You might think you are a reasonably safe and experienced driver, but there could be seemingly harmless things you do every time you drive that increase your risk of a car accident.

All of us get in a hurry, get distracted, or make poor judgment calls that put ourselves and others at risk on the road. Knowing how to avoid some common unsafe driving practices can make all the difference!

Below you’ll find 7 daily driving practices that you can make a habit to decrease your risk of serious car accident injuries in Pittsburgh.

Safe habit #1: Never drink and drive.

• Now, this might seem obvious and you might think you have never been guilty of drunk driving. But did you know that even having one drink can impair your ability to drive safely? Drinking and driving doesn’t mean you are staggering to your car, dropping your keys, and almost passing out before getting behind the wheel. Drinking and driving can mean you feel totally fine and unaffected by the alcohol. Just a little alcohol can go a long way when it comes to hindering your ability to drive safely. According to experts at WebMD, no amount of alcohol is safe for driving. Not only does drinking and driving put the safety of yourself and others at great risk, but it also puts you at risk of very serious legal consequences. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you drink, ask a friend to drive or request an Uber!

Safe habit #2: Always wear a seatbelt.

• Again, this might seem obvious. But how many times do you take off your seatbelt while driving to remove a sweater or reach for something in your car? Car accidents can come out of nowhere and you want to always be prepared! According to the CDC, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% and reduce the risk of serious injury by 50%.

Safe habit #3: Assume someone will run a red light.

• This is a little less intuitive. If you stop at a red light, shouldn’t other drivers? Unfortunately, over two people are killed every day on U.S. roads because impatient and reckless drivers run red lights, says AAA. Drive defensively by anticipating someone breaking the law by running a red light. After your light turns green, look in every direction before proceeding through an intersection.

 Safe habit #4: Never take both hands off the wheel while driving. 

• How many times have you taken both hands off the wheel to eat, put sugar in your coffee, apply makeup, or even dance along to a song? Maintaining control of your vehicle is essential to avoiding accidents.

Safe habit #5: Always be scanning 12 seconds ahead. 

• Concentrating your attention on the area you’ll be covering within the next 12 seconds helps give you time to swerve, stop, or slow down as necessary to avoid an accident.

Safe habit #6: Never tailgate! 

• Do you tailgate because you’re in a hurry or because the driver in front of you is driving too slow for your preferences? Always leave a 3-second space between you and the car in front of you. You can follow the 3-second rule by picking a landmark such as a sign or tree. After the car in front of you has passed the landmark, count how many seconds it takes for you to pass the same marker. If it’s less than 3 seconds, you need to slow down and allow more space. And if you have a bad habit of tailgating because you’re impatient, then start a new habit of leaving a few minutes early so you won’t be worried about making up time.

Safe habit #7: Be patient and pay attention when pulling into traffic.

• There’s no such thing as rush hour when it comes to safely merging into traffic! Always take your time, even if the car behind you is getting impatient or honking at you. Wait until you are confident that it’s safe to merge or turn into traffic. Remember the rule of “stop, look, and listen” before entering traffic. Pay attention to the blind spots of other vehicles – especially large trucks, and always look twice!

It’s up to all of us to make our roads safer. But accidents still happen. If you were injured because of another driver’s negligence or reckless driving behavior in Pittsburgh, you’re protected under personal injury law. The personal injury attorneys at Scanlon & Wojton, LLC can help you prove the other driver’s fault and support you along every step of the way in your case. Claim the compensation you’re entitled to after your car accident injuries! Contact Scanlon & Wojton, LLC: Attorneys at Law by calling (412) 918-1241 or messaging us online.

Scanlon & Wojton, Attorneys at Law

The Mitchell Building

304 Ross Street, Suite 510

Pittsburgh, PA, 15219

Phone: (412) 918-1241

Content warning: this post and the embedded links contain descriptions of graphic deaths and injuries at amusement parks. 

