Most Pittsburgh residents are familiar with the headaches caused by Route 28.

The good news is that construction is now underway to widen the road and make it more driver-friendly. The bad news is that the construction will create even more headaches and last into 2014.

If you're traveling on Route 28, please watch out for any dangers created by the construction. Also drive extra carefully and leave plenty of following room between your car and other vehicles.

At our law firm, we hope you're never injured in an accident. But if you are ever hurt, we're here to help. You can contact us online and visit our site to learn more about construction zone accidents.

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Pennsylvania, along with eight other states, is considered to have the nation's worst teen driving laws. Today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has an article that outlines pending legislation aimed at toughening our laws.

Cell phones aren't the only distractions that pose a threat to teen drivers. The American Automobile Association (AAA) has reported that the likelihood of a 16-year-old driver dying in a crash increases 39% with one passenger, 86% with two passengers, and 182% with three passengers. In fact, experts say that cell phones and passengers are a greater threat to teen drivers than alcohol and speeding.

The laws currently being reviewed for our state would:

• Ban all cell phone use for 16- and 17-year-old drivers
• Allow only one minor passenger in the car at a time, excluding immediate family, for the first six months a teen has a license
• Increase the number of supervised hours on the road with learner's permit to 65, including 10 at night and five during inclement weather
  
• Make not wearing seatbelts a primary offense

I hope that these measures are adopted. It's inexcusable that our state is lagging behind 41 others when it comes to teen driver safety, and these new laws would be an important first step.

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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently published an encouraging article about Pennsylvania's efforts to combat distracted driving. The article discusses a newly published study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) that inspected states' distracted driving laws.

Pennsylvania scored high due to programs that educate teen drivers and include distracted driving on accident reports, among other measures. The GHSA is still pulling for stronger efforts from all states, including a ban on texting.

My law firm is proud to hear how well our state is doing, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I hope that Pennsylvania continues to improve its legislation and takes an even tougher stance against drivers who don't make safety their number one priority on the road. For more details, check out the complete story.

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New studies are emerging about how teens' schedules might put them in danger, and I think everyone should be aware of the findings. 

Research done by the Eastern Virginia Medical School has found that the fewer hours teens sleep, the more likely they are to be involved in an auto accident. One county reviewed in the study started school at 8:40 AM and had a crash rate of 46.2 car accidents to every 1,000 teen drivers. However, another county with a 7:20 AM start had a crash rate of 65.4 crashes to every 1,000 teen drivers.

Why is this? Experts say teenagers operate on a much later sleep cycle than adults. They're brains don't start receiving sleep signals until around 11:00 at night, and then they need about 9.5 hours of sleep to feel fully recharged. But with school start times so early and a host of after school activities followed by homework, it's hard for teenagers to get the sleep they need.

What can you do? If you think your child's start time is a major problem, contact your school district and make sure they've read these findings. At home, encourage your teen to get to sleep as early as possible and don't let them on the road if you feel their lack of sleep is a serious problem.

If you want more information on this study, check out this MSNBC article.

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Earlier this year, I put up a post about work zones and the dangers they pose to drivers. In Pennsylvania, most construction zone laws focus on driver regulation, like speed control and headlight use, even though a lot of accidents are caused by poor work zone maintenance on the part of construction companies.

A car accident that happened in Pleasant Hills last Friday exemplifies the tension that exists when it comes to assigning responsibility in work zone crashes. A woman was critically injured in an accident that happened right outside of a construction area where two lanes of traffic merge into one. PennDOT announced today that it won't alter the work zone, citing "driver behavior" as the cause of the accident. This determination came despite the fact that on Friday alone three other accidents happened in that same spot.

Attorney Richard Rosenthal, the managing partner of my firm, has extensive experience with handling cases involving construction zones, so I wanted to get his insight into this issue. Here's what he had to say:

"Work zones create new issues for drivers that are inconsistent with their expectations from past experiences on a given roadway. This can turn a safe stretch of roadway into a hazardous one if the road isn't properly signed and/or marked."

Until more regulation is in place to increase work zone safety, the only thing drivers can do is be as cautious as possible when navigating areas of construction. Here are some driving tips from Allstate and from The Pennsylvania Turnpike's website:

• As always, wear a seatbelt.
• Increase your visibility by turning on your headlights. Also, remember that trucks can only see you if you can see their side mirror.
• Keep extra space between other cars while in the construction zone in case an unexpected emergency situation presents itself.
• Stay in your lane and don't attempt to pass other cars.
• Pay attention to signs posted in the work area and follow their directions.
  
• Observe the speed limit carefully. Speeding in a construction zone is punishable by law and can have deadly consequences for workers and other drivers.
• Be careful when taking a detour. Sometimes, these roads are not as well-maintained as main roads and may require extra caution.

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There's an article in today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about a class offered by AAA that helps older drivers sharpen their skills behind the wheel. The program is a two-day, eight-hour class that, upon completion, qualifies drivers for a five percent discount on their auto insurance.

