Monmouth County New Jersey Motor Vehicle Accidents Law Blog

For people who live in colder parts of the country, snow is a major concern when it comes to traffic accidents during the winter months. Moreover, there are a number of times when the risk of an accident caused by snowfall is especially high, such as blizzard conditions and the first snowfall of the season. When it first snows, there are multiple reasons why drivers may have a higher chance of crashing, from those who moved to the area earlier in the year and lack experience driving in the snow to drivers who forget to drive safe when road conditions are less than ideal.

Some drivers get in the habit of driving at a particular speed to get to their destination on time, and they may be thrown off by unexpected snowfall. As a result, they may find themselves in a rush and driving way too fast on the road. While heading around a turn, or trying to drive up a hill, they may lose control of their vehicle and collide with another driver. Even small amounts of snow on the road can lead to a crash and road conditions may vary considerably from one day to the next.

With winter around the corner, people in some parts of the country are likely thinking about ice, snow and other weather-related hazards on the road. However, even when weather conditions are ideal there may be a number of threats to the safety of all drivers and those riding in their vehicles. For example, some roads have a pothole problem, and these potholes can lead to an accident in various ways. It is important to be careful of potholes when you are driving and realize how they could lead to a crash.

First of all, potholes can lead to single-vehicle accidents if a driver loses control of their vehicle after unexpectedly driving over a pothole. Some accidents may involve a car rolling over or veering off of the road and hitting a tree, for example. Aside from the risk of a rollover accident or a crash which only involves one vehicle, potholes can also lead to a collision which involves a number of vehicles. For example, a driver may hit a pothole and cross over into another lane. Or, a driver may cause an accident while trying to avoid a pothole.

Distracted driving is a growing problem throughout the world and it's largely the result of addictive smartphones. Indeed, if you look around at the traffic around you while driving, you'll no doubt catch countless drivers with their noses buried in a smart device.

Perhaps, if technology caused this problem, it could also be the solution.

When you are busy driving, it may be easy for your mind to wander as you begin thinking about where you are going or what you are doing in the coming hours. Even more distracting can be things like passengers talking, your phone alerting you to a new message or even your decision to eat lunch while driving. Staying alert is incredibly important for your own protection, as well as that of other motorists, particularly those who are on motorcycles which may be more difficult to see. At Escandon, Fernicola, Anderson & Covelli, we are aware of the dangers of riding a motorcycle in New Jersey. 

Recognizing motorcycles and driving appropriately around them can help to prevent unnecessary accidents from happening. According to insuramatch.com, when you are making a left-hand turn, you are at a much higher risk of hitting a motorcycle for a couple of different reasons. First, you may not be as observant of your blind spots as you are looking back and forth to identify an opening in traffic. Second, it may be difficult to accurately tell how fast an oncoming motorcyclist is traveling as you are turning in front of them. As such, it is imperative that you pay extra attention to your surroundings when you are turning left.