Personal Injury Cases – Recht Law Offices

If you know a driving behavior is dangerous, would you do it anyway? It seems like the answer to this question should be an obvious no. After all, everyone knows that auto accidents can be deadly, so why engage in behavior that ups your chances of becoming involved in a crash? Unfortunately, a recent study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that there are many drivers who are aware that certain behaviors are dangerous but who are doing these things anyway.

Our West Virginia car accident lawyers believe that the results of this new AAA study are very important. They show how much room for improvement there is as far as drivers making smart choices. We urge everyone to take a look at the survey results and to make the commitment not to do things they know are dangerous when they drive.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Survey

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey is called the 2012 Traffic Safety Culture index. The survey asked drivers whether they viewed a specific driving behavior as bad; whether they thought that society as a whole disapproved of the behavior, and whether they engaged in the behavior. Here is what AAA found:

• Most drivers said drinking and driving is met with strong disapproval and is extremely dangerous. Yet, 2.1 percent said that in the past month they may have driven while over the limit. In total, 14 percent of drivers said that at least once in their lifetime they may have driven while impaired.
• 48.6 percent — almost half — of drivers said that using cell phones should be banned outright when driving, even if hands free devices were used. Yet, more than two-thirds of the drivers surveyed said they had chatted on a cell in the past month as they drove.
• Almost every driver said that it was extremely risky to send emails or to send or read a text message as they operated their vehicles. However, one in four said they’d done one of these actions in the past month.
• Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit on a highway was a behavior that 49.6 percent of drivers admitted to doing in the past month. However, only one in four drivers said they thought speeding was acceptable.
• 38.4 percent of drivers had run a red light in the past month, although the majority of the drivers described this behavior as dangerous.
• 45.9 percent of drivers had fallen asleep while driving one or more time in their lives, although, again, most drivers described drowsy driving as really dangerous behavior.

Unfortunately, the results of the AAA survey revealed that most drivers know these risky behaviors are dangerous and increase the risk of an auto accident. Yet, despite having this knowledge, drivers do not seem to act on it. Instead, drivers choose to do things that they know are dangerous and that are, in some cases, against the law.

These study results were disappointing and show that many drivers should take responsibility for making safer choices for themselves. Unfortunately, drivers who do things they know are dangerous don’t just risk their own lives. Innocent victims can be affected as well when a car accident occurs.

If you’ve been in an auto accident in West Virginia, contact the personal injury attorneys at Recht Law Office at 1-800-HURTLINE.

In late January, an auto accident occurred in Charleston, West Virginia, along Route 3 when a car crashed head-on into a truck. According to a news report on the accident, West Virginia state police attributed the cause of the crash to bad winter weather conditions.

Our West Virginia personal injury attorneys urge every driver to be prepared for winter weather, to be alert for winter weather advisories that may be issued and to follow safe winter driving tips.

Staying Safe from Winter Weather Accidents

The tragic crash in this case was attributed to snow and ice on the roads. Ice, and especially black ice, can create a situation where vehicles lose traction and where drivers lose control. Ice can cause a vehicle to skid or to spin out and unfortunately, the natural instinct to slam on the brakes can sometimes make the situation much worse. Bad winter weather can also impede visibility as snow, heavy rain and fog can make it very hard to see.

Unfortunately, all of these winter weather conditions and all of the dangers created by bad weather contribute to causing many auto accidents during the cold months. Every driver needs to learn some basic safe-driving tips during the bad weather months in order to avoid becoming the victim of a crash. For example, drivers should:

• Listen to the news and check for winter storm or winter weather advisory warnings before planning to drive. If there is a driving warning or bad weather warning, do not drive unless you absolutely have no choice but to brave the weather.
• Leave yourself plenty of time to get to your destination and avoid speeding. In many cases, you may need to actually drive at a speed that is below the normal speed limit in order to avoid a crash.
• Leave ample room to stop by keeping several car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you. Bad weather is no time to tailgate.
• Use your brakes gently to avoid skidding. Leaving plenty of space between the car in front and going slowly will allow you to avoid slamming on the brakes.
• Use low gears on hills or if you are in danger of losing traction on your vehicle.
• Keep your car in good repair and make sure to have the car and tires checked regularly by a qualified mechanic.
• Don’t let your gas tank get too low because you never know when you might be trapped in a snow-related traffic jam. You do not want to run out of gas.
• Don’t ever pass a sanding truck or a snow plow and give these vehicles wide berth.
• Learn the proper techniques for managing a skidding vehicle. The techniques differ depending on whether your front wheels or back wheels skid. Weather.com provides tutorials for both.

Hopefully, by following these winter safe driving tips, you can avoid becoming the victim of a crash during cold, icy and snowy West Virginia winter days.

If you’ve been in an auto accident in West Virginia, contact the personal injury attorneys at Recht Law Office at 1-800-HURTLINE.

