Worcester Personal Injury Blog

How to drive safely in the snow

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.

As one of our Massachusetts readers, you know that snow, ice and sleet can wreak havoc all winter long. If you find yourself on the road when the snow begins to fall, it's critical to adjust your driving style with the idea of improving your safety.

Here are five things you can do to drive safely in the snow:

Accelerate and decelerate under control: For example, a fast acceleration at a traffic light will cause your tires to spin out, which increases the risk of an accident. Just the same, slamming on your brakes increases the chance of losing control of your vehicle.
Slow down: Don't drive so slowly that it puts others in danger, but make sure you never exceed the speed limit. Driving too fast can lead you to lose control, such as by spinning out when you hit a slippery patch.
Don't stop unless it's necessary: If you stop your vehicle when driving up a hill, you may not be able to start back up. This leaves you with two options: Abandon your vehicle where you are or attempt to turn around and head back down the hill.
Leave more following space: Since it takes longer to stop your vehicle in the snow, leave a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front of yours.
Don't take risks: Even if you have somewhere to be, your safety is more important than everything else. An example of an unnecessary risk is attempting to power up a hill that's covered in snow.

Follow these tips to drive safely in a construction zone

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Monday, December 3, 2018.

Even when you try to avoid it, there will be times when you drive directly into a construction zone. As frustrating as it may be, especially if you're in a hurry, you don't want to do anything that puts you or other people at risk of injury.

These causes of distracted driving can impact anyone

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Monday, November 12, 2018.

Even if you're the most cautious driver on the road, it doesn't mean you'll never make a mistake. For example, if your phone rings while you're sitting in traffic, you may take your eyes off the road to see who it is.

Just as you can fall prey to distractions while driving, the same holds true of every other person on the road. This is why it's so important to always keep close tabs on what's happening around you.

The upcoming holidays may result in more drunk drivers

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Friday, November 9, 2018.

The holiday season brings both the opportunity for joy and plenty of reasons to feel stressed out. Whether you travel to stay with family or they come to you, there is much to arrange and plan for. You have to worry about gifts, meals, travel and keeping the peace. There is also the financial stress that comes from purchasing gifts for all the people you love in a short period of time.

Some people even find spending a day or two with family to be a source of stress. Combine that with a desire to party and have fun, and you may find that more people are drinking alcohol then they would on other days of the year. It makes sense then, that drunk driving is a bigger risk around the holiday season.

Learn what to do after a car wreck

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

A car wreck will likely shake you up. The stress of knowing you were in an accident, the possibility of injuries and the concern about what is going to happen now can all come together to make a difficult situation even more complicated.

Even though your mind is probably reeling, there are some points that you do need to know.

Follow these holiday driving tips to stay safe

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Friday, September 28, 2018.

The holiday season is an enjoyable time. From the parties to great times with friends and family, you look forward to everything it will bring your way, despite the stress the season also tends to elicit.

While there's nothing wrong with having a good time during the holidays, it's imperative to take steps that will keep you safe. This is particularly important when driving.

Are you too tired to drive? Don’t push yourself

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Monday, September 17, 2018.

A motor vehicle accident can happen for many reasons. As a driver, it's your responsibility to protect yourself at all times. In addition to closely monitoring those around you, it's critical to make good personal decisions.

There is no excuse for driving drowsy, as doing so increases the risk of causing an accident.

Strong wind, heavy rain and safe driving

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Wednesday, September 12, 2018.

As a Massachusetts resident, you know that the weather can change without notice. For example, one second you're driving with the top down, enjoying the sun, but the next you're in the middle of a rainstorm.

Driving in inclement weather is easier said than done, as you need to immediately adjust your style to minimize the risk of an accident. Even then, you can't control other drivers, so there's always a possibility of running into trouble.

These simple tips can help you avoid distracted driving

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Monday, August 13, 2018.

When you step into your vehicle, it's easy to tell yourself you'll remain focused on the road no matter what. However, as you begin to drive, it's not out of the question to fall prey to one or more distraction.

Since a distraction increases the risk of an accident, it's imperative to avoid these at all costs.

Road trip driving safety tips: Don’t forget about these

On behalf of Cherele Gentile of The Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, P.C. on Tuesday, July 24, 2018.

The summer and fall months are a great time to take road trips. For example, if you're one of our Massachusetts readers, you may find yourself venturing to New York City or a beach on the east coast in the months to come.

It doesn't matter if you're taking an end of summer vacation or tackling the highways during the busy Labor Day weekend, nothing changes the fact that your safety should always come first.