12 February

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Report advocates change to NHTSA’s car safety rating system

North Carolina residents may check to see what a vehicle’s safety rating is before buying. This five-star safety rating system, developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the 1990s, can certainly be helpful, but there is a widely felt need for updates to make it more accurate. A report from October 2019 has expressed this need. According to the report, the quantity of crash testing that goes into determining the safety rating is minimal when compared to other countries. Europe in general performs four times as many crash tests as the U.S. does before rating vehicle safety. The federal government is...

09 December

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Fayetteville crash kills one, injures three

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

It goes without saying that drivers in Asheville need to remain alert and attentive at all times. This will help them in seeing and avoiding obstacles in the road ahead. Yet the responsibility to ensure that obstacles in the roadway do not cause accidents does not lie solely with drivers; those working on the side of the road or who find themselves stranded must also ensure that people driving past understand that they are stopped and exactly how wide of a berth they need to give them. It can often be difficult for an approaching driver to realize that another...

08 November

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Calling the police after a car accident

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Getting into a car crash can be a scary enough experience, which is why some motorists do not want to call the police to come to an accident scene, perhaps fearing what the police will say or do. North Carolina actually does not require drivers involved in accidents to call the police in all instances. However, depending on the situation, calling the police is mandated by state law. According to current state law, if you are involved in an accident where someone was injured or had died as a result of the crash, you must inform the police. Even if no...

20 September

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Does my state have the worst drivers?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents, Traffic Violations

Car accidents happen all the time in North Carolina, but that does not mean that this state has drivers who worse than other states. There is a lot of information about accidents, including what causes them and who is most likely to get into them. There are also statistics about where the worst drivers seem to live. So, you may wonder how your area stacks up. Forbes has a list of the top cities for the worst drivers and the best drivers. You will be happy to learn that North Carolina has zero cities on the worst driver list. Some other...

05 September

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What causes distracted driving?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Distracted drivers in North Carolina can cause serious accidents. Nowadays, drivers have a lot of demands on their attention. It is crucial to stay focused. Safe drivers are drivers who are not distracted. One way to ensure that you drive safer is to know the contributors to distracted driving. One of the most commonly cited distracted driving factors is the use of cell phones. Teen Safe confirms cell phone usage is the second largest factor behind distracted driving. Another major contributor, however, is adjusting the climate control or radio while driving. When you take your attention off the road, anything can...

15 July

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Contributory negligence and car accidents

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are commonplace on North Carolina roads. Suffering an injury of any variation in an accident entitles you to recover damages; however, contributory negligence laws may prevent you from getting as much as you need. Our attorneys at Nielsen Legal understand the devastating physical and financial consequences an accident may cause. We believe it is important that you know what role contributory negligence may play in a personal injury lawsuit. Contributory negligence defined When vehicles collide, one driver may carry the brunt of the responsibility. Perhaps the accident was a result of running a red light or excessive speed. Insurance adjusters...

20 June

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Rest is the only cure for drowsy driving

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

The results of several studies reveal that most motorists in North Carolina and around the country understand that drowsy driving can be extremely dangerous. However, a worrying number of them also admit that they routinely get behind the wheel or stay on the road when they are too tired to drive safely. Most of these drivers would never venture onto the roads after drinking heavily, but a motorist who has not slept for 24 hours is just as impaired as one with a blood alcohol concentration of .10 according to the National Sleep Foundation. The problem is that most drivers are...

13 June

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An accident with a truck may lead to long-lasting injuries

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

North Carolina roads may prove frustrating, especially during your commute to and from work. Traffic woes plague well-populated areas as throngs of motorists try and make their way from one place to another around the clock. Accidents happen, but those that occur between a motor vehicle and a semi-truck can wind up as the most severe. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, drivers may end up with catastrophic injuries while some less fortunate do not live. Take a look at some of the injuries that often occur when in an accident with a big rig. Fractures The most common injuries sustained in...

26 February

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Study finds opioids linked with some 2-car crashes

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Drivers who caused deadly two-vehicle accidents in North Carolina and around the country were much more likely to test positive for opioid prescription painkillers than drivers who did not cause the crash, according to a study. The research was published in JAMA Network Open in February. For the study, researchers examined crash data from 18,321 fatal two-vehicle accidents in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, which is compiled by a division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They found that “failure to keep in lane” was the most common cause of the accidents, accounting for 7,535 of the crashes studied....

30 January

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Riskier ways of using phones raise driver distraction levels

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Distracted driving is a widespread issue in North Carolina, and phone use is one of the largest factors. However, some ways of using a handheld phone are riskier than others. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just released a study comparing observational survey data from 2014 and 2018. It found that while distracted driving rates have not drastically changed, the level of distraction is getting worse. The observational surveys focused on drivers in four Northern Virginia communities as they approached or stopped at red lights. Drivers were 57 percent more likely to use their phones for activities besides talking such...