Oh No! That Shoulder Belt Might Wrinkle My Shirt!

Improper use or lack of use of a vehicle’s passenger restraint systems can increase your chances of sustaining fatal injuries by 60 percent. Seat belts were designed to spread out the force of the crash over the strongest parts of the body to significantly reduce injuries and to keep you within the vehicle.

The driver and all passengers should use the occupant restraint systems installed by the factory and not exceed the recommended number of passengers for that vehicle. Children should be restrained using a car seat or booster appropriate for their age and size that is installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. An unrestrained passenger can move throughout the cabin of the car and either injure other passengers or be ejected.

One of the most common misuses of wearing a seat belt is by placing the shoulder belt or shoulder harness under the arm rather than on the shoulder mainly because the belt is not comfortable on the shoulder, it rubs the neck, or it might wrinkle a shirt. Not only is wearing a seat belt like this in most areas a violation, underarm use of the shoulder belt can cause significant internal or fatal injuries in what could have been a survivable car accident and also cause your upper body to move violently forward in a collision thus defeating the purpose of the shoulder belt. There have also been cases of amputations by wearing a seat belt this way. The shoulder belt should fit crossing the center of your chest and on the shoulder. If the shoulder belt is uncomfortable or does not fit properly, most vehicles allow you to adjust to fit, you can get a device to adjust the belt from the vehicle’s manufacturer, or you can place a comfort sleeve on the belt. You should only get these types of devices from the vehicle’s manufacturer as aftermarket accessories may not have been properly tested.

Being injured in a car accident is a traumatic and stressful event. To make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to such as medical expenses and lost wages, consult with a reputable and experienced personal injury lawyer to review your case.

Protecting Your Neck in Rear End Collisions

As an auto accident attorney in Louisville, Kentucky I have seen many clients who were the victims of rear end collisions and have suffered greatly because of the injuries they sustained. One of the most common is a neck injury known as whiplash.

Whiplash is caused when you get a jolt from behind which causes your head to jerk back and forth. This not a natural movement and our bodies are not made to comfortably do that. This jerking motion affects the muscles and ligaments around the neck and shoulders. It is a painful and lasting injury that can be prevented by a head restraint system that is correctly in place. A head restraint system is what most consider a headrest. It is not a headrest; it is designed to restrict head movement during rear end collisions reducing the chance of neck and shoulder injuries.

A regulation implemented in 2008 governs the placement of the manually adjustable head restraints. They have to be adjustable from no lower than 29.5 inches to at least 31.5 inches from the occupant’s hips. Taking the time to adjust your head restraint is properly adjusted in case you are involved in a collision.

Of the three head restraints available; manual, automatic and dynamic, the dynamic is thought to be the most effective. Dynamic head restraint systems are designed to deploy automatically in the case of an accident. They also incorporate the seatback in the system which in effect cradles the body as well as supporting the head in an accident.

If the cars you and your loved ones are driving have manual head restraint systems please take the time to properly adjust them. It could save a lot of future pain.

ATV Accident Seriously Injures Lowell Man

The Lowell Sun reported this morning that an unidentified 25-year-old man from Lowell sustained serious injuries in an ATV accident yesterday afternoon in Chelmsford.

What Happened
The unnamed man had been riding an ATV on a track at a friend’s house on Middlesex Street in Chelmsford. His friends briefly left him riding the ATV and when they returned to the area of the track, they found the man pinned underneath the ATV and semiconscious.

Emergency responders arrived to the scene just before 5:00 p.m. and arranged for the man to be transported by helicopter to a Boston hospital for medical treatment.

When Should You Call a Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Accidents Attorney?
If you have suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts because of another’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

Attorney Tom Kiley has over 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for clients in a variety of personal injury cases.

Only the best personal injury law firms offer free consultations, so it doesn’t have to cost you anything to get professional advice about your case. Call us today at 800-410-2769 to schedule your free legal consultation with an experienced Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents lawyer.


DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.

MA Close to Outlawing Handheld Cellphones While Driving

The Boston Globe reported last week that the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee has approved a bill that would prohibit Massachusetts drivers from using handheld cellphones while driving. The unanimous 8-0 vote is the first step in an attempt to make the Commonwealth the 10th state in the U.S. to ban drivers from using handheld cellphones while behind the wheel.

Now that the Committee has approved the bill, the House and Senate will be next to review the bill and ultimately decide its fate. There is no exact date that has been made public as to when a vote is expected to take place.

While the bill would outlaw handheld cellphones, it would allow drivers to use hands-free technology while at the wheel. If the bill is passed, drivers whose cellphones are not equipped with hands-free technology will either have to wait to use their phones until they get to their destination or will have to pull over and park in order to take the call.

In September of 2010, the Safe Driving Law came into effect in Massachusetts. The Safe Driving Law banned drivers under the age of 18 from using a cellphone at all while driving and also prohibited drivers of all ages from texting. Since the enactment of the law officials have faced a number of challenges, including trying to establish when a driver is dialing a number or actually texting.

Over the next few months, we should have a better idea on where the hands-free campaign is heading and what that will mean for the future of talking while driving in Massachusetts. In the meantime, please drive safely.

When Should You Call a Massachusetts Car Accidents Attorney?

Have you or a loved one suffered serious injuries in a car accident in Massachusetts due to another driver’s distracted driving?

Call a Massachusetts car accidents attorney with Kiley Law Group at (800) 410-2769 to find out about your legal options.

Passenger Jumps from Vehicle on Danvers Highway, Causes 3-Vehicle Crash

The Boston Globe has reported that an unidentified woman, 49, from Manchester-by-the-Sea jumped out of the car she was a passenger in on Route 128 in Danvers last night and landed on the highway, causing three vehicles to crash into each other to avoid hitting the woman.

Officials have not confirmed a motive as to why the woman opened the door of the moving vehicle and jumped out onto 128 around 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening. The driver of the vehicle the woman was in pulled to the side of the highway to assist her friend. The unnamed woman sustained injuries to her head and lacerations from the impact.

A 50-year-old woman from North Reading and a 16-year-old Lynn girl were also injured because of the multiple-vehicle accident, though their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. All three injured parties were taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the serious accident.

When Should You Call a Massachusetts Car Accidents Attorney?

If you have suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts because of someone else’s reckless behavior, you may be entitled to compensation.

Attorney Tom Kiley has over 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for clients in a variety of personal injury cases.

Only the best personal injury law firms offer free consultations, so it doesn’t have to cost you a thing to get professional advice about your case. Call us today at 800-410-2769 to schedule your free legal consultation with an experienced Massachusetts car accidents lawyer.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.