Edward P. Shaughnessy Law Blog | Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

Should drivers wear helmets?

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

We know that helmets save lives. If you talk to safety experts about motorcyclists and traditional cyclists, they'll tell you that every single one should have a helmet on. They'll tell you that it doesn't matter what the law says -- many states do not require helmets -- because the evidence shows that helmets increase safety, decrease death rates and a lower brain injury rate.

With all of that in mind, some have argued that drivers and passengers inside cars should also wear helmets. Wouldn't the same basic principle hold true? A helmet could reduce the odds of a serious injury or a fatality. There's a reason that professional race car drivers wear helmets -- but far, far more people crash in everyday traffic than in races.

What can a nearly fatal car accident teach you about life?

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

Getting into a nearly fatal car accident has a lot of negative ramifications. Your car is totaled. You have high medical bills. You end up dealing with a lot of pain and suffering. Your injuries take a long time to heal. This is the type of event that can change your life forever.

That said, not all of those changes are bad. Many people who go through near-death experiences actually say that they learn a lot of positive things from the experience. What could it teach you about life? How could it change the way that you live?

10 safety tips for truck drivers

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in trucking accidents on Thursday, June 13, 2019.

It's very important for truck drivers to understand that an accident in such a large vehicle really puts other drivers in serious danger. They need to know how to drive safely and avoid a crash that could injure or kill others are the road. Safety must come before productivity, deadlines and related pressures of the job.

With that in mind, here are 10 safety tips that all truck drivers should consider carefully:

Pay attention to the weather reports before getting on the road.
Always stay alert and pay attention to the traffic around the truck.
When parking, check out the area on foot if possible.
Try to drive when traffic volumes are lowest, avoiding rush hour.
Leave a large cushion of distance between the front of the truck and the next vehicle.
During the night, drive very cautiously and understand the negative impact of reduced visibility.
Use a GPS to help define the route and give warnings in advance; for instance, a GPS can state that an exit is coming up miles before it arrives.
Try to change lanes as little as possible.
Always do maintenance and check basic components, like the brakes, before a long drive.
Obey the speed limit. If conditions warrant it, drive under the speed limit. Remember that trucks take longer to stop and excessive speed is very dangerous.

Pennsylvania man killed in accident in New Jersey

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

A man from Pennsylvania tragically passed away in a car accident while he was in Ocean City, New Jersey.

According to reports, the man was a pedestrian at the time that he was hit. The car that hit him was going down 8th Avenue, heading west. The driver then attempted to turn left onto Bay Avenue, going south. When they did so, they ran into the man, who was 47 years old, and a 40-year-old woman.

Tips for improving your time in the hospital after an accident

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 17, 2019.

A red-light-runner slams into your car and puts you in the hospital. You have extensive injuries, and you know you have to stay for more than a week. It's a daunting amount of time. You've never really liked hospitals, and you worry about staying in that room for so long. What can you do to make it better?

First of all, don't stay in the room at all if you don't have to. If you are able to move around, even with aid -- like a walker or a wheelchair -- take the time to get out and about. You will be surprised by how much a simple walk down the hall can do to break up the routine and make you feel better.

Would you know if you were bleeding internally after an accident?

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy on Thursday, May 9, 2019.

The sounds of crunching metal, the smells of vehicle fluids and the violent motions of your vehicle may be the first indications you get that you are involved in an accident. When your vehicle finally comes to rest, it will most likely take you a few minutes to digest what just happened.

At that point, you may begin thinking about your safety. You try to get out of your vehicle and assess the situation. If you are able to move around, you could inadvertently believe that you did not suffer any serious injuries. In fact, you may decide not to accept an ambulance ride to a hospital. However, that could prove a potentially life-threatening mistake.

Motorcycle helmet myths

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, May 3, 2019.

While experts agree that motorcycle helmets save lives, there are still a number of common myths making the rounds. These sometimes influence riders to forgo helmets when they would otherwise wear them. A few of these myths include:

1. You cannot hear with a helmet on.

Pennsylvania has 3 of the country's most dangerous highways

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Can you stay safe in your car simply by avoiding the most dangerous highways in the nation? While an accident can happen anywhere, it is worth considering that some roads have a lower level of inherent risk than others. Knowing where you face the greatest dangers can help you pick the safest possible route. This may not prevent a crash, but it can lower the odds.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration used crash fatality data to pick out the top 10 interstates that pose the greatest risk of a fatal accident. As it turns out, three of them run through Pennsylvania. They are:

Interstate 70, at No. 9 overall
Interstate 80, at No. 7 overall
Interstate 95, at No. 2 overall

Reasons why you should choose a motorcycle

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Do you get tired of hearing people talk about how dangerous a motorcycle can be? Maybe it just feels like too much negativity. To help balance things out, let's look at some of the reasons you should choose a motorcycle.

First and foremost, it's fun. The feeling of the open road is something you don't get in a car the same way you get on a motorcycle. It opens you up to exploring the world and enjoying yourself. It can relieve stress. As far as hobbies and entertainment, you can do a lot worse than riding a motorcycle.

Can driving classes help with post-accident anxiety?

On behalf of Law Offices of Edward P. Shaughnessy posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, March 21, 2019.

You get into a car accident when another driver merges into your lane without seeing you and without using their blinker. The sudden impact knocks you into oncoming traffic, where your car gets hit by a pickup truck.

You're lucky in some senses. Your physical injuries heal. However, even after they do, you still can't bring yourself to get back behind the wheel. You have extreme anxiety, and you fear it may even be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You're afraid that if you drive, you'll have a panic attack. You fear that you'll get into another accident.