car accidents Archives - Blizzard Greenberg PLLC

Automatic Emergency Braking Will Soon Be Included In All Cars

January 29, 2018/in Personal Injury /by e.blizzard

Maybe you were changing the radio station or distracted by something outside your window. You look back to the road and realize you are quickly heading toward the fender of the car in front of you. You slam on the brakes, but it’s too late. Accidents like these are incredibly common. Unfortunately, the resulting car accidents can cause serious injuries, particularly if it’s not a vehicle you collide with, but a pedestrian. However, thanks to car manufacturers, automatic emergency braking will soon be a standard feature on all cars.

What Is Automatic Emergency Braking?

Automatic emergency braking (AEB) is a safety feature available on cars that will apply the brakes to prevent collisions. Sensors on vehicles equipped with this feature constantly scan for other cars, pedestrians, and other hazards and apply the brakes to prevent collisions. While many cars on the road today have AEB, it isn’t a standard feature on most vehicles.

Toyota has made great strides in implementing this technology, reporting that 56% of their 2017 fleet included AEB technology. Unfortunately, other popular manufacturers like Honda and General Motors only included AEB in 30% and 20% of their 2017 fleet respectively. This type of technology can greatly decrease the number of car accidents, and car manufacturers are stepping up to the plate to make it a standard feature on all vehicles.

Automakers Pledge To Make The Roads Safer

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently announced a voluntary pledge made by 20 automakers to include AEB in all vehicles by September 1, 2022. These vehicles will have low-speed AEB systems and forward collision warning (FCW). These technologies will make the roads much safer because they will help prevent accidents caused by inattentive drivers. The IIHS estimates the commitment to AEB technology will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries by 2025, just three years after completion of the project.

Luckily for consumers, the automakers included in the pledge make up over 99% of the automobile market, meaning nearly every new vehicle produced will be equipped with this technology. Automakers that made the pledge include: Audi, BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Winter Road Safety Tips

January 8, 2018/in Personal Injury /by e.blizzard

The particularly cold and icy weather last week left many Houstonians driving in winter conditions they are completely unfamiliar with. For people with more experience driving in wintery conditions, last week’s weather might not have seemed that impressive, but the weather did cause numerous car accidents across Houston.

While winter weather in Houston is a somewhat rare occurrence, it is important for drivers to know several winter road safety tips to prevent accidents.

1. Slow Down – You might be in a rush, but you should always slow down when driving in wintery weather. If the roads are slick, going too fast could cause you to lose control. Additionally, slick roads will make it more difficult to come to a stop.

2. Watch Out For Ice – Ice on Houston roads might be rare, but it has already caused multiple car accidents this year. You might not be able to see the ice, so check with the City of Houston before your trip to see if your route is clear. If you’re driving outside of Houston, Drive Texas shows accidents, hazards, and closures across the state.

3. Check Your Tires – Changes in temperature could cause your tires to lose pressure. Make sure you have the right amount of air in your tires before taking off.

4. Give Other Vehicles Space – Because icy roads can make it difficult for cars to slow down or come to a stop, you need to give yourself and other drivers plenty of space by not following to closely.

5. Don’t Use Cruise Control – You might be used to using cruise control on your morning or afternoon commute, but this can be extremely dangerous in winter weather. You need to always be in control of your vehicle to respond to road conditions.

6. Accelerate and Decelerate Slowly – Trying to accelerate and decelerate too quickly can make your wheels spin and that won’t get you anywhere. To get traction under your tires, you have to accelerate and decelerate slowly.

Are Self-Driving Vehicles Safer?

December 11, 2017/in Personal Injury /by e.blizzard

Advances in technology have dramatically impacted the safety of vehicles. Seatbelts, air bags, and sensors all help prevent accidents or lessen the severity of accidents. Car manufacturers are getting closer and closer to creating self-driving vehicles, which could help prevent many, if not nearly all car accidents. However, in practice, self-driving prototypes are proving to be more dangerous than anticipated.

