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SEPTEMBER 2010 |
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 Beware of Hidden Tire Dangers
Checking Tire Pressure Can Save Money and Lives
There are tens of millions of drivers on the road today whose vehicles come equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). A TPMS is a technological device that notifies drivers when their car's tire pressure is dangerously low, helping to improve a vehicle's overall handling, fuel efficiency and safety.
These devices are important, however, studies show they still don't provide enough information to let drivers achieve optimum handling or fuel efficiency. That's why it's important to check your tires the good old-fashioned way -- as a back up -- to ensure that it's safe to go when the rubber meets the road.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
TPMSs were first introduced in passenger vehicles a little over 10 years ago, with millions of vehicles using some type of system today. Certain early types of tire pressure monitoring systems (2005 models and older) came with a host of problems that usually caused air to leak from the tires.
Today's systems are more reliable, however, providing drivers with added peace of mind when it comes to driving safety.
TPMSs are offered in two primary versions: one that provides a safety warning when tire pressure is low, usually with a light on the dashboard, and a more advanced system that uses numerical tire pressure readings linked to each of a vehicle's tires. A majority of today's new cars use a more basic system, with the remainder equipped with a more advanced system.
Federal standards mandate that the TPMS issue a warning when tire pressure has dropped 25 percent below the manufacturer's recommended cold tire pressure.
However, according to recent studies, even a small drop in pounds-per-square-inch (PSI) can have a negative effect on a vehicle's overall handling and safety, especially when passengers or cargo are on board.
Further still, less-than-ideal tire pressure means less-than-ideal fuel economy. A drop of six PSI, for example, translates into a 10 percent decline in fuel economy, even though it often wouldn't trigger a TPMS warning.
Four years ago, TPMSs improved due to a federal standard designed to bolster the safety of cars on today's roadways. Roughly 70 percent of 2007 model years came equipped with a TPMS. In 2008, all passenger cars were required to have these systems.
 While many of today's TPMSs will warn you of hazardously low tire pressure, the best way to ensure optimal handling, fuel efficiency and safety (in addition to the information provided by your car's TPMS) is to test your tire pressure the good old fashioned way. Visually inspect your tires on a monthly basis and use a tire gauge -- preferably a digital version as these are the most accurate -- to be certain your car is operating safely and economically.
The Bisnar | Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP glove box organizer contains a tire pressure gauge, if you don't have one. It also has a slot to put your automobile certificate of insurance, a place to put your automobile registration, an accident information form with instructions on what to do after a traffic accident and what information to collect at the scene of a traffic accident, a pen, a flashlight with batteries and a note pad. Just go to http://www.bestattorney.com/organizer.php and we'll send you one free!
  Car Seat Safety
It's Up to You to Buckle Me In!
In 2006, an average of five children aged 14 and younger were killed and 568 were injured in motor vehicle crashes each day in the US. During that same year, among children under the age of five, an estimated 425 lives were saved because of child restraint use.
Research on the effectiveness of child safety seats has found them to reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than 1 year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1-4 years old) in passenger cars.
Here is some important information you should know when it comes to child safety seats.
- From birth to at least one year old and at least 20 pounds, children should be secured in the back seat in a rear-facing infant seat.
- Children between the ages of one to about age four and 20-40 pounds should be secured in the back seat in a forward-facing toddler seat
- Kids between the ages of four and eight or 40-80 pounds -- unless 4'9" -- should be properly restrained in the back seat in belt-positioning booster seats.
There are two types of booster seats: a high-back booster and a low-back booster. A high-back booster seat uses the vehicle's lap/shoulder belt and provides head and neck support for the child if the car does not have a built-in head restraint. A low-back booster seat is for use in vehicles that have a built-in head restraint. This type of booster seat is also used with the lap/shoulder belt to secure the child properly.
Booster seats are designed to raise children of this size up enough that the safety belt fits correctly -- the shoulder belt should cross the child's chest and rest snugly on the shoulder, and the lap belt should rest low across the pelvis or hip area, never across the stomach area.
Because so many parents have trouble installing car seats properly, manufacturers and child safety experts recommend that new parents sign up for a car seat installation workshop.
Such classes usually take about a half-hour -- probably the smartest half-hour you'll ever spend. However, where do you find one? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website lists child safety seat inspection stations. In some communities, you can get help with car seat installation from your local police station.
It's up to you! Be sure to sign up for a car seat installation workshop in your area to keep your children safe.
For a complete list of the safety seat models, please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web site, www.nhtsa.gov.
 $25,000 in Scholarships for Viral Video Contest Winners
American Lawyer Academy Promotes Safe Driving Through Viral Video Scholarship Program
The American Lawyer Academy (ALA) is sponsoring its first annual Viral Video Scholarship Contest. The scholarship program is dedicated to the thousands of people who are injured or killed in motor vehicle collisions each year in the United States. The program has been created as a community service project to help educate the public on safe driving practices. It will award scholarships to the film students or video production enthusiasts who create the best viral videos promoting safe driving. High school and college students nationwide are encouraged to submit their video creations.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008 there were 37,261 people killed in motor vehicle crashes. The American Automobile Association (AAA) says that 25 to 50 percent of all accidents are caused by a distracted driver such as someone who is talking on a cell phone, texting while driving, eating, looking at scenery, reading books or maps, adjusting the car's music system, or talking to passengers. Similarly, it has been estimated that alcohol-related crashes may represent 50 percent or more of all fatal collisions. Other common causes of accidents are driver fatigue, speeding, failing to follow the rules of the road and aggressive driving.
The American Lawyer Academy Viral Video Scholarship Contest offers $25,000 in scholarships toward college tuition at a recognized academic institution. Students that want to use their talents and creativity to help spread a positive safe driving message that captures the imagination of the YouTube generation can visit href=" http://www.viralvideoscholarshipcontest.com/" target="_blank">www.ViralVideoScholarshipContest.com to get video submission guidelines, links to information about the regional contest rules, and more. Bisnar | Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP is sponsoring the Western Regional Contest at www.bestattorney.com/viral-video-scholarship-contest-western-region.html.
Food for Thought
If a lawyer and an IRS agent were both drowning, and you could only save one of them ...
Would you go to lunch or read the paper?
The Giving Spotlight
Lee National Denim Day
Don't forget! Danielle Olson, Executive Assistant at Bisnar | Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP, is collecting $5 donations between now and October 4, 2010, in honor of the Lee National Denim Day, one of the largest single-day nationwide fundraisers for breast cancer. The donations will go to support Lee Jeans' research efforts to detect and treat breast cancer, and to provide support and education programs for breast cancer victims across the US.
Then on Friday, October 8, 2010, as part of the official Lee National Denim Day, Bisnar | Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP employees will wear jeans to work, to show their support of breast cancer detection, treatment, education and awareness.
To learn more about Lee National Denim Day, including how your organization can get involved, visit the Lee National Denim Day website. There, you can register a new team, register an existing team, learn how to promote the cause at your place of employment or make a donation to help support Lee Jeans and its breast cancer treatment, prevention and awareness initiatives.
You can also contact Danielle Olsen to make a donation on behalf of Bisnar | Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP by calling (949) 752-2999. Thanks for your support!
Yours truly,
John Bisnar
Bisnar | Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP
www.BestAttorney.com
1-800-561-4887
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