Car Accidents

Published on: October 6, 2023

Legalization of Marijuana Linked to Increased Risk of Auto Accident Personal Injuries

Georgia continues to criminalize the use and possession of marijuana for recreational use. While there is a very narrow exception for use of marijuana for medical purposes, the statute is not nearly has broad as found in many other states. Accordingly, marijuana is not as readily available in Georgia compared to other states that have fully legalized marijuana for all purposes or fully legalized marijuana to medical use. As the findings of a new study shows, this may be for the good since legalization of marijuana is linked to an increase in the number of auto accident personal injuries.

The information comes from a new study that was conducted in Canada. In 2018, Canada became the second country in the world to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational purposes. According to the study, that decision has resulted in a significant increase in the number of auto accident injuries that are serious enough to lead to a visit to the emergency room.

The study is quick to affirm that marijuana – related emergency room visits after car accidents are still uncommon, but the percentage of such auto accidents has been skyrocketing since the 2018 legalization of marijuana. According to the study, there has been a 475% increase in car accident personal injuries linked to marijuana use, with the increase being even sharper following the 2018 legalization of marijuana. On the other hand, there has not been a similar increase in the number of alcohol – related car accident personal injuries resulting in emergency room visits during the same period of time.

Published on: September 29, 2023

Driving Anxiety and the Fear of Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The fear of being involved in an auto accident is the number one factor affecting driving anxiety and stress, but there are ways to circumvent these fears. If these fears can be overcome, it will greatly improve the lives of these individuals and is very likely lead to fewer auto accidents.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has tips for drivers who want to drive safely and responsibly without letting their fears and anxiety come in the way. Ironically enough, these anxieties and stresses may actually place drivers at a greater risk of being involved in an auto accident. Confidence and calm is key to driving safely and responsibly and when a driver is stressed about being involved in a car accident or losing control of the vehicle, it makes it more likely that he will actually cause a car accident.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, fear of being involved in a car accident is the number one factor that causes driving anxiety. We live in an age when high resolution images of catastrophic or fatal car accidents are easily available online, and if a person has seen these images, these may flash in his mind when he is driving, causing his or her heart rate to increase and his or her palms to become sweaty.

Published on: September 21, 2023

Sleep Deprivation Could Increase Car Accident Personal Injury Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Too little sleep could increase a person’s risk of suffering not just auto accident – related personal injuries, but also personal injuries from slip and fall accidents as well as personal injuries during sports.

In a new study, researchers focused on 3 different types of personal injuries, including injuries caused in sports, during slip and fall accidents as well as injuries caused when a person is involved in an auto accident, and their link to sleep deprivation. They found that lack of sufficient sleep affected the risk of preventable personal injuries.

The researchers looked at three different categories of sleep – very little sleep which is sleep below 4 hours in duration, short sleep which is sleep of between 5 and 6 hours in duration, healthy sleep which is sleep of between 7 and 8 hours and long sleep which is sleep of greater than 9 hours. They also divided sleep quality into three categories, including the ability to fall and stay asleep, feel refreshed and rested while waking up, and medication use.

Published on: September 19, 2023

Threat of Drunk Driving Auto Accidents Looms Over Labor Day

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Statistics from last year show that Labor Day was the second deadliest holiday in the United States in 2022, and this year, with the incidence of drunk driving on the rise, the risk of alcohol – related car accidents has never been higher.

Last year, one study by a car insurance app found that the Labor Day Holiday weekend ranked second only to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the number of fatal car accidents recorded. The study analyzed data between 2011 and 2020, and found that the Labor Day holiday was the second most dangerous holiday in the country. Over the study period, the data showed that more than 4000 people were killed in car accidents over Labor Day, many of them caused by drunk drivers. Approximately, 25% of deaths involved teens and young people in their mid 20s. About 70% of this category of drivers were male. The second most at- risk category of drivers during the Labor Day holiday were drivers between the age of 26 and 35.

Drunk driving is likely fueling this increase in car accident deaths. Recent data shows that driving under the influence of alcohol is actually on the increase across the country. Between 2020 and 2021, there was an increase of approximately 14% in fatal alcohol – related car accidents. Overall, there was an increase of approximately 10% in car accident deaths during the same period of time. Clearly, the role of alcohol in causing car accidents is increasing, and this is a cause of concern.

Published on: September 15, 2023

Feds Propose Seatbelt Warning System for Rear Seat Passengers

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The federal administration is proposing a new seatbelt warning system that would apply to occupants of the back seat as well as the front seat passenger. It is a move that could significantly help reduce the number of people killed in car accidents on America’s roads every year. It is important to keep in mind that persons in the rear seats are injured in car accidents, especially in rear-end accidents and T-bone accidents.

In 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Acting Administrator, approximately 43,000 people were killed in car accidents and approximately 50% of them were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the auto accident. Their chances of surviving the crash could have significantly improved had they been buckled in. Unfortunately, the current law only requires seat belt reminder systems for drivers, but has no such requirements for front seat passengers as well as occupants of the rear seat of the car. These people are also at a very high risk of suffering fatal injuries in the event of an auto accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued a Proposed Rule which requires motor vehicles weighing up to 10,000 pounds to have seatbelt reminder systems for all passengers in the car, including front seat and backseat passengers. The requirement would require a visual alert that would go on for approximately 60 seconds and would alert the driver to the status of rear seatbelt usage. It would also require an audible alert that would alert the driver when a backseat passenger removes the seat belt while the vehicle is in operation. The rule would also require an audio visual alert system for the right front seat passenger to buckle his seatbelt. Auto manufacturers would have the flexibility to decide how frequently and how loud the audible reminder system should be.

