Maine Injury Lawyer Blog

An expected snow storm coming in Wednesday is sure to make Thanksgiving holiday travel throughout the Northeast a nightmare this weekend. The Portland Daily Sun reports that northern Maine could see up to 6 inches of snow if the storm develops as predicted and may cause traffic to come to a screeching halt on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

Maine motorists traveling to see family for Thanksgiving are reminded to travel safely in order to avoid a car accident in Portland, Bangor or elsewhere.

American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that Thanksgiving weekend travel is expected to increase by 4 percent nationwide from last year. Despite the high gas prices, almost 50 cents higher when compared to last year, most families will be traveling in favor of automobile as opposed to airline. Airfares have risen sharply so traveling by car makes sense to most Americans wanting to spend time with family without draining the family budget.

Roughly 90 percent or 38.2 million holiday travelers nationwide will be taking to the roadways this weekend. Maine car accident attorneys realize that travelers in the Northeast must be prepared and patient if they want to get to their destination safely. Not only will traffic congestion be peaked but the stormy weather will make driving a challenge and slow the process of getting to loved ones in time for Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Holiday travel under normal circumstances comes with a certain amount of risks. The National Safety Council expects that 43,400 people will be injured and another 434 will die in traffic-related accidents during the 2011 Thanksgiving Day holiday period. The holiday period begins at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday and ends on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Projections like these are made without weather being a factor which makes it all the more important for motorists to use extra caution.

From 2004 to 2009, the average number of traffic fatalities reported during the Thanksgiving Day holiday period was 535. The high during that period was in 2006 with 623 reported traffic deaths. Though the total for 2009 was significantly lower than in recent previous years, it doesn't indicate that motorists are risk free especially since the number of travelers has been lower the last few years.

The Maine Department of Transportation wants everyone to reach their destination safely this holiday weekend. The department offers these winter and holiday travel trips to motorists:

-Check the winter storm forecast before you leave so you can know what to expect throughout your travel. If the heart of the storm is hitting during your anticipated travel time, stay home and call loved ones on the phone instead.

-Expect delays on major roadways throughout the weekend, not just during inclement weather.

-Slow down. Motorists tend to speed to avoid being late but aggressive driving leads to a high risk of injury in an accident.

-It is better to be safe than sorry so don't take risky chances.

-If snow trucks or emergency vehicles are out on roadways, move over and give them plenty of space to work.

Continue reading "Stormy Weather Poses Severe Risks for Maine Car Accidents During Thanksgiving Day Travel" »

During Drowsy Driving Prevention Week happening all this week, safe-driving advocates have been taking their message to streets in an effort to cut down on sleepy drivers who are causing traffic accidents in Maine and other states nationwide. My FOX Maine is reporting that more than 30 percent of drivers have admitted to driving while drowsy over a recent 30-day period, even though 95 percent of drivers surveyed said drowsy driving is unacceptable.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the National Sleep Foundation are using the campaign to help raise awareness about drowsy driving car accidents in Portland and elsewhere. These accidents take the lives of about 1,550 people and injure another 70,000 every year, running up a tab of nearly $13 billion.

Our Maine car accident attorneys understand the risks and consequences that come with drowsy driving. Statistics reveal that drowsy drivers contribute to about one out of every six fatal accidents and about one in eight injury-resulting accidents. We invite you to join the prevention week's efforts and help educate your loved ones about the dangers and consequences of this dangerous driving habit. These accidents are 100 percent preventable.

"Drowsy driving kills, just as sure as drunk, drugged and distracted driving does," AAA Foundation president and CEO Peter Kissinger said in a foundation. "Drivers have a tendency to underestimate the impact being tired has on their driving ability."

How to tell if you're too drowsy to drive:

-Are you feeling irritable, aggressive or restless?

-Are you having trouble keeping your head up?

-Are you having trouble keeping your eyes open?

-Can you clearly remember the last few miles driven?

-Are you daydreaming?

-Are you yawning excessively?

-Are you blinking a lot?

-Are you overlooking traffic lights, road signs, exit or turns?

-Are you having a tough time focusing on the roadway?

-Are you swerving in and out of your lane?

To help reduce the risks of falling asleep at the wheel, you're urged to get at least seven hours of sleep before setting out on a long car ride. You should also ride with a passenger, make frequent stops to get out and stretch, and travel at times when you'd normally be awake.

If you fail to acknowledge the warning signs listed above, you're putting yourself and other drivers at risk for falling asleep at the wheel. Oftentimes sleepy drivers fall into 3- or 4-second periods of microsleep. This is time when drivers are actually asleep at the wheel. A vehicle can travel the length of a football field during this short amount of time and can wind up in a pretty messy accident.

"We need to change the culture so that drivers recognize the dangers, appreciate the consequences and most importantly, stop driving while sleepy," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger.

