Auto Accident

Unseasonably warm weather in much of the U.S. meant that roads were clean and dry when they would ordinarily be snowy, icy, and slippery. Now that winter storms are rolling into New Hampshire and other New England states, however, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is encouraging drivers to take caution to avoid car accidents.

Some ways you can help avoid an accident and keep yourself and others safe include:

• Slow down. Ice, snow, sleet, and freezing rain can all make roads treacherous. While four-wheel drive can help you get through deep snow, it will not slow your vehicle down or prevent you from skidding if you hit a patch of ice or slush too quickly.
• Watch out for rescue workers. Police, firefighters, and other workers are busy checking on those who crash or slide off the road in winter weather. Keep an eye out for these workers and avoid driver distractions, like using a cell phone or eating, while you are driving.
• Pay attention to snowplows. After a snowfall, state and local workers start clearing the roads for drivers. Give snowplows plenty of room. Also, keep an eye out for “tandem snowplowing,” in which multiple trucks work together to clear multiple lanes at once. Remember that snowplow drivers cannot maneuver as quickly as passenger vehicles, so give them plenty of space.

At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced New Hampshire auto accident attorneys are dedicated to helping those who are injured in a crash. To learn more about your legal rights and options after an accident, call us today at (603) 624-3700 for a free telephone consultation.

New Hampshire representatives are considering a bill to increase New Hampshire’s maximum speed limit from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour, mostly on freeways. However, the debate continues as to whether increasing the speed limit is a good idea, or if it will cost more than it’s worth, according to a recent editorial in the Concord Monitor.

Proponents of the change point out that many drivers already travel at or near 70 miles per hour on New Hampshire’s highways. Since accidents have not increased dramatically in recent years, some proponents state that motorists who travel at or near 70 have proven that this is a safe speed, at least during good road conditions.

Those who are against the new law, however, point out several risks. First, by increasing the legal speed limit to 70 miles per hour, the legislature may be encouraging drivers who are already comfortable going five miles per hour over the speed limit to add another five miles per hour - bringing their average speed up to 75 miles per hour. Second, these drivers may be using cell phones despite New Hampshire’s recent ban on texting while driving. Distracted driving at high speeds can cause serious accidents.

Finally, the speed limit is designed to reflect the maximum safe speed at ideal road conditions: a dry, sunny day without excessive traffic, wildlife, or other obstacles. If the posted speed limit is 70 miles per hour, however, drivers may feel it’s safe to drive faster on days with bad road conditions which may also increase the risk of crashes.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a New Hampshire car crash, the experienced Manchester car accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. Call us today at (603) 624-3700 for a free and confidential phone consultation.

A two-car crash on the F.E. Everett Turnpike recently had traffic backed up in all three lanes, but spared the drivers any life-threatening injuries, according to a recent article in the Nashua Telegraph.

The accident occurred during a weekday evening’s prime commuting hours. According to police, the accident involved a car that had stopped in the median near Exit 2, apparently because it was having mechanical troubles. That car was rear-ended by another car coming down the turnpike. A third vehicle might also have been involved in the crash, but police have not come to any conclusions yet.

Both drivers involved in the rear-end crash managed to walk away from the scene, though the full extent of their injuries is still unknown. Immediately after the accident, several other drivers stopped to help, which slowed traffic on the turnpike and made the accident scene look as if it involved many more drivers than just the two who actually crashed, according to the Nashua Telegraph. Drivers trying to get around rescue vehicles to the right of the crash and trying to get off the turnpike to the left also slowed traffic.

Soft tissue injuries after a car accident can take several days to become fully obvious. Many drivers think they’re not injured immediately after a crash, only to find a few days later that they are in serious pain. If you’ve been injured in an accident, the experienced car accident attorneys in New Hampshire at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you protect your legal rights. For a free telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

Speeding doesn’t just put drivers at risk for an expensive ticket; it can also cause serious injuries or even death, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Approximately 900 U.S. motorists die each month in speeding-related crashes, and thousands more are injured. As many as one in three car accident deaths and serious car accident injuries occur in speeding-related crashes each year.