The Mature Drivers Program is open to any driver at least 55 years old and aims to help people overcome new driving obstacles that emerge with age, such as vision deterioration and slower reaction time.

Road safety is a concern at all ages, so it's good to know that there are efforts to make everyone, not just teens, better drivers. Be sure to check out the article for more tips and information about joining the class if you're interested.

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A couple days ago, I blogged about pothole season and the problems it's causing for Pittsburgh drivers. While there's no immediate remedy for the dips and dents in our streets, there's a new tool out there to help Pittsburghers report potholes to the city government.

iBurgh is an application for smart phones, like the iPhone and the Droid, that allows users to take pictures of potholes and send their photos directly to Pittsburgh's 311 complaint system. Submissions are tagged with GPS data to pinpoint the exact location. Users then receive a tracking number to follow the progress of their complaint.

With new technology like iBurgh, hopefully Pittsburgh residents can minimize the risk of car accidents caused by potholes. And even if you don't have a smart phone, you can still submit your pothole complaints the old fashioned way by calling 412-255-CITY.

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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has good article out today about the frustrating potholes that spring up in Allegheny County around this time of the year. In fact, potholes are so common in the late winter/early spring that some Pittsburghers call this time of year "Pothole Season."

I can't say I blame them – I've lost plenty of tires this winter thanks to potholes. One bad dip in the road took out both of my left tires at the same time, while a different pothole snuck up on my car at night and left me with another flat to fix.

I'll be back here in a couple days to tell you about a new technology that the city of Pittsburgh is using to identify potholes. In the meantime, check out my website's resources on potholes as well as the Post-Gazette article, featuring Attorney Rick Rosenthal, our managing partner here at Edgar Snyder & Associates.

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By now, most of us are familiar with the Toyota news in the headlines – the recalls, faulty gas pedals, sliding floor mats, malfunctioning brakes, and deadly accidents. But what isn't talked about as often is what happens to Toyota now. CNN has a good article explaining the punishment the automaker might receive, and why it probably won't get any federal penalties at all.

In 2000, the TREAD act – Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation – was enacted. Under this law, automakers face toughened civil and criminal penalties for not promptly reporting safety defects to federal regulators. According to TREAD, a manufacturer has five business days from the time it finds what it believes to be a safety problem to report that problem to federal regulators. If it fails to do so, the company can be fined up to $16.4 million.

However, the article says that the largest fine ever imposed was against General Motors in 2004 – for only $1 million. Why isn't TREAD more heavily enforced? CNN says the main reason is that the five days an automaker has to report a problem begins the day the company comes to believe there is a safety issue. If the company says they never believed the problem to be safety-related, they're not obligated to report it.

In Toyota's case, for example, the manufacturer says it doesn't believe Prius's brake problems to be a safety issue, which can be enough to get them off the hook. In addition, experts say that all the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration really cares about is that manufacturers recall cars and fix them. Since Toyota has done this, the agency may not want to engage in a lengthy legal battle.

It may surprise you that so little is done in instances where consumers' safety is put at such great risk. This is why I'm so proud of the work that my law firm does. Oftentimes, the very laws that are supposed to protect consumers are used against them, and we make it our top priority to help those who've been injured overcome roadblocks to getting justice.

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When you're in a car accident, your first reaction is probably to get out and check for damage. Keep in mind, though, that the danger isn't over just because your car has stopped moving, especially if you're on a highway.

Each year, about 16% of pedestrian traffic fatalities in the USA occur on freeways, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Over 700 pedestrians lost their lives on highways in 2008.

For example, in January, two women on an Atlanta highway were killed by a truck as they assessed damage from a fender-bender. Just weeks before that, a 26-year-old woman in Atlanta was killed trying to cross the road after an accident on Interstate 285. A father and son were struck and killed on Interstate 81 in western Virginia after stopping to help another car that was stuck in the snow. The list of pedestrians killed on highways begs the question: what should you do after an accident?

According to a spokesperson from AAA, here's the answer:

• Get the vehicle safely off of the roadway and as far away from traffic as you can.
• Stay inside the vehicle because it provides a layer of protection around you. Getting out makes you more susceptible to injury.
• Call for help as soon as the car is out of traffic. Most states have a telephone number posted on highway signs that stranded motorists can call.
• If the vehicle is stuck in active travel lanes, drivers should activate their flashers, exit the vehicle, and try to reach a safer location on foot. Never stand near moving traffic but instead get as far from the roadway as possible. Standing behind a barrier on the side of the road is one option.

Even though the natural reaction after an accident is to get out and inspect your vehicle, please think of your safety first and worry about your vehicle once you are out of harm's way.

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I'm sure that by now, most of you have heard about the Toyota recalls that have been in the news in the past couple of weeks. And if you haven't been paying attention to the story, you should be. So far, over 5 million vehicles have been recalled, and the defective cars have been linked to at least five deaths.

