Distracted Driving Accident

Questions Arise After Uber Self-Driving Car Kills Pedestrian

April 6, 2018 | Tapalian Law

Nearly 40,000 lives are lost each year due to traffic accidents in the United States. Rhode Island traffic fatalities alone were up 63% last year. Close to 94% of these fatal crashes are caused by distracted driving and human error. Proponents of self-driving cars claim that autonomous vehicles can greatly reduce the amount of traffic related deaths and accidents by removing these common causes. However, after a pedestrian was killed in March by an Uber self-driving car in Tempe, Arizona, opponents are raising questions about the safety of these autonomous vehicles. As auto accident injury lawyers, Tapalian Law knows that all too many crashes and injuries are caused by distracted drivers and human error not just locally in Rhode Island but all over the United States.

How Do Self-Driving Cars Work?

Previously we posted a Tapalian Law personal injury blog delving into how self-driving vehicles operate and some concerns surrounding them. We explained an autonomous vehicle works by utilizing a combination of sensors, cameras, radars, and lasers to detect and adjust to road conditions as well as other vehicles on the road. With technology improving daily, updates are constantly being made to the accuracy of these systems. Seemingly, an autonomous vehicle removes the issue of human error and distractions while driving. Alas, issues and concerns still remain like how the autos will react in various weather conditions and recognizing a pedestrian versus a face on a billboard or advertisement.

Rhode Island Traffic Fatalities Up 63% in 2017

January 10, 2018 | Tapalian Law

Rhode Island traffic fatalities are at their highest since 2008, with 83 traffic related fatalities seen in the state in 2017. This is a jump from 51 traffic deaths seen in 2016 and 2014 in Rhode Island. Ironically, 2015 saw the lowest number of traffic fatalities in RI, 45, since 1992 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). With increased auto safety features and public awareness campaigns about safer driving practices, one would expect to continually see a decrease in injuries and deaths from car accidents each year. So, it is alarming to see an uptick of 63% in just one year. As Providence car accident lawyers who see first-hand the pain and trauma caused to the injured and families of auto accident victims, we are left wondering why the increase in motor vehicle fatalities in 2017?

Reasons for Increase in RI Traffic Fatalities

Just as there are a multitude of reasons for car crashes, there are many causes for fatal car accidents and not one cause can be pinpointed. Although we do know that drunk driving, speeding, and distracted driving top the list of causes all over the country. Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, the commanding officer of the Rhode Island State Police, will not cite a particular reason for the increased number of RI traffic deaths but emphasizes the importance of drivers being vigilant about driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, wearing seat belts, and avoiding distractions like cell phones. As many Rhode Islanders know, cell phone usage while driving with be outlawed as of June 2018 in Rhode Island. Though we can not predict if this will realize a decrease in traffic fatalities, it may bring extra awareness to the serious issue of distracted driving.

Number of Tickets Issued for Texting While Driving in Rhode Island is Up

January 9, 2018 | Tapalian Law

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 1,000 people are injured each day in the United States in accidents involving distracted drivers. Drivers who text and drive are six times more likely to cause a car accident. In an effort to crack down on this serious issue in Rhode Island, police gave out a record number of tickets for texting and driving in 2017. As discussed in a previous Tapalian Law blog on distracted driving, effective June 1, 2018, Rhode Island law will prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones by motorists while driving to further strengthen the prevention of auto accidents caused by distracted driving. Although Rhode Island already has a “no texting” law in effect, many say that police have not truly enforced the law and that it can be difficult to prove a motorist was texting while driving. As Providence personal injury lawyers, we know that it can be difficult for a person injured in a car accident to prove that the crash was caused by a driver who was texting unless there are witnesses, or camera footage involved. However, police are beginning to take an increased interest and statistics shown by the Rhode Island Judiciary show that enforcement of the law has been gradual, and the amount of tickets has increased over the past four years for distracted driving. This is positive news for those who have been hurt at the hands of a distracted driver.

