Maine Injury Lawyer Blog

Residents of Maine are accustomed to heavy snow, ice, and freezing temperatures during the cold winter months. As winter approaches, the weather can unfortunately result in unsafe conditions on the road, from slippery black ice to unplowed snow. These conditions can make it harder for some drivers to maintain control of their vehicles. Due to the risk of a winter weather accident, drivers should take extra precautions to stay safe.

How Can I Avoid a Maine Winter Weather Accident?

While not every accident is preventable, there are steps drivers can take to protect themselves on the road. First, slow down. Excessive speeding can lead drivers to lose control of their vehicles, especially if the road is covered in ice or snow. To prevent speeding, try to leave earlier for your destination so you do not feel the need to rush. Second, increase your following distance. During the winter months, a vehicle may need to slow or stop unexpectedly to navigate icy terrain. Leaving more space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you can prevent a rear-end collision. Additionally, make sure to stay focused on the road. Distracted driving can lead drivers to lose control of their car or collide with another vehicle on the road. To prevent distracted driving accidents, avoid talking on the phone or texting while driving.

In addition to using these safety tips while you are on the road, you can take preventative steps to avoid an accident before you even start your vehicle. First, make sure to take your vehicle in for service. To avoid an accident caused by a faulty part or another maintenance issue, talk to your mechanic about inspecting your vehicle for any potential problems. Additionally, take precautions to ensure you are not stranded on a cold winter road. Make sure your car battery is working, fill up your tank with enough gas, and keep your phone charged in the event that you need to seek help. Similarly, inspect your tires for any wear and tear, and make sure they have enough pressure before getting on the road. This simple step can help prevent your vehicle from slipping around on icy roadways.

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Drivers are often helpless to prevent rear-end collisions when they see a car careening toward them in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately, these types of collisions are all too common: nearly 28% of all crashes reported a rear-end collision as the first harmful event causing the crash in the United States in 2020. Over 2,000 of these were fatal, and over 400,000 produced an injury. A further one million crashes resulted in only property damage. And a single rear end accident can cause a chain of events that result in more accidents.

According to a recent article, two people were hospitalized after a four-car accident in Augusta, Maine. A vehicle slowed down due to traffic, causing a vehicle four cars behind to rear end the car in front of it, beginning a chain reaction and badly damaging at least two of the vehicles. The accident occurred on a bridge, potentially limiting exit options for drivers who may have wished to get out of the way of the collisions.

What to Do If You’re Rear Ended

If you’ve been rear ended by another vehicle, don’t panic. First, do not hesitate to get checked out by a doctor or emergency medical professional. You may have injuries that you do not feel because of adrenaline, and some injuries do not come to the forefront until hours or days after an accident. Even a low-impact accident can cause whiplash or injuries from seatbelt pressure. More severe injuries can include head injuries and concussions, chronic lower back pain, broken bones, or even bleeding in the brain.

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A motor vehicle accident can happen at any moment, and understanding what to do after an accident can be especially daunting because of its unexpectedness and the complexities of the unique circumstances in each case. In addition to navigating insurance claims, you may also consider filing claims in court to potentially recover compensation for any losses you experienced as a result of the accident. This may include medical expenses due to serious injuries. When there are multiple people and multiple vehicles involved in an accident, it may also require an investigation into who the at-fault driver is, and which parties are responsible

According to a recent news report, three individuals were injured in a multi-vehicle crash in Casco, Maine. A 69-year-old driver of a truck was heading eastbound on Roosevelt Trail when the vehicle crossed the center line and struck three other vehicles. The truck first hit a black Jeep SUV, next struck a white Chevy Malibu, and then hit a brown Chrysler 200. The driver of the black Jeep SUV was uninjured, while the driver of the Chevy Malibu was taken to the hospital with serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening, and the driver of the Chevy Malibu was flown to a local hospital for serious injuries that are considered life-threatening. The 69-year-old driver of the truck was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Car Accident Liability in Maine: Negligence and At-Fault Drivers

T-bone accidents are a dangerous type of car accident. They occur when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle, creating a T-bone shape when the two vehicles collide. Intersections are a common site of T-bone accidents, usually after a driver runs through a stop sign and crashes into a car traveling across the perpendicular road. Unfortunately, due to the immense force of a T-bone collision, these accidents can often result in severe injury or death.

