4-Way Intersections: Who Goes First?
Do you know what to do when you get to a 4-way intersection? Generally, they are marked with a Stop Sign for each approaching vehicle. The Stop Signs take the place of an electric control light. Motorists often get confused at these intersections. BEWARE! Many motorists don’t know the simple rules that apply to 4-way intersections or they just disobey them. Motorists often get confused at these intersections, but the rules are really quite simple.
Here are FOUR SIMPLE RULES:
Rule 1: First to arrive, first to drive. When you’re approaching a 4-way stop, drivers who stopped before you have the right of way. If two or more vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on your right.
Rule 2: Right-of-way goes to the right, so if two vehicles arrive at the same time, stop, and the car on the right has the right-of-way.
Rule 3: Straight doesn’t have to wait. If 2 vehicles arrive at the same time and are across from each other, stop and watch in which direction the other vehicle is going. If it goes straight, it’s safe for you to go straight because you won’t cross each other’s path. If you are turning, then the car that is going straight has the right-of-way.
Rule 4: Left turn yields to the right. If two vehicles arrive directly across from each other at the same time and both are turning, then the vehicle that is turning left yields to the one that is turning right. These are COMMON SENSE rules. Know them, follow them, and you’ll be safe.
What do you need to know about school buses?
Every day across the country, nearly 500,000 buses carry more than 25 million students to and from school and school-related activities.
School buses are the safest vehicles on the road, and one of the safest modes of transportation overall. In fact, children are much safer traveling in school buses than in any other vehicle, whether they’re going to and from school, a field trip, or a sporting event. They are even safer riding in a school bus than in a car with their parents or caregivers.
Louisiana School-Bus Laws
Motorists must stop at least thirty feet from a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children. All 50 states have a law that makes it illegal to pass a school bus that is loading or unloading children. Always be prepared to stop when lights are flashing. Bus drivers will activate the flashing yellow lights of the bus at least 100 feet but no more than 500 feet before the school bus stop. As the bus comes to a complete stop, the flashing red lights and stop signs will activate. The motorist waits for the vehicle to move and scan before starting to drive again. This is required by law whether you are meeting the bus or traveling behind it. Every state has a law making it illegal to pass a school bus that’s stopped to load or unload passengers with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Far too many drivers simply choose to ignore the law for their own convenience and put children at risk.
You do not have to stop when the bus is stopped in a loading zone completely off the roadway and where pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway. If you are following a bus, increase your following distance in order to get a better view. Anticipate the bus stopping at its pickup and drop off points. Never pass a bus with its red lights flashing on the right or on the left. Buses typically travel at lower rates of speed and make frequent stops. During the school year school buses are most likely to be on the road during a three-hour period in the morning and a three-hour period in the afternoon.
When a school bus is stopped in opposite lanes on a roadway separated by a ditch, grassy median, elevated concrete barrier or any obstacle that prevents traffic from driving thereon, you are not required to stop. Drivers are also not required to stop for a stopped school bus when traveling on four-lane or five-lane roadways which are separated by a dedicated two-way left turn lane. Drivers must stop on a four-lane roadway when it is not separated by a barrier.
School Bus and Automobile Crashes
Bus crashes can be serious. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an empty car can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, while an empty school bus can weigh up to 14,500 pounds. This disparity may increase if the bus is at full capacity. What does this mean? Colliding with a school bus versus a passenger vehicle could mean you might sustain more serious personal injuries and more extensive damage to your vehicle. You may have to deal with injuries, such as:
Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
Whiplash
Back pain
Damage to or loss of extremities
Mental trauma
Death
Such injuries can result in both economic and non-economic damages. Typical examples of economic damages are wage losses, job loss, medical expenses, and funeral costs. Typical examples of non-economic damages are physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. In short, economic damages can be quantified. Non-economic damages cannot be quantified; they are subjective and subject to speculation. No ever person is the same, so non-economic damages vary from person to person.
You May Need A Lawyer To Recover Your Damages
Under Louisiana law, an accident victim has one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit or, if possible, settle the case. When this one-year period expires, the accident victim loses the right to sue the wrongdoer for both economic and non-economic damages.
Most people have no experience with the legal system and dealing with insurance companies. It is important to know that there are two Points of View (POV). The accident victim wants Justice, meaning full compensation. The insurance company wants to pay the injured person as little as possible for damages. So if you need an attorney, you want one who cares about you, who spends time getting to know you, who keeps you informed about your case, who spends the necessary time to explain the law, and who know what evidence is needed to prove all of your damages.
