The British researchers looked at motorists driving just around the World Cup and Wimbledon games. The found that when drivers were listening to sports commentary, their reaction times declined by as much as 20%. To put that in perspective, 20% is the drop in reaction time that's typically seen in an intoxicated driver. What that basically means is that your risk of being involved in an accident when you're engrossed in your sports commentary is as high as if you were driving under the influence.

It's important to remember that when you're engrossed in radio sports commentary, you're much less likely to see other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists around you. You're less likely to hear the horns of motorists around you. You're less likely to make emergency driving decisions in time, and your reaction times are likely to get delayed.

Opponents of high-speed police chases say that very often, the people who die in such crashes are killed when police are chasing a suspect for minor infractions. It doesn't make a lot of sense for police to initiate a high-speed chase, especially on New Jersey's congested roads, for minor infractions. However, it has not been that easy to define what a “minor infraction“ is. 

There is some truth to that. However, the fact that there are 350 people dying every year, is also a cause for concern. There is also the fact that 350 could actually be a conservative estimate, because there is no well-established reporting system for these fatalities. We could be looking at fatality numbers that are up to six times higher than the figures the USA Today report mentions.

These are innocent pedestrians and motorists, whose only fault was that they got caught in a situation not of their making.. Their families are distressed that there are few restrictions on chase policies, and are campaigning for changes in these policies.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey car accident lawyer, representing injured victims of car accidents in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic, Ocean Counties and across the state of New Jersey.

However, the American Academy of Neurology has announced that it will be altering those guidelines soon. The Academy has apparently done studies that show that patients, who suffer from mild dementia, may still be able to drive safely. It's not enough if the patient scores low on the dementia scale, however. He must also have support from family members and caregivers who confirm that the person is able to drive safely. He must also have a good record of safe driving, with no accidents and no driving errors to his credit.

Scott Grossman is a Monmouth County car accident lawyer representing injured victims in Freehold, Howell, and Marlboro, and around Monmouth County and the state of New Jersey.

In 2001, New Jersey enacted new GDL laws that included

•  Restrictions on the number of passengers teen motorists could have
•  More hours of practice driving
•  Restrictions on driving at night that prevented motorists with a learner's permit from driving between 11 PM and 5 AM, and provisional license holders from driving between midnight and 5 AM

Those laws seem to have had the required effect. The AAA study showed that there was a reduction in the number of 17-year-old teen motorists involved in fatal accidents between 2002 and 2005, compared to 1998 to 2000. Statistics for crashes involving teen motorists after midnight were even better with the accident rate after midnight for 17-year-old motorists dropping by 44%. That's not all. There were major reductions in accident rates and injury rates in all teen accidents that were reported to the police, accidents that resulted only in injuries, as well as fatal accidents involving 17-year-olds. Post-midnight accidents involving 18-year-olds went down by 17%.

This reduction in injuries, fatalities and accidents has been encouraging enough for safety advocates to push for stronger laws involving parental involvement. According to New Jersey Division of Highway Safety Chief Sam Fisher, the agency is working with the Motor Vehicle Commission to study how parents of teen motorists can get more involved in teen safety issues. One bill that was linked to this issue passed the Assembly last year, and will be introduced this year. The bill will require parents of motorists below the age of 18 to attend a teen motorist safety orientation program.

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey car accident lawyer representing injured victims of car accidents in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties, and across the state of New Jersey.

The device has been developed by an Israel-based company, and comprises of a harness, backpack and leg supports. The equipment also includes sensors that can detect and communicate to a computer in the backpack that a step needs to be taken. The person can then walk using his crutches.   The device works with the help of a battery that can be charged for three hours of use. However, in order to be able to use the device, a person must have the use of his upper body.

If all goes well, the device could be available as quickly as a few months from now.   Once the clinical trials end, the company Argo Medical Technologies, plans to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for approval. If the device is approved, the device will available in New Jersey and nationwide by late 2010. 

