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Driving Experience May Be More Important than Age as an Auto Accident Risk Factor

Many people are familiar with the stereotypes that apply to elderly drivers.  Jokes about “old lady drivers” are common albeit it inappropriate.  Ironically, a recent study suggests that these stereotypes are not only inappropriate but may inaccurate.  The study conducted by researchers at Human Factors Safety Laboratory at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) reveals that the ability to perceive potential accident risks does not decline with age and that elderly drivers are more sensitive to potential accident risks than inexperienced drivers.

The study published in Accident Analysis and Prevention found that driver’s ability to perceive and focus on potential road hazards increases with driving experience.  The study involved comparing drivers of different age groups as they watched a hazard perception movie while connected to an eye tracking system.  The subjects were then exposed to six different hazards including intersections and pedestrians in the roadway.  The results of the study showed that both younger experienced drivers and elderly experienced drivers maintained comparable vigilance for hazards throughout the driving simulation exercise.  By contrast, younger inexperienced drivers tended to pay less attention following exposure to a high risk hazard.  The researchers also found that experienced drivers including elderly drivers focused on approaching traffic from cross streets when approaching intersections while inexperienced drivers focused straight ahead and paid less attention to vehicle approaching on the cross street.

It is fair to note that this study deals only with the ability to perceive hazards rather than the ability to respond to hazards.  Age may impact the speed of a driver’s reaction time, decision-making and judgment.  However, the study confirms an earlier study that compared age related driving risk posed by elderly drivers to that of younger less experienced drivers.  The prior RAND Corporation study found that drivers 15-24 are 66 percent more likely to cause an auto accident than a driver who was 65 or above.  In fact, drivers age 65 and older were at about the same risk of being involved in a car accident as drivers between the ages of 25-64.

This study suggests that driving experience plays a much bigger factor in avoiding Mississippi car accidents than any potential decline in driving ability related to age.  This study re-affirms the well-established fact that teenage drivers are at a substantial risk of being involved in a Mississippi car accident because of their lack of time behind the wheel.  While graduated driver’s licensing programs that grant driving privilege to young inexperienced drivers on an incremental basis have helped reduce teenage accident rates, studies have revealed that teenage accident rates spike as soon as new teen drivers have been granted unrestricted driver’s licenses.  Some states are considering expanding the period of time that must elapse before granting an unrestricted license while removing limitations more incrementally over that period of time.

If you are injured in a Mississippi car accident involving a teen driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.  The experienced Mississippi teen car accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing aggressive representation to Mississippi car accident victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What To Do If You Are Involved in a Mississippi Car Accident

Although there are in excess of three million car accidents in the U.S. annually, no one expects to be involved in a motor vehicle collision when they leave home.  An unanticipated Mississippi traffic accident often means that a driver is unprepared when disaster strikes.  The aftermath of a collision is a stressful time full of confusion and often physical pain, which makes it a bad time to consider what to do unless you have thought thing through beforehand.  We often receive questions about appropriate steps in the aftermath of a collision so we have provided some answers to frequently asked questions.  While the information below provides basic guidance regarding common questions that injury victims have after a Mississippi motor vehicle accident, the best way to gain more specific information is to contact an experienced Mississippi auto accident lawyer at Barrett Law.

What should I do at the accident scene?

The first thing to do is to assess your injuries and take a deep breath.  A car accident can badly rattle someone so it is best to try to remain calm and determine if you or anyone with you is injured.  If anyone is injured or remains in danger, the first priority is to make sure to summon police and emergency medical services.  It is also a good idea to preserve any evidence that you can by securing the names of witnesses, using your phone to take pictures of injuries as well as vehicle positions and damage and securing the other driver’s license and insurance information.  When the officer arrives at the scene, it is advisable to communicate how the other driver caused the accident.

Do I need to go the doctor if I suffer only minimal injuries?