Amusement parks have started to reopen across the U.S. with special precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While this year is going to look different in terms of summer vacations, families still have the option to visit parks such as DisneyWorld and Cedar Point while maintaining health protocols such as limited capacity, enforced use of masks, and occasionally, health screenings.

Amusement park reopenings are no doubt a relief for many families hoping to make some good memories after long periods of quarantining and business closures. However, while following procedures to stay safe from COVID-19, amusement park goers should also be aware of how to prevent serious injuries and what to do if injuries happen.

CNN Health reports that there were an estimated 30,000 injuries resulting from amusement parks in 2016.

Amusement Park Horror Stories

Horrifying amusement park accidents have happened all over the world – from Disneyland in California to DreamWorld in Australia to Lightwater Valley Theme Park in England. Hitting close to home was a 2016 accident at the Idlewild & Soak Zone Amusement Park here in Pittsburgh. In this tragic accident, a 3-year old boy was ejected from the “Rollo Coaster” and suffered serious injuries. PennLive reported that factors contributing to the accident included unsecured riders, no secondary restraints, modifications to the original equipment, height of riders, and maintenance and structural conditions.

Most Common Amusement Park Injuries

According to Nolo, common injuries resulting from amusement park accidents include:

• Head, neck, and back injuries stemming from the impact of bumper car rides or from being whipped around on spinning rides and roller coasters.
• Stroke from trauma to ligaments in the neck.
• Traumatic brain injury from G-forces and other stresses experienced by the brain during extremely rapid speeds or from detached objects hitting the rider’s head.
• Brain aneurysms from roller coasters or other fast rides.
• Lacerations, broken bones, and torn ligaments from various causes.
• Drowning from water slides, “lazy river” rides, and other water rides.
• Death due to falling or being thrown from a ride

Top Causes of Amusement Park Accidents 

The CPSC reports the top contributing factors to amusement park injuries and fatalities. Injuries most frequently occur due to:

• Mechanical failures. Mechanical failures can result from a manufacturing defect or negligence in the park’s maintenance. Mechanical failures can lead to lap bars detaching mid-ride, a roller coaster car detaching, or structural component breaks.
• Improper operation of the ride. Ride operators can lead to accidents by stopping the ride at the wrong times or incorrectly latching seatbelts or lap bars.
• Passenger negligence. By misusing rides or failing to follow instructions, passengers can cause accidents that injure or kill themselves and others. Intentionally rocking a car, standing up mid-ride, unlatching safety restraints, sitting improperly, or holding a child above the safety restraint can result in serious accidents.
• Inherent nature of the ride. Even without mechanical defects, negligence, operation error, or misuse, amusement park rides sometimes cause injuries just due to the intended elements of the ride. Passengers can end up with cerebral and retinal hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, loss of consciousness, headaches, and dizziness. Passengers should always read the ride warnings and avoid rides that might aggravate a pre-existing condition.
• “Freak Accidents.” Sometimes investigators can’t find any negligence, errors, or inherent problems to a ride that was the scene of an accident.

Tips for Amusement Park Safety 

Usually, simply following the rules and common sense can keep everyone safe. CNN Health shares some important guidelines for staying safe at amusement parks and fairs:

• Always follow all posted height, age, weight, and health restrictions.
• Always adhere to any special seating orders and/or loading instructions.
• Always use safety equipment such as seat belts and safety bars.
• Ensure that children keep hands and feet inside the ride at all times.
• If you don’t think your child will be able to follow the rules, keep him/her off the ride.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel concerned, don’t ride!
• Avoid “mall rides” if they are over a hard, unpadded surface or if they don’t have a child restraint (such as a safety bar or seatbelt).

What Are Your Rights If You’re Injured at an Amusement Park? 

If you’re injured because of someone else’s negligence, you have the legal right to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault party. You can claim compensation for your injuries – including medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of abilities, lost income, and much more! But even if you know you are innocent, proving fault and gathering strong evidence can be challenging. Scanlon & Wojton, LLC is a legal team highly experienced in dealing with amusement park accident victims. Contact our Pittsburgh office at (412) 918-1241 or online.

