-Benz model years spanning over a decade. The model years in question are 2001-2011; the models in question are the C-, CLK-, CLS-, and E-Class.

The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA) has been on top of this recall and elaborated on exactly what the defects are and how they can impact your Mercedes-Benz. Last week, they offered this, “The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle.” The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration also claims Mercedes-Benz will notify its owners on or after February 14^th. The company is expected to offer free inspections and replacements to those possibly afflicted by the recall.

The following is a comprehensive list of all models possibly affected:

Largest Auto Recall In History Leads to Major Probe

Published on: December 30, 2019 | O'Connor Law

Four major automakers have landed squarely in the crosshairs of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation. According to documents posted on December 19^th, 2019, Audi, Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi are the companies under investigation. The probe revolves around a Takata airbag recall, which involved 1.4 million airbag inflators.

The inflators are reported to have a unique problem that can cause them to blow apart, sending metal shrapnel into drivers’ and passengers’ faces and bodies. The issue stems from problems caused by insufficient seals and a chemical deterioration within the product. Takata, the maker of the air bags, has already recalled approximately 100 million inflators worldwide, while 19 automakers have recalled approximately 70 million inflators, making it the largest grouping of automotive recalls in United States history.

Takata, who has gone bankrupt due to the recalls, believes it’s made about 4.5 million of the faulty inflators. However, Takata claims only a portion are still in use, because the vehicles equipped with the inflators are so old.

The Dangers of Swinging Turns

Published on: August 18, 2019 | O'Connor Law

Automobile Safety

What’s a swinging turn…

Well.. Let me break it down for you.

Tractor Trailer Accidents

Published on: August 15, 2019 | O'Connor Law

Auto Accidents

The Facts About Truck Accidents

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ( FMCSA ) makes new laws and regulations regarding our safety all the time. But, regardless of how many laws and regulations are put in place to keep us safe, if we don’t actively do our part to keep ourselves and others safe, none of those things will matter.

Ford Seatbelt Fires Lead To A Recall Of Nearly 2 Million Pickup Trucks.

Published on: September 12, 2018 | O'Connor Law

We have all seen more than our fair share of recalls over the years for all different parts, of all different makes of cars. We have even had a few recalls over the last few years for seatbelts and airbags which are obviously big safety issues for these cars and trucks. We have had engine parts that cause fires. We have had electrical parts that cause fires. What we haven’t seen in recent memory are seatbelts that can cause fires. There typically are not any parts in a seatbelt that you would even think of that could cause a fire.

Ford has reports of over 23 vehicles having an issue where smoke was generated. The seat-belt pretensioners can malfunction and send sparks out when activated. What is a seatbelt pretensioner? It’s a small part that you likely have never seen in action because it typically only fires when your car is in an accident. Similar to how the airbags in your car will deploy when you hit something, the seatbelt pretensioner will fire when you are in an accident which causes a piston to block the seatbelt from allowing you to move forward.

The National-Highway Traffic Safety Administration received reports of 5 fires caused by the seatbelts, with 3 of those leading to the car being engulfed in flames.

Distracted Driving Citations on the Rise in Pennsylvania

Published on: April 12, 2018 | O'Connor Law

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of avoidable motor vehicle accidents. The most common form of distraction behind the wheel is cell-phone use while driving. This is why so many states have enacted laws to cite those that drive while using their cell phone in a hope to decrease distracted driving accidents.

From 2016 to 2017, distracted driving-related citations increased by 52% in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania law enforcement officials issued 5,054 distracted driving citations in 2017, up from 3,336 citations in 2016. 15,542 citations have been issued in Pennsylvania since 2013.

According to the NHTSA, 3,477 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015. They estimate that around 660,000 drivers are using an electronic device while driving daily.

Study Shows Rear-Facing Car Seats are Safe in Rear-End Crashes

Published on: April 5, 2018 | O'Connor Law

Previous studies have shown that properly installed rear-facing car seats will protect children in front end and side impact accidents. However, a new study performed at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center shows that rear-facing car seats are also effective in protecting children in a rear end accident.

According to the university, the research team performed crash tests with multiple rear-facing car seats and found all the seats were effective in absorbing the force of the crash and controlling the child when properly installed. The study was authored by Julie Mansfield who is a Research Engineer for the Injury Biomechanics Research Center at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Pennsylvania law requires that children under the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until the child outgrows the maximum weight and height limits designated by the car seat manufacturer.

Self-Driving Car Involved in Fatal Accident in Arizona

Published on: March 29, 2018 | O'Connor Law

A 49 year old woman was fatally hit, while crossing the street by a self-driving Uber vehicle in Tempe, Arizona earlier this month. The crash happened around 10 p.m. Sunday March 18^thnear Mill Avenue and Curry Road. This incident is believed to be the first pedestrian death involving an autonomous or self-driving vehicle.

The vehicle was a Volvo that was in autonomous mode when the accident happened. It did however have a backup driver behind the wheel, which is common for Uber in case the vehicle has to be taken out of self-driving mode. The victim was walking her bike across the street when she was struck by the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. The vehicle captured a video that Tempe police released that shows the moments before the pedestrian was struck. According to the police, the vehicle was going 40 miles an hour in a 45-mile-an-hour zone and it did not slow down before impact.

Police in Tempe and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. This incident adds to the ongoing debate of the safety and feasibility of autonomous vehicles and how close they are to becoming more common on the roadways.

Designate a Sober Driver this St. Patrick’s Day

Published on: March 14, 2018 | O'Connor Law

Most holidays, alcohol consumption increases for many people. St. Patrick’s Day is one of the holidays where alcohol consumption is at its highest level. This also makes it one of the deadliest times of year on the roadways. This is because many individuals make the unfortunate decision to get behind the wheel after drinking. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are promoting their annual campaign to avoid the dangers of driving impaired as part of a national Saint Patrick’s Day “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.”

The NHTSA reports that drinking and driving account for nearly 1/3 of vehicle fatalities in the United States. NHTSA also reports that St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays on our nation’s roads.

PennDOT data shows there were 28 alcohol related motor vehicle accidents on Saint Patrick’s Day in 2017. That was an increase from 26 in 2016 and 23 in 2015. size0