Tickets Have Increased in Quantity Each Year

Rhode Island police issued the highest number of distracted driving tickets thus far in 2017, with a total of 1,167. There were 216 distracted driving tickets issued in 2014, 503 in 2015, 923 in 2016, and the highest number in 2017 of 1,167. When the new cell phone use law goes into effect in June, first-time offenders will face a $100 fine which can be suspended with proof of purchase of a hands-free device. If you have been injured in an auto accident by a distracted driver, seek the assistance of an experienced Rhode Island personal injury attorney like David Tapalian. A Providence injury lawyer well practiced in car accident claims and injuries, Attorney Tapalian can counsel you throughout the process of seeking compensation for your injuries and assist you in proving fault of the other driver in your RI or MA accident. In the case of a distracted driving accident, it is much easier for you to prove fault and seek restitution for the harms caused by the other motorist if they have been issued a police citation for distracted driving.

Distracted Driving Worsens with New Auto Technology, Reports AAA

October 13, 2017 | Tapalian Law

In our tech-savvy society, we constantly want faster and better technology. Automakers scramble to keep up with continually updated tech demands by cramming more intricate technology options into our vehicles. Cars used to have only a small number of buttons and knobs. Now, automakers have upped the ante by adding as many as 50 buttons on the steering wheel and dashboard that have multiple functions. As injury lawyers assisting car accident victims, Tapalian Law can easily see how this could increase the levels of distracted driving and realize an increase in car accidents caused by distracted drivers.

Study Shows GPS & Texting Most Distracting Driving Behaviors

Programming a destination into a built-in GPS system takes drivers an average of 40 seconds and is said to be the most distracting activity for a driver based on a study by AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety. At a rate of 25mph, a vehicle can travel the length of four football fields during that short 40 second spurt. As Providence car accident injury lawyers, Tapalian Law knows prior research shows that the risk of a crash doubles when drivers take their eyes away from the road for only two seconds. Texting was the second-most distracting task performed in the study. Although guidelines recommend that automakers prevent texting from being available while driving, in two-thirds of the 2017 vehicles tested, the test drivers could text while driving. Motorists already have a multitude of distractions in the car, and not just texting and GPS systems. Eating, drinking, changing the radio station, and chatting with passengers can all be distractions to a driver.

Warwick Drivers Tested by Undercover Pedestrians

October 5, 2017 | Tapalian Law

Warwick police put drivers to the test last week when they conducted an undercover assessment to see if drivers complied with Rhode Island state law that requires them to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Financed in part by a Rhode Island Department of Transportation grant, “Walk Wise Warwick” was formed to create awareness after a pedestrian was hit and killed earlier this year trying to cross Main Avenue in Warwick to reach a convenience store. At Tapalian Law, as Providence personal injury attorney’s we see pedestrian injuries often caused by a driver who does not obey the law requiring them to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. This may be due to distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, or general lack of knowledge of the law. Whatever the reason, pedestrian fatalities are on the rise and are at the highest number in more than two decades.

Rhode Island Pedestrian Fatalities Saw Huge Increase in 2016

Rhode Island saw 7 pedestrian deaths during the period of January-June 2016. This is a tremendous jump, 250%, compared to that same 6-month period in 2015, when there were 2 pedestrian fatalities. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the number of pedestrians killed in U.S. traffic accidents jumped 11% last year, the biggest single-year increase in pedestrian fatalities ever seen. Alarmingly, this equates to nearly 6,000 pedestrians killed in accidents. As Rhode Island auto accident lawyers, we continually hear about new automotive safety technology designed to decrease car crashes and their resulting deaths and personal injury. It would make sense that new safety measures would increase the safety of drivers and pedestrians, however the GHSA is showing differently. They are finding a spike in the motor vehicle related deaths of both pedestrians and cyclists. In 2016, traffic related deaths went up 6% across the U.S. One might assume this increase in crash fatalities accounts for the jump in pedestrian accidents, however the National Safety Council tends to think there is something else causing the upturn in pedestrian accidents.