• In Monmouth County, the most number of fatalities occurred on route 444 with 73 deaths in 61 accidents. Out of these, 20 deaths involved accidents in which a driver had been intoxicated, 6 deaths involved a speeding driver, and 33 deaths or more than 45 %, involved failure to wear seat belts. 
• In Bergen County, the largest number of fatalities between 1994 and 2008 occurred on I-95 which saw 56 deaths in a total of 54 accidents. Out of these, failure to buckle up was linked to the highest number of fatalities with 37 deaths or 56 percent of the fatalities. Drunk driving accounted for 16 deaths and speeding accounted for 2 deaths.
• In Ocean County, the highest number of deaths occurred on route 444 with 86 accidents and 96 fatalities.  The percentage of fatalities not wearing seat belts was close to 47 percent (45 deaths), with 20 deaths attributed to drunk driving and 6 deaths attributed to speeding
• In Passaic County, I-80 was the most dangerous highway with 37 deaths in 35 accidents. Failure to (you guessed it) wear seat belts was the major factor in the fatalities here too, with 26 persons or more than 70 percent, not wearing seat belts. 15 of these deaths occurred in accidents involving a drunk driver, while four involved accidents caused by speeding.

The lessons from the data are obvious. You can increase your chances of staying safe on New Jersey roads by simply following 3 basic rules.

1. Never drink and drive.
2. Never drive above the recommended speed limit.
3. Always wear seat belts.

Scott Grossman is a car accident lawyer in New Jersey, representing victims of automobile, motorcycle and truck accidents in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and ocean Counties and across the state of New Jersey.

The researchers surveyed 800 teens between the ages of 12 and 17 between June and September this year. Seventy four additional teens, who were part of 9 focus groups in New York, Atlanta, Denver and Anna Arbor were also surveyed. While some of the results were not too surprising, the others were extremely worrisome.

Reactions to this behavior were mixed.  While in some cases, teens admitted to being nervous or scared when their parents texted while at the wheel, other teens had grown used to such parental behavior, and thought texting while driving was not a big deal. It’s the second group of teen motorists that I am concerned about. Texting while driving is extremely dangerous, and when a teen sees his or her parent addicted to text messaging while at the wheel, it only helps to develop and foster such reckless behavior in impressionable young motorists.

As a New Jersey car accident lawyer, I believe that parents have as much of a responsibility as schools and law enforcement authorities to develop safe driving practices in children. It’s alarming that so many parents seem to recklessly text at the wheel, unaware or uncaring that their children are observing and learning from them. Parents must step up and contribute to efforts to tackle the texting while driving menace.

That’s why it was so great to read that Ford Motor Company will introduce new inflatable seatbelts in the backseats of Ford Explorers that are due to go into production shortly.  The inflatable seatbelts begin to fill with air at the time of impact, protecting a person from chest, neck and head injuries. The seatbelts will be equipped in the rear seats, protecting these passengers from serious injuries in front and side impact crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been working to require safety features like electronic stability control systems, to be made standard on all passenger vehicles. For instance, by the year 2012, all passenger vehicles under 10,000 pounds must come equipped with electronic stability control systems as standard equipment. The systems are already in place in many popular models, as are side airbags which protect passengers from serious injuries  in the event of side impact crashes.

The development of safety features like these is one of the reasons why auto accident fatality rates in the US have been declining the way they have.  

Scott Grossman is a New Jersey car accident lawyer representing victims of auto accidents in Monmouth, Bergen, Passaic and Ocean Counties and across New Jersey.

NJ.com is reporting that the 26-year-old driver, Alex Gerashchenko made a virtual appearance in court via video link from the Hudson County jail, to hear the charges. He is facing a sentence of between 5 and 10 years for the assault by auto charge. Apparently quite a charming character, Gerashchenko has also been charged with unlawful taking of a means of conveyance.  His girlfriend had complained that he had disappeared with her mother's Jeep Grand Cherokee before the Thanksgiving accident, when he plowed his vehicle into the car carrying the Almario family. 