The accidents caused by the recalled cars are extremely serious – faulty floor mats and sticking gas pedals may lead to spontaneous runaway acceleration, and some cars have crashed while going over 100 mph. Here are the models that are affected by the recalls:

Floor mat recall: 2007-2010 Camry 2005-2010 Avalon 2004-2009 Prius 2005-2010 Tacoma 2007-2010 Tundra 2007-2010 Lexus ES 350 2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 & 350 2008-2010 Highlander 2009-2010 Corolla 2009-2010 Venza 2009-2010 Matrix 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe

Gas pedal recall: 2007-2008 Tundra 2008-2010 Sequoia 2005-2010 Avalon 2007-2010 Camry 2009-2010 Corolla 2009-2010 Matrix 2009-2010 RAV4 2010 Highlander 2009-2010 Vibe

The company says that repairs will begin immediately and that dealerships will stay open around the clock to complete them.

Federal investigators aren't as confident in the plan. The Department of Transportation said it will continue to investigate consumer reports that some type of electronic malfunction or computer glitch may also be involved. Hopefully, though, Toyota really has found a way to fix the deadly defect and no other drivers will be affected.

My law firm is staying on top of the latest information on this story, so please check out the Toyota recall section of our website for updates if you'd like to know more, including what to do if your car is affected.

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If you're a driver in Pittsburgh, then I'm sure you've noticed that many of our roadways are undergoing one type of construction or another in an effort to improve road safety. That effort is definitely commendable, but you should be aware that work zones can be just as dangerous as poorly maintained roads.

In 2008, about 1,415 work zone crashes occurred across Pennsylvania, and about 85 percent of those killed were motorists. That’s startling enough, but what's more alarming is that many of the accidents that occur in construction zones are due to poor safety regulations.

The hazards in road construction zones are abundant – improperly positioned concrete barriers, incorrect lane markings, unused warning signs, and road drop-offs just to name a few – yet there are virtually no federal laws regulating safety measures in work zones.

It’s the responsibility of individual states to maintain all roads. However, most of the work zone laws in place in Pennsylvania focus on driver regulation, like speed control, headlight use, and increased fines, even though many accidents are caused by poor work zone maintenance on the part of construction companies.

Remember, roadway hazards can be anywhere, so please drive safely and keep your eyes on the road.

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A new development was announced today in the ever-growing discussion of cell phone use and driving. The U.S. Transportation Secretary said that effective immediately, the drivers of commercial trucks and buses are banned from texting behind the wheel.

Here's how the Department of Transportation defines a commercial motor vehicle (CMV):

• Any vehicle that weighs 10,001 pounds or more
• Any vehicle that is transporting hazardous materials
• Any vehicle designed or used to carry 9 or more people, including the driver, for compensation
• Any vehicle designed or used to carry 16 or more people, including the driver, not for compensation

If people driving a CMV don't refrain from texting while driving, they could face civil or criminal penalties up to $2,750.

Our law firm has a tremendous amount of respect for truckers – we know how hard the work is and how long the hours are. We also know how important it is for all drivers, not just truckers, to follow the rules of the road. This means obeying every law – from speeding to passing to texting – to keep everyone as safe as possible. No text message is worth the lives that distracted driving can claim.

I encourage you to check my law firm's complete list of state-by-state cell phone and driving laws. I also urge to be extremely careful on the roads – keep in mind that even if your state doesn't ban cell phone use behind the wheel, going above and beyond the guidelines of the law is always a safe bet.

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Attention Pennsylvania drivers – our state has the sixth worst driver safety legislation in the country. This is according to the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (AHAS), which reports that PA has enacted less than half of the model laws they consider essential for safe roads. At my law firm we're all too familiar with the tragic consequences of traffic accidents, so I'd like to think that our lawmakers are doing everything in their power to make the roads as safe as possible. However, according to the AHAS, insufficient texting, booster seat, and drunk driving laws are only some of the deficiencies present in our state laws.

There are currently several pieces of pending legislation that would address some of the issues uncovered by the advocacy organization, and hopefully these measures will pass soon. If you'd like to learn more about the dangers on Pennsylvania's roads, please check out this news story on my firm's site.

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With the icy weather that hit Pittsburgh this weekend, I thought it was a good time to put up a blog on winter driving safety. Driving during the winter months can be tricky – especially when conditions change quickly, like they did on Sunday morning. And while not every accident is avoidable, there are a number of tips you can follow make your travels are as safe as possible.

Obviously, the best thing to do is avoid driving in bad conditions. When this isn't possible, make sure to observe the following rules:

1. Don't make the mistake of assuming that four-wheel drive and front-wheel drive compensate for dangerous road conditions. Always drive according to the weather outside.

2. Make sure your lights, windshield, windows, and mirrors are clean. Police plan to crack down on people who don't follow this rule – check out this story on the topic.