A Bad Track Record For Self-Driving Vehicles

The city of Las Vegas recently unveiled the first self-driving shuttle bus in the U.S., but the bus’s first day on the job did not go quite as planned. Within two hours of launch, the bus collided with a pickup truck. No one was hurt in the bus accident, and the shuttle was not found to be at fault. The shuttle came to a stop when it sensed the truck was backing up into the shuttle. However, the pickup truck continued to back up until it collided with the front of the shuttle. Although the other driver caused the accident, some road safety advocates remain unconvinced self-driving technology is safe.

But this shuttle isn’t the only self-driving vehicle that has been involved in motor vehicle collisions. The transportation technology company Uber had to stop self-driving car tests this past March after a collision in Arizona. Last year, one of Google’s self-driving vehicles collided with a bus. In response to the accident, Google filed a patent to soften vehicles to reduce accident injuries.

Technology company Tesla Motors has also struggled with self-driving technology. In 2015, a driver was killed in an accident in Florida while the autopilot feature was engaged. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated the accident and determined there was no defect in the car’s design or performance, suggesting this technology is not perfect even when operating correctly.

What Drivers Need To Know

Self-driving technology may one day prevent all accidents on the roadways, but for now, drivers are still responsible for driving safely. Drivers cannot rely solely on sensors like blind spot warnings and lane departure warnings to avoid car accidents. Driving responsibly means always being aware of your surroundings and staying focused.

Texas Hasn’t Had A Day Without A Fatal Car Accident In 17 Years

November 27, 2017/in Personal Injury /by e.blizzard

A lot can happen in 17 years. The automotive industry has seen many advances in technology that are helping make our roads safer. However, despite this, thousands of Texans are injured in car accidents each year. In fact, Texas hasn’t gone a day without at least one fatal car accident in over 17 years.

The last time Texas roads went without a fatal car accident was on Election Day in 2000. On November 7, 2000, Texans went to the polls to choose between presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore. There have now been four election cycles since the last day without a fatal car accident in Texas, or 6,229 days.

Since November 7, 2000, over 59,400 people have died on Texas roads; and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94% of these crashes were preventable because they were caused by driver error. Driver errors included reckless driving behaviors like distracted driving, speeding, and drunk driving. All of these behaviors could easily be avoided if drivers just drove responsibly.

Some of the biggest distractions for drivers are cell phones and infotainment systems in a car’s dashboard. Whether drivers are using these devices with their hands or with hands-free technology, driving performance suffers. While drivers using a cell phone are usually easy to spot, the reality is that even cognitive distractions are causing accidents. Whether drivers are placing phone calls, responding to texts, or programming their GPS with hands-free technology, drivers are still cognitively distracted. This can lead to decreased reaction times and poor decision making.

Texas lawmakers are trying to decrease the number of distracted driving accidents on the road. This past September, a texting and driving ban went into effect that would fine irresponsible drivers up to $200. However, it will take more than legislation to make the roads safe and to break Texas’ streak of fatal car accidents. All drivers need to commit to driving safely when they get behind the wheel. Reckless drivers don’t just put themselves at risk, but they also put other drivers on the roadway at risk.

Texas Earns Poor Grade In Road Safety Policies

September 5, 2017/in Personal Injury /by e.blizzard

The National Safety Council (NSC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes health and safety across the country. Recently, the NSC analyzed all 50 states and graded each one for its efforts to promote road safety. Unfortunately for Texans, our state received barely a passing grade and was found to be extremely deficient in several important areas.

About The NSC’s Road Safety Study

When grading each state, the NSC looked at policies and legislation regarding motor vehicle accident and injury risk factors, including:

Driving under the influence of alcohol
Child passenger safety
Distracted driving
Elderly drivers
Seat belt use
Speeding
Teenage drivers
Vulnerable road users (bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists)

The NSC analyzed each state’s laws to see if they addressed each risk factor specifically and thoroughly to promote safe driving behaviors.

