Are you the one out of three drivers that are driving dangerously drowsy? Drowsy driving has reached epidemic levels and is believed to be the cause of one in six traffic fatalities.

According to a AAA Foundation survey, it was found that although 96% of Americans believed that it is not a good idea to drive while drowsy, a third of us still do it.

“People know that they shouldn’t text or drink when they drive, and that’s great. However, many don’t realize that driving while drowsy is also very dangerous. If you’re so tired that you can hardly keep your eyes open, you could fall asleep for just a few seconds and not realize it. If that happens at 65 miles an hour, you could drive the length of a football field in an unconscious state.” – David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation

You can actually reach the point of drowsiness that you can slip into microsleep for up to four seconds and not even be aware that it is happening. Also, you can equate the impairment of a drowsy driver to a drunk driver. In fact, once a person has been up for 20 hours straight, they have reached the same impairment levels as someone that has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent which is the legal limit for drunk driving.

If you find it difficult to keep your eyes open, missing street signs or traffic signals, blacking out, or even can’t remember the last few miles of your trip, this means you have reached your limit and need to rest. Loud music and lots of caffeine really are not going to help if your body and mind are just too exhausted to continue.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the Northern Virginia area, order this Free consumer guide for accident victims in Virginia. It’s packed with useful information the insurance companies don’t want you to know. If you have questions about your case, contact The Parrish Law Firm today for a FREE evaluation at (571) 229-1800.

If you are riding a motorcycle in Oregon, you should be aware that motorcyclists face a higher rate of injury than car drivers.

In fact, according to national statistics, motorcycle riders are 6 times more likely to be killed in a crash than someone in a car. Luckily, in Oregon the motorcycle safety ratings are extremely high and getting better each year. In 2010, only 38 motorcyclists dies on Oregon roads, a 2% drop from the year before. This drop has been attributed to 2009 legislature requiring motorcycle safety courses for all riders. (more…)

If the Police Report Says My Husband Wasn’t Wearing a Seat Belt, Is my Missouri Accident Case Over?

Not necessarily. It is not always clear what has truly happened after an accident. In some instances, it may look as if the driver was not wearing a seat belt. If the seat belt was defective, however, it may have come off during the accident, leading to the death of the driver.

An auto defect is usually the result of a manufacturing error within your car. It is important to remember that there are two parts to every accident. The first part of the accident has to do with the actual collision. The second part, however, is what happens inside the car during the collision. Often, it is this part of the accident where defects inside the car show themselves. If, for instance, the seat belt in the car had malfunctioned, the injuries sustained from the accident may be partly or totally the result of that defect.

You see haunting fatal car accident statistics everyday about the dangers of driving without a seat belt on-but it seems that the media has forgotten something just as newsworthy: the amount of car crash deaths attributed to a defective car.

That is why it is essential to keep the car for proper inspection after an accident. Not everything is as it seems when it comes to St. Louis car accident injuries. It is always best to contact a St. Louis car accident or accident claim attorney experienced in auto defects to truly understand what may have happened during an accident and how you can go about getting an accident settlement that will truly provide help with your medical bills, replace your lost wages, and help you get back on your feet.

Toyota’s latest ad campaign isn’t filled with pictures of fast cars on highways or clever jingles. Instead, they’ve focused their campaign on apologizing for the defects in the latest model of the Prius. First, reports came in on the sticky gas pedal, which is potentially responsible for some dismal fatal car accident statistics, including 19 car crash deaths. Now, it seems that the brakes in the Prius are also defective. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the defective brakes caused, “a momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over uneven road surfaces, bumps, or potholes.” Toyota has stated that the defect is a result of an error in software programming.

Though Toyota is now taking responsibility for the defect, why did it happen in the first place? What many people don’t know about the car companies is that, often, if there is a defect in the car, the company calculates how much it may cost to fix versus the anticipated lawsuits. If the amount they would have to pay out in law suits is less than the risk, they often won’t fix the defect. Scary, huh?

Now, on top of the everyday worries of driving, we must worry about the safety of the actual cars we buy. Plus, even thought Toyota has recalled the brakes and gas pedals, many St. Louis auto defect lawyers are wondering how the company will treat those already injured from the defects. How difficult will it be to get help with medical bills if you’ve already been in an accident in the Prius? How hard will negotiations be for the average driver?

