The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield JeffersFindLaw IM Template2024-03-05T05:15:09Zhttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/feed/atom/WordPressOn Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=498902024-02-29T05:15:27Z2024-03-05T05:15:09ZThe current status of seatbelt use on Kentucky school buses
There are only a handful of states in the United States that require school busses to be outfitted with seatbelts for passengers. Kentucky is not one of them. Why doesn’t the state require schools to provide students with seatbelts that they can wear to keep them safe? It’s unclear, but money has been one lingering concern.
According to some reports, installing seatbelts on school buses could add as much as $10,000 in additional costs per school bus. With districts strapped for cash and a push to increase funding on testing and academic achievement, most schools have passed on doing something that isn’t required of them. But is the financial cost of installing seat belts worth our children’s safety?
Other critics of mandatory school bus seatbelt laws argue that school buses are safe enough without the implementation of seatbelts. It’s true that less children are injured and killed in school bus accidents compared to car crashes, but how many of those children could’ve been kept safe if seatbelts had been in use on their school bus?
What’s the risk of not having seatbelts on school buses?
Our children are at risk of all sorts of harm when riding a school bus, including accident injuries, violent behaviors perpetrated by other students, and bullying. Mandatory seatbelt use can minimize all of these risk factors. Seatbelts prevent children from standing, which reduces the risk that they’ll tease, harass, or strike other students. And when students are kept in their seats and are better behaved, drivers are less distracted by behavioral management issues, thus keeping our children safer from potential accidents.
Mandatory seatbelt usage on school buses can also teach our children good habits. Far too many teens and adults are killed in car accidents because they neglect to wear their seatbelt. We certainly don’t want our children to get in the habit of foregoing the most important safety factor when driving.
What if your child has already been injured in a bus accident?
If your child was hurt in a bus accident, then you need to consider whether taking legal action is justified. This might include filing a claim against the bus driver, the school, or another driver who was responsible for the accident. As you enter the legal arena, though, you’ll need evidence to support your arguments of negligence and causation. So, be sure to gather as much information as you can heading into your case, including witness statements, bus maintenance records, training records, and records pertaining to your losses.
What are your next steps?
Our children are at significant risk without having seatbelts on their bus. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below.
And if your child has been injured in a bus accident, then take the time needed to fully assess your options and determine your best course of action. By being diligent, you might find accountability, recover compensation, and raise awareness of this issue that is often overlooked by our local, state, and federal governments.
]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=498822024-01-03T10:49:22Z2024-01-08T10:48:50Zdevastating collisions.
Fortunately, you can help teach your child how to stay safe out on the road. You’ll need to be diligent with them and constantly remind them of what they’re doing and what they should be doing, even if it annoys them. After all, there’s nothing more important than keeping your child safe.
Safe driving practices to teach your child
There’s a lot that you can teach your child to keep them safe when they’re behind the wheel. Let’s look at some of those tips that you might want to heavily focus on:
Eliminate distractions: Children nowadays are constantly distracted by their phones and socializing, which can spell disaster when driving a car. Teach your child the risks associated with texting, emailing, eating, grooming, and actively engaging with passengers while driving. Taking their eyes off the road for even a few seconds can cause a significant amount of the road to pass by without them even seeing it, which can spell disaster.
Avoid drinking and driving: Many teenagers feel invincible. This can cause them to engage in dangerous driving behaviors. Advise your child of the dangers of drunk driving so that they’re aware of the risks involved. This will hopefully deter them from engaging in this potentially catastrophic behavior.
Encourage rest: Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Therefore, you should encourage your teenager to get plenty of rest and advise them not to take to the road if they’re feeling sleepy.
Maintain distance: A lot of teenagers wind up involved in rear end collisions that cause serious injuries. These wrecks are often the result of following too closely behind the vehicle in front of them. Your child can avoid this from happening to them by maintaining a proper distance. Ideally, they’d keep three or four seconds between themselves and the vehicle in front of them so that they have time to stop or take evasive maneuvers if the need arises.
