Motor Vehicle Accidents

NJ Roads Saw Fewer Cars but More Deaths in 2020

February 15, 2021 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

If you thought some of the restrictions put in place to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus – business closures, curfews, remote schooling, work-from-home orders – would mean fewer cars on the road resulting in fewer accidents, you would only be half right.

While it is true there were fewer vehicles on New Jersey roads in 2020, the number of fatalities from motor vehicle accidents was higher than it had been in the two years prior. New Jersey was not the only state to experience an increase in traffic deaths during the early days of the pandemic; similar trends were found throughout the country. Authorities point to more risky behavior by drivers as a leading factor behind these sobering statistics. To learn more, read “Fewer Cars on NJ Roads But Still More Fatal Accidents in 2020.”

Advocacy Group Suggests Improvements for NJ Traffic Safety

January 15, 2021 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

In its 2021 annual report, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety says there’s room for improvement when it comes to New Jersey’s traffic safety and offered several suggestions.

One of the recommendations of the coalition, which comprises representatives from various fields outside the automobile industry, is adoption of a primary enforcement seat belt law for rear seat passengers to better protect them in the event of an accident. Currently, New Jersey police can only enforce the use of seat belts by rear seat passengers if the vehicle is stopped for another violation.

The group also suggested certain changes to the state’s Graduated Driver’s License program. To learn more, read “Less Distracted Driving, More Laws Needed in NJ: National Report.”

Recovering Just Compensation for Your Car Accident Injuries

November 15, 2020 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Motor vehicle accident injuries can be devastating, resulting in extensive medical bills and the potential loss of, or reduction in, income while you are recovering. Because it can be difficult to immediately assess the extent of your injuries, it is important to seek medical attention following the accident. Not only can a medical exam uncover hidden injuries, like broken bones or internal damages, it can help support your claim for just compensation.

It’s common knowledge that certain information needs to be exchanged following an accident — name and contact information, insurance company name and policy number, driver’s license and license plate numbers, make and model of vehicles involved, and a copy of the accident report — but when injuries are involved, more is needed. To improve your chances of recovering compensation for expenses related to your accident injuries, be sure to obtain the proper medical documentation. To learn more, see the Lawyer Monthly article, “Personal Injury Case: The Documents to Secure from Your Attending Physician.”

Safety Tips for Sharing the Road

October 15, 2020 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Walking has become quite the popular activity in 2020, with so many of us looking for an easy alternative to our otherwise restricted exercise routines or simply for a diversion from being cooped up at home. With this increased pedestrian traffic, comes an increased risk for accidents, prompting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to declare October National Pedestrian Safety Month.

Regardless of whether you believe it is the pedestrian’s or the motorist’s responsibility, there are precautions both can take to help avoid accidents. It is especially important now with the end of Daylight Savings Time approaching that both walkers and drivers take steps to stay safe. For some tips, read the NHTSA’s “October is National Pedestrian Safety Month.”

How Branding Terms Can Influence Driver Perception

September 15, 2020 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Each year it seems the automobile industry introduces new technologies designed to make driving easier and safer and to help us avoid accidents and related injuries. But do these technologies help, or do they lead to even more accidents resulting from driver inattention?

A recent study by AAA suggests the answer to that question could depend, at least in part, on the names used when marketing these advanced technology systems. For further details read, “AAA Study: Drivers Too Willing to Abandon Responsibility to Technology.”

Can New Study Help Reduce Teen Drivers’ Crash Risk?

September 15, 2019 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

Lack of skill and experience may be partially to blame for the high rate of serious car accidents involving teen drivers, but it doesn’t explain the disparities in risk levels among equally inexperienced drivers. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Centre may have found the answer.

The researchers discovered a link between the rate of development of a teen driver’s ‘working memory’ and his or her crash risk. “Working memory’ is associated with the ability to accurately perform moment-to-moment tasks that are essential to safe driving.

Teen driving statistics are frightening. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers in the 17- to 19-year-old age group are at a higher risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident than drivers in any other age group. In fact, drivers age 16 to 17 are nine times more likely than adult drivers to get into an accident and six times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. Can this new information be used to improve these numbers and keep our teens safe on the road? Read “Study links youths’ slow ‘working memory’ to high crash rates” to find out.

Making A Case for the Standardization of Electric Scooter Regulations

June 15, 2019 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

There has been a noticeable increase in the popularity of electric scooters in recent years and, with that, an increase in the number of facial and head injuries being reported by emergency departments. According to a recent Rutgers study, the correlation between the two may be due, at least in part, to a lack of standardized regulations.

The study revealed that over the past 10 years, emergency departments reported 990 injuries to the head and face directly resulting from electric scooter use. Most of the injured were men ranging in age from 19 to 65 years; although 33 percent of those injured were children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. The study further disclosed that 66 percent of those injured reported that they were not wearing helmets while riding.

Laws regulating electric scooters and the use of helmets and other protective gear vary by state and those variations can be significant. Some states have no regulations regarding electric scooters or helmet usage while others, like New Jersey, apply the same laws to electric scooters as they do to bicycles. Read “E-Scooter Injuries on the Rise; Researchers Urge Helmet Laws” for further details.

Safety Tips for Traveling through Winter Storms

January 15, 2019 | The Victor Rotolo Law Firm

When weather forecasts call for accumulating snow or even a wintry mix, drivers should take precautions. Wintry weather reduces the friction of the roadway as well as a driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle, leading to an increased risk for accidents and injuries.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, 24% of weather-related motor vehicle accidents take place on roadways covered by snow, slush or ice, and 15% occur while snow or sleet is falling. Many of these accidents occur when drivers panic and make sudden, jerky movements behind the wheel. Turning the wheel too quickly, slamming on the brakes or stepping too hard on the accelerator can cause your vehicle to lose what little traction it has on a slippery road, leading to a loss of control.

The best advice, of course, is to stay off the roads during a winter storm, but that isn’t always practical. For tips to help reduce your risk of an accident if you must drive through a winter storm, read Car and Drivers’ “How to Drive Safely in Snow.”

What’s Behind the Rise in NJ’s Traffic Fatalities?

October 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that, on a national level, traffic accident deaths decreased by 1.8% in 2017, but that wasn’t the story in New Jersey. In fact, 624 people lost their lives on New Jersey roads last year, representing a 3.7% increase in traffic fatalities from 2016.

The NHTSA report further indicated that deaths from alcohol-related accidents in the State were down last year. So, what’s behind the increase motor vehicle accident fatalities? Read “Traffic deaths continue to increase in N.J. Experts cite 3 main reasons” to find out.

New Guidelines Aimed At Keeping Young Children Safer In Cars

September 15, 2018 | Rotolo Karch Law

Riding in automobiles is one of the most dangerous things children in the U.S. do on a daily basis, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury. However, the the Academy points out, using the right car and booster seats correctly can help reduce risk of serious injury to a child by more than 70%.

With this in mind, the Academy recently revised its guidelines on car seats, urging parents to keep their young children in rear-facing seats even longer than previously recommended. This position, the Academy says, offers better protection to young children’s heads and necks in the event of an accident. To learn more about how to protect your child while riding in your car, read “Experts drop kids’ age limit for rear-facing car seats.”