Maine Injury Lawyer Blog

Speeding is a common cause of car accidents in Maine and throughout the country. Yet, state officials are proposing a bill to increase the speed limit on a stretch of highway in Northern Maine, reports the Bangor Daily News.

Our car accident attorneys in Bangor and Portland hope the state considers this bill carefully before they pass it, considering that 38 percent of traffic fatalities in Maine for 2009 were caused by a speed-related crash.

A unanimous vote by a legislative committee is in favor of passing LD 1557, a bill that would permit the state's commissioner to raise the speed limit to 75 mph on a 100-mile stretch of highway from Old Town to Houlton. The current speed limit for that stretch of Interstate 95 is set at 65 mph. The bill would allow the commissioner to use discretion on parts of the highway that should remain at 65 for safety reasons. The issue came up during his campaign when 10 percent of the public doors he knocked on asked the question "When are we going to be able to legally drive 75 on the highway?"

The fact is, motorists already take their chances on this solitary stretch of highway, often driving above the permitted speed limit. With very few cars and even fewer exits, motorists and state officials feel the risks of a car accident related to speed is minimal.

"The motorists on this section of I-95 are traveling at speeds at which they feel comfortable regardless of the posted speed limit," Nina Fisher, the DOT's legislative liaison, said in testimony to the committee. "Past data has proven that a driver's level of comfort does not increase as a function of posted speed limit but as a function of the drivability of the road."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 61 of the 159 traffic fatalities in 2009 were in speed-related crashes. During 2005-2009, speed was a factor in a high percentage of traffic fatalities in Maine. The highest percentage reported during that period was in 2005 when speed played a role in 51 percent of Maine traffic fatalities for that year.

The next step for LD 1557 is presentation to the House and Senate for deliberation.
Speed tips to consider on Maine roadways this summer:
-Maintain the legal speed limit on unfamiliar or rural roads. Curves in the roadway or unknown obstacles like groundhogs or moose can appear from nowhere and make it difficult to avoid at high travel speeds.

-Pass slower moving vehicles on the left-hand side. Passing on the right could cause an accident with merging vehicles that may not see your vehicle.

-Slow down on exit ramps or sharp corners to avoid a rollover accident or collision with another vehicle.

Continue reading "Proposed bill could lead to an increase in speed-related car accidents in Northern Maine" »

Maine is going to be hit with a double whammy this Memorial Day holiday weekend as not will we see an increase in traffic because of the kickoff weekend to the summer season but construction season gets into full swing as well. Enforcement officers will set out in full force on our roadways to reduce risks of car accidents in Maine caused by speeding, drunk driving, aggressive driving and other poor driving habits.

The National Safety Council recently released their yearly estimates for the number of traffic accidents for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. This weekend is marked as the time between 6:00 p.m. on Friday and 11:59 p.m. on Monday. The Council estimates that there will be more than 400 traffic fatalities and another 39,400 injuries requiring medical attention just over the celebratory weekend because of motor vehicle collisions.

Our Maine personal injury lawyers would like residents to be extra careful on our roadways this holiday weekend as we will have the added dangers of construction zones. According to NBC 2, areas in Maine will be seeing a ton of construction as new bridges and other construction projects are underway. Drivers are urged to be extra cautious in these areas as risks for an accident are greatly increased when workers and road work is present. The city is trying to get all of the work done before all of the visitors flock to the area.

In an attempt to keep motorists safe this holiday weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be running its "Click It or Ticket" campaign. The campaign began last week and will be running through the first week of June. The "Click It or Ticket" is the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever. It has been proven to contribute to the highest national seat belt usage rate of more than 90 percent. Law enforcement everywhere will enact a zero-tolerance enforcement practice of seat belt laws nationwide throughout the campaign.

Over the last past six years, the long Memorial Day holiday weekend has seen an average of more than 12 percent increase in traffic fatalities than similar non-holiday periods. Many contribute this increase to the increase in the amount of travel by Americans.

Motorists are urged to follow these safety tips to help ensure road safety during the Memorial Day weekend and through high construction areas:

-Put away all distractions while your car is in motion.

-Be sure that all of your passengers are wearing a seat belt and all children are placed in an appropriate child safety seat.

-Be sure that you leave for your destination with time to spare and leave prepared with directions and routes already planned out.

-Drive defensively. Use caution and abide be all road signs and signals, especially in construction areas with frequent lane changes.