3. Turn your headlights on so other cars can see you.

4. Reduce your speed.

5. You should leave at least three times the normal amount of space between you and the car in front of you.

6. Break gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels lock up, ease off the brake.

7. Be sure to use low gears to maintain traction, especially in hilly areas.

8. Bridges can be dangerous because they freeze first. With hundreds of them in southwestern Pennsylvania, we have to be especially careful.

9. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers of these vehicles have limited visibility.

If you'd like more safety information, you can check out this previous post on winterizing your car.

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A fascinating article ran in the New York Times a few days ago about cell phones and driving. We're all familiar with recent coverage on the dangers of cell phone use behind the wheel, but this article explores an additional element. It addresses the marketing of cell phones to drivers, despite the industry's knowledge that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous.

As early as the 1960s, Motorola engineers voiced their concerns about cell phones and driving. Yet, the article says, the industry built its empire by marketing to drivers. And the campaign was successful – in 2007, it was estimated that 11 percent of American drivers were using their cell phones at any given time.

Here's a link to the article: Driven to Distraction. It provides a lot of interesting information on the history of cell phone marketing and current industry attitudes.

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There's an interesting article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review about Port Authority of Allegheny County and cell phones. Apparently, Port Authority is cracking down on distracted driving and citing more and more drivers for texting or talking on their cell phones.

From January through September 2009, 79 employees, including bus and subway drivers, were cited for using their cell phones behind the wheel. Only 23 employees were cited in all of 2008. The agency says they're enforcing the no cell phone rule more aggressively now that the issue is a major national concern.

It's good to hear that our public transportation system, which is responsible for so many lives each day, is giving this matter the attention it deserves. If you'd like to learn more about Port Authority's policies, you can check out the Trib article here.

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It was just announced that the State House Transportation Committee has voted unanimously to send legislation that prohibits texting while driving in Pennsylvania to the floor for a vote. Lawmakers say they hope the bill will be passed by the end of the year.

Currently, our state doesn't have a state-wide cell phone law, although certain jurisdictions do have local bans. My firm just updated our state-by-state cell phone laws – you can check them out here.

Last week I posted this blog about a case in Britain that demonstrates the grave consequences texting and driving can have. I encourage you to check it out – it may make you think twice before you pick up your cell phone behind the wheel.

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The New York Times recently ran an article that I found fascinating. It discusses the case of Phillipa Curtis, a 22-year-old British woman who was sentenced to 21 months in a high-security prison for the death of Victoria McBryde, age 24. The basis of the sentence was "death by dangerous driving" which was caused, in this instance, by a cell phone.

Ms. Curtis' car hit the rear end of Ms. McBryde's Fiat, instantly killing Ms. McBryde. During the course of the accident, Ms. Curtis' cell phone flew onto the road. It was given to police officers by a witness, who discovered that she had exchanged more than 20 text messages in the hour before the crash. Ms. Curtis received the last message, which was unopened, seconds before the accident.

There's been a lot of talk in the United States about the dangers of using a cell phone behind the wheel, and a few states have passed legislation that bans the practice. The British government, however, has chosen to combat the practice aggressively, stating that using a hand-held device when causing a death will "always make the offense more serious" and result in prison time.

According to the Times article, the case has stirred a debate over whether or not texting while driving should be considered a serious crime or merely bad judgment. Some involved with the case feel that the sentence was unduly harsh, while others feel that it wasn't harsh enough.

Research appears to have made it clear that using a cell phone while you're driving, like drunk driving, affects your ability to navigate the road. Regardless of whether or not the practice is prohibited where you live, I encourage you to think twice before you use a cell phone while you're driving. The outcome can be tragic.

Here's the link to the Times article if you'd like to read more about this particular case: When Texting Kills, Britain Offers Path to Prison

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PennDOT has issued an important reminder to Pennsylvania drivers: be on the lookout for deer. The agency says fall is deer breeding season, which increases deer movement and makes the animals less aware of traffic. The most dangerous time of day is between sunset and sunrise, so please be especially vigilant then.

According to PennDOT, there were almost 2,800 car accidents involving deer last year. Eleven people were killed and 636 were injured. Forty-six percent of the crashes happened in October and November, and 78% happened between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m.

State Farm Insurance has ranked Pennsylvania third in the country for the likelihood of deer-automobile collisions, so I encourage you to follow these safety tips offered by the insurer:

• Be mindful of deer crossing signs

• Use high-beam headlights when possible

• Keep in mind that if you see one deer, it's likely there are others nearby

• Avoid serving suddenly if you can – this can cause you to lost control of the vehicle or cross into another car's lane

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Cell phones and driving – the combination is so dangerous that a distracted driving summit held this week brought more than 300 lawmakers and transportation experts together to discuss the best way to address the issue. You'd think that in light of all the information on the risks of using cell phones and computers while behind the wheel, most people would avoid doing so. In fact, a survey conducted by AAA last summer seems to support that assumption – it found that 95% of respondents said texting while driving is unacceptable.

