car accidents

Published on: April 14, 2025

Your Medications Could Increase Your Car Accident Risks

The medications that you are currently taking could increase your risks of being involved in an auto accident. Since car accidents are a major cause of severe personal injuries, it is important to evaluate the medications you are taking to determine if they increase your risk of an accident. If so, you may wish to adjust your driving habits to reduce the risk of being in an accident and suffering injuries.

Most medications come with little or no drowsy driving risks. Many of them, however, do include risks that can affect a persons’ driving abilities, and patients may remain unaware of the dangers of using these medications, especially when they operate a motor vehicle. Some medications are widely known to have drowsiness- inducing properties. For instance, anti-allergy medications or those that are used to treat common colds and coughs may come with ingredients that increase a person’s sleepiness and make him feel lethargic. A person using these drugs is much more likely to cause an accident if he is driving a vehicle while under the influence of the drug. Medications that include codeine and hydrocodone, for example, are strongly linked with drowsiness and fatigue.

Apart from cold medications and antihistamines, many Americans now take a wide range of medications to treat a variety of conditions. There has been an explosion in lifestyle conditions, and millions of Americans now take beta blockers to treat heart disease and cardiovascular conditions. Beta blockers can cause symptoms like giddiness, dizziness and extreme tiredness that could prove dangerous when the person is behind the wheel. Anti-anxiety medications, antipsychotic drugs as well as anti-depressants are also strongly linked to drowsiness.

Published on: April 15, 2024

Do Partial Automated Driving Systems Help Prevent Car Accidents?

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that partially automated driving systems in several vehicles are not very effective in helping prevent distracted driving. In fact, automated driving systems are likely to increase distracted driving auto accidents.

Partial automated driving systems are present in several automobiles these days. These are not technically self -driven cars, although manufacturers sometimes do position these as self -driven vehicles. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, its researchers analyzed a number of vehicles manufactured by major automakers, including BMW, and found that many of these systems fail at protecting motorists against distractions or helping them focus on the road.

Many motorists prefer partial autonomous systems because they believe these make driving easier. These systems have a few safety features that are automated, but drivers are responsible for tackling many of the routine tasks involved in driving. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analyzed vehicles manufactured by BMW, Mercedes Benz, Ford and General Motors, and found specific challenges with the way the partial automated systems in these vehicles failed to address problems involving driver distraction. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found that while many of the systems do have some safeguards in place to protect drivers, these safeguards are not robust enough to help prevent car accidents.

Published on: October 19, 2023

The Year’s Most Dangerous Season for Car Accidents is Here

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

It is the most dangerous time of the year to drive, even more dangerous in fact than winter. Not too many people realize it, but fall is the most dangerous season with a motorist’s risk of being involved in car accidents at its highest during these days.

Auto insurer Carfax recently announced that according to its data, it is autumn and not winter which is the deadliest season of the year for drivers. In fact, according to the data, more than 72% of Americans live in states like Georgia where fall is the deadliest season of the year with the highest number of auto accidents recorded.

There are a number of reasons why the risk of car accidents is greater during fall season compared to other times of the year. The days are shorter which means fewer daylight hours and greater volumes of driving in the dark when the risks of being involved in an auto accident are at their highest. Only 25% of all travel in the United States occurs during night time, but night time accounts for the same number of accidents every year as day time. Another factor contributing to the higher risk of car accidents during autumn is deer. More than 50% of all auto accidents involving deer in the United States occur between October and December. Mating season kicks off during this time, and you will find larger numbers of deer along busy roads. A third important reason for the high number of car accidents during fall season is the slippery and wet road surfaces. Roads may be slick because of wet leaves that fall down during storms, and these provide ideal conditions for an auto accident.

Published on: July 11, 2023

Epilepsy and Car Accident Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

People who suffer from epilepsy may be able to drive safely provided they take all safety precautions, including taking any necessary medications, and stick to the limitations placed on them under the law. A new study, in fact, finds that an early diagnosis of epilepsy may significantly reduce car accident risks.

According to the study, as many as 5% of patients who suffer from epilepsy had suffered a seizure while driving before their diagnosis. The researchers, who include members of the American Academy of Neurology, were specifically looking at how long a person drives before he or she received an epilepsy diagnosis. They believe that it is important to push for earlier diagnosis of epilepsy in order to reduce car accident risks among these persons.

As part of the study, the researchers focused on 447 persons who suffered from focal epilepsy which is marked by recurrent seizures. They found that 23 of these people had suffered a seizure while driving. About 26% suffered their first seizure while driving while around 30% had suffered more than one seizure while driving. In all, these seizures resulted in 19 auto accidents with 11 of these car accidents requiring hospitalization.

Published on: March 19, 2017

Drones Could Play a Critical Role in Post-Accident Emergency Care

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

In the future, drones carrying blood products and medical supplies could prove to be an integral part of emergency and critical care after an accident.

The first few hours after any car or truck wreck are critical for a victim. In fact, in severe accidents, the first hour after the event is extremely crucial, and is often referred to as the “golden hour.” It is during this time that the quality and speed of care delivered to the victim really matters. Delays in receiving emergency medical care during this important time could mean the difference between life and death for injured victims.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that drones can be used effectively to transport large bags of blood products to accident sites and other areas where such critical measures are needed. The cooler technology used in the study was able to maintain the proper temperature of the products.

Published on: December 4, 2009

Doctors, Lawyers are at Higher Risk of Auto Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Doctors and lawyers are most at risk for auto accidents, at least according to a list of the most accident-prone professions in the country. The list was released by Insure.com and the Quality Planning Corporation, a company that validates policyholder information for insurers. The company has collected and analyzed data about car accidents based on profession, and ranks doctors at No.1 on the list.

Every year, there are:

1. 109 accidents and 44 speeding tickets for every 1000 doctors

Published on: February 5, 2008

Accidents Likely as Bridge Inspection Reports Faked

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution front-page article provides a shocking revelation from the Department of Transportation.A twenty-nine year employee charged with inspecting state bridges faked his reports since last fall.Falsified inspection reports could suggest that faulty bridges are safe. A bridge collapse could lead to serious personal injuries or even death for the occupants of vehicles.

The two-man inspection team fell behind in their work, partly because one team member took off a good deal of time from work last year.Rather than own up to missing a deadline, they falsified reports.Not apparently the swiftest, the team claimed to have inspected 18 bridges in one day, which caught the attention of a supervisor.The DOT reports it will send out a new team to inspect the 54 bridges affected by the employee lying scandal.

Bridges are inspected at two-year intervals.However, bridges deemed critical may get an annual inspection.Valid DOT inspection reports show that one in five Georgia bridges are in need of repair or new design.Georgia spends about $100 million a year on bridge maintenance, but claims it needs $2.5 billion to rebuild deficient bridges.