-Avoid driving while drowsy. Rest up before you venture out on to the roadways so that you can place your full attention on the road.

-Do not drink and drive. Any amount on alcohol consumption can impair your judgment and reaction time behind the wheel.

Continue reading "Construction Work and Memorial Day Travel -- Recipe for Car Accidents in Maine" »

After months of cold weather and icy roads, motorcycle enthusiasts in Maine are finally hitting the streets again. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month so motorists are encouraged to share the roads wisely while keeping a watchful eye for bikers in order to avoid motorcycle accidents in Portland or elsewhere in the state.

Motorcycles are a fuel-efficient mode of transportation so it should come as no surprise if we begin to see more traveling on roadways due to the elevation in gas prices recently. Last month the Bangor Daily News reported that motorcycle fatalities decreased by 2 percent nationwide during the first nine months of 2010. This isn't a trend believed to continue moving forward as the statistics indicated the drop in fatalities was during the beginning of the year. In fact, it is highly doubtful considering motorcycle fatalities have more than doubled in the last decade -- from 2,483 in 1999 to as many as 5,290 in 2008. Each year has shown a steady increase during this 10 year time period according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Injuries have also shown a steady increase from 1999 to 2008 with the highest mark in 2007 at 103,000 people injured in motorcycle accidents. Maine recorded 18 motorcycle rider fatalities in 2008.

In 2009, Maine recorded over 49,000 registered motorcycles on roadways. There were 102,763 licensed motorcyclists in the state in 2009. Maine requires all riders and operators under age 18 or any motorcyclist with less than one year driving experience to use a federally mandated helmet when riding a motorcycle.

Motorists should keep riders in mind this summer with the following helpful tips:
-Keep plenty of space between you and the motorcycle in front of you.

-Never change lanes or merge with traffic unless you signal first and turn your head to look before you cross the line.

-Make sure the bike in front of you turns before approaching them too closely. Many bikes don't have an automatic shut-off for the turn signal so they could be signaling inadvertently.

-Never engage in aggressive or distracted driving activities. Motorcycles can appear from nowhere and are difficult to spot.

Continue reading "Motorcycle accidents in Bangor a spring and summer risk" »

Prom night is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for teens -- who are at high risk of being involved in drunk driving accidents in Maine and elsewhere in the country.

Portland personal injury attorneys want to remind teens not to do a dance with alcohol on this special night because it could put you and your friends at a high risk for a tragedy.

East Hampton-Portland Patch reports about a teenager recently involved in a single vehicle crash who is fighting for his life at Hartford Hospital. The teen struck a tree and was ejected from his vehicle. Authorities are still investigating the events leading up to the accident. Teens are at high risk for all types of accidents, not just those caused by drunk driving.

Many high schools throughout the country are currently conducting mock drunk driving accidents on prom night for their students to witness according to Bangor Daily News.

Mock accidents are a way of portraying the horrific events that can take place during and after a drunk driving accident. Meant to scare teens away from drinking and driving, the event often simulates an alcohol-related crash taking place, rescue efforts to save a life, bodies being transported away, and a funeral ceremony for the teenage victim who died in the crash. Research has shown that 70 percent of juniors and seniors expect their peers to drink on prom night.

Prom night is just the start of a long season of drinking opportunities for teens. Once prom is over, students begin end-of- the-school-year parties, graduation parties, and summer activities.

Knowing what a dangerous time of year it is for teens, Mothers Against Drunk Driving hope that parents are initiating conversations with their teenager about the dangers of alcohol. MADD created the 'Power of Parents, It's Your Influence' program to help parents communicate with their teens about making good choices, living a healthy lifestyle and not driving under the influence. Over 6,000 teens are killed each year from alcohol-related incidents. Talking to your teens is the first step in possibly saving their lives.

MADD offers 5 simple steps to take at home for high school parents:

-Pretend you're a coach by sharing information, discussing how to handle challenging situations and using positive reinforcement when your child makes smart and safe choices.

-Get involved in a series of conversations with your teen about alcohol's side effects, health dangers related to alcohol, respecting the law, and ways to resist peer pressure.

-Monitor your teen's whereabouts after school, evenings and on weekends. Set rules, limits, and consequences when rules are broken.

-Be respectful of your teens opinions and ideas. Not shooting them down will let them feel more adult and let them know you care.

-Always set a good example for your teen by practicing what you preach.

Continue reading " Teens at high risk of drunk driving accidents in Maine during spring and summer events" »