At the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy, you will have Richard Kennedy and Richard Kennedy III to represent you. Why is this important? Because you will know who is representing you; you know that we will keep you timely informed about your case and all the information you need for us to do our very best to get justice for you. When you call us, we answer your calls and we promptly answer your emails. The bottom line is simple: we and our clients get to know each other on a personal — not just a professional — level. That is critical in building trust. So, if you need a lawyer, call us at (337) 232-1934 to get started.
Do you know your blind spots? The importance of rear view mirrors.
REAR VIEW MIRRORS AND BLIND SPOTS
Every vehicle — sedan, SUV, truck, whatever, has one or more blind spots. That’s why vehicles are equipped with rear view and side mirrors. More modern vehicles have driver-alert monitoring, lane change monitoring, and more. But these devices are no substitute for knowing where the blind spots are on your vehicle and how to avoid having a wreck because you failed to know about them and how to successfully deal with them.
In 1995, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) published a research paper that recommended how you should adjust your side and windshield rearview mirrors to eliminate blind spots. That research showed that you should adjust the side mirrors as far outward as you can so that the viewing angle of the side mirrors just overlaps the view of the center rearview mirror. In this manner, you use the center rearview mirror to see what is coming up from behind, while the outside mirrors reflect the area outside the view of the center rearview mirror.
Here is the proper way to adjust your mirrors:
First, adjust your rearview mirror so that it frames the rear window. You should be able to see traffic flow to the rear of the vehicle with the rearview mirror.
Second, place your head against the driver’s side window and adjust the driver’s side mirror so you can barely see the driver’s side of your vehicle.
Third, move your head as close to the center of the car as possible and adjust the passenger side mirror so you can barely see the passenger side of your car.
Fourth, To test your adjustments, watch a car pass you in the next lane. The passing car should be seen in your side mirror before it fully leaves the center rearview mirror. You should also detect the passing car in your peripheral vision before it leaves the outside rearview mirror. Always remember that the center inside rearview mirror is the primary mirror. Although it may take time to get used to not seeing the sides of your car in the side mirrors, it is very important for your rear-view mirrors to be in the correct position so that you can see as much as possible of the traffic behind you as well as those that might be in your blind spot.
You May Need A Lawyer To Recover Your Damages
Under Louisiana law, a crash victim has one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit or, if possible, settle the case. When this one-year period expires, the crash victim loses the right to sue the wrongdoer for both economic and non-economic damages.
We are a boutique law firm consisting of Richard Kennedy and Richard Kennedy III. Is this important to you? You bet. Why? Because you will know who is representing you, we will keep you timely informed about your case and all the information that you need for us to do our very best to get justice for you. We answer our clients’ calls and promptly answer their emails. The bottom line is simple: we and our clients work as a team and get to know each other on a personal — not just a professional — level. That is critical in building trust. So, if you need a lawyer, call us at (337) 232-1934 to get started.
Can you use your cellphone in a school zone?
USE OF CELL PHONES IN A SCHOOL ZONE
Talking and driving is distracting as it frequently takes the driver’s attention off his/her driving duties. Distracted drivers cause preventable injury every 78 seconds according to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTA). Many types of signs warn motorists when they are approaching a school zone.
A violation of this traffic safety law is a moving violation. The first violation is punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Each subsequent violation is punishable by a fine of not more than one $1,000 and a suspension of a driver’s license for a sixty-day period. If the person is involved in a collision at the time of the violation, the fine shall be equal to double the amount of the standard fine imposed and the investigation police officer shall include that in his official Traffic Crash Report.
Back to school means that vehicles and pedestrians are sharing the road again after several months of summer break. School zones, which have been empty for the summer months, are now busy with children, school buses, and pedestrians. Pedestrians and drivers must be aware of their surroundings as they share the road.
The bulk of responsibility lies with drivers of vehicles in school zones. The burden is on motorists to ensure they operate their vehicles in a law-abiding and safe manner. Drivers need to be aware that the responsibility in school zones lies with them even though students and pedestrians may engage in reckless behaviors. Drivers need to be prepared for any situation, including stopping for school buses.
You May Need A Lawyer To Recover Your Damages
Under Louisiana law, an accident victim has one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit or, if possible, settle the case. When this one-year period expires, the accident victim loses the right to sue the wrongdoer for both economic and non-economic damages.