Published on: September 11, 2023

Texting Ban Leads to Drop in Georgia Car Accident Rates

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A law that prohibits the use of hand cell phones while driving for Georgia motorists has possibly contributed to a drop in the number of auto accidents caused by distracted drivers in the state. Unfortunately, before the law was passed, there were a significant number of car accidents in Georgia involving persons talking and texting while driving.

According to representatives at the Georgia Governors of Highway Safety, there has been a reduction in the number of car accidents directly caused by distracted motorists since the ban was passed. The law which prohibits Georgia motorists from using a handheld cell phone to send or receive text messages or to even touch a telephone while driving was passed in 2017, and went into effect the following year.

The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety only has statistics for the year 2021, and the data for that year seems to indicate that the number of people convicted for handheld cell phone use increased significantly after the stricter ban was enacted. There were more than 43,000 distracted driving convictions in 2021 for violation of the ban. Many of these involved people who were driving while holding their cell phones. That was a significant four -fold increase from 2017.

Published on: September 8, 2023

Improperly Installed Car Seats Increase Risk of Personal Injuries in Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Car seats for young children are an extremely important safety device. Every parent recalls having to deal with situation of installing a car seat for the first time or when they get a new car. Unfortunately, far too many car seats are improperly installed, exposing children in the seats to the risk of potential life – threatening personal injuries in car accidents.

Securing a child in a car seat is an absolute must before any journey. Most parents, fortunately, in Georgia, are aware of the need to restrain children in car seats. Car seats should not only be used every time for young children, but also must be appropriate to the age and weight of the child. Many car seats have been designed to be easy to use, in order to make it easy for parents to install these seats. Unfortunately, even with these easy –to use designs, parents still make errors in the installation of these car seats.

According to a new study, too many seats are being improperly installed, exposing the children in the seats to the risk of potentially catastrophic or even life- threatening personal injuries in the event of an auto accident. The researchers looked at seat check data from between 2015 and 2019, and found that approximately 70% or an overwhelming majority of all the errors involved car seats installed with seat belts. Other errors involved recline angles. About half of the errors involved top tether on forward – facing car seats. The tether is an important component of the car seat and is meant to be attached to the vehicle, and according to the study, many parents either fail to secure it or secure it incorrectly.

Published on: September 1, 2023

More than 60% of Seniors with Cognitive Declines Continue to Drive

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A vast percentage of seniors who have age-related cognitive declines continue to operate motor vehicles, seriously increasing their risks of being involved in an auto accident. Senior are especially susceptible to serious personal injuries when involved in a car accident which makes preventing these accidents a high priority.

According to a new study, far too many seniors who have impaired cognitive abilities or thinking declines as per a cognitive assessment score continue to operate motor vehicles without hesitation. The study found that more than 600 adults in a particular county suffered from thinking declines as per the cognitive assessment test, and that more than 61% of these persons who suffered cognitive declines continued to drive.

Suffering a cognitive decline does not automatically mean that a person may be unable to drive. In fact, not all of the caregivers who were involved in the study believed that the senior drivers in the study had their driving skills affected by their cognitive difficulties. About one -third of the caregivers admitted to having concerns about the driver’s ability to safely operate a car. However, there are safety issues involved when a person with cognitive issues takes to the road.

Published on: August 29, 2023

Study: Traumatic Brain Injury Similar to Chronic Conditions

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to an auto accident or any other type of accident may suffer from long term consequences that are very similar to the symptoms suffered by persons living with a chronic condition.

Those conclusions came from a new study recently published in the Neurology journal. The researchers analyzed data on more than 900 patients who had suffered mild traumatic brain injury like concussions as well as 200 patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, and compared these patients to a group of 150 patients with no history of a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries are frequently suffered by persons involved in car accidents, slip and fall accidents and even due to medical malpractice. As part of the research, the persons were asked about physical symptoms like headache and fatigue. They were also asked about their thinking abilities, especially the ability to perform daily and routine tasks, as well as their overall mental health and memory.

They found in their analysis that 21% of the persons with a mild brain injury suffered declines overall, compared to 26% of the persons with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Among the persons with no brain injury, the decline was just 15%.

Published on: August 7, 2023

Muscle Cars Drive Spike in Car Accident Wrongful Deaths

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

There are a significant number of persons in the United States who like to drive what are commonly called “muscle cars.” These are cars with high horsepower which are capable of high speeds and fast acceleration. Examples of cars often referred to as “muscle cars” include the Dodge Charger, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, Dodge Challenger and the Camaro. Unfortunately, some muscle cars have been identified with an increase in car accident wrongful deaths.

A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that smaller cars that have more powerful engines can be deadly for not just motorists and passengers, but also for drivers of other cars. Traditionally, safety experts have believed that larger vehicles like SUVs and pickup trucks are more dangerous for drivers and passengers of other vehicles in the event of an accident. However, the dangers may be even more serious in the case of smaller muscle cars like the Ford Mustang or other similar vehicles.

Muscle cars are basically smaller American cars that have increased horsepower. These are boxy cars that usually have 2 doors and a powerful engine. These cars are typically marketed to a certain type of consumer, and the study believes that the way in which these cars are marketed also contributes to the higher death rates associated with these vehicles.