Unfortunately, the truth is that a number of people continue to use electronic devices while they drive, putting themselves and other motorists at risk. A recent New York Times article discusses why this is the case for some, namely that workers say they have to turn their cars into mobile offices to be productive, especially in this turbulent economy. The article points out, however, that not only is the behavior dangerous, it can also lead to poor decision making and poor work quality.

If you'd like to learn more, I definitely recommend checking the article out: "At 60 M.P.H., Office Work is High Risk." Trust me, I understand the pressures of a demanding job and the importance of "staying connected," but nothing is worth endangering your, or someone else's, life. Please be safe and keep your focus on the road.

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Here is the final part of Attorney Heneghan's story. He discovered the hard way what our clients deal with everyday. You can read Part I here and Part II here.

JIM'S RECOVERY

"My initial six weeks of recovery included work and physical therapy, and I was restricted from doing anything else. More painful than the shooting pain caused by my back injury was the pain of not being allowed to be as involved in my family life as I was before. I can remember going out to dinner one time while I was still restricted and seeing my wife, pregnant, carrying everything in and out of the restaurant. I wanted to open my shirt and show everyone my brace and tell them how injured I was. What sticks most in my mind from that time is trying to explain to my 16-month-old son why Daddy couldn't pick him up, even as he pleaded for me to.

The physical therapy, missed work, and pain are constant in an injured person's life, but those only tell half the story. Until you actually go through it, you can't truly understand what it's like to try and explain to your young child why you can't pick him up.

Although I still have an ache or pain every now and then, I look back and count myself very lucky in many ways. My nightmare lasted about 8 weeks, and some people never recover or are far worse off. In addition, my accident wasn't anybody's fault – it was caused by bad weather conditions and insurance covered the damage to my car and the medical bills. Our clients aren't always this lucky, however. They sometimes suffer devastating injuries and are in need of compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Insurance companies often try to avoid paying these costs, and our clients need our help in fighting for what they deserve.

Although I've always had sympathy for my clients, now I have empathy. This has opened my eyes to better understand and explain what they are really going through. As I went through the process of notifying my insurance company about the accident, negotiating the amount they were going to pay for my car, and fighting them over a bill for an improperly denied medical claim, I began to realize how complex and overwhelming this must be for anybody who is not a personal injury attorney. I realized that if you don't get the right attorney to handle your case, the person at fault and their insurance company (and in some cases, even your own insurance company), can be formidable opponents. After an accident in which you are injured, the stakes are so high that one wrong decision could haunt you for the rest of your life."

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Here is the second part of Jim's car accident experience. Jim Heneghan is an attorney at our law firm who learned firsthand what many of our clients go through after being injured in an accident. Click here for Part I.

JIM'S INJURIES

"I finally got my wife on the line, and when she came to the scene she became extremely emotional. I was trying to assure her that I was ok, but the pain in my back was getting worse, so I was taken to the hospital. I thought I would be in and out of the ER with a couple of pain killers and muscle relaxers, but boy was I in for a surprise. The image studies showed I fractured a vertebra, and I was admitted into the hospital for the next few days.

I wasn't able to return to work until the end of the week, but even then it was excruciating to simply sit at my desk and do my job. I began to think about the fact that if going back to work at a desk job was so painful, I couldn't imagine what somebody would do if they had a more physical job."

Part III of Jim's story will be up on Friday. Check back then for the conclusion.

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Car accidents can be life-changing events, and my attorneys and staff have helped many people whose lives have been affected by them. From time to time, our employees are personally involved in an accident that gives them new insights into what our clients go through.

One of our attorneys, Jim Heneghan, had this type of experience within the past year. Because it's the type of event that so many of our clients can relate to, we thought it would be good for him to share his story in this blog.

The first part of his story is below.

JIM'S ACCIDENT

"I was driving home and was only a couple of hundred feet from the entranceway into my development when I slid on some ice and snow that had formed on the road. My plan had been to go home, shovel the snow at my house, and then watch the football game. I didn't make it.

I wasn't driving fast, so when I first began to slide on the ice, I thought I'd be able to gain control. However, I continued to slide toward the side of the road, and then off the side of the road, and then I realized that I was going to go over a 15- to 20-foot drop. I remember thinking, 'This is not going to be good.'

My car went over the drop, seemed to flip, and then my air bags deployed from the impact of the front of the vehicle slamming into the ground. I remember thinking for a split second after the impact, 'That wasn't too bad – I'm alright.' But then the car, which was straight up in the air, fell back and slammed to the ground, coming down on all four tires. That is when I immediately felt a shooting pain go down my back.

I sat there for a moment trying to gather my thoughts and take full effect of what just happened. I checked myself over for injuries, found none, and then looked around my car. Everything was a mess. CD's were all over the place and my briefcase and papers from work were scattered around. I gathered myself and my phone and climbed the hill to the road. I got to the top of the road just as a man was driving by, and he stopped and asked if I needed help. It was then that I turned around, looked down the drop off at the car, and realized how lucky I was. The front end of the SUV had been pushed in, and because of the snow, my white SUV wasn't visible to cars driving along the road. Had I been knocked out, I might not have been found until and if I became conscious. I turned to the guy and said something to the effect of, 'I think you better stay.'