The best course of action to take if you’ve been involved in an accident that could be the result of a defect is to contact a experienced St. Louis car accident or accident claim attorney immediately. The longer that you wait, the harder that it could be to avoid the common mistakes that people make that ruin their claim.

You’re entering a world you likely didn’t know existed after a Toledo, Ohio car accident injury. As we’ve said earlier in this book, insurance companies prosper by paying accident victims as little as possible. In an effort to do that, they’ll resort to what you may regard as underhanded behavior. They may hire a private investigator to spy on you, they may have someone engage you in conversation about your injuries, or they may videotape you as you go about your day.

We know of one case – fortunately not one of ours – where an insurance company investigator placed a video camera in a gym bag to record a supposedly injured accident victim teaching an aerobics class. Needless to say, the attorney handling that case dumped it immediately – and should have. People like that aerobics instructor give insurance companies reason to be skeptical. The problem is they seem to be skeptical of everyone, even people with legitimate claims.

So, if you exaggerate the extent of your injuries by doing something like hobbling around on crutches when you can walk just fine, and then you’re filmed running a marathon, don’t be surprised when your case tanks. Don’t play games when it comes to dealing with your injury case.

Be honest when it comes to dealing with your Toledo, Ohio car accident injury claim. Be honest with the insurance adjuster, be honest with your doctor, and be honest with your lawyer. Nothing will kill your claim faster than being caught in a lie. Your credibility will be crucial in resolving your case, particularly if you have to go to trial.

If you’re not in pain, don’t get unnecessary medical treatment to drive up your bills. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow your doctor’s orders, but don’t exaggerate the extent of your injuries. The truth eventually will come out, and when it does your case might become worthless. If your case goes to trial, your credibility with the jury carries tremendous value. If jurors feel you’re not being honest, they won’t give you the fair compensation you deserve.

You also have to be straight with your lawyer, who won’t handle your case if he thinks you’re lying. The attorney needs to know what’s really happening with your case in order to represent you fairly and aggressively.

Make sure you keep every bill, police report, and document connected to your claim after a Toledo, Ohio car accident injury. The insurance company has a right to see evidence of medical bills for which you’re seeking reimbursement. Keeping track of your bills also ensures that you won’t settle your claim without making sure you’ve been compensated for all of your expenditures. This is true even if you have health insurance because you may have to repay your provider for any bills they’ve paid on your behalf if there’s a settlement.

In addition to documenting your treatment, keep track of any wages you’ve lost because you’ve been unable to work. Don’t assume you’ll automatically get reimbursed for your lost wages. You have to get a note from your doctor if you miss work because of the injuries from the accident and you’ll have to get documentation from your employer about your rate of pay and how much money you lost because you weren’t able to work.

High winds and 5 to 8 inches of snow are predicted for this week-and caused the Missouri Department of Transportation to put out an alert asking motorists to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. There is no doubt that the number of accidents will increase, making it especially important for drivers to be careful. Car crash deaths due to snow and ice account for a sizeable number of traffic fatalities. After spending many years as a St. Louis car accident lawyer, I know that there are some important tips to driving safely and preventing any accidents that could leave you needing help with medical bills or talking to an insurance adjuster.

Any accident lawyer in Missouri would tell you to decrease your speed and increase the space between you and the car in front of you in snow and ice. In fact, you should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you. Most St. Louis auto accident lawyers would also tell you to turn on your lights, break gently, and to not use cruise control or overdrive. Most importantly, don’t think that your car is invincible. Many drivers out there assume that because they have rear-wheel or four-wheel drive that they cannot get into an accident. This is simply untrue.

If you are in an accident, it is important that you do not sign anything or speak with the adjuster before you contact an experienced personal accident lawyer. He or she can help you avoid making any mistakes that may ruin a possible car accident settlement from the insurance company.

Our Virginia car accident injury lawyers want to provide readers with common myths about dealing with a car accident injury in the state of Virginia:

• If you write the insurance company a letter and are reasonable, you will get a reasonable settlement proposal. NOT TRUE! Believe it or not, the insurance companies are in business to make a profit, not to help people. They make more money by denying your claim or trying to lowball you in hope that you accept the ridiculous offer they gave you.

