Maine Injury Lawyer Blog

As all of the zombies, ghosts, goblins and mummies head out for some neighborhood trick-or-treating adventures, there's another scary monster lurking in the dark -- child injury in Portland, Maine. It's true. Halloween is one of the most dangerous times for children to be out and about. Their risks for a pedestrian accident are higher during this time that during any other time of the year.

Don't worry. The South Portland Police Department and our Bangor, Maine, personal injury attorneys are here to share some tips for parents and little monsters to remember while celebrating Halloween.

Parents who are supervising young trick-or-treaters and those who are able to roam the neighborhood alone should always plan their trip before heading door to door. Everyone should plan a route that is safe -- one that isn't along any major roadways, has sidewalks or safe shoulders, is well lighted and has safe crossing areas. Trick-or-treaters of all ages should have a curfew. The later it gets, the more dangers and risks we face for a pedestrian-car accident.

Tips to avoid a pedestrian accident this Halloween:

-Try to you make yourself and your little trick-or-treaters as visible to motorists as possible. You should wear reflective tape on your costume or carry a flashlight.

-Look left and right before and during your trip across a road. Although drivers should be on their best driving behavior, you must take it upon yourself to walk cautiously.

-Never trick-or-treat alone.

-Never go into a stranger's house or car.

-Suit your child in comfortable shoes and make sure that all costumes are short enough to prevent a trip and fall hazard.

-Do not trick-or-treat at houses with no lights on.

Candy rules:

-Never allow children to snack on candy as their trick-or-treating. Make sure they eat dinner before heading out so they're less tempted to snack.

-Examine all candy as soon as you get home. Make sure none of the candy has been opened or tampered with. If you see a piece in question, throw it away.

-Consider handing out non-food items like spider rings, bubbles, toothbrushes, etc.

Halloween at home:

-Make sure that all trip hazards are cleared from driveways, sidewalks and front porches.

-Be sure to wipe up any wet surfaces so that trick-or-treaters are less likely to slip and fall.

-Be sure that all lights are on and working proper outside the front of your house.

-Never leave a lighted pumpkin unattended.

We can all have a safe and fun Halloween if we follow these few safety rules. Motorists are urged as always to be cautious in residential areas, especially during dusk on the 31st. Be sure to keep a lookout for monsters on the roadway to prevent a scary car accident. Be safe and have a Happy Halloween!

Continue reading "South Portland Police and Our Bangor Personal Injury Attorneys Warn of Halloween Accidents" »

Maine is proudly participating in the 2011 National Teen Driver Safety Week, which is taking place this week through the 22nd, according to MarketWatch. During this time, parents are urged to talk with their newly-licensed drivers about safe-driving habits to help reduce their risks of a car accident in Portland, Maine, and elsewhere throughout the state.

Recently, the state was presented with thousands of dollars from the Ford DSFL grant to help to educate teen drivers about safe traveling habits. The funds will be used by state officials to conduct activities and events throughout the state this fall to help with the teen driver education process.

Our Maine car accident attorneys understand that teen driving habits are a frequent topic of conversation among safe-driving advocates nationwide. With inexperience comes a serious risk of injury or death on our roadways. To help our young drivers gain confidence and experience behind the wheel, parents are urged to ride along with teens even when they possess an unrestricted license. Positive reinforcement can help boost their skills behind the wheel, and more supervised driving time can help to keep them safe on our roadways.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently conducted and released its findings the risks that young drivers face.

The study concluded that teen drivers face the highest risks for an accident during their first 30 days of unrestricted driving. These risks are 50 percent higher than the risks they face during their first year of unrestricted driving, and about twice as high as the risks they face during their first two years of unrestricted driving.

Researchers conducted the study by installing cameras in the cars of teen drivers in North Carolina. About 60 percent of the accidents during a driver's first 30 days of unrestricted licensing that a teen was found to be partially at-fault were caused by speeding, failing to yield and driver inattention.

Researchers also discovered that the involvement of speed decreased as a driver's experience increased.

"We know that young drivers' crash rates decrease quickly as they gain experience," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger.

Some researchers believe that teens are at such high risks during the first 30 days because of the way they were taught to drive. Many teens are allowed to drive only with parents through familiar roadways on routine trips in low-risk situations. None of this driving practice prepares them for what they will face on our roadways. Parents are urged to ride along with their teen driver in a number of scenarios, including nighttime driving, driving in the rain, driving in the snow, driving in heavy traffic, etc. This is the best way to help to prepare them for the real world of the road.

We urge that you use National Teen Driver Safety Week to talk with your teen driver about the importance of safe-driving habits and the consequences of bad ones. Unfortunately, car accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. According to AAA, there were more than 730,000 drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 who were involved in police-reported accidents in 2009.

Go ahead and talk to your teen driver this week. Let them know about the importance of safe driving habits and about the consequences if they don't pay close attention at the wheel. Your talk about these habits could potentially save their life on our roadway.

