Summer Travel Tips

During the summer months, families plan summer vacations and travel often, especially "down the shore." It is very important that travelers be very careful during summer vacations.

To help keep you safe this summer driving season, here are a few tips to ensure that your next road trip is a safe one.

1. Check your tires to stay safe and save money. Well-maintained tires provide protection against avoidable breakdowns and crashes, improved vehicle handling, better fuel economy, and increased tire life. Keeping tire pressure at the manufacturer’s recommended level increases fuel efficiency by one mile per gallon of gas — something that’s even more important in the summer when gas prices rise. To check if your tires need to be replaced, insert a quarter into the tire’s tread, with Washington’s head toward the tire. If no portion of his head is covered, the tread is below 1/8 of an inch and you should consider replacing your tires.
2. When packing for a trip, don’t exceed your car’s payload capacity. Your owner’s manual has information about the maximum weight of all cargo and passengers your vehicle can safely carry. Before heading out, also double check that you can clearly see out of all your windows.
3. Manage glare and heat. Keep sunglasses handy and use a sun shield beneath your windshield when parked to keep your car’s interior heat down. Never leave a child or a pet unattended in a vehicle. The summer sun can also dehydrate you during long roads trips so always travel with plenty of water.
4. Summer storms — and even sun showers — require extreme caution. Roads become very slippery in the first few minutes of rainfall because the rain mixes with the oil and dirt on the road. It takes about 30 minutes of steady rain to wash the oil and dirt off the road.
5. Share the road. Warm weather means more bicycles and motorcycles on the road and a spike in road work. The AARP Smart Driver curriculum recommends these tips for avoiding collisions:

• Never share lanes with motorcycles, as they also have use of the complete traffic lane.
• Increase your following distance to four seconds or more when behind motorcycles.
• Constantly scan the roadway in front, to the rear, and to the sides of your vehicle for motorcyclists and bicyclists.
• When going through construction zones, use extreme caution, follow all road signs and look out for pedestrians or workers.

If you are involved in an auto accident while visiting Pennsylvania or New Jersey this summer, contact our office right away for legal help. We have a proven track record of successfully representing auto accident victims. 1-800-444-5309, pisanchynlawfirm.com.

Where will you be traveling this summer? Let us know your favorite summertime destinations and your best advice for getting there safely.

Do You Know the Most Common Summertime Injuries?

Happy Summer Solstice! Today marks the longest day of the year and the first official day of Summer.

Did you know Emergency Room visits go up roughly 20% in the Summer months due to common "Summertime injuries?"

Now is a great time to unwind and get outside but it's important to know some basic Summertime injury facts and prevention tips beforehand to make it as enjoyable as possible. 

Lawn mowers: These are the major cause of foot and ankle amputations to children. Do not operate a riding mower when children are present. Do not let your children ride on a mower, even with an adult. Mowers should not be used at dusk or night when it is difficult to see. 

Adults, too, are at risk for mower-related injuries -- far more so than children, because they are the ones operating the devices. In 2011, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 83,000 people were treated in U.S. ERs for lawn mower injuries.

Never wear sandals when mowing a lawn; always be on the lookout for other people, children, rocks and branches; and whether you're pushing or riding, watch out for steep grades.

On the road: Car seats for young children and seat belts for older passengers offer the best protection from injury and death in an accident. 

A sixteen-year-old carrying two friends in the car triples the risk of a crash. Add a third passenger and the risk is increased almost seven-fold. Young drivers should always be aware, free from distraction and carefully monitored and taught the rules of the road.

Bicycles: Some cycling accidents are caused by high speed and user negligence, but it's also important to check the bike each spring to make sure brakes and tires are in good working order. If you have a child, make sure the bike still fits him -- and make sure that the helmet still fits, too.

And while most cycling spills are routine, bicycle-vs.-automobile accidents are also more common in the summer months (that's true for both adults and children). Bicycle riders are required to follow the rules of the road just as automobile operators. Wear reflective gear, always wear a helmet, know the hand signals for turning and be aware of your surroundings when riding on the road.

For pedestrians: Basic advice for pedestrians includes walking on sidewalks, using marked crosswalks, observing traffic signals and watching for turning vehicles. To be more visible to drivers, wear brightly colored clothing during the day and special reflective materials at night.

Pedestrians should be extra cautious about marked crosswalks without signal lights. They may not offer any more protection than an intersection without a crosswalk.

Finally, children younger than 10 should not be allowed to cross the street alone. They are often impulsive and may have difficulty judging speed, spatial relations and distance. 

Bites: Dog bites result in thousands of hospital ER visits every year, and researchers say that children are more likely to be bitten by dogs in the summer months. While adults are more likely to be bitten on arms or legs, children are more likely than adults to be bitten on the head, neck and face. Keeps dogs leashed in public areas and watch children around unfamiliar or unknown animals.

Falls: It's a generic category, but it's also the biggest one -- from jungle gyms, to skateboarding accidents, to bare feet slipping on wet surfaces, to run-of-the-mill face-plants on the concrete, falling onto something hard is the traumatic event most likely to land a kid or an adult in the ER. Seniors are susceptible year-round, while adults climbing ladders are especially at risk in the summer.

Over the past five years, falls have exceeded motor vehicle crashes as the top reason for a trauma hospitalization.

Enjoy the sun, warmth and laid back ease of the Summer and stay safe!

Remember, if you or a loved one has suffered an injury or you've lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, be it an accident, fall, dog bite or property related injury, the Pisanchyn Law Firm can help. Contact us for a free consultation. There is never a fee, we only pay you the money you deserve.