Obey the speed the limit: Speed is another major contributing factor to accidents involving teenagers. Teach your child how to frequently check their speed and ensure they realize the safety risks with driving too fast.
Identify escape routes: When driving on the highway or the Interstate, it’s best to have an exit strategy when surrounded by multiple vehicles. That way if something goes wrong, you can easily move to safety. This is a skill that takes some work, so you’ll want to practice it with your teenager.
Practice: Safe driving takes practice. It may not come as naturally to your child as you hope, but you can mold them into the cautious defensive driver you want them to be by consistently practicing with them.
Wear a seatbelt: This sounds obvious, but wearing a seatbelt is the most important safety factor that can protect your child when they’re involved in an accident. Be sure to remind them of that on a regular basis.
What if your child is hurt in an accident?
If your child is hurt in a car wreck, you’ll want to have a talk with them to understand what went wrong. If the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, then you might want to take legal action. If you’d like to learn more about what that would look like, then please consider reading up on the process and what you can do to recover what you and your child are owed.
]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=498802023-11-15T06:29:21Z2023-11-20T18:40:49Zcar accidents occur in metropolitan areas, many of them happen on rural roads. So, why are Kentuckians at a high risk of being hurt in an accident that takes place on one of these roadways? Let’s take a closer look.
Why are rural roads so dangerous?
This is a good question, and one that researchers have been trying to answer for years. After all, one study found that between 2016 and 2020, more than 85,000 people died in car accidents on rural roads, which means that those who drive on a rural road are at an increased risk of being involved in a fatal accident.
There are many factors that go into the dangerousness of these roads. Let’s look at some of the most significant:
Speed: Many rural roads have higher speed limits, but even those that don’t tempt motorists to drive fast given their lack of traffic. But speed is a contributing factor to many accidents, as an increased speed can make it easier to lose control when roads are slippery, a curve takes a driver by surprise, or a driver simply isn’t able to slow in time to avoid a rear end collision.
Fatigue: Drowsiness and fatigue contribute to as many as 21% of fatal accidents. Many of these wrecks occur on rural roadways when drivers are struggling to get to their far away destinations. Additionally, lack of streetlights and consuming darkness can make motorists even sleepier on these rural roads, which puts you at risk.
Intoxication: Drivers who are impaired by drugs or alcohol can be found anywhere. But many of these drivers find their way onto rural roads where they think they can evade police detection. Unfortunately, their impaired condition coupled with darkness and winding roads make for a deadly combination.
Distance from medical care: Another reason why rural roads are dangerous is because they’re oftentimes far from medical help. So, if you end up in an accident on one of these roads, it could take a significant amount of time for paramedics to reach you and for you to get to the hospital. This delay in care can lead to a worsened medical condition, and all too often it proves fatal.
Unfamiliarity: Some drivers on rural roadways are simply unfamiliar with the road on which their driving. This lack of familiarity can make it hard for drivers to competently navigate turns and intersections, sometimes causing devastating crashes.
Remember, these are just some of the factors that make rural roadways dangerous. So, if you frequently find yourself driving out in the country, make sure you take extra precautions to ensure your safety.
Have you been injured in a rural car accident?
If so, then you’re probably looking for a way to offset your losses, which includes your medical expenses and lost wages. A personal injury lawsuit is your best bet to recover your damages, but succeeding on one of these claims is going to take some work. With that in mind, don’t delay in seeking out any help you may need in building your claim. That way you can rest easy knowing that you’ve done everything you can to protect your future.]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=498732023-09-04T09:03:28Z2023-09-07T09:02:52ZKYTC gives tips for drivers when kids are around
With a new school year underway, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has been entreating drivers to be cautious. That includes near school zones, when they see school buses and in locations where kids may congregate. This is an annual concern and despite attempts to keep kids safe, accidents will happen.