It was at that point I called my wife. I actually tried to call 911 but my phone wouldn't allow me to dial the numbers. My wife answered and I said, with my horn, which wouldn't shut off, blasting in the background, 'I'm ok, but I was in an accident.' That's when my phone went dead."

Part II of Jim's experience will be up in a few days, so stay tuned until then.

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I was happy to read an article in the Tribune Review about the ways in which Pittsburgh officials are continuing to improve pedestrian safety. They're now focusing on the Strip District, where there aren't any stop signs or traffic lights between 11th and 23rd streets.

On Wednesday, city and PennDOT officials acted as "bait," and if a car passed by them while they were in the pedestrian crosswalk, police officers pulled the offending motorists over and issued $105 citations. As the article says, slowing motorists down and getting them to obey laws is becoming increasingly important in this area, since developments like the Cork Factory apartments have upped pedestrian traffic.

Pedestrian accidents can have grave consequences, and there are many spots in and around the city where pedestrians are at an increased risk of being struck by a vehicle. Earlier in the year, Pittsburgh police began strengthening traffic law enforcement the Oakland area, and it's great that they're expanding their efforts.

If you'd like to read more about what's going on in the Strip District, you can check out the article here.

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There's an article in the USA Today that I think is worth mentioning. Many of you may have heard about the devices that can be installed in cars to prevent people from driving drunk. Now some inventors are saying that they have developed technology that will prevent people from using their cell phones while they're driving. If you read this article you'll see that the technology still has a ways to go, but I think it's an interesting proposition nonetheless.

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Update: The state House approved this legislation. The bill will now go to the Senate.

Pennsylvania drivers ages 16 to 17 – and their parents – might be interested in a new bill that is being proposed by state lawmakers. It addresses several different things, including the number of passengers a teen can have in the car as well as the number of hours of "practical driving experience" teenagers must have before they can apply for a junior driver's license. This article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has all the details.

The bill would also prohibit the use of "wireless communications devices" by junior drivers (like cell phones and laptops). This portion of the bill was defeated last week by PA lawmakers when it was introduced for drivers of all ages. You can check out my law firm's web site if you'd like more information on that story.

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There was a good article in the USA Today recently about states that are looking to ban the use of all cell phones behind the wheel. I'm sure that many of you have heard about legislation that bans hand-held devices while driving, and you may even live in a state where this is the law. You may not know that lawmakers are now looking to ban hands-free devices as well, like earpieces and mobile device systems that are built into some cars.

The article is really comprehensive and addresses a number of different points of view. I highly recommend that you check it out.

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My law firm has represented numerous car accident victims who have sustained life-altering injuries. We know how dangerous driving can be and how important it is to be as safe as possible. Of course, you can't completely control what happens when you're on the road, but you can take action against aggressive driving.

There are two parts to combating the effects of aggressive driving – being polite behind the wheel and backing off from aggressive drivers. According to AAA, aggressive driving can double your chances of getting into a car accident, so observing the following rules can make a big difference in everyone's safety on the road:

Being a Polite Driver

Don't block or drive under speed limits in passing lanes.

Don't fill more than one parking space.

Never tailgate (this is a major cause of rear-end collisions).

Avoid yelling out of your window.

Don't speed up when someone tries to merge into your lane.

Avoid Aggressive Drivers

Let aggressive drivers win the driving "battle" – there's no point in fighting them.

Don't challenge them by honking your horn, racing, or flashing your lights.

Avoid making eye contact.

Ignore gestures and don't return them.

Report unsafe driving to law enforcement.

And remember, you should always wear your seat belt and avoid talking and texting on your cell phone when you drive.

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Keeping true to their word, Pittsburgh police have continued cracking down on jaywalkers and reckless drivers. A few weeks ago, I reported that law enforcement issued over 30 citations in a two-hour period on Bigelow Boulevard in Oakland. Yesterday they handed out more than 70 tickets in a three-hour span.

PennDOT and police from the city, Port Authority of Allegheny County, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University swept the area between Carlow University and Carnegie Mellon, and officials plan to do so at least once a month until drivers and pedestrians begin obeying the laws. Yesterday, officers issued 29 citations for drivers running red lights, 11 citations and eight warnings for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and 23 warnings for pedestrians who jaywalked.

It's a relief to me, and I'm sure to many other people, that the Oakland is receiving this much-needed attention. Just nine days after law enforcement's first patrol of the area, a University of Pittsburgh professor was critically injured after being hit by a bus while crossing Fifth Avenue. Hopefully, with the continued efforts of everyone involved, events like these will become as rare as possible.

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It's been announced that starting this summer, Pennsylvania drivers will be able to access traffic updates, weather and road conditions, and travel delays just by dialing 5-1-1. The same information will also be available via the Internet.

