Pittsburgh Personal Injury Blog

There are many different reasons why you may choose to ride your motorcycle in Pennsylvania. Perhaps you are a thrill seeker who enjoys the adrenaline rush of cruising the open road. Maybe you have found that riding a motorcycle is the most efficient form of transportation for your lifestyle. You may even own a bike simply because you appreciate the timelessness of owning a classic motorbike. At Caroselli Beachler & Coleman we have been able to assist many victims of life-altering motorcycle accidents. 

Protecting yourself against the risks of riding a motorcycle is critical to your ability to enjoy a ride that is both memorable and safe. Motorcycle gear has been designed to provide your body with optimal protection in case you are involved in an accident. Wearing the proper safety gear can help reduce your chances of experiencing debilitating injuries like traumatic brain injuries. High-quality gear can also reduce the severity of road rash. 

There has likely been a time when you, while driving around Pittsburgh, have begun to feel slightly drowsy. In such an event, you know what you need to do: get off the road as soon as possible and ensure that you are well-rested before getting behind the wheel again. Should you fall asleep at the wheel, you become an extreme danger to not yourself, but also those around you. If you can cause severe damage while asleep in your vehicle, imagine how much more extensive it might be if a truck driver dozed off while driving. 

In order to prevent truck drivers from becoming fatigued while on the job, federal regulations have been established that dictate how long they can be behind the wheel throughout the course of a single work week. Per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the hours-of-service standards for truck drivers are as follows: 

• A driver can only drive a maximum of 11 hours after first having taken 10 consecutive hours off duty
• A driver cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after a period of 10 consecutive hours off duty
• A driver cannot drive for more than eight consecutive hours without taking a break of at least 30 minutes
• A driver cannot drive for than 60 hours during a 7-day work week (70 hours during an 8-day work week)

Vehicle crashes involving teen drivers are sadly frequent in Pennsylvania and are a leading cause of fatalities among young people. As a parent, you may help reduce the risk of your teen being in an accident by teaching and modeling safe driving techniques. The state's Graduated Driver Licensing program helps ensure your teen has adequate training and experience before he or she gets full legal driving privileges.

You may get information on each phase of the state's graduated licensing program for young drivers from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. According to PennDOT, the first stage is acquiring a learner's permit. Your teen may get his or her learner's permit at 16 years old after passing a written test, physical exam and vision screening. During this phase, you may help your teen learn how to drive responsibly. Your teen must accrue 65 hours of supervised driving before moving on to the next licensing phase. This number includes 10 required hours of night driving and five hours in poor weather conditions.

Drivers in Pennsylvania have the right to feel safe when they are on the road. Unfortunately, some people get behind the wheel after having too much to drink, and this poses a danger to other motorists. If another driver suspects someone is driving under the influence, it is important to report it so the impaired driver does not cause any harm. To make it easier, it is good to know what some of the signs are that indicate drunk driving.

MADD outlines some of the signs of impaired driving. These include:

• Weaving or drifting in and out of traffic lanes
• Driving way slower than the speed limit
• Coming close to hitting another vehicle or object
• Lack of headlights at night
• Slow start or sudden stop at traffic lights
• Driving in between two lanes