Three major factors make speeding highly dangerous. First, the faster the vehicle is moving, the quicker the driver must react when he sees an emergency and the less time he has to notice it and take action. Second, a fast-moving vehicle needs more room to stop than a slow-moving one.

Finally, speeding increases the force of the crash. The faster two vehicles are going when they collide, the more force is involved. For instance, a vehicle traveling 60 miles per hour will hit with 125 percent more force than a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour. In many speeding-related crashes, occupants of the vehicles are injured because the vehicle cannot withstand the additional force. That power has to go somewhere, and it often goes into crumpling the passenger compartment, posing serious risks to those riding in the vehicle.

Speeding is just one misbehavior that can cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced New Hampshire auto accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. For a free and confidential consultation by telephone, call us today at (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busiest travel holidays in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). With more travelers hitting the roads during these holidays, the risk for accidents increases. Here are a few tips for safe highway travel this holiday season:

Prepare for your trip by printing out maps and directions, or programming your GPS system in advance. Clean any snow and ice thoroughly off your car, so it doesn’t obstruct the driver’s vision. Make sure children’s car seats or booster seats are installed and fit correctly. Pack an emergency kit that includes food, water, a first aid kit, extra clothes, and blankets.

Check the weather before you hit the road so you can be prepared for snow, ice, or other conditions. Drive more slowly if the weather is snowy, icy, foggy, or rainy, and do not use cruise control in these conditions.

Take a break or switch drivers if you feel tired or sleepy. Avoid distraction by having passengers read directions or make phone calls for you. Never drive if you have been drinking, and use caution with prescription or over-the-counter medications until you are sure they will not make you sleepy.

Driving safely can help prevent a car accident from disrupting your holidays. If you or someone you love is injured in a crash, however, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced New Hampshire car accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We’ll help you handle matters after a crash, so that you can focus on healing. For a free telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700.

New Hampshire may see a record low number of highway fatalities this year, according to a recent article in the Eagle-Tribune. The New Hampshire Highway Safety Authority, which keeps track of deaths and injuries on New Hampshire highways each year, notes that the state is currently seeing a much lower number of deadly auto accidents on highways than is typical for this time of year.

Currently, the Highway Safety Authority has recorded 69 deaths as of November 9, 2011. On the same date in 2010, the agency had recorded 116 deaths. Any total number of highway crash fatalities under 100 for 2011 will set a new record for highway safety in New Hampshire, according to the agency. The current record was set in 2009, with 100 deaths; 2010 saw a total of 128 lives lost on New Hampshire highways.

New Hampshire authorities recently released its “Commute With Care” campaign, which focuses on highway safety by targeting distracted drivers and those who speed during morning and evening rush hours. Law enforcement officials say the decrease in deaths is related to the increased enforcement efforts.

That New Hampshire is seeing fewer deaths in highway crashes is good news, but accidents can still cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, you have certain legal rights. Call the experienced New Hampshire car accident injury attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today to discuss your options in a free telephone consultation. Our number is (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

As the number of deaths due to distracted driving has increased, so has the number of states restricting or banning the use of cell phones while driving. These laws range from bans on certain behaviors, like texting, to bans on all cell phone use by a driver. As of January 1, 2010, New Hampshire joined the 33 other U.S. states that have banned texting while driving.

New Hampshire’s law states that “A person operating a moving motor vehicle who writes a text message or uses 2 hands to type on or operate an electronic or telecommunications device, is guilty of a violation,” the fine for which is $100.00. Scrolling through a contacts list or dialing in a phone number or name is not considered “texting” under this statute, which still allows New Hampshire drivers to make phone calls on their cell phones while driving. However, the law most likely covers typing on a laptop computer or smart phone, as well as using Twitter or other apps that require two hands, according to an article in the Boston Globe. New Hampshire joins 33 other U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Guam in banning some form of distracted driving related to cell phones or other electronic devices. Many counties and other localities in the United States have also banned or restricted cell phone use.