I think that this program has a number of benefits. Not only will it make travel more convenient, it will also make it much safer. If drivers know ahead of time what conditions they'll be facing once they're on the road, they can be better prepared to avoid or handle dangerous situations – like rushing to get somewhere on time or navigating icy roads and construction zones.

The 511 program will also allow people to register for text and voice message alerts about travel conditions. This is a nice perk, but I'd like to remind people to check their alerts before they get behind the wheel! Using a cell phone while driving, whether it's texting or talking, is dangerous and causes thousands of car accidents each year.

Please be safe as you get your driving alerts!

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My law firm often gets questions from people who aren't sure if their child should be using a car seat, booster seat, or a seat belt. I can't stress enough how important it is to know the answer to this question – PennDOT reported that safety seats, when properly installed, reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in the event of a car accident.

Though each state has different laws, the government recommends car seats for children up to 40 pounds and booster seats for children over 40 pounds until they are 8-years-old or 4 feet 9 inches tall. All children should ride in the backseat until they are 13.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a useful tool for helping you assess whether or not your child should be in a booster seat or a seat belt. Answer the following questions:

• Can your child sit all the way against the back of the automobile's seat?
• Do their knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat?
• Does the safety belt cross their shoulder between the neck and the arm?
• Is the lap belt low, touching the thighs?
• Can they stay seated like this for the whole trip?
  

If the answer to any of these questions is "no," then your child should still be in a booster seat.

In addition, my law firm is putting together a comprehensive list of state-by-state car seat and booster seat laws, but until that goes up, here are Pennsylvania's requirements:

• Infants through children age 7 have to be properly secured in an appropriate safety seat.
• Children ages 8 to 17 must be restrained in a safety belt.
• The driver must secure both the child safety seat and the child properly.
• Loaner programs are required for families in need.
• Hospitals and doctors must educate parents of newborns about the option of loaner or rental seats.

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I was happy to find out that one of Pittsburgh's most heavily trafficked pedestrian crosswalks has received some much needed attention from law enforcement. Yesterday, police wrote 33 citations and 14 warnings for violations on Bigelow Boulevard in Oakland – all in a two-hour span.

The crosswalk connects Pitt's student union and Cathedral of Learning and it's filled with pedestrians and drivers all day long. It can be a tricky area to navigate, and police want to make sure that everyone is being as careful as possible. Yesterday, drivers who didn't yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk received about $250 in fines, and pedestrians who crossed dangerously outside of the crosswalk will pay about $80 in fines.

The crackdown was part of the Drive Safe PA program, a statewide effort to fight impaired, aggressive, and unbelted driving. Car accidents involving pedestrians can have tragic consequences, so I hope this exercise will make people more aware of their surroundings, both while they're driving and while they're crossing the street.

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My wife and I were driving home from dinner last night on 7th Avenue when we had one of Pittsburgh's most dreaded experiences – hitting a pothole and getting a flat tire. Actually, make that two flat tires. All too many of us here are familiar with the minefield of potholes that appear in the winter months, and I'd like to use this post to address one of the most common questions my law firm gets about this dangerous road condition – who's responsible if a pothole causes a car accident?

The answer really depends on what type of road you were on when the accident happened. You can't recover property damages on Pennsylvania state roads, but you might be able to receive compensation from PennDOT for your injuries (as long as you can prove that PennDOT had actual written notice of the pothole and adequate time to correct the problem.). If your accident happens on a road in local municipalities, however, you may be able to collect both property damages and compensation for personal injuries from local governments.

If you'd like to find out more about pothole accidents in PA, check out the dangerous roads pothole Q&A on my law firm’s website. Not only is there more information about car accidents caused by bad roads – you'll also find the phone number to report a pothole in Pennsylvania. Be careful and keep an eye out for those potholes (I know I will)!

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Car accidents are a serious problem in Allegheny County. According to the most recent data available from PennDOT, there were 11,609 crashes in the county in 2006. Seventy of those crashes resulted in deaths and 5,610 of them resulted in injuries.

In an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents in the Pittsburgh region, WTAE-TV has released the areas where the most speeding tickets are given. Hopefully, knowing that the police are watching will encourage drivers to slow down.

Here are the 10 areas of the city where increased police vigilance has resulted in high numbers of speeding citations:

1.    Pittsburgh, PA – Route 51 near Edgebrook Avenue
2.    Butler Township, Butler County – Route 422 at Duffy Road overpass
3.    Bethel Park – Bethel Church Road between Logan and Brookside
4.    North Huntingdon – Route 30 at Bob's Service Station
5.    Ross Township – McKnight Road at Nelson
6.    Neville Township
7.    Osborne Township – Route 65
8.    Butler – Main Street Butler
9.    Leetsdale
10.  Rochester Boro, Beaver County – Route 65

Please be careful while you are driving – put away cell phones, obey the speed limit, and never drink and drive.

