Edward P. Shaughnessy Law Blog | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

Understanding the danger of high speeds

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.

People often complain about "speed traps," saying that the police just set them up to make money, not to keep people safe. However, speed limits -- and the enforcement that goes with them -- really do have a main goal of creating safer roads. The police understand that higher speeds put everyone in danger.

First and foremost, the speed that the cars are traveling at during a crash often relates directly to the severity of the injuries suffered by those in the accident. A crash may have been survivable at 55 miles an hour but may turn deadly at 75 mph. More force acts on the bodies of those in the vehicles.

Never pass a turning truck on the right

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in trucking accidents on Friday, February 7, 2020.

When a semi-truck driver has to turn right, he or she often takes the turn as wide as possible. This is done to make sure that the trailer, which cuts the corner, actually makes it through the turn.

The problem is that some people think that the open space on the right side of the truck is wide enough for their car. They don't realize that the truck needs that space to turn. This then leads to a potentially serious accident.

Consider these driving behaviors warning signs of intoxication

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy on Friday, January 31, 2020.

Driving in Pennsylvania can be challenging, especially during winter. If you're the parent of an inexperienced teenage driver, you likely worry every time you hand your son or daughter the car keys and he or she heads out the door. Perhaps, you provide instructions and reminders to keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times, and to stay focused on the task at hand. Whether you're the one driving or your child is, other motorists can place you at risk for injury.

Drunk drivers, especially, are menaces to Pennsylvania roadways. A key to avoiding driving disasters is to learn how to recognize signs that suggest a specific driver might be dealing with intoxication. When a drunk driver is nearby, there may be little to nothing you can do to stay safe. Then again, staying alert and observing your surroundings might be a key factor to avoiding collision.

Ice causes massive crash in Pennsylvania

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

Driving on icy roads is something you cannot always avoid during these Pennsylvania winters, but it also massively increases the risks motorists face. This became only too clear recently when icy conditions led to a massive, multi-vehicle crash near the border with New York. It happened on I-90, in the eastbound lanes.

The crash occurred on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. It is unclear exactly when the wreck began, but it happened sometime in the early morning hours. By 7:28 a.m., the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) had responded to the accident scene and shut down the eastbound lanes entirely. They kept them closed for more than an hour while they cleaned up the crash site, finally getting things moving again around 9 a.m.

Daydreaming is very common and very dangerous

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

Do you ever feel like your mind wanders a bit too often? It's a common issue. What we're learning is that it's also very risky, especially for those in the car.

How much do we do it? The answer may surprise you. One study, carried out at Harvard, determined that people daydream roughly 47% of the time. That means half of the time that you're awake, you're thinking about something other than what is happening around you.

Why UPS trucks aren't supposed to make left turns

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in commercial vehicle accidents on Thursday, December 26, 2019.

If you watch UPS drivers in town, you will sometimes notice the trucks make left turns. However, it is very uncommon. They generally attempt to make as many right turns as possible to get to the same destination, even if that means it takes them longer.

This is a curious decision from a company that makes its money with fast shipping. Why wouldn't they want the most direct route? Why would they tell drivers that they usually need to go all the way around the block, rather than turning left?

Preparing your car for winter weather

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Friday, December 13, 2019.

Getting into a car accident in the winter can be devastating. It's important to know how to drive safely. You need to slow down, create longer following distances, and understand how to react when the car slides on the ice and snow.l

However, you can't always prevent accidents. Someone else may drive recklessly and cause a crash. As such, it's also important to know how to prepare your car and your passengers for this eventuality.

Child injuries have a simple No. 1 cause

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Friday, November 29, 2019.

As a parent, do you often worry about your children getting hurt? It's ingrained in you. When they were babies, you worried about everything they put in their mouths. As toddlers, you followed them around while they learned to walk. When they first got on a bike, you helped them balance, bought them a helmet and gave them as much support as you could.

While injuries can happen in many ways -- playing sports, roughhousing on the playground, walking down a set of stairs in the snow -- there is one clear No. 1 cause. If you want to keep your kids safe, you need to know what it is. Per the National Institutes of Health, the No 1. cause is car accidents.

Trucks need extra space to stop

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in trucking accidents on Friday, November 15, 2019.

When driving around trucks, drivers need to understand that the safety rules are a bit different. If they do not act like these 80,000-pound vehicles are larger and heavier than the rest of the traffic around them, it can cause accidents.

For instance, one of the most important rules to follow is to always avoid cutting off a truck. Passing itself is not a problem, but only do it when you have plenty of space. Never dart in front of the truck right before a red light, for instance, and then hit the brakes. It may appear that you have enough room, but the truck driver was actually keeping that open space in front of them on purpose, as they need extra space to stop. If you put your car in the way and hit the brakes, the driver may have no way to avoid you.

Do you want to help your older loved one stay safe on the road?

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

From teenagers to those in their golden years, drivers of all ages grace the Pennsylvania roadways. You may have a parent or other older loved one who still drives, and while he or she may certainly have the capabilities to do so, you may still worry about the possibility of an accident. Whether your loved one contributes to an accident or not, you know that such an event could have devastating consequences on an older person.

As a result, you may want to make sure that your loved one can stay as safe as possible while on the road. It is likely that a loved one with good vision and good health will not simply hand over the car keys and limit his or her freedom, but you may be able to suggest some safety tips that seem acceptable.