Did you know that there are time limits for you being able to file your Kentucky accident case?  If you’ve been injured in a car accident, a bicycle accident or a loved one has died in a fatal truck accident there is a time limit called the Statute of Limitations.  This is the time-frame that you have to file your lawsuit in court or to settle your accident case with the insurance company. If it is not accomplished in the time set out you forever waive the right to bring a lawsuit and collect damages from the person who injured you. 

In Kentucky, the Statute of Limitations for injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident is two years from the date of the accident or two years from the date the last no-fault PIP payment for your medical bills is paid by your insurance company.  This time frame cannot exceed four years.

Statutes of Limitation are different in every state. They can even vary depending on the type of accident you were in or who you are bringing the lawsuit against. In Kentucky the Statute of Limitations is different for different types of claims. For many claims, such as auto defects or product liability claims, the Statute of Limitations is one year. There can also be a question as to when the statute begins to run. It is always best to consult an experienced personal injury attorney that concentrates in that area of law. If you guess you could be wrong.

I had to give this bad news to a young lady that called me last week. She had been in an accident when she was seventeen. I determined from speaking with her that the Statute of Limitations for this accident was one year. The accident happened in 2008. The time had run. I thought I might save it because she was a minor at the time the accident happened. Generally you have one year after you turn eighteen to bring most accident cases in Kentucky. Unfortunately it had been nineteen months since she turned 18. Even though she was severely injured there was nothing I could do. I felt bad giving her this news. If only she had called a personal injury attorney sooner.

The bottom line is if you’ve been in an accident, you need to be aware of these time-frames because if you do not act within that time, you will not be able to recover no matter how severe your injuries are.

In Kentucky if you are a pedestrian or a bicyclist that has been hit by a car or a truck you may be wondering whether or not your medical treatment will be paid for and by whom.  This is a good questions for bicycle accident victims, as well as pedestrian accident victims. As a personal injury attorney, I can tell you that in almost every circumstance your treatment for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident will be paid for by an insurance company.  The question is what insurance company? Is it your health insurance? Is it your car insurance? Is it the car insurance for the car that hit you?

The first place that we look is to the car that hit you, the car that caused the bicycle accident or the pedestrian accident. If the car had auto insurance their PIP benefits will pay for your first $10,000.00 of medical treatment, no questions asked, as long as the treatment is related to the accident. 

If for some reason the car that caused the accident did not have insurance we then turn to your own personal car insurance company if you owned a car.  You might think this is the last place that you should look. After all you weren’t in your car at the time of this accident. Under almost all car insurance policies your car insurance is required to pay your medical treatment from injuries sustained in an accident between a car and you if you were a pedestrian or riding a bicycle. No matter how the accident occurred your car insurance will pay as long as it was a motor vehicle accident of some sort. 

Now if the other car did not have insurance and you do not own a car you will be eligible for benefits under what is called the Kentucky Assigned Claims Plan.  This is a state run program that requires insurance companies to, on rotation, pay for medical treatment for people that did not have insurance or no insurance available to them in a particular accident.

After the PIP benefits are exhausted you will then look to your personal health insurance, Medicare or Kentucky Passport. This insurance is secondary and is not used until the $10,000.00 in No-Fault Benefits are exhausted. Your health insurance will pay under the terms of your policy for any medical bills over the $10,000.00. Your health insurance company, Medicare or Passport may be entitled to repayment under federal law called ERISA or the terms of the policy from your personal injury recovery. You should check with an attorney to determine if subrogation is required.

After the PIP benefits are exhausted you will then look to your personal health insurance, Medicare or Kentucky Passport. This insurance is secondary and is not used until the $10,000.00 in No-Fault Benefits are exhausted. Your health insurance will pay under the terms of your policy for any medical bills over the $10,000.00. Your health insurance company, Medicare or Passport may be entitled to repayment under federal law called ERISA or the terms of the policy from your personal injury recovery. You should check with an attorney to determine if subrogation is required.

The bottom line is if you’ve been in a pedestrian accident or a bicycle accident where you’ve been hit by a car you are entitled to have your medical bills paid.  So don’t hold off on getting the treatment you need to recover from your injuries.  Get the doctor and find out what’s wrong with you and get better. This will enable you to achieve the best result possible in your bicycle accident or pedestrian accident case. 

         Bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents that happen in Kentucky pose different questions and different answers for the accident victims. Bicycle accident victims and pedestrian accident victims come into my office after being hit by a car and have suffered serious injuries. They wonder if they have a case. They’ve been hurt and they want to recover for their injuries.