From the Wednesday before Thanksgiving straight through until January 2, there is generally an increase in the number of drivers on the road. The added holiday traffic has many causes, from drivers traveling long distances to go home or on vacation to people heading out shopping or celebrating.  Unfortunately, with this increase, there are also more drunk drivers on the road as people are out celebrating.

The combination of more drivers, and more drunk drivers, is often a lethal one and there are typically multiple DUI deaths over key holiday weekends. To help prevent fatalities and keep drivers safe, law enforcement in areas throughout West Virginia will be stepping up DUI enforcement this festive season. Our West Virginia auto accident attorneys urge drivers to be aware of the added law enforcement scrutiny and, more importantly, to refrain from drunk driving so you don’t put yourself or others in danger.

Holiday Drunk Driving Dangers

Drinking and driving is always a dangerous risk to take, but unfortunately many people choose to do it anyway.  Certain holiday events, including the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and New Years Eve, encourage celebration and may result in many people headed out to bars and clubs. Unfortunately, sometimes those who go out drinking don’t end up coming home because they are involved in a fatal wreck. Even more tragically, a DUI driver risks not just hurting himself, but also of hurting a passenger or an innocent third party who just happens to be on the road at the same time.

Statistics show that these incidents where a DUI driver causes death are all-too-common. According to the Register Herald, 316 people died in West Virginia because of drunk driving and around 10,000 people died throughout the U.S during this time period.

Taking Action to Prevent Drunk Driving

Because so many people tend to drink over the holidays, police typically step up DUI enforcement efforts on key weekends. Police in law enforcement will be taking this step in West Virginia in the current holiday season. According to News and Sentinel.com, for example, three additional officers have been assigned to the roads in Parkersburg, West Virginia almost every day in December. These officers will be vested with the responsibility of spotting potential drunk drivers.

Drivers who are thinking about drinking and driving should be aware of the added law enforcement scrutiny in areas throughout West Virginia over the holidays. Both to avoid arrest and to help improve safety, drivers this holiday season should also:

• Assign a designated driver and/or come up with a way to get home before going out drinking rather than assuming you’ll figure something out later.
• Take away the keys of a friend who is considering drinking and driving.
• Have the phone number of a taxi cab with you or available every time you go out, even for one drink, so you can call a cab if you decide you need one.

By following these basic tips, hopefully people can avoid drunk driving and reduce the risk of drunk driving wrecks over the holidays. Sadly, some people may still break the law and drive drunk, hurting or killing themselves or others.

If you’ve been in an auto accident in Ohio, Pennsylvania or West Virginia, contact the personal injury attorneys at Recht Law Office. Call us today at 1-800-HURTLINE.

Two West Virginia highway workers were struck in separate accidents and suffered severe injuries as they cleared debris left by Hurricane Sandy earlier this month.

This has prompted state transportation officials to issue words of warning to all those on the roadways: Watch out for Workers.

Additionally, our West Virginia car accident lawyers would add another warning: Watch out for stranded motorists, particularly as you head out for lengthier trips over the holiday.

The fact is, more people may find their vehicles disabled on the roadway because more people are going to be on the roads. This is particularly important to remember in West Virginia because of our winding highways, long tunnels and wintry weather conditions, which create not only snow and ice, but the potential for power outages. All this creates a heightened risk for serious injuries – or worse – when motorists who are stranded with broken down cars.

Throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, the National Safety Council estimates that approximately 450 people will die in traffic crashes throughout the country. We don’t know how many of those will be in West Virginia, but we do know that in addition to the residents who live here, our highways see a lot of action from interstate travelers from across the country, traveling to and from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky and Maryland. These are individuals who may not be as familiar with the roads as residents and who are often trying to organize long trips that sometimes stretch into nighttime.

For these individuals, make sure that both you and your vehicle are fueled up: this means plenty of sleep, coffee (if you drink it) and a full tank (for the car).

Other things to do in preparation for a long trip to avoid increasing your risk of a crash or breakdown:

• Know the route you plan to take before you leave. Know where you’re going. Tell someone else about your plans, and work it out to call or text that person when you arrive.
• Apprise yourself of an adverse weather conditions on the road ahead that could make travel tougher.
• Be alert of the construction areas and any other hazards that may be presented along the way.
• Minimize the number of distractions. Limit your conversations with other passengers, keep the music volume to a moderate level and keep your cell phone tucked away.
• Always wear your seat belt and make sure children and infants are secured properly.