This is a loaded question because it can be very difficult to assess one’s injuries following a Mississippi car accident.  While you may think you have only a minor bump on the head or soreness in the back or neck, these symptoms can hide severe injuries to the head, neck and back.  Many serious conditions suffered in Mississippi car accidents do not manifest significant injuries immediately.  Even if you think your injuries are only minor, it is advisable to have yourself checked out.  A doctor will have access to diagnostic tools that can both provide more prompt treatment and preserve evidence of the injuries that you suffered in your collision.

Should I talk to the insurance adjuster for the other driver?

Many Mississippi drivers make the mistake of assuming that they can wait on hiring a Mississippi car accident lawyer until they find out what settlement the insurance company for the other driver might offer.  This is never a good idea because while you are waiting to obtain assistance from a legal professional the insurance company is diligently building a defense designed to deny you recovery or substantially reduce the value of your Mississippi car accident claim.  The insurance adjuster may engage in a variety of tactics designed to induce you to compromise your Mississippi car accident claim including:

  • Stalling so that you fail to comply with the statute of limitations or other timing requirement
  • Trick you into giving a recorded statement or making damaging statements
  • Delay to allow critical evidence or witnesses to disappear
  • Deceive you regarding the value of your claim

An injury victim must always be aware that the insurance company for the other driver has one goal to avoid paying you the full value of your claim.  It is always advisable to avoid direct communication with the insurance company, and you should never sign anything without legal advice.

What should I look for in a car accident law firm to represent me in handling my Mississippi car accident claim?

The best personal injury law firms in Mississippi have been practicing personal injury law for many years and limit their practice to personal injury.  Successful litigation of car accidents in Mississippi requires extensive resources and experience.  A general practice firm may lack the specialized expertise that comes with a law firm that limits its practice to personal injury law.  A firm that has a long history of practicing personal injury law will typically be successful as evidenced by the law firm’s long tenure.

If you suffer serious injury in a car crash, our experienced Mississippi car accident lawyers at Barrett Law have been fighting for the right of motor vehicle accident victims for over seven decades.  If you have question beyond those answered above, we invite you to contact us and speak to one of our knowledgeable Mississippi car accident litigation team.  The experienced Mississippi car accident injury attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing tenacious representation to personal injury victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.

 

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Mississippi Potholes More Than a Minor Nuisance

Many in Mississippi do not realize the serious danger that can be posed by potholes, particularly to those on motorcycles and bicycles or pedestrians.  Potholes can be as a big as a foot wide and several feet deep.  Even if you slow down to go over one, a pothole can cause a motorcycle or bicycle to tip over or a pedestrian to trip and fall.  The danger is amplified if you do not see a pothole.  The impact with a pothole on the tire of a car, truck or SUV can cause a tire blowout resulting in loss of control of the vehicle or even a rollover accident.

Potholes are typically caused by several factors such as constant driving over a tear in the asphalt or weather elements such as sleet and hail.  Rainwater is one of the biggest factors in creating potholes and causing them to expand in size.  Public entities like municipalities are typically responsible for repairing holes and cracks in streets promptly to prevent them from becoming potholes.  Because some cities do not repair the potholes littering their streets, pothole accidents are on the rise.

Potholes can have a substantial impact on a vehicle causing a tire blowout and/or loss of control of the vehicle.  Studies have shown that going over a pothole unexpectantly is like having a car hit you at over 30 mph.  This impact can result in a motorcycle or bicycle falling over resulting in catastrophic injuries or the driver of a car or SUV losing control of the vehicle.  The results of a pothole accident can be catastrophic injuries or even death.

Motorcycle accidents and bicycle accidents caused by potholes are extremely dangerous.  Because these vehicles have only two wheels, they are ill-equipped to handle going over a pothole at a high speed.  It is also important to realize that buses, trucks, minivans, and SUVs are at risk as well.  Even a larger vehicle can have its suspension, steering or tires damaged resulting in the loss of control of the vehicle and serious pothole accident related injuries.

Anyone who is aware of potholes should take pictures of the potholes in their neighborhood and surrounding areas.  It is important to make the city aware of such potholes so that they can be repaired which may prevent pothole accidents that can cause serious injuries or wrongful death.  If you have informed the city of potholes in your neighborhood, you should keep detailed records of any correspondence with city officials.  If you or someone you love is involved in a motor vehicle accident caused by a pothole, the photos and records of correspondence provide important evidence of the public entity’s knowledge of the hazardous pothole.