According to a recent news article, two people were hospitalized after a T-Bone crash in St. Albans, Maine. The accident occurred after two vehicles, which held five total occupants, crashed at an intersection. Two people were transported to the hospital, and both cars were totaled.

What Are the Causes of T-Bone Accidents?

T-bone accidents frequently occur at an intersection when a driver runs through a stop sign or red light or fails to abide by another traffic signal, such as a yield sign. Drivers may ignore a traffic sign for several reasons. First, they may be distracted or attempting to multitask, such as talking on the phone while driving. To avoid a T-bone collision, keep your eyes on the road and avoid making any calls while operating a vehicle. Second, a driver may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so avoid drinking and driving at all costs. A T-Bone collision may also occur at night if drivers cannot see a traffic signal ahead of them. If you are driving at night, be sure to use your headlights so you have a clear view of a stop or yield sign before you approach an intersection.

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When a victim dies in a car accident that resulted from the careless actions of another driver, the victim’s family members may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit. Even though no amount of money can fully compensate for the loss of a loved one, seeking damages in a wrongful death claim can begin to address the immediate economic issues that arise following a loved one’s death.

Too often, car accidents can prove to be fatal events. As a recent news article reported, a vehicle collision in Waterboro, Maine left two people dead and two others injured. According to local police, the accident occurred when a van traveling south collided with another vehicle driving north. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The van’s two passengers were transported to the hospital to treat their injuries.

What Damages are Available After a Fatal Car Accident in Maine?

While no amount of money can fully compensate for the loss of a loved one, a plaintiff in Maine can pursue a wrongful death lawsuit after a victim dies in a car accident. Maine primarily allows the deceased victim’s estate or the victim’s family to file a wrongful death lawsuit if the family members were the victim’s dependents. A wrongful death lawsuit can seek economic damages, such as medical and funeral expenses, along with the deceased victim’s lost wages. Additionally, the victim’s loved ones can sue for damages that are more difficult to quantify. These include the loss of the deceased victim’s companionship and comfort, along with emotional distress damages arising from the accident that led to the victim’s death.

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Unfortunately, automobile accidents can injure not only the people directly involved but also anyone subject to the chain reaction they cause. At the end of September, a collision on the highway in Maine ended up causing a second collision three miles away. This second collision left one man dead, according to reports from the Maine Department of Public Safety.

News articles indicate that a two-vehicle crash occurred on a Saturday morning in what was initially a relatively minor incident. One driver, operating an SUV, went into the passing lane while a driver nearby moved into the right lane. Both drivers were traveling at a high rate of speed, and the SUV rear-ended the second car as it was moving into the right lane.

The drivers and passengers from this original accident suffered only minor injuries. The highway was, however, severely congested for a while after the incident occurred. Forty minutes after the rear-end collision, a BMW was rear-ended by a second car three miles away. The Maine Department of Public Safety reports that this second crash was caused by traffic slowing in the area from the initial crash a few miles down the highway.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 633 people died in drowsy-driving crashes in 2020. The NHTSA attributes diminished work-life balance because of a more technologically advanced and connected world to low sleep quality, which is a factor in many fatigued driving incidents. Although the NHTSA acknowledges that fatigued driving is a problem, determining a precise number of crashes and injuries from fatigued driving is difficult, and crash investigators cannot always directly identify an accident caused by a drowsy driver. Fatigued driving crashes are often single-driver crashes that occur when people experience dips in their circadian rhythm late at night and in the late afternoon. But NHTSA acknowledges that sleepiness can cause crashes at any time and in myriad ways, including in ways that injure other drivers, as evidenced by one recent accident.

According to a recent article, three people were injured in a crash in Fairfield, Maine. Both drivers in the two-car crash and a passenger were taken to the hospital but have since been released. A 36-year-old man drove across the center line at around 9 p.m., hitting a 68-year-old man driving a truck and his passenger. Police are still investigating the crash but say driver fatigue is a possible factor.

Alert Driving Tips

Everyone has a duty to drive safely on the roads we share. While it can be easy to be angry at fatigued drivers, there’s a good chance everyone has been in a situation where they should not have been behind the wheel at the end of a long day. Look out for your fellow drivers and stay alert with these tips from the NHTSA.

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