Friday, June 19, 2015

Major Crash between Mid-Size Car and Company Vehicle

This image shows a major accident involving a mid-size vehicle and a company van. The extensive damage to both vehicles sends a strong message about road safety and the physical effects of a car crash... read more

North Carolina Bike Laws: Preventing Accidents

Bicycling can be a great way to exercise, have fun, and get from place to place. Unfortunately, many bicyclers are hit by cars and are often injured or even killed. This is often a result of neglect to follow the law by one or both parties involved. However, there are a few laws in North Carolina that cyclists should be aware of and follow in order to decrease the chances of being injured in an accident.

1. Wear your helmet
Bicyclists and passengers under the age of 16 are required to wear helmets. These must be fastened securely using straps while on paths, roads, and other public passages. Although only those younger than 16 are required to wear helmets, it’s a good idea for cyclists of all ages to follow this rule and find a helmet that properly fits them in order to stay safe while riding.

2. Use a bicycle light
If you are riding your bicycle at night, you are required to have a front light that can be seen from 300 feet away and a rear reflex mirror that is visible from at least 200 feet away. These must be used from sunset to sunrise in order to alert drivers that you are there.

3. Ride on the right
Bicyclists must always ride going to same direction as traffic and stay in the right-hand lane. They are also required to stay as close as possible to the right edge of the road except for when making a left turn, passing another vehicle, riding on a one-way street, or avoiding obstructions.

Although these are some of the most important laws that bicyclists in North Carolina should follow, there are many more rules that riders should be aware of in order to avoid accidents. To learn more about the bike laws and an expert bike accident attorney in Wilmington, visit this website.

Infographic Details Car Safety Facts

This infographic provides information about car safety over a 20-year period. It uses simple pictures and figures to demonstrate that car crashes and deaths are down, while the likelihood of a fatal crash differs by the type of vehicle... read more

Let’s Go NC!

Giving instructors guidance in ways to teach kids about being safe cyclists and pedestrians, this program is an indispensable tool for fighting childhood obesity while encouraging healthy activities and staying alert to danger... read more

Theories Used for Determining Liability for Defective Car Parts

Usually, in order to hold a person responsible for injuries incurred during an auto accident, it must be proven that the person’s negligence was the cause of the injury. However, when trying to show that car parts were to blame, another set of rules must be used. In order to prove that the car accident was a result of defective car parts, or if the injuries that were sustained during an auto accident were intensified due to faulty car parts, the plaintiff must exhibit certain specific details. Those details include injuries and losses, a manufacturing defect, design defect, the failure to warn, and causation of the sustained injury. While many liability theories exist to grant financial compensation to car accident victims, three of those theories are most commonly used: strict liability, breach of express warranty, and breach of implied warranty.

Strict Liability
The plaintiff must demonstrate that the vehicle or specific car part is in fact defective and is the cause of the damage to either the property or the person.

Breach of Express Warranty
Most cars come with a written warranty. If the car part is found to be defective, then it is typically considered to be in breach of the warranty.

Breach of Implied Warranty
While not all cars or car parts come with a written warranty, most states have established certain standards that a product must meet. If it is shown that a car part did not meet those minimum standards, this could be considered a breach of implied warranty.

Keep in mind that it can very expensive to try to prove that a manufacturer somehow made a mistake with your specific part while simultaneously making countless duplicates flawlessly.

But it is possible that there is already an existing class action lawsuit. When given the option, if your losses are small, there is a good chance that it would be more cost effective for you to join the class action suit. But if your losses were serious in nature, it is typically in your best interest to file your own case. For more information about determining liability in the case of a defective car part, please talk to a product liability and personal injury attorney in Wilmington,visit this website.

Invaluable Tips for Truck Drivers

Driving a truck is not an easy job, but can be a rewarding one for millions of those on the road. In order to keep safe and working for the long haul, keep these proven lessons in mind... read more

What Steps to Take Immediately Following a Bicycle Accident

After ensuring that you are physically okay to get up, the first thing you should do is to call the police. Do not talk to the motorist that hit you until after the police arrive. If you cannot avoid talking to the motorist, keep your answers vague. Make sure to NOT give any details as to your physical condition or to who is at fault. While you are waiting for the police to arrive, you will need to get the license plate number of the motorist who hit you. If the driver has fled the scene, see if any witnesses wrote down the license plate number or any identifying information about the vehicle.

Once the police have arrived, it is now the time to exchange information with the motorist. Take down the driver’s license and vehicle registration information and make sure to look at the expiration date on both. Try to take a picture of the license and registration if you can.

Next, look for witnesses and get contact information from them. In the event that you cannot identify any witnesses, ask surrounding businesses if any portion of the event was captured by their security footage.

Finally, in order to make a thorough insurance claim, record details about the event including the location, date and time of the incident, description of how it occurred, name and license plate of any individuals who were involved, proof of insurance, witnesses, and the estimated severity of any injuries that were sustained. Taking photographs of these items will greatly add to the weight of your claim.For more information about what actions to take after a bike accident, or to find a bicycle accident lawyer in Jacksonville, please visit this website.