To reduce your chances of being a victim in a pothole accident, you should slow down and drive carefully over any potholes.  If you or someone you love suffers serious injury or wrongful death in a pothole accident, you should promptly contact a Mississippi personal injury attorney specializing in motor vehicle accidents.  At the Barrett Law Offices PLLC, we have roots that extend back over 75 years representing injury victims in Lexington and throughout Mississippi.  We offer a free initial case evaluation so that we can provide candid legal advice so call us today at (662) 834-2376.  NO RECOVERY NO FEE!

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Rollover Accidents Which Result in Fatalities or Serious Injury in Mississippi

Any vehicle which has a higher center of gravity is much more vulnerable to a rollover when involved in a one-vehicle crash. To some extent the type of vehicle comes into play, and SUV’s and pickup trucks will often ride higher off the ground than passenger cars. Even those vehicles which are considered to be “five-star”—meaning they have garnered the very highest safety rating available as a result of rigorous testing—still have a much greater risk of a rollover when involved in a crash involving a single vehicle. It is theorized that sports cars which have a five-star vehicle rating may have a greater number of rollover accidents than other vehicles which garnered only three stars or less because of the more aggressive level of driving among many sports car owners.

Common Causes of Rollover Accidents in Mississippi

Nearly 95% of the time a rollover accident is caused by the vehicle striking something close to the ground, such as a curb or slight ditch, which then causes the car to tip. More than any other type of automobile crash, a rollover involves a complex interaction of the specific behaviors of the driver, the road conditions at the time, and other environmental factors. Vehicle type, as mentioned, is also a factor as the higher, thinner vehicles will be much more likely to roll over when involved in a one-car accident. While speed is certainly a factor, it is more often a factor in those rollovers which result in a fatality, with over forty percent of rollover crashes which result in death involving excessive speed. Almost 75% of all fatal rollovers occur in places where the recommended speed limit is 55mph or above.

Alcohol and other Factor in Rollover Accidents in Mississippi

It is estimated that over fifty percent of all rollover crashes which result in death involve alcohol. Even if the driver was not technically over the legal limit, alcohol is well known to negatively impact a driver’s judgment, dexterity and vision, meaning losing control of the vehicle is much more likely. Rural areas are more often the landscape of rollover accidents, as rural roads are more likely to have lanes which are not divided and have no barriers. Although negotiating curves is certainly a factor in rollovers, driver distraction, inattentiveness or excessive speeds are also contributors. Rollover accidents are by and large single-vehicle crashes, meaning there is no other vehicle involved in the accident. This lends credence to the theory that driver conduct is of great significance in rollover crashes.

How Your Vehicle Offers Protection during a Rollover

When a rollover is detected by a newer-model vehicle, the side-impact air bags are activated, along with the normal safety belt retractors which take up the slack from the seat belt, holding you firmly in your seat. If your vehicle possesses a rollover sensing system, it is, in some cases, able to detect an impending rollover even while the angle is small and none of the tires have yet left the ground.  Side airbags remain inflated longer than those in the front in order to protect the occupant’s heads during a rollover, while keeping the occupants from being thrown from the vehicle. Ejection from the vehicle is what normally causes fatalities, so a vehicle which possesses side-impact airbags offers you a much better chance of survival. If you drive an older vehicle or one which is not so well-equipped, you are more likely to be injured or killed in such an accident.

The Aftermath of a Rollover Accident in Mississippi

Victims of rollover accidents are often left with pain and severe injuries which can be extremely hard to cope with. There may be long-term medical consequences which result in continuing doctor, hospital or therapist bills. A skilled personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable about the ins and outs of rollover accidents can navigate the insurance process for you, allowing you to focus on healing your injuries while he or she negotiates a settlement to compensate you for any possible negligence by the maker of your automobile. Rollover victims are likely to suffer injuries to the head, legs, knees, neck and spine—injuries which occur when the roof of the car hits the road. Don’t go through this painful time alone—rather allow an experienced personal injury attorney to help you through the process.