Most Drivers Say Distracted Driving Should Be Illegal, But They Still Do It

September 14, 2017 | Tapalian Law

Effective June 1, 2018, Rhode Island law will prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in a move to prevent accidents caused by distracted driving. The new law will further the distracted driving laws Rhode Island put into effect in 2011 making it illegal to send, read, or compose text messages while driving. Since the “no texting” ban went into effect, police officers across Rhode Island have issued hundreds of tickets for violations, with few issued for repeat offenders. As a personal injury law firm, Tapalian Law hopes the existing ban on texting and the cell phone ban coming forth in 2018, will contribute to a decrease in severe injuries and tragic deaths due to car accidents caused by distracted driving. Interestingly, the majority of drivers agree that distracted driving is the biggest cause of auto accidents and should be illegal, according to an online study by Progressive Insurance, but many drivers still knowingly do it.

Key Findings from Progressive Distracted Driving Study

Not surprisingly, teenagers make up the largest group of drivers reported as distracted at the time of a fatal crash. In fact, the American Automobile Association (AAA) released a report earlier this year that states millennials exhibit the riskiest driving behavior of all age groups. The Progressive study reports 62% of 18-34 years old’s are very, or somewhat, confident in their ability to text while driving, even though 64% agree that using a phone to text while driving is a main cause of car accidents. Only 6% of those ages 55 and older feel comfortable in their ability to safely text and drive. More men than woman feel “very confident” in their ability to text while driving, even though the majority of men and woman agree it should not be allowed.

Self-Driving Cars Could Be on The Road Sooner Than You Think

September 12, 2017 | Tapalian Law

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill last week that would speed the introduction of self-driving cars to the road. Following a rise in deadly car crashes in recent years after a decline, proponents say that self-driving vehicles could help remove the human error factor that causes about 94% of fatal car crashes in the U.S. each year. As personal injury attorneys who help injured car accident victims daily and see the gravity of serious vehicle accidents, we realize finding a way to eliminate the bulk of car crashes, collisions and related injuries and deaths would be tremendous. Police in Providence and throughout Rhode Island respond to vehicle accidents with injured victims multiple times a day due to distracted driving and human error. Is it really possible to remove all human error from driving with self-driving cars and greatly lessen crashes and save lives?

SELF DRIVE Act

The SELF DRIVE Act (Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research in Vehicle Evolution) passed through the House with a two-thirds vote. In summary, the proposed bill would give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the power to regulate the design, construction, and performance, of self-driving vehicles. The NHTSA is responsible for doing so now for driver-operated vehicles. Individual states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, would keep the authority to dictate vehicle registration and licensing. The NHTSA would be given a timeline to come up with safety rules and performance standards that automakers must meet for the autonomous vehicles. The vehicle manufacturers would be required to provide a plan for how its passenger’s privacy would be protected- for example, where does the passenger travel to each day and what are its driving style preferences? How will this information be kept private? The legislation would also increase on a yearly basis the number of autonomous cars that are able to travel and be tested on public roads.

Woman Killed in East Providence Hit & Run Accident

August 26, 2017 | Tapalian Law

A 46-year old East Providence woman died last week after being hit by a vehicle on Willett Ave. The driver of the vehicle fled the crash scene but later turned himself in. The hit and run driver, Paul Julian Newman of Florida, was identified after a witness took down the fleeing vehicles license plate and submitted it to the police. East Providence police tracked the auto to a rental agency that identified the man who rented the red SUV and fatally hit the woman. Newman has been charged with the felony of failing to stop in a fatal crash. Not all instances of hit and run accidents are this easy to solve. East Providence police were helped greatly by the witnesses who provided the license plate information. However, just because a vehicle has fled the scene of a crash doesn’t mean it is impossible to find the offender. If injuries have been sustained in a hit and run collision, whether the driver has been found or not, you should contact a personal injury attorney to be advised on what steps to take next. An East Providence personal injury lawyer specializing in hit and run accidents deals with injuries sustained in vehicle accidents every day and can assist you in taking the next steps towards healing and recovering damages.