Distracted driving can cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced New Hampshire car accident injury attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700.

When a New Hampshire car accident occurs, police and rescue workers may be called to the scene, especially if someone is injured. Police investigate car crashes for many reasons, such as determining who is at-fault and trying to detect any illegal activity related to the crash. Police officers take several steps to investigate a car crash scene thoroughly.

First, police will likely secure the scene with flares or other devices so that other motorists see it in time to avoid crashing into the already-disabled vehicles. This is often done along with determining if anyone is hurt and calling paramedics or other rescue teams if needed. While checking on everyone involved in the crash, police will often evaluate them for drug or alcohol impairment.

Once the injured people at the scene are taken care of, police typically turn their attention to recording information about the crash site. They may take measurements, make diagrams, or take photos or video. Evidence like tire marks, broken glass, or vehicle parts, and the patterns of damage on the vehicles themselves, are all recorded. Police may also talk to witnesses to get their contact information and find out what the witnesses saw or heard. All this information can help police reconstruct an accident scene to determine what went wrong and who may be at-fault.

Car accidents can cause serious injuries. At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced NH car accident attorneys are dedicated to helping those who have been injured in car accidents. To discuss your accident with us and learn more about your legal rights and options, call (603) 624-3700 today for a free telephone consultation, or call our Injury Helpline at 1 (888) 511-1010.

Negligent or dangerous driving habits, many of them illegal, can result in serious injuries if a crash occurs. Unfortunately, as budgets get tight, many police units in New Hampshire and other states make routine traffic patrols take a back seat to other police work. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), however, routine police patrols watching for traffic violations are a key part of preventing distracted and dangerous drivers from causing tragic accidents.

When a police department does think to enforce traffic laws in many parts of the country, it may simply send an officer out to an arbitrarily chosen stretch of road to write people up for speeding, according to the NHTSA.

This kind of “spot” enforcement of only certain laws, however, merely frustrates the public and doesn’t do anything to prevent dangerous behavior at intersections or on other stretches of road where crashes are frequent.

In order to help improve roadway safety and reduce crashes, the NHTSA recommends using local data to determine where the most accidents take place and specifically assign patrols to watch for both moving violations and equipment violations in those areas. The NHTSA also recommends creating a way for members of the public to alert police and other local officials about dangerous traffic conditions and to use this information to help make the streets safer.

Years of research show a clear connection between good traffic patrols and reductions in life-threatening vehicle crashes. However, if a crash has injured you or someone you love, the experienced car accident attorneys in New Hampshire at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. For a free and confidential consultation by telephone, call us today at (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

New Hampshire has set an all-time state record for the number of drivers on the road using their seat belts, according to a recent article in The Eagle-Tribune. In 2011, the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency (NHHSA) announced that 75.02 percent of New Hampshire drivers are buckling up before they travel - the highest percentage recorded since the agency began surveying seat belt use in the state.

The NHHSA first started keeping track of seat belt use in 1984. In that year, only 16.06 percent of New Hampshire drivers surveyed said that they regularly wear their seat belts. The NHHSA applauds the increase in seat belt use, but states that more work is needed in order to put New Hampshire in the top tier of states with the most seat belt use. The national average for seat belt use in 2011 was 86 percent, and some states, such as Washington, report that 98 percent of their drivers buckle up.

The survey also found that women are slightly more likely than men to wear their seat belts regularly, and drivers of more expensive cars are slightly more likely to buckle up than drivers of older or less expensive cars. New Hampshire does not require drivers or passengers to wear seat belts unless they are younger than 18 years old.

Buckling a seat belt is an easy way to help prevent serious injury or death in a crash. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, the experienced New Hampshire car crash attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. For a free consultation, call (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1-888-511-1010.