Auto Accident

• Nov 21, 2011

  Safe Travels this Thanksgiving from Tabor Law

  This past Sunday morning, a driver of a Pontiac Grand Prix heading north in the southbound lane of I-465, collided with an SUV. The driver of the Pontiac died at the scene. His passenger and the 3 passengers of the SUV were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Investigators said open alcohol containers were found in the Pontiac. (Information from Fox 59).

  This accident serves as a wake up call for Hoosiers preparing to hit the roads for Thanksgiving travel. The increased road traffic during the holiday season creates increased dangers for drivers. With all the holiday gatherings and parties, many adults will be indulging in a glass of wine, or two. Tabor Law urges you to be safe while traveling this holiday season. Keep an eye out for impaired and dangerous drivers, make sure to always have a designated driver, and slow down when there’s moisture on the roads. Remember, although you may be driving safe, not everyone may be as cautious.

  Stay safe, and have a happy Thanksgiving.

• Nov 09, 2011

  Don’t let insurance companies “Drive” with you

  Would you be willing to let an insurance company place a device inside your car to monitor your driving? Would you if they offered a lower insurance premium?

  Recently, insurance companies such as Progressive and State Farm have created programs that place monitoring devices inside of driver’s cars in exchange for reduced rates for “safe” drivers. Progressive offers a “Snapshot” program that requires drivers to keep a monitoring device plugged into their cars for no more than six months. State Farm also offers a highly intrusive “Drive safe with In-Drive” program that requires that the device stay in your car as long as you want the discount. Safe driving is based on a number of factors: how often you drive, driving speed, speed at which you take turns, how fast you break, how fast you accelerate, ect. Sounds like a deal right?

  This is where we urge consumers to steer clear- pun intended- of these devices.  Although this may seem like a great deal, there are many outside factors contributing to how you drive that could affect your rates.

  Say for example, you’re driving home from work when someone runs a red light, and you have to slam on your breaks and swerve to avoid being hit. The insurance’s monitoring device will pick up and record that you slammed on your breaks and swerved, but won’t know WHY it was that you swerved. So you may end up with higher rates even if you were swerving to potentially save your life.

  What’s even scarier about these programs is the lack of restrictions on how this data can be shared, stored, and used by the insurance company. These monitoring devices are a threat to consumer’s privacy. Companies like Progressive and State Farm continue to encroach on consumer’s privacy, and sadly, most of the time it’s unknown to the consumer.

  Additionally, there have been reports of data collected by these devices being used against drivers in court. So beware, because the data collected by these devices can be used in claims disputes by the insurer and others against you.

  With that being said, we urge you to think about the ramifications of installing one of these devices in your car.  Don’t let the insurance companies “drive” with you.

• Oct 26, 2011

  Common Questions About Distracted Driving

  At Tabor Law Firm, we have seen the impact a moment’s distraction can have when it leads to a serious accident.  Many people will be surprised to learn that even if they never touch a cell phone while in the car, they engage in distracted driving behaviors that can be a danger to themselves and to others. Here are a few helpful tips on distracted driving so you can avoid some of the most common causes of distracted driving accidents.

  
  

  What is distracted driving?

  Distracted driving is any activity that a driver engages in other than driving while operating a vehicle. There are three main types of distraction: visual – taking your eyes off the road; manual – taking your hands off the wheel; and cognitive – taking your attention off the task of driving. Avoid any activities that take away from these three areas of focus.

  A driver’s primary responsibility is to operate their vehicle safely. Driving requires coordination of a number of complicated tasks that requires the full focus and attention of the driver. Drivers should resist engaging in any activity that takes their eyes and attention off the road for more than a few seconds. Even a second or two can make all the difference in avoiding a crash.

  
  

  Are cell phones dangerous?

  The short answer is yes. At any given moment, over 800,000 vehicles are being driven by drivers distracted by use of a cell phone. Many studies have shown an elevated risk for accidents when a driver is distracted by a cell phone. While dialing a phone your eyes leave the road, and using a cell phone takes both your hand from the wheel and attention from the road. Any action that draws your attention from the task of driving is dangerous, and cell phones are one of the most common causes of distracted driving accidents.

  
  

  So is a hands-free device safer?

  No. Studies show that both hands free and hand held cell phone use distracts drivers and increases the chances of an accident. The driver is more likely to miss key visual and audio cues needed to avoid a crash. Hand held devices may be slightly worse, but hands free devices are not risk free. Think about it this way: unlike a conversation with someone in the car with you, a person on the other end of the cell phone can’t help you keep an eye on the road. So they may keep distracting you even when road conditions change and require extra attention. This danger exists regardless of the type of device used.

  
  

  Is it against the law to use cell phone while driving?

  This depends on the state where you live. Currently 21 states and the District of Columbia ban young drivers from using cell phones. Six states ban cell phone use by all drivers, and 19 states ban texting by all drivers. The federal government bans texting by commercial truck and bus drivers and has proposed a rule to ban all use of cell phones while driving a commercial truck or bus. Fines for violating these laws range in severity. Because this is an area of law that is constantly being updated, the safest course of action is to avoid using a cell phone while driving.

  Tabor Law Firm is an Indianapolis, Indiana Law Firm with experience representing the victims of serious injury and wrongful death caused by distracted drivers. Call us for a free consultation or visit our website at http://www.taborlawfirm.com.