How Texas Stacks Up

While Texas has plenty of legislation against driving under the influence, requiring wearing seatbelts, and monitoring elderly drivers, it was deficient in the remaining five factors. Texas ranked extremely poor in child passenger safety, with very few policies dictating age and weight requirements for children in car seats. The state also performed very poorly with regard to speeding, teenage drivers, and vulnerable road users. Texas is notorious for having some of the highest posted speed limits in the country, and this can have a severe effect on the outcome of car accidents.

Despite a recent initiative to require young drivers to take distracted driving education before receiving a driver’s license, teen drivers in Texas have fewer restrictions and requirements than teens in other states. In terms of protecting vulnerable road users, Texas just isn’t doing as much as other states, including not requiring motorcycle helmets for all riders.

Texas did rank slightly better when it comes to distracted driving, although there is plenty of room for improvement. Texas was one of the last states to implement a cell phone ban while driving, which just recently went into effect.

Houston To Get New Intelligent Traffic Monitoring System

August 7, 2017/in Personal Injury /by e.blizzard

With an increasing number of traffic accidents and a projected increase in population over the next two decades, Houston drivers will face very dangerous roadways in the coming years. Luckily for Houstonians, the city is getting a new intelligent traffic monitoring system that will help prevent and detect motor vehicle accidents.

The city of Houston signed a $33.6 million contract to design and build an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). The system will be in place at 489 intersections across the city and include 91 dynamic message signs, 113 roadside cameras, and 144 mid-block radar detection sites.

The ITS will be able monitor traffic in real time and will be integrated with multiple traffic management agencies and emergency services. This will allow the system to detect traffic jams and motor vehicle accidents and immediately send up to date information to traffic engineers and emergency operators.

Once in place, the ITS system will be able to analyze traffic and accident data to point out which streets in Houston are the most dangerous and the busiest so the city can make improvements. The ITS is scheduled to be completed in 2020.

The city’s new ITS could not come at a better time. According to the Department of Public Works and Engineering, Houston’s population is expected to grow 50% by 2037. The population growth will put an estimated two million additional cars on Houston’s roads. Thankfully, the ITS will allow the city to better prepare for its massive growth.

Although the ITS will help make the roads safer and more efficient, ultimately it is up to drivers to prevent car accidents. Dangerous driving behaviors like speeding, texting while driving, and drunk driving cause millions of motor vehicle accidents each year, and drivers who recklessly endanger the lives of others can face serious legal consequences.

5 Tips for Car Seat Safety

May 10, 2016/in Personal Injury /by e.blizzard

Nothing is more important than keeping your children safe in the car, but with so many types of car seats, parents can quickly become overwhelmed. When picking a car seat, do your homework. Proper research can make the difference between purchasing a safe or an unsafe car seat. Here are a few tips for keeping your children safe in their car seats.

5 Tips for Car Seat Safety:

1. Know the difference between rear-facing and forward-facing car seats. Rear-facing car seats offer the best protection for small children in the event of a collision. However, it is important that the rear-facing car seat is placed in the back seat, away from any airbags. When children grow out of rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats will offer the best protection.

2. Know the size, weight, and age limits on your car seat. These will dictate which car seat is best for your child, and that safest seat will change as your child grows.

3. Check the expiration date. Most parents are surprised to learn that car seats come with an expiration date, usually approximately six years. Look at the label on the car seat to check the expiration date.

4. Be careful of used car seats. Because only 40% of recalled car seats ever get repaired, buying or accepting the gift of a used car seat could mean placing your precious child in a car seat that doesn’t meet safety standards.

5. Take your time with installation. 73% of car seats are not used or installed correctly. Follow the manufacturer-provided directions carefully to make sure your car seat is properly installed and can keep your child safe.

6. Limit the toys you give your child while in the car seat. Toys should be soft, so they won’t cause any injury in the event of an accident.

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