Scanlon & Wojton, Attorneys at Law

The Mitchell Building

304 Ross Street, Suite 510

Pittsburgh, PA, 15219

Phone: (412) 918-1241

Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, truck accident, or other kind of personal injury accident in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, you’re going to want to claim compensation for your injuries. After all, being injured because of someone else’s negligence is a huge injustice. It’s only fair that you ask for some elements of justice to be restored through a personal injury lawsuit.

And it’s not just a matter of fairness. You need the money to cover all these unexpected expenses you’re being hit with.

But it’s imperative that you slow down and consider the full scope of your situation. Otherwise, you could make a serious mistake that many personal injury accident victims make: walking away with a settlement that is way too low.

This article will explore how this mistake happens and one major tip for avoiding it.

How Do Unfair Settlements Happen? 

There are a lot of ways that accident victims could end up accepting an unfair settlement. Some reasons include: not having competent legal representation, not gathering appropriate evidence, and giving up the fight too soon.

Many accident victims are (understandably) anxious to get compensation quickly so that they can start paying for the medical bills that are waiting in stress-inducing stacks. The problem is, insurance companies count on this and use it to their advantage. In order to protect their bottom lines, insurance companies will often try to convince vulnerable accident victims into accepting a settlement that is unjustly low.

All of these are common mistakes in personal injury claims, but one of the biggest mistakes that victims make is failing to wait until Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).

You can avoid falling for an unfair settlement by understanding more about MMI and working with a personal injury attorney to understand the full scope of your case.

What Is Maximum Medical Improvement? 

HG Legal Resources defines Maximum Medical Improvement as “the point at which a patient is likely to have made as much of a recovery as possible from their injuries, with any ongoing issues classified as either a permanent disability or impairment.”

When you reach MMI, doctors can tell you what your medical future will look like. MMI can help doctors evaluate what treatments and other requirements you will need in the future, and what those treatments and requirements will cost in Pittsburgh. Without waiting for MMI, you won’t know how much money you are entitled to claim for your damages.

MMI doesn’t just affect medical expenses such as surgeries, physical therapy, or medications. These kinds of medical expenses are called “economic damages” – and refer to damages that have an objective dollar amount connected to them. Something like a car replacement would also be a claimable economic damage. But personal injury claims can also cover non-economic damages. These are damages that do not have a predetermined value, but rather are given a value based on what your attorney argues and what a judge accepts. Non-economic damages can include accident repercussions such as PTSD, loss of enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and more – all of which can be better understood by waiting for MMI.

After having your life turned upside down by a serious accident, you probably know that you deserve a high insurance settlement or compensation award. But Pennsylvania personal injury law can sometimes make it hard to claim justice without certain types of evidence. Waiting for MMI can give you the evidence you need – in the form of statements from medical professionals, hospital bills, and more.

How To Get Started On A Successful Case  

While waiting for MMI can help significantly, there’s much more than goes into building a winning case. Your personal injury attorney will need to analyze every potential economic and non-economic damage that you might be able to claim. Your attorney will need to gather evidence that will tell your side of the story in a believable way. And your attorney will need to establish that the other party was indeed negligent. This can sometimes be the hardest part, especially if the other party wants to shift the blame to you. But don’t risk getting blamed for injuries that you’ve suffered because of someone else. Get the legal support that helps you move forward with confidence.

You’ve suffered enough injustice, now it’s time to make things right. If you’ve been injured in an accident in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, you can rest assured that the legal team at Scanlon & Wajton is here to help! With 45 years of combined experience and a commitment to the peace of mind of our clients, we’re your solution for caring legal assistance in Pittsburgh.

Call (412) 918-1241 today for a free consultation! Or set up an appointment or make an injury by messaging us online.