If you do break down or are about to break down, here are some actions AAA recommends you take immediately:

• Figure out where you are. If you realize you are soon going to be forced to pull over, make a quick note of your general location. Specifically, where the nearest major exit or cross street is.
• If possible, find a well-lit spot. If it’s at all possible to get to a gas station or some other business or rest area, do that. Otherwise, if you’re on a highway, get off to the far right shoulder, as far as you possibly can while remaining on level ground. If you’re on the interstate or some other multiple-lane highway, you may also pull off to the left shoulder, but again, make sure you are as far away from traffic as possible.
• If you get out of the car, do so carefully and watch for oncoming traffic, particularly if it’s at night or in bad weather. Don’t ever stand behind or directly in front of your vehicle. Oncoming cars won’t be able to see you.
• Alert other motorists with either emergency flashers, by raising the vehicle’s hood or by putting warning flares behind the vehicle to direct traffic away.
• Call for help. If your cell phone does not work, you may need to wait for a good Samaritan, but if they stop, communicate with them only through a cracked window.
• Stay in your vehicle.

Remember to stay alert, and drive safely.

If you’ve been in a car accident in West Virginia Ohio, or Pennsylvania, contact the personal injury attorneys at Recht Law Office. Call us today at 1-800-HURTLINE.

When it comes to the latest statistics on Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio car accident injuries and fatalities, there’s good news and bad news. The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration recently released a revised edition of their latest “Traffic Safety Facts” publication, which tallies motor vehicle crashes and auto accident deaths throughout the nation.

Ohio motor vehicle accident deaths went up 5.7%, from 1,022 in 2009, whereas in 2010 there were 1,080 fatalities. Pennsylvania road fatalities rose by 5.4% in 2010, with 1,324 deaths—68 more than the previous year. In West Virginia, however, the news was better, with a 12% decrease in fatalities from car accidents, truck crashes and motorcycle wrecks overall, from 357 in 2009 to 315 the following year.

West Virginia personal injury lawyers at Recht Law Offices encourages all drivers in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio to always drive defensively, no matter what the statistics say. It only takes one distracted driver who is texting behind the wheel in Pennsylvania, a drunk driver in West Virginia or a sleepy truck driver barreling through Ohio to change your life forever.

Nationally, the report details accident statistics pertaining to everything from age to time of day. For instance, fatalities among motorcyclists 50 and older increased by 119, whereas motorcyclist fatalities for drivers under 50 declined by 84 deaths. Nighttime auto accident fatalities went down; of the 998 fewer fatalities in 2010, there were 857 fewer fatalities in nighttime crashes.

With our region’s mix of dense urban traffic zones and remote rural roads, drivers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia must be ready for anything: a passenger car head-on collision in town, a commercial truck jack-knife on a highway or an SUV rollover on a curving country road.

If you or someone you love suffered a car, truck or motorcycle accident injury, or a loved one died in an auto accident, contact the experienced, aggressive Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia personal injury attorneys at Recht Law Office. Call us today at 1-800-HURTLINE or complete the online contact form. We understand your pain and can put experience and resources to work for you.

Recht Law Offices

3405 Main Street

Weirton, WV 26062

A study by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources shows that the number of DUI arrests has steadily declined between 2008 and 2010.

According to a report in The Register-Herald in Beckley, statewide, 6,886 DUI arrests were made in 2008; 6,622 in 2009; and 6,154 in 2010.

The decline in drunk driving arrests certainly is a positive and welcomed trend. As car accident lawyers in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, we have seen how the negligence of drunk drivers can cause heartache on the highways. In a flash, an intoxicated driver can destroy a life and devastate the family members of the accident victim.

It’s important to know your rights if you or a loved one was injured in a driving under the influence accident. Contact Recht Law Offices for a free consultation. Our experienced personal injury attorneys fight hard to get the compensation clients need for their losses.

While it’s heartening to hear about any decline in DUI arrests, it’s alarming to find out that two counties experienced significant increase in arrests for drunk driving between 2008 and 2010: Raleigh and Greenbrier counties. The Register-Herald reports that Raleigh County had 240 DUI arrests in 2008, 255 in 2009 and 276 in 2010. The numbers for Greenbrier County: 156 arrests in 2008, 190 in 2009, and 229 in 2010.

The disturbing upswing in arrests may not necessarily mean more drunk drivers are on the road. There may be stricter enforcement of DUI laws in those counties. One thing’s for sure: Intoxicated people are continuing to drive when they should hand the keys to a sober driver or call a cab. Despite public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, this type of negligent behavior continues to put other motorists and pedestrians at risk of serious injury or death.

While the study focused on West Virginia, driving under the influence accidents can happen anywhere. A drunk driver causes a death on the road twice every hour in the United States. Victims who have been seriously injured may be entitled to recover for lost income, medical bills, emotional trauma, the costs associated with the repair of their damaged vehicles, and more. In some cases, a wrongful death lawsuit may be necessary.

Representing clients in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, Recht Law Offices can put experience and resources to work for the injured and their families. Call 1-800-HURTLINE today for a free case review or visit www.rechtlaw.com. Let an experienced personal injury lawyer protect your rights.

Recht Law Offices

3405 Main Street

Weirton, WV 26062-4505