At Barrett Law, PLLC, a dedicated Mississippi auto accident lawyer from our law firm is committed to representing Mississippi car accident victims with the compassion and personal attention that has allowed our law firm to develop a leading reputation throughout Mississippi.  We have been helping Mississippi car accident victims across Mississippi for over 75 years so call Barrett Law, PLLC today at (662) 834-2376.

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Drowsy Driving Poses Serious Danger of Mississippi Auto Accident Fatalities

Most drivers have had the scary experience of briefly dozing off behind the wheel only to awake in a panic as one’s vehicle drifts off the shoulder of the road. Studies show that the average motorist is getting fewer hours of sleep each night. Driver fatigue is a leading cause of serious Mississippi auto accidents resulting in life-altering injuries and wrongful death. Sixty percent of drivers in the U.S. admit to driving while drowsy and 37 percent have fallen asleep while driving. There are few driving practices more dangerous than following asleep for a three-second micro nap traveling at freeways speeds. While dozing for that short period at 65 miles per hour, a vehicle will travel the length of a football field before you realize that you dozed off.

Drowsy driving is as great a risk of causing serious auto accident as drunk driving including AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that drowsy driving causes as many as 100,000 accidents annually and results in forty thousand injuries and in excess of 1,500 fatalities. While drowsy or fatigued driving in Mississippi presents a danger similar to drunk driving, the practice of drowsy driving is not viewed with the same public condemnation.

Fortunately, a growing number of technologies are being developed to prevent drowsy driving or fatigue based accidents. One common form of technology that is being used by several car manufacturers to reduce the risk of fatigue related accidents is lane avoidance systems. Although there are multiple versions of these auto accident avoidance systems, generally they sound an alarm if a driver appears to be drifting into another lane. There are even accident avoidance systems that provide a more customized approach based on a driver profile including sleeping patterns, length of trip, medications and other data that impacts the tendency of a driver to be involved in a fatigue based auto accident in Mississippi.

There are a number of strategies that can be used to avoid drowsy driving including:

• A driver should travel at times that are consistent with one’s normal waking hours
• You should get a minimum of six hours of sleep at night before taking a trip
• If you are feeling tired, pull over and take a nap.
• You should schedule regular breaks every couple of hours on the road.

Even when a driver does not fall asleep, fatigue can adversely affect one’s driving ability by causing blurred vision, impaired concentration, slowed reflexes and poor judgment or decision making. Mississippi drowsy driving car accidents are especially tragic because they are entirely avoidable. At the Barrett Law Office, we have deep roots in Mississippi. We have been fighting for the rights of auto accident victims throughout Mississippi for over 75 years. Our experienced Mississippi auto accident attorneys offer a free case evaluation so contact us today at (662) 834-2376.

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Mississippi Car Accidents Caused by Inadequate Lighting

A lack of proper lighting on roadways in many urban areas and heavily traveled freeways can be highly dangerous to navigate at night. Without adequate lighting, pedestrians and motorists would certainly face many more challenges sharing Mississippi roadways without injury or death occurring.

The purpose of roadway lighting is to promote the safe movement of drivers and pedestrians at night so as to avoid accidents. Vehicle lights often are inadequate for drivers to safely navigate their surroundings or provide sufficient aid in avoiding collisions.  When roadway lighting is proper, it enables motorists and pedestrians to see quickly, distinctly and with certainty all significant obstacles and the road alignment ahead.

Inadequate lighting can cause Mississippi auto accidents because drivers are unable to see blind curves, bad grading on roads, a lack of barriers in the center or on the sides of the road, steep shoulders and unlit intersections.  Poorly lit rural roads are the site of 60 percent of fatal accidents in our country.  Lighting that is used on roads can be broken down into 4 separate categories:

  • High-Mount Lighting: These fixtures are designed to illuminate the sidewalks and streets of an area and are normally about 20-30 feet tall.
  • Medium-Mount Lighting: These fixtures are designed to help illuminate sidewalks at even a closer level. They are normally about 8-15 feet tall.  They are usually decorative and fit in with the design of the local area.
  • Low-Mount Lighting: These fixtures are designed to caution people regarding a specific obstruction or potential hazard and illuminate areas of interest on the street.
  • Focal Point Lighting: These are fixtures that illuminate special points of interest. They light up works of art or billboards.