What if the Driver Flees the Crash Scene?

If the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit and run crash has fled the scene, it is still possible to locate the offender. Like the recent East Providence fatal hit and run, a witness may observe the collision and record the license plate number or a description of the fleeing vehicle and provide it to authorities. Police can also view the cameras of local businesses or residents, or traffic cameras, to see if evidence of the crash was recorded. Sometimes there is enough evidence left at the crash scene- perhaps a broken bumper, paint left on the other car, or a tire skid mark, to identify the make and model of the other vehicle, and eventually track it down. There are many options that can assist the police in locating the vehicle owner and driver. With that information in hand, a personal injury attorney can assist you in filing a lawsuit against the driver to gain compensation for your injuries caused by the accident. If the driver can’t be found, victims of hit and run accidents can seek coverage for their injuries under their own insurance plan if they have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. An experienced personal injury lawyer can advise you about this process. You can view Tapalian Law’s blog about legal options after a hit and run accident on our website.

Fatal East Providence Bike Crash Kills Cyclist

August 15, 2017 | Tapalian Law

A bicyclist was struck and killed by a vehicle late Monday in East Providence while riding on Willett Avenue close to midnight. The driver of the vehicle stopped after the crash and the East Providence police are investigating the details of the accident. Just this past June, a vehicle struck a 36-year-old cyclist while biking in Coventry and he sustained serious injuries. The man later died at Rhode Island Hospital due to his injuries. Biking can be a fun and relaxing pastime to see the beautiful views of Rhode Island or a convenient way to get to and from work. Unfortunately, sharing the road with cars, trucks, and SUV’s, and sometimes distracted drivers, can turn out to be a dangerous venture. East Providence bike accident lawyer David Tapalian is prepared to assist you if you have been hurt in a bike accident where you have incurred injuries and/or sustained damages due to a vehicle collision.

Bicycle Related Injuries & Deaths in Rhode Island

According to this data, Rhode Island seems to be one of the safer states to ride. In 2014, just two states, Rhode Island and Vermont, experienced zero bicycle fatalities. California and Florida top the list of states with the most bicyclist fatalities. About a third of biking injuries are caused when a vehicle crashes with a bicycle. Other common sources of bike injuries are falling, roads or walkways in disrepair, and rider error or negligence, among others. For tips on safer bike riding, visit these previous Tapalian Law blogs on bike safety tips here and here. If you have been hurt in a bike collision, a Rhode Island bike accident attorney can help you sort through the myriad of details to take care of after an accident and help get you on the road to recovery.

Rhode Island Bans Hand-Held Cell Phones While Driving

July 12, 2017 | Tapalian Law

Rhode Island scores another point in the fight against distracted driving. On Monday, Governor Gina Raimondo signed legislation that will outlaw the use of any hand-held “personal wireless communication device” used for talking while driving. Effective next summer, driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone will be considered illegal in Rhode Island. It will join the New England states of Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont, in creating the hand-held cell phone ban. As discussed in a recent Tapalian Law blog, Massachusetts is working towards joining the ban. Attorney David Tapalian is surely in agreement with other Providence car accident lawyers that this measure hopes to mark a decrease in the number of distracted driving auto accidents we see on a daily basis. Whether it be talking, texting, or using the GPS, there is no doubt using a cell phone while behind the wheel is a distraction.

New Law Is Effective June 1, 2018

The new law will fine violators up to $100. For “first time violators”, this can be suspended by showing proof of purchase of a hands-free device. Drivers will still be able to use cell phones while driving, but they must be used in a hands-free capacity. The exception to the rule is for emergency situations. Fourteen other states have a similar ban on hand-held devices while driving.