Continue reading "National Teen Driver Safety Week and AAA Address Habits Causing Teen Car Accidents in Portland and Elsewhere" »

A Knoxville pedestrian recently defied all odds and walked away from a car accident in Waldo County. The accident happened when a vehicle swerved to avoid hitting a deer and ran right into the man walking along the side of the road. He was taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center with a broken neck, according to the Republican Journal. The vehicle was traveling so fast that when it hit the embankment, it went flying through the air and skidded for a couple hundred feet.

A second animal-related car accident in Maine turned fatal as an 18-year-old driver also tried to swerve to avoid hitting a deer. The accident happened in Harpswell when the young driver swerved to avoid contact with the animal. His vehicle was sent into trees lining the roadway. Upon striking the trees, the vehicle flipped.

Our Portland car accident attorneys would like to warn drivers about the increased risks we'll be facing over the next few months. According to State Farm, the largest insurer of U.S. private passenger auto, October through December are the most dangerous months on our roadways for deer-car accidents. From July of 2010 to June of 2011, there were more than a million car-deer accidents reported in the U.S. These accidents can cause damage in a number of ways, to your vehicle, to motorists and to your pocketbook. An animal-related car accident typically costs drivers more than $3,000. Injuries can be much more serious.

In 2009, these types of accidents cost drivers nearly $5 billion. More than $3.5 billion was handed over to repair vehicle damage and about $1 billion was used to cover medical payments and other out-of-pocket costs.

In our state, there are approximately 3,000 deer-car accidents every year. About 10 accidents are reported every day and they're reported throughout all areas of the state. In the last three years, there have been more than 9,000 accidents reported; killing two people and injuring nearly 400.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were nearly 200 fatalities because of animal-related accidents in 2009 in the U.S. These accidents resulted in another 10,000 motorist injuries.

The Maine Department of Transportation (MoDOT) offers you these tips to help avoid a deer-car accident:

-Turn on your high beams when there are no vehicles driving in front of you or any vehicles driving toward you. This will help to light up the road so that you're better able to see deer. The light will also reflect from their eyes, which helps to make them more visible.

-Make sure that you always travel at a safe speed so that you're able to stop quickly if you need to.

-Slow down when driving through fog and rain. Poor weather conditions reduce your ability to spot a deer.

-Always scan the roadside.

-If you see a deer cross the road, be cautious as there are probably more. Deer usually travel in groups.

-Always wear your seat belt.

-Be extra cautious during dawn and dusk. About 70 percent of these accident occurred when it was dark out.

In the last three years:

-Cumberland County experienced nearly 1,500 deer-related accidents.

-Penobscot County had more than 1,200 accidents.

-Kennebec County had more than 1,000 crashes.

Continue reading "October Kicks Off Season for Deer-Related Car Accidents in Maine" »

The International Walk to School Day started back in 1997 and since then millions of people across the globe have come together to help reduce the risks of pedestrian accidents in Maine and elsewhere each October. In 2002, the largest number of participants was recorded at approximately 3 million for the event.

There are many reasons to participate in this year's events. Walking promotes a healthy lifestyle, it helps to reduce the amount of pollutants let off by motor vehicles and it helps to raise awareness about the need for more accessible sidewalks, pathways and safer intersections.

Our Portland pedestrian accident attorneys understand that pedestrian safety has been a frequent topic of conversation among safety advocates. Back in 2005, legislation was passed to help everyone understand the importance of safe pedestrian travel. Through this legislation and through the Safe Routes to School program, federal funding is distributed to states for safe traveling programs and for the construction of safer roadways. However, none of the contributions mean anything without the cooperation of motorists and pedestrians across the nation. This event helps to gain the cooperation from individuals across the state.

Schools that are participating in this year's event include:

-Hichborn Middle School

-Troy Central Elementary School

-Monroe Elementary School

-Morse Memorial Elementary School

-Walker Elementary School

-Mt. View Elementary School

-Mt. View Middle School

-My. View High School

-Madison Elementary School

-Atwood Primary School

-Blue Point School

-Brown Elementary School

-RSU 3

-Mount Desert Elementary School

-Mahoney Middle School

Each school is participating in different ways. Some schools are hosting mile long walks/runs during school hours. Others are dropping school bus riders off a mile away from school and having everyone walk to school together. Others have simply applied for some of the federal funding so that students can have safe ways to make it to school.

Approximately 11,500 schools across the county have already received federal funding to help create safer routes to school. Maine is hoping to receive some of this funding during the 2011 campaign. Safe sidewalks and crosswalks could be constructed at a number of our local roadways to help keep our school-aged pedestrians safe. The truth of the matter is that far too little funding is spent on pedestrian safety.

"Enabling and encouraging safe walking and biking to school is important for transportation, health, and safety in communities throughout the State," said Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) Commissioner David Cole.

The MaineDOT encourages you join this year's events to:

-Help to reduce traffic congestion and speed limits near schools and in school zones.

-Help to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicular traffic.

-To help to improve classroom performance and behavior.

-To improve socials networks amongst students and to increase the bond between students and teachers.

-To teach children safe pedestrian and bicycling behavior and habits.

-To help build students' self-confidence and independence.

-To help reclaim the streets for safer walking and biking instead of for speedy vehicular traffic.

Continue reading "Maine DOT Participates in Walk to School Day to Raise Awareness of Child Pedestrian Accidents in Bangor " »