Continue reading "Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Focuses on Car Accidents in Bangor and Elsewhere" »

Bowdoin Excavation Inc. in North Yarmouth has been cited numerous times by the Occupational Safety & Heath Administration (OSHA) for violations that were reportedly connected to the fatal Bangor construction accident that killed a 23-year-old employee. We recently told you about this accident on our Maine Injury Lawyer Blog. Now OSHA is taking charge of the incident to help make sure that nothing like this happens again and that all involved parties are properly reprimanded.

According to OSHA, the company was issued nearly $14,000 in fines because it failed to meet the administration's safety standards. Some of the violations were for using construction equipment on unsafe access roadways and for failing to use protective equipment, according to Mainebiz.

Our Portland personal injury attorneys understand that the young worker was run over by a backhoe as he was working at one of the company's work sites in Bangor. It all happened as the vehicle rolled down a small hill. Reports indicate that the employee was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, but the operator of the backhoe was not wearing a seat belt. The seat belt fine totaled more than $4,000. Nearly $2,000 in fines were handed to the company for using a web sling that was damaged, another $1,800 fine for failing to put a ladder in a trench, and more than $4,000 for using a backhoe on a slope that was considered too steep.

The company is not planning on contesting these violations. Company representatives claim that all employees and machine operators were up to date with their training and certificates. The accident is still being investigated by OSHA.

"This is something we take very seriously," said Tricia Bowdoin, office manager and the wife of the company's owner. "Our employees are our company."

In the United States, there were more than 4,500 fatalities resulting from on-the-job accidents in 2010. The number one cause of these deaths was transportation-related accidents. Highway-related deaths accounted for more than 20 percent of the 2010 fatalities. Workplace homicides accounted for slightly more than 10 percent, falls accounted for nearly 15 percent, and getting struck by an object accounted for about 9 percent of fatal work accidents.

Construction accidents killed nearly 800 workers in 2010, accounting for nearly 20 percent of work-related fatalities. More than 10 percent of construction workers who were killed in 2010 were killed in highway-related accidents. Homicides accounted for only 1 percent of the fatalities in this industry. Nearly 40 percent were from falls, and another 8 percent were from workers being hit by objects.

Although OSHA continues to push for better workplace safety, the number of fatal work accidents in Maine increased 20 percent in 2010 compared to 2009 -- from 16 to 19 deaths -- according to the United States Department of Labor.

Continue reading "OSHA Fines Company after Fatal Work Accident in Bangor" »

Our late October snowstorm caught many in the Northeast by surprise, including us in Maine. As of Nov. 1, still more than a million homes along the East Coast were without power. The storm also canceled trick-or-treat adventures, caused rail-service disruptions and contributed to a number of car accidents in Maine and elsewhere.

The snowstorm dumped more than 30 inches of snow in some areas. Snowfall records from the National Weather Service were broken in areas from Virginia to Maine. News sources, including My FOX Philadelphia, are reporting that more than 20 people died because of the storm's effects.

Our Portland car accident attorneys understand that this first blast of winter weather serves as a warning for what we can expect in the coming months. Car accidents on our snowy and icy roadways were lethal in some cases. We urge residents to stay off the road when weather conditions are bad, unless you absolutely have to go somewhere.

Both western and southern Maine saw record snowfall. The most snow fell in Oxford and York counties along the New Hampshire border. More than 17 inches fell in Bridgton and about 20 inches made it in Acton. South Paris and Oxford both received about 15 inches of snow, while Springfield got about 11 inches. These are some of the highest amounts ever recorded in northern and eastern Maine, according to The Bangor Daily.

"This is an unprecedented storm because we've never had this much snow in October in one day," said Michael Sempa, a meteorologist based in Gray. "We've beaten the previous record for the whole month in some places."

You know the common saying about the weather here in New England -- "If you don't like it just wait a minute!" And that's exactly what the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is recommending. Drivers shouldn't drive in poor conditions. Car accidents can be avoided if we all avoid these conditions, but sometimes this isn't realistic. For that reason, we're here to offer you with safe-driving tips for the wicked winter weather to help you get to and from your destinations safely.

Winter driving tips:

-Tune Up. Make sure you have your vehicle checked out. Be sure that tires, batteries and windshield wipers are in working condition, and that all fluids are topped off.

-Buckle Up. Always wear a seat belt. Seat belts may be your best defense against injury in the event of an accident.

-Slow Down. Remember that handling your vehicle is trickier on slick roadways, and that posted speed limits are the limits for normal, clear weather conditions.

-Pack Up. Make sure you've got an emergency kit in your vehicle. This kit should include water, nonperishable food, medications, a flashlight, extra batteries and warm clothing. Always travel with a mobile phone.

-Stay Alert. There's no time for distractions when you're driving down a snowy road. Keep all of your attention on the task at hand -- driving.

-Stay Informed. Check out MaineDOT's Travel Information Service or call 511 or 1-866-282-7578 to learn about possible delays resulting from weather conditions or traffic accidents.

Continue reading "Maine's First Taste of Winter Weather Boosts Car Accidents in Bangor" »