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Who out there knows what a "berm drop-off" is? When you're driving on a Pennsylvania road and you encounter a shoulder with a steep downward slope, you're looking at a berm drop-off.

Berm drop-offs are just one of many ways that bad road conditions can increase the risk of getting in a car crash. A one-car accident is any type of crash that doesn't involve another vehicle. Most often, these one-car accidents are caused by poorly maintained roads, nasty weather, and other roadway hazards unrelated to traffic.

The way certain roads are constructed, they can cause water to pool. This amplifies the danger of hydroplaning, which is when a car slips out of the driver's control and slides through water. If your car begins to hydroplane or slip on an ice patch, a steep berm drop-off could send your out-of-control vehicle into a severe collision with a tree, rock, or any manner of hazard on the side of the road.

With a law firm that handles car accident cases, I’ve seen first-hand the type of serious injuries that result from bad Pennsylvania roads. Please stay safe and avoid one-car accidents by driving cautiously on any roads in poor or questionable condition.

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If you’re driving in Western Pennsylvania, there's new information that may change the way you view your locals roads. I was disappointed – but not shocked – to learn that 28 percent of Pittsburgh-area streets have been rated “poor” in a recent research study.

Even the efforts to fix up bad roads can be risky as well. There are dangerous construction zones popping up everywhere causing traffic nightmares and safety hazards. The irony is that these work zones are there to fix poor road conditions, but sometimes the work sites are just as dangerous as the bad streets.

One-car accidents – crashes due to a loss of vehicle control caused by bad roads, weather conditions, car defects, and much more – can be just as dangerous as traffic collisions. With over a quarter of Pittsburgh roads rated in poor condition, it’s no wonder that people continue to get injured in one-car accidents.

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Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are part of a growing debate about the safety risks of cell phone use behind the wheel. No laws have been passed yet, but some bills under consideration would ban text messaging and enforce the use of hands-free cell phone devices.

Although statistics are still fairly new, it seems that texting while driving has its dangers. This is especially true for younger drivers who are less experienced on the roads but more comfortable sending texts than making phone calls. Nearly half of all drivers under 18 admit to text messaging behind the wheel.

Pennsylvania is one of 21 states in America that have no legal restrictions on cell phone use while driving. Regardless of whether PA does decide to pass cell phone driving laws, one thing is clear – driver distraction is a major cause of car accidents. If you’re talking on the cell or having a conversation with a passenger, drive safely and pay attention to the road.

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Winter weather conditions do more than just ice up the roadways – they can erode the streets and lead to potholes. These gaping holes in the pavement can cause serious accidents for car owners who are already trying to avoid the other dangers of winter driving.

Let’s say that you’ve been in a car accident in Pennsylvania caused by a pothole. Who’s responsible for the damages to your vehicle and any injuries you may have suffered?

The answer depends on the type of road where you crashed. You can’t recover property damages on PA state roads, but you may be able to receive compensation from PennDOT for your injuries. For roads in local municipalities, you may be able to collect both property damages and compensation for personal injuries from local governments.

To find out more about pothole accidents in Pennsylvania, check out my hazardous roads pothole Q&A on my law firm’s website. Not only will you find more information about car accidents caused by bad roads – you’ll also find the phone number to report a pothole in Pennsylvania and potentially prevent a dangerous car crash.

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This weekend a criminal action on Pittsburgh’s Parkway West claimed another victim. The accident had nothing to do with reckless driving or bad roads. It had everything to do with rock throwing.

It almost sounds like a joke to hear about rock tossing endangering lives on Pennsylvania’s highways. But there’s nothing funny about the injuries the 18-year-old woman received to her skull when a rock flew threw her windshield.

This is the 25th reported incident of rock throwing on the Parkway West this year. People have been hurt by previous rock tossings, but this is the most serious injury to date. It's the first time that a Pittsburgh highway rock throwing has been life threatening. The young lady survived, but she may have a serious brain injury that could create complications for the rest of her life.

I want all Pennsylvania drivers to know about this threat. If you must drive on Pittsburgh’s Parkway West late at night, please do so with caution and care. I hope the individual that caused these horrible rock tossing accidents is found and held responsible for their actions.

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Getting around Pittsburgh and the rest of the nation this summer is fraught with lots of challenges. Road construction zones are popping up everywhere. The cones, barrels and confusing signs are causing traffic jams, and unfortunately car accidents.

It couldn’t come at a much worse time. I know that many people will be traveling to the beach in August. That means heavier traffic, more congestion, and more gridlock. For those taking long road trips, recent RV recalls have made it even more difficult.

 
Not only is it tough during the day, but trying to avoid road construction and traffic at night has its own perils. On the Pennsylvania Turnpike alone, 80 percent of July roadwork had projects scheduled for nighttime hours. And driving at night is hard enough as it is.

It’s the responsibility of state municipalities to maintain all roads. That means construction zones, by law, must be safe and drivable at all times of the day and night. Driving hazards can be anywhere this summer, so please be safe and keep your eyes on the road.

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