Drivers are told to maintain the speed limits in school zones. Near schools, the speed limit is lower than other roads. Speeding is one of the primary catalysts for kids being in an accident. There are rules for when school buses are stopped. By law, if the bus has its stop sign arm extended and its red lights are flashing, drivers must stop as kids are getting on and off. Some drivers do not.
Distracted driving is a constant problem, but it is even more prominent when near schools. Simply looking down at a device for three seconds is more than enough time to hit a child. Other forms of distraction include checking navigation apps, eating, changing the radio or interacting with passengers. All should be limited or outright avoided.
Schoolchildren are inherently vulnerable
Safety should be a priority when on the road. This is particularly true when children are around. With the start of another school year and kids heading back and forth on foot, on bicycles, in automobiles and school buses, one mistake or act of recklessness can cause a catastrophic injury or fatality.
For children, their parents and others who are tasked with ensuring safety, attentiveness and watching for possible danger spots is crucial. Still, that will not prevent all accidents. When an accident cannot be avoided, there are a litany of problems people can face if their child was hurt.
They could need extensive medical care and rehabilitation. Getting back to school could be a challenge and they could require special accommodations there and at home. They might be harmed mentally and emotionally as well as physically.
The list goes beyond simply recovering financially. It extends to holding those who caused the auto accident accountable. Protecting children includes awareness of how and accidents occur and making sure those who were driving are also held responsible for their behaviors.
]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=498712023-06-28T04:28:50Z2023-07-03T04:27:29Zvarious dangers unique to the summertime.
Inexperienced or intoxicated drivers
With the nice weather bringing more drivers out, many of these drivers are young and inexperienced. Stay alert for signs of inexperienced drivers and try to avoid them.
Summer is the season of festivals, barbecues and outdoor events, most of which involve alcohol. This means there are usually also more intoxicated drivers on the road.
Do not drink and drive. If you are going to be drinking, arrange for a rideshare service or have someone else drive and always be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers on the road, especially at night.
Handling road construction
Summer is when most road construction is done. Combined with the heavy flow of summer traffic, this can mean more accidents.
Road construction usually slows us down on the roads, which leads to feelings of impatience or higher stress levels. This can cause drivers to become more aggressive, leading to serious or deadly accidents.
When you plan your summer trips, give yourself extra time and plan for road construction. See if you can learn where road construction is before you go and plan a route to avoid it.
Above all, when you are driving through a work zone, obey the rules. Follow signs and stay in designated lanes. Drive at the posted speed work zone speed limit and respect other drivers on the road.
Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists
Summer means more than just more vehicles on the road. There are also more pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycles.
Treat bicyclists and motorcyclists the same as you would any other vehicle. Both are often easy to miss while on the road, so keep an eye out for them and pay attention to the hand signals they use.
Give them plenty of room when turning or passing and don’t forget to check for them when you are parked and opening your doors.
If you are driving in an unfamiliar place, learn the local rules for bicyclists and pedestrians. Always stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and do not go around a car stopped at a crosswalk, as they could be stopped for pedestrians. Remember that many pedestrians may be distracted.
Summer weather
Beware of unpredictable summer weather. Sudden bursts of rain, strong winds and hail can make driving difficult or impossible.
You should go slowly when driving through these types of weather conditions and pull off the road if necessary. Pull off into a safe place, such as a rest stop, and wait for the storm to pass.
A summer car accident can leave you with serious injuries that impact many areas of your life. Learning about your options after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence is important.
]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=495052023-05-09T10:30:58Z2023-05-12T19:57:01ZWhen is the most dangerous time of day to drive?
The statistics are clear that most car accidents occur in the evening hours after people have gotten off work and are rushing to get home. There are a number of reasons for this. To start, there’s more traffic congestion. This means that doing something as simple as changing lanes can be dangerous. You’ll also be at an increased risk of being involved in a rear-end collision, as stop-and-go traffic can pose a risk.
Additionally, many drivers who take to the road during the evening hours are fatigued. Many of them have been working all day, resulting in them being mentally and sometimes even physically tired. As a result, their attention span can wane, and they may not be as quick to react to changing traffic conditions as one would hope. This can result in a serious accident.