Inadequate lighting that is common in rural stretches of roadway can result in car accidents that cause catastrophic injury or wrongful death.  Despite a far lower volume of traffic in rural areas, these less traveled road typically have much higher auto accident rates in Mississippi and throughout the U.S.  These roads often have long dark stretches with virtually no lighting.  The lack of traffic and residential or commercial development can make these areas completely absent of lighting that permits drivers to navigate upcoming curves or obstructions in the roadway.  This complete lack of lighting also creates a substantial risk of trip and fall accidents for pedestrians.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident that was due to inadequate lighting on the roadway, we invite you to call our Mississippi personal injury law office today.  Public entities may be responsible for a lack of proper lighting.  Our experienced Mississippi car accident lawyers conduct a thorough investigation of our clients’ Mississippi car accident cases to identify all possible negligent parties including other drivers, public entities and defective vehicle manufacturers.

Our origins fighting for the rights of Mississippi car accident victims were established in 1933.  If you or your loved ones have been injured in a Mississippi car accident or your loved one has been the victim of wrongful death, we offer a free case evaluation so call Barrett Law Office PLLC at 662-834-2376.

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Seatbelts & Car Seat Use Essential to Keep Children Safe in Mississippi Auto Accidents

Motor vehicles accidents remain the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 5-34, and over 2.3 million people are treated in emergency rooms each year in car collisions according the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Great strides have been made to make motor vehicles safer, but seatbelts and car seats remain the leading safety feature to keep kids safe in accidents involving motor vehicles.  Though many vehicles are adding more airbag protection, airbags are intended to provide supplemental protection to seatbelts or car seats in the event of a Mississippi car accident.  However, many children are left exposed because they do not use seatbelts or car seats or in the case of children in car seats, they are able to unbuckle the car seat.

Seat belts and car seats only provide protection if vehicle occupants use them.  There is a growing body of evidence that many children, toddler and infants are not receiving the benefit of the protection of seat belts and car seats.  A recent study has revealed that many car seats can be unfastened by small children leaving children unprotected.  A team of researchers from the department of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine conducted a study involving 378 parents.  The study revealed that over half of the parents in the study revealed that they had a child that had been able to unfasten their car seat.  Even more alarming, 75 percent of the children who were able to unfasten their child restraint system were children age 3 or under.  Children as young as a years old were able to unbuckle their car seat.

Researchers point out that because there is a significant difference in the speed of development in children’s motor skills and cognitive skills, young children may develop the ability to unfasten their car seat buckle before understanding the safety function provided by a child safety restraint system in a car accident.  Auto accidents remain the leading cause of death for children age 4-8.  This feature which affects many car seats is an issue that has received little discussion but may represent the most significant car seat defect.  A child whose car seat is not buckled faces a high risk of suffering catastrophic injuries and wrongful death in a serious auto collision when traveling on Mississippi roadways.

Older children who are not buckled up in seat belts also are highly likely to suffer serious injury in a Mississippi car crash.  Over 55 percent of those killed in car accidents are not wearing seat belts.  Seat belts are credited with saving the lives of 13,000 people in 2008 and over 75,000 people during a recent 4 year period.  While mandatory seat belt laws have improved these statistics, many children and teenagers still do not consistently buckle up.  Parents are well advised to instill an expectation in their children from an early age that a child must buckle up every time.  A child who grows up with the expectation that a car does not move until everyone is buckled up is more likely to continue to do so when the child travels in other people’s vehicles or when becoming old enough to drive.

If you or your child have suffered serious injury in a motor vehicle accident anywhere in Mississippi, the experienced law firm of Barrett Law PLLC provides compassionate and dedicated legal representation to auto accident victims throughout Mississippi. A Mississippi auto accident attorney from our firm can provide a free initial case evaluation so contact us today to see how we can help at (662) 834-2376.

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