One of the most common causes of car accidents during the winter months is the presence of snow or black ice on the pavement. While snow and black ice may only cause a minor accident where a single vehicle spins out, they can also lead to devastating crashes that leave vehicle occupants with life-altering injuries. When a car accident is caused by black ice or snow, who can be held liable for the injuries and losses suffered by those in the accident?  Where Do Snow and Black Ice Accidents Commonly Occur? While snow obviously comes from wintertime precipitation, black ice can form on roadways under a wider variety of conditions. Black ice refers to a condition where water or moisture…

Many people are using the ride-share services provided by transportation network companies (TNCs) instead of traditional taxis.  You know these TNCs as Uber and Lyft. New York City has so much to offer but driving there and finding parking is a hassle (and expensive!)  Ever think about using Uber or Lyft? Think twice. Liability Coverage and Rideshare Vehicles If you get a ride from New Jersey with a New Jersey Uber or Lyft driver, that driver is required to have a minimum amount of $1,500,000 in insurance coverage for your benefit while you are a passenger. What happens when it’s time to come home and you get a ride back to New Jersey from a New York City Lyft or Uber…

Unfortunately, the holiday season represents the most dangerous time of the year out on the road. When driving during the holidays, here are some tips to help keep yourself, your passengers, and others on the road safe. General Safety Tips General tips for all drivers to keep in mind include: Never drive after consuming alcohol or drugs, and do not allow others to drive while intoxicated or get into a vehicle with an intoxicated driver. If you do plan to drink at a holiday party or dinner, remember to have a designated driver, take public transit, or call a taxi or a rideshare vehicle. Avoid distractions when driving, especially using your cell phone. In the time that it takes to read…

The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s tends to see some of the highest rates of motor vehicle accidents out of any other time of the year. Crash rates particularly spike over the Thanksgiving weekend, over Christmas Eve and Day, and over New Year’s Eve and Day. However, the other days during the holiday see elevated risks of auto accidents. If you plan to be out on the road this holiday season, you should expect to face a higher risk of getting into an accident.  Car Accident Rates Increase During the Holiday Season Over a thousand auto accident fatalities occur over just Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas Eve/Day, and New Year’s Eve/Day. Many more accidents and fatalities occur during the other…

As low lighting impairs a motorist’s ability to see clearly, night driving represents one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents. Drivers can easily become confused or disoriented by darkness obscuring objects, combined with vehicle headlights or taillights and street lamps.  If you get behind the wheel at night, you need to understand the risks of night driving and what steps you can take to help keep yourself safe out on the road.  Nighttime Motor Vehicle Accident Stats According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 1.039 million crashes occurred nationwide between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in 2019. This is out of a total of approximately 6.7 million motor vehicle accidents throughout the U.S.…