How can you stay safe during your evening commute?
You want to get home safely after work. To increase the chances that you’ll avoid a wreck on your evening commute, you might want to think about doing each of the following:
Keep a safe distance: It can be hard to do, but you should try your best to keep a safe distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. A good rule is to try to keep three or four seconds between you and that vehicle. Although that might be hard to do when you’re driving in stop-and-go traffic, you should do your best to slow down to make sure you’ve got enough distance to safely stop to avoid a collision, if necessary.
Frequently check your mirrors: During the evening commute, the traffic around you is going to be constantly shifting. At one moment a lane change might be safe, but the next another vehicle may have moved into that lane. If you don’t regularly check your mirrors and keep yourself apprised of your surroundings, then you might end up being involved in an accident.
Stay alert: It’s easy to fall into a daze during your evening commute, especially when you’re tired from work and as you reflect on the events of the day. But letting yourself slip into this state can take your attention off the road and your surroundings, which can put you at a greater risk of being involved in a wreck.
Avoid distractions: As you head home for the day, you might be tempted to reach for your phone to send a quick text or to make a quick call. But doing so can cause you to miss changing traffic scenarios, which can then result in an otherwise avoidable collision.
Know how to protect yourself and your interests
We hope that you’re able to stay safe as you hit the roads in the Somerset area, regardless of the time of day. But if you find yourself injured in an accident, then you need to know what you can do to try to make yourself whole again.
Pursuing a personal injury claim is one of the best ways to do that. If you’re successful in one of these cases, then you might be able to recover the compensation that you need to protect your future.]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=494912023-03-20T06:05:00Z2023-03-23T06:04:33Zprimary driving forces behind these wrecks. Here are the top causes of truck accidents:
Driver error
In a recent study conducted, in part, by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, driver error was found to be the biggest contributor to truck accidents, accounting for 87% of errors. The main driving force here was poor decision-making, which includes driving too fast, following other vehicles too closely, and misjudging the speed and positioning of other vehicles.
Another main component of driver error is poor recognition. This can be caused by distraction or simple inattentiveness. This, in turn, increases reaction time, which can lead to a devastating wreck.
Other issues found to be leading contributors to truck accidents include poor performance, such as exercising poor directional control, overcompensation, physical impairment, and falling asleep behind the wheel.
Vehicle issues
Problems related to the truck that was involved in the accident was found to be the second leading cause of accidents, accounting for 10%. For example, brake and tire problems can cause a trucker to lose control of their vehicle, thereby putting innocent motorists like you at risk of harm. This is why conducting routine inspections and maintenance as required by federal regulations is key to motorist safety.
Environmental conditions
Although the environment can contribute to a truck accident, the study found that this only accounted for 3% of accidents. This includes issues such as poor road and weather conditions as well as hazards in the road.
Are you ready to find accountability?
As you can see, the vast majority of truck accidents are avoidable. Truckers and their employers simply need to follow traffic laws and abide by federal trucking regulations. When that doesn’t happen, though, you need to think about taking legal action so that you can obtain a sense of justice and recover the compensation you’re owed.
You don’t have to accept the fate that’s befallen you after a truck accident. Instead, you can stand up and fight to hold an errant trucker and their employer accountable for the harm that’s been caused to you.
But even when the evidence is clearly in your favor, there can be complications come up in your case. And even once you establish liability, you’ll still have to prove the extent of your damages if you want to recover the compensation that you deserve.
To ensure that you’re advocating for yourself as aggressively as possible, you might want to consider reaching out to a legal professional who knows how to competently navigate these cases.
]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=494882023-01-13T06:26:10Z2023-01-18T06:25:38Zmotorcycle accidents occur. Sometimes, it is due to the actions of the rider, such as driving too fast, being under the influence, being inexperienced and other actions of the rider. Sometimes, it is due to a mechanical failure, poor road conditions and defects in the road or due to the weather conditions as well.