• When you are in an accident and the insurance company calls you to ask for a recorded statement, you have to give them a recorded statement or they wonʼt settle with you. NOT TRUE! Insurance companies love to get a recorded statement from an unsuspecting accident victim. They will use any trick they can to get you to say things that incriminate yourself and will try and twist your words around.

• All lawyers who advertise that they handle accident cases have the same ability, tools and experience to handle your case. NOT TRUE! Some lawyers have very little experience.

• The insurance company for the person who hit you is obligated to pay your medical bills as they become due. NOT TRUE! They will almost always wait until you have finished all of your treatment before they pay you anything.

• All lawyers charge the same fees in injury cases. NOT TRUE! The industry standard for a lawyer’s contingency fee is 33% if your case settles out-of-court and 40% if suit is filed.

• The court system is some sort of lottery that will help you get rich. NOT TRUE! We only help people that we feel were truly injured because of somebody else’s fault. If we think you are dishonest or not really injured we will not take your case.

• Just because there has been an accident and it wasnʼt your fault, there must be some insurance company that will pay for your bills, lost wages and injuries. NOT TRUE! There are more and more uninsured drivers in Virginia now, perhaps more than ever before. Many people have inadequate uninsured motorist insurance, which could be the only thing between you and bankruptcy if you are badly injured by an uninsured driver.

• If a lawyer refers you to a doctor, that is a good idea. NOT TRUE! It is not ethical for a lawyer to refer you to a doctor.

• Juries in Virginia are generous. NOT TRUE! Juries in Virginia are tough and the laws are stacked in favor of the insurance companies.

• There is a formula for determining settlement value. NOT TRUE! Every case is different and you should never trust any lawyer that guarantees you will get a certain amount of money for your personal injury claim.

Our Iowa winter car accident injury lawyers hate to admit that winter is here and doesn’t plan on going anywhere for the next several months. There are many different road conditions that Iowans encounter every winter; in fact, we have already had to deal with a mix of wintry travel conditions in the last couple weeks. Most areas in Iowa have gotten a significant amount of snow, with plenty more to come, add freezing rain to that and it significantly increases your risk of getting into a car accident. Most accidents that happen in the winter are because people don’t know how to properly drive on inclement road conditions. For those of you who have lived in Iowa for a while, you should be a pro at driving during the winter, yet there are still a significant amount of accidents each year, because people try not to let the winter road conditions slow them down which is the biggest mistake drivers make.

Did you know that driving too fast during snowy and freezing weather is the most common cause of winter accidents? Drivers on I-80, I-35, and I-235 often think its okay to go the normal speed limit, because sometimes the road looks clear. However, there could still be patchy spots of ice here and there that might cause you to slide around if you are traveling at a high speed. You need to remember that you need to go the speed that is best for your vehicle, if you start to slip or slide then you should slow down. Your vehicle might have four-wheel drive, but that doesn’t mean you can drive as if the roads were under normal conditions. Having four wheel drive can help improve your traction when starting, but does not help on ice or when you are trying to stop which means you still need to use caution.

When traveling down the interstate or highway you should keep a look out for what is going on in front and around you. If you always look ahead to identify any problems on the road than you most likely will be able to avoid them. You should constantly scan the road for hazards such as an icy patch, a car wreck, and debris on the road or curves that might be tricky during icy road conditions. You should also remember to increase your following distance, because it can take a vehicle nine times longer to come to a stop in snowy or icy conditions. If you have to brake quickly because you were following the person in front of you too closely you might slip and slide making the situation worse. You should never slam on your brakes on icy roads, because your tires can lock up and you can lose all traction and control of your vehicle. If something unexpected happens on a slick road you should try not to overreact and pound on the brake, instead brake slowly and also let your car slow down on its own by lifting off the gas.

On the other hand, if you try to accelerate too hard you might run into trouble as well. Sometimes it is hard to get going once you stop, however, you should try to be as careful as possible. Once your tires start spinning it starts to create an ice patch and your chances of getting anywhere are slim. If you get really stuck and can’t get your car to go, you can try placing your car’s floor mats with the bottom side up in front of your wheels to give them something to grip onto. Driving on wintry road seems like a big pain, but if you simply take extra caution and time you should be just fine. Safety is very important; you shouldn’t try to drive as if the roads are normal.