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The Kalfus Nachman Blog
Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke, Virginia
Archive for the ‘Distracted Driving’ Category
Friday, September 20th, 2013
Last Friday, a 66-year-old man was riding his bicycle in front of Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Virginia when he was struck and killed by a Ford Mustang that jumped the curb. The vehicle was driven by a 17-year-old girl. Witnesses say that when her car rode up on the curb, the bicyclist was struck and dragged until the vehicle came to a stop near the school’s entrance.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene of the car-bicycle accident. The driver of the Mustang was not injured. Although the girl is a high school student, she does not attend Hilton. Authorities are still investigating the accident, and say they will confirm whether or not the girl was texting or using her cell phone when the accident occurred.
Distracted driving has become the leading cause of fatal car accidents throughout the United States. In fact, out of the 32,000+ fatal auto accidents that occurred on U.S. roads in 2011, over 10% were linked to distracted drivers – and texting is by far the most dangerous distraction that plagues drivers.
If you or one of your loved ones has been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you deserve justice and compensation. Please contact Kalfus & Nachman today or call (800) 361-0430 to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Newport News accident attorneys.
Posted in Auto Accident, Distracted Driving, Personal Injury
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Monday, October 29th, 2012
While Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year, it is also the night when the number of pedestrian fatalities quadruple. There are a number of reasons for the increase: children dressing in dark costumes with masks that may make it hard for them to see, the time when accidents occur during prime trick-or-treating time, and children running in and out of the streets.
The USDOT reports:
- Fatal collisions between motor vehicles and young pedestrians (under 15 years of age) happen most frequently between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. - during prime trick-or-treating time.
- 84% of deaths among young pedestrians occurred at non-intersection locations, primarily because children are more likely to dart across streets from mid-block.
Halloween is can also be dangerous because of the number of parties. Two-thirds of all the highway fatalities on Halloween are alcohol related.
Here are some safety driving tips to keep in mind this Halloween:
- Use hands free devices for your cell phone while driving through neighborhoods so you will be less distracted while driving.
- Pay attention to the speed limit in residential neighborhoods. Pay attention to what's happening on sidewalks and in the road. Watch out for children who may dart across streets, especially from between parked cars.
- Look around when pulling in and out of driveways.
- Do not assume children can see you. They most likely will not be paying attention. Be the adult and take that responsibility.
- Make sure to check that all lights on your car work before hitting the road.
- Do not try and pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway. They could be dropping off children or may be aware of other children in the road you can't see.
- If you are driving a group of children, but remaining in the car, be sure to park at the curb and put on your hazard lights to alert other motorists.
- If you are driving to a Halloween party, wait till you are at your destination before putting a mask on. You don't want to impair your vision.
Be careful this Halloween, plan ahead and always designate a sober driver.
A few tips for parents to help drivers this Halloween:
- Make sure drivers are able to see your children. Give them flashlights or glow sticks. Pick out costumes that are bright and reflective, or add some reflective tape to their costumes.
- Instead of masks, have kids wear makeup. This will keep their vision clear and unobstructed allowing them to see their surroundings.
- Be sure children practice safe street crossing techniques: cross at the corner and look left, right and left again before crossing.
From the folks at Kalfus & Nachman, have a safe and fun Halloween!
Posted in Distracted Driving
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Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
When you drive a motor vehicle, you already have to be very cautious and aware of hazards. But what about the hazards we cause every day by ourselves?
These hazards are the dangerous things we shouldn’t be doing while driving like putting on makeup, playing with the radio, eating, drinking, and grooming ourselves. One of the biggest dangers as most people know is using their cell phone.
Whether you’re talking on the cell phone or texting, the danger your place yourself in – and others – is tremendous. Did you know that you are 23 more times likely to crash if you’ve been texting and it takes your eyes off the road for an average of 4 seconds? Four seconds may not seem like a lot but imagine how far you can travel at fast speeds in only several seconds. Those few seconds can place you over the dividing line into oncoming traffic or into a guardrail. There are many people harmed every year due to distracted driving. Any task that takes you away from the primary task of driving the car can put you in a lot of harm. Plus, you have the added danger of putting other innocent people in harm’s way. One thing to note is that many people actually believe a Bluetooth headset that allows hands free control of your cell phone is safe, but any type of distraction from the road is a danger. Your attention should be fully on the road and your surroundings. Watch the video now to learn more.
To learn more about personal injury law, I encourage you to watch the video above and to explore our educational website at http://www.kalfusnachman.com. If you have legal questions, I want you to call me at (800) 800-9797. I welcome your call.
Kalfus & Nachman
(800) 487-8546
Offices in Norfolk, Newport News and Roanoke Virginia. Also serving Northeastern North Carolina.
Posted in Auto Accident, Distracted Driving
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Thursday, October 20th, 2011
Whether you are talking on your cell phone, text messaging, writing a grocery list, or eating your lunch, secondary activities have become normal behind the steering wheel for many American motorists. United States traffic statistics reveal a drastic increase in multi-tasking among drivers. Distracted driving is now the leading cause of accidents in the nation, eclipsing drunk driving as the top safety concern for the driving public.
Consider the following facts about distracted driving:
- It is the number one killer of American teenagers.
- The brain power you use to focus on driving decreases by 40% when you engage in conversation or listen to music.
- Over 80% of drivers admit to extremely hazardous behavior, such as changing clothes, shaving, painting nails, or steering with a foot.
- Drivers who talk on cell phones experience more impairment than drivers at .08% BAC.
Texting is the most dangerous activity you can engage in while driving, as it takes your eyes off the road, distracts you mentally, and forces you to relinquish manual control of your vehicle. A recent study examining the texting behaviors of truckers found that truck drivers removed their eyes from the road for as long as five seconds every time they texted. When you are driving 60+ miles per hour on the freeway, five seconds is more than enough time for a serious accident to occur.
When young, inexperienced drivers engage in cell phone use and texting, the dangers are further compounded, as younger drivers are already at a higher risk of getting into a car accident. If you or one of your loved ones has been seriously injured in a car accident because of a distracted driver, make sure you are getting the compensation you deserve.
Please contact the experienced car accident attorneys at Kalfus & Nachman today for a free consultation. Our firm serves clients in Norfolk, Roanoke, and Newport News, Virginia.
Posted in Distracted Driving
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