Ways other drivers cause motorcycle accidents
Many times, other drivers on the roads cause the motorcycle accidents. One of the leading ways that other drivers cause accidents is by making left turns in front of oncoming motorcycles. Given the smaller size of motorcycles, other drivers can miss seeing them as they are not specifically looking for them. Also, drivers may misjudge the speed of the motorcycle.
Distracted driving can also lead to many motorcycle accidents. Distracted driving can lead to many accidents in general, but distracted drivers are even more likely to miss seeing a motorcycle than other vehicles on the road. They may easily change lanes into a motorcycle and hit them when they are not paying attention.
Motorcycle accidents with other drivers often result in serious injuries for the riders and the drivers of the other vehicles may not be hurt at all. The riders may require surgeries and significant rehabilitation. These costs can add up quickly and people may also lose income if they are unable to work. This can put the riders in a difficult position, both physically and financially.
If other drivers cause a motorcycle accident in Kentucky, the rider may be able to receive compensation for their damages. It is common that the rider will have significant injuries that can completely change their lives. It is important that they are not left paying for their medical bills on their own. They also may be able to receive compensation for lost income and the pain and suffering they experienced as a result of the accident. Experienced attorneys know how devastating motorcycle accidents can be and may be able to help people receive what they deserve.]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=494832022-11-09T05:15:07Z2022-11-14T16:59:30ZKentucky came in sixth.
According to that report, for every 100,000 people in the state, Kentucky had 17.31 traffic fatalities.
Unfortunately, these statistics appear to be getting worse.
Rising fatality rates
After several years in which nationwide statistics showed traffic fatality rates holding steady or falling, researchers noted a rise in fatal accidents starting in 2020. Since then, the numbers have continued to go up.
According to the Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Office of Highway Safety, 806 people were killed on the state's roads in 2021, up from 780 the year before.
Researchers have found various causes that can explain these worrying increases. Careless driving and drunk driving are major contributors. Poorly designed or poorly maintained roads also play a part.
Deadliest road in Somerset
One of the deadliest roads in Kentucky is here in Somerset. This past spring, the publication MoneyGeek analyzed crash reports and ranked Kentucky counties by their numbers of fatal accidents. Pulaski County came in at number 10, with 37 people killed in 33 accidents.
The road in Pulaski County that saw the most of these accidents was U.S.-27, where six of these crashes occurred.
Densely populated Jefferson County had more fatal accidents than Pulaski County, but our local area has had more than its share.
Personal injury and wrongful death
If you are injured in a car accident caused by another party's negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages through a personal injury lawsuit. In cases of fatal accidents, the family members of a victim may be able to recover compensation for their damages through a wrongful death lawsuit.
The damages in these cases can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. After serious accidents, the total amounts of these damages can be extremely high. Attorneys help the injured and their families to calculate the totals they need and deserve, and help them fight for their rights.
]]>On Behalf of The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, PLLChttps://www.hatfieldonyourside.com/?p=494802022-09-20T09:30:36Z2022-09-23T15:58:40ZRequirements
Kentucky requires drivers to carry bodily injury liability insurance. The minimum requirement of this insurance is $25,000 per injured person and $50,000 for all people injured in the accident. Unfortunately, because of the high cost of medical care, these amounts are woefully inadequate in many cases. They also won't do much to help with lost wages and other non-medical losses that the injured face after an accident.
Unfortunately, many drivers don't even carry the minimum level of insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, almost 14% of Kentucky drivers are uninsured.
Protect yourself
To protect yourself from these headaches, you can carry underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance. This should be in addition to your basic policy. Your collision insurance will cover the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle after an accident, but it won't cover your medical expenses. Comprehensive insurance can cover some or your medical expenses, but it won't cover everything you lose in the aftermath of an accident. Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage can fill in the gaps.
What can you do?
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver, your own insurance may be able to cover many of your costs, but it may not be enough. You may consider filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover some of your damages.
An experienced attorney can advise you on your rights and legal options.
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