Gerashchenko, who was arrested after the car accident, was found to have been under the influence of alcohol.

The Almarios have been though a terrible ordeal which is still ongoing, as long as Jenica continues to receive therapy. Earlier, prognosis for the little girl's chances of walking again was bad, but she's now expected to make a recovery, with extensive physical rehabilitation therapy. We pray that Jenica gets back to her feet as quickly as possible, and be united with her family again.

This was a family that was doing nothing wrong at all. Dennis was following all traffic rules, driving on the right side of the road. He hadn't decided to get behind the wheel in an intoxicated state, to endanger the lives of his family and others on the street. Gerashchenko deserves the most severe sentence that a criminal court can hand down for his offence. He must also be held accountable for the pain, suffering and monetary loss he has caused this young family. There are two children here who have been scarred, and will carry nightmarish memories of their experience for a while. 

As survivors of what could have been a fatal car accident, the Almarios have every right to claim damages from Gerashchenko with the help of a New Jersey law firm. The family should consider talking with a New Jersey car accident lawyer to evaluate their legal options.

Pedestrian accidents have become far too frequent on this stretch that has the distinction of being voted the most dangerous road in New Jersey by a transportation advocacy group. In all, between 2005 and 2007, a total of nine pedestrians were killed on the road. Now, city authorities are making efforts to stem these growing numbers of accidents.   Since the beginning of September, traffic enforcement officers have stepped up efforts on Route 130, and over 200 vehicles have been stopped. 199 traffic summons have been issued, including several for running red lights, using a cell phone while driving, speeding, and the rest for seat belt, and stop sign violations. 

Burlington City Mayor James Fazzone is looking at other ways to reduce the high accident rate on the much used stretch of road. On the anvil are plans for a pedestrian overpass that should be able to lessen the congestion on the road. Other ideas being proposed include the installation of blinking lights just before the intersection to act as a warning to motorists about the school crossing. 

Whatever the City plans to do, they need to do it fast. Too many innocent people are getting killed because of brazen violations on the street.

Dangerous Roads

When there are defects on a roadway because of the design of the road, improper maintenance, inadequate lighting or signage, then the chances of an accident increase significantly.  Construction defects in a road can cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle, while the lack of signage can lead to confusion, causing auto accidents. It’s the duty of federal, state and county authorities to make sure that the roadways are safely designed, properly constructed, and maintained regularly. If an accident occurs because of the failure of these agencies to provide safe conditions for you to drive in, then they can be held liable in a court of law for any injuries that may occur because of these accidents.

Proving that defects in road design or maintenance were the cause of your accident and injuries requires the expertise of an experienced New Jersey accident lawyer. More than one agency may have been responsible for the negligence, and may be held accountable for damages. Contact an experienced New Jersey car accident lawyer for an evaluation of your case.

 As a Monmouth County and New Jersey car accident attorney I have represented hundreds of victims that suffered critical injuries because of alcohol related car accidents.  This news story above highlights a all too common scenario whereby alcohol appears to have impaired this driver’s sense of judgment. The alleged intoxicated driver may have destroyed the lives of these innocent grocery shoppers who never would have imagined that they would fall victim to a drunk driver while going through their normal every day routine of pushing their grocery carts at their local supermarket.  Drinking and driving frequently leads to victim's extreme suffering.  I have witnessed first hand clients that have suffered at the hands of drunk drivers’ : traumatic brain injury, loss of limbs, spinal cord injuries including paralysis fractures, herniated disc injuries leading to spinal fusion or inter-body fusion surgery and a myriad of other life altering injuries and even death.  So as a seasoned New Jersey and Monmouth County accident attorney lawyer I can attest unequivocally that alcohol mixed with driving of motor vehicles, motorcycles or trucks many times equates with the total destruction of innocent life and also destroys both individuals and their families.  We can significantly reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities in New Jersey by never ever driving while intoxicated or in any way impaired.