We are a boutique law firm consisting of Richard Kennedy and Richard Kennedy III. Is this important to you? You bet. Why? Because you will know who is representing you, we will keep you timely informed about your case and all the information that you need for us to do our very best to get justice for you. We answer our clients’ calls and promptly answer their emails. The bottom line is simple: we and our clients work as a team and get to know each other on a personal — not just a professional — level. That is critical in building trust. So, if you need a lawyer, call us at (337) 232-1934 to get started.
What do you do when a school bus is stopping?
Every day across the country, nearly 500,000 buses carry more than 25 million students to and from school and school-related activities.
School buses are the safest vehicles on the road, and one of the safest modes of transportation overall. In fact, children are much safer traveling in school buses than in any other vehicle, whether they’re going to and from school, a field trip, or a sporting event. They are even safer riding in a school bus than in a car with their parents or caregivers.
Louisiana School-Bus Laws
Motorists must stop at least 30’ from a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children. All 50 states have a law that makes it illegal to pass a school bus that is loading or unloading children. Always be prepared to stop when lights are flashing. When do you know you have to stop? Bus drivers will activate the flashing yellow lights of the bus at least 100 feet but no more than 500 feet before the school bus stop. As the bus comes to a complete stop, the flashing red lights and stop signs will activate. The motorist must remain stopped until the school bus signs and lights are deactivated, and the bus begins to move. Make sure that you scan the area for children who may still be moving in or near the road before you start to drive again. This is required by law whether you are meeting the bus or traveling behind it. Every state has a law making it illegal to pass a school bus that’s stopped to load or unload passengers with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Far too many drivers simply choose to ignore the law for their own convenience and put children at risk. If you are following a bus, increase your following distance in order to get a better view. Anticipate the bus stopping at its pickup and drop off points. Never pass a bus with its red lights flashing on the right or on the left. Buses typically travel at lower rates of speed and make frequent stops. During the school year school buses are most likely to be on the road during a three-hour period in the morning and a three-hour period in the afternoon.
But are there times when you DO NOT have to stop for a school bus that is stopped with its signs out and lights flashing? Yes. You do not have to stop when the bus is stopped in a loading zone completely off the roadway and where pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway.
When a school bus is stopped in opposite lanes on a roadway separated by a ditch, grassy median, elevated concrete barrier or any obstacle that prevents traffic from driving thereon, you are not required to stop. Drivers are also not required to stop for a stopped school bus when traveling on four-lane or five-lane roadways which are separated by a dedicated two-way left turn lane. Drivers must stop on a four-lane roadway when it is not separated by a barrier.
School Bus and Automobile Crashes
Bus crashes can be serious. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an empty car can weigh up to 5,000 pounds, while an empty school bus can weigh up to 14,500 pounds. This disparity may increase if the bus is at full capacity. What does this mean? Colliding with a school bus versus a passenger vehicle could mean you might sustain more serious personal injuries and more extensive damage to your vehicle. You may have to deal with injuries, such as:
Concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs); Back pain; Damage to or loss of extremities; Mental trauma; Whiplash; or Death
Such injuries can result in both economic and non-economic damages. Typical examples of economic damages are wage losses, job loss, medical expenses, and funeral costs. Typical examples of non-economic damages are physical pain and suffering, emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. In short, economic damages can be quantified. Non-economic damages cannot be quantified; they are subjective and subject to speculation. No ever person is the same, so non-economic damages vary from person to person.
You May Need A Lawyer To Recover Your Damages
Under Louisiana law, an accident victim has one year from the date of injury to file a lawsuit or, if possible, settle the case. When this one-year period expires, the accident victim loses the right to sue the wrongdoer for both economic and non-economic damages.
Most people have no experience with the legal system and dealing with insurance companies. It is important to know that there are two Points of View (POV). The accident victim wants Justice, meaning full compensation. The insurance company wants to pay the injured person as little as possible for damages. So if you need an attorney, you want one who cares about you, who spends time getting to know you, who keeps you informed about your case, who spends the necessary time to explain the law, and who know what evidence is needed to prove all of your damages.
At the Law Offices of Richard R. Kennedy, you will have Richard Kennedy and Richard Kennedy III to represent you. Is this important? You bet? Why? Because you will know who is representing you; you know that we will keep you timely informed about your case and all the information you need for us to do our very best to get justice for you. When you call us, we answer your calls and we promptly answer your emails. The bottom line is simple: we and our clients get to know each other on a personal — not just a professional — level. That is critical in building trust. So, if you need a lawyer, call us at (337) 232-1934 to get started.