Michigan Car Accident Attorneys Blog

According to USA Today, motorcycle accidents are responsible for the deaths of 12 people every day in the United States. The leading cause of death in these accidents is not surprisingly head injuries. Although nearly every other type of traffic fatality has gone down, motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise for the last 11 years (with the exception of last year which experts attribute to the economy).

Although almost all states have helmet laws, only 20 states require them for all riders (Michigan included). Many states only require helmets for riders under 18. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging these states to enact more stringent helmet laws, requiring all riders to wear them.

Many enthusiasts disagree with NTSB and think that awareness and rider education are the solution rather than mandatory helmet laws. Whatever your view, it is clear that unfortunately many fatal motorcycle accidents occur each year and in a disproportionate amount. Although motorcycles only account for 3% of all traffic accidents, they represent 13% of all traffic accident fatalities.

We previously discussed the dangers of distracted driving. Recently, AAA released another study that suggests that falling asleep while at the wheel is also a more common danger than you might think.

In the study AAA found that 2 out of 5 drivers admitted to having fallen asleep or nodded off while driving. A staggering 26.6% of those questioned in the survey admitted to having been “so sleepy that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open” within the last 30 days. Even scarier, 41% explained that they had “fallen asleep or nodded off” while driving at some point.

The study also looked at accidents that occurred as a result of drowsiness or sleeping. It was estimated that 16.5% of fatal crashes involved a driver that was driving while drowsy. This study suggested a higher percentage than studies done before and suggests to me that this is something where more research is necessary.
This study was done to show just how prevalent this problem is. A study correlating sleeping and car accidents had not been done in 15 years. Instead, studies looking at speeding, drinking and driving and not using a seat belt have been more popular. Statistics like this suggest that perhaps we really need to be looking into the implications of sleeping while driving as a more common problem than previously thought.

Remember, in Michigan even if there is a single car accident, the driver (or anyone else injured) is entitled to make a claim for PIP benefits including Wage Loss, Replacement Services, Attendant Care and medical bills.

We know that talking on the phone while driving or texting while driving is distracting. But how distracting is it? According to Car and Driver Magazine, a huge distraction. In a short test they conducted they found that texting and talking on the phone while driving was actually more dangerous when it came to stopping distances than drunk driving. Other studies have come to the same conclusion. This is a staggering fact given that most of the laws in Michigan focus on drunk driving.

The new texting while driving law serves as a slap on the wrist compared to much stricter drunk driving laws. If texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving, shouldn’t there be tougher penalties? It seems that the law is yet to catch up to this new technology.

Michigan should be commended, however, for at least having a texting while driving law. There are still 20 states that do not have laws at all when it comes to texting while driving. The next step will be tougher penalties and better enforcement.

The $100 fine for a first offense in Michigan is small in comparison to what a drunk driving ticket involves once you tack on legal fees. By increasing fines and penalties for texting while driving, Michigan law could try to deter people from this behavior. This would also encourage people to use hands free devices or new technology allowing you to text hands free by voice commands.

Enforcement mechanisms are also easier than you probably think. Devices that detect outgoing radiofrequency signals are cost effective and reliable. Studies also suggest that officers using the naked eye are reliable and effective. If texting while driving and talking on the phone while driving are more dangerous than drunk driving, shouldn’t our laws and enforcement policies reflect it?