        What happens if the car that hit them did not have insurance? Can the bicyclist or pedestrian be compensated for injuries they suffered in the accident through no fault of their own? There can be a recovery even if that person didn’t have insurance or they don’t have assets sufficient to pay for the injuries that they caused by their negligent actions.

As a personal injury attorney, I will look at the insurance policy of the person on the bicycle or the pedestrian to see if they have what is called your uninsured motorist coverage (UIM). This is coverage on your own car. UIM will pay for your pain and suffering in a pedestrian or bicycle accident if for some reason the car that hit you did not have insurance. Most people have no idea that their own car insurance will give those benefits under this situation.

You need to make sure that you have this coverage on your own car insurance policy, make sure that if you are hurt in an accident like this that you will be covered!

Your PIP will also pay for the first $10,000.00 of your medical bills. This happens even though you were no where close to your car.

I had a client a few years ago that was on a moped and on her way to work. She was injured by a car that ran her off the road and then took off. We never found the car and have no idea who the person was that hit her. She had very serious injuries. Her leg was broke and required two surgeries, pins and rods were inserted. There was a year of recovery. We were able to get a recovery for her by looking to the UIM on her car. This was from her own car insurance company, even though she was not driving that car at the time and she was on a moped.

You need to look seriously toward your insurance company in these situations. Give your personal injury attorney something to work with. If you are not sure if you have this coverage call your insurance agent and ask. For more information on Uninsured Motorist Coverage follow this link to get a free copy of my book “What You Don’t Know About Buying Car Insurance Can Hurt You.”

I was driving down Bardstown Road headed to a meeting in the Highlands in the early evening, about 6:45 p.m.  It was dark outside. There was heavy traffic because of the good weather. People were outside enjoying the first warm day in Louisville. There were bikers and walkers every where.

I know you see just about everything on Bardstown Road, but you are not going to believe this. I saw a bicycle with a child trailer attached pedaling up Bardstown Road, not in his lane of traffic, not on the sidewalk (which would be illegal) but coming down the middle line in between traffic.  How big of an idiot can you be?  This bicyclist (I am using the term loosely) was putting himself and his child in danger of being hurt in a bicycle accident. This only goes to show the need for bicycle education to help prevent Kentucky bicycle accidents. Bicycle accidents are usually catastrophic and cause serious injuries. A bicycle will loose when it hits a car. 

This also shows the need for additional pedestrian and bicycle paths and bicycle lanes in Louisville, Kentucky.  I mentioned this need in the week after the table top speech of Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood at the National Bike Summit.  When I say table top, I mean table top.  Ray LaHood climbed on a table to thank all the attendees for their efforts as advocates for livable, sustainable bike friendly communities. 

Bicyclists and cyclist enthusiasts have a friend in Washington.  There is a trend toward favoring non-motorized transportation.  Mr. LaHood promised to integrate the needs of bicyclists into federally funded road projects.  The Federal Transportation Department has formulated key recommendations for State Department of Transportation’s in this effort. These include: 

• Emphasizing that walking and bicycling should be treated as an equal to other transportation modes.
• Convenient access to people of all ages and abilities for bicycle paths and walkways.  States are encouraged to collect data on walking and biking trips.
• Sidewalks and pedestrian pathways should be protected in the same way roads are protected in reference to repairs and snow removal, etc. 

Mr. LaHood emphasized that this is just a start but these initial steps will help us move forward even further toward the integration of bicycle friendly communities.  This is part of a policy statement that was signed on March 11 and announced on March 15. This declaration concluded that the increased commitment to the investment in bicycle facilities and walking networks can help meet goals for cleaner, healthier air, less congested roadways and more livable, safe, cost efficient communities.  This is not only good for bicyclists but for everyone.  Giving bicyclists and pedestrians a less dangerous and safer way to travel to work or the grocery will not only help the environment but decrease bicycle and pedestrian accidents. This, along with education, will make it less likely to see our friend pedaling down the middle of Bardstown Road in the future.  Thank you, Ray LaHood.

We are coming to the end of a long, cold and snowy winter. Most of us are praying for spring.  I have to admit that it is still ski season for me and another month of cold weather wouldn’t bother me at all. But we have all had it with snow covered Kentucky roads, even me.  

You’re probably expecting me to talk about winter driving and how to drive safely in the snow and accident prevention.  Well, you’re wrong this time.  As I was driving to work one morning last week I saw a bicycle rider pedaling through the snow.  I applauded him for having a flashing light on his bicycle for visibility. This most definitely helps to prevent bicycle and car accidents. I admire his determination on getting to his destination. 

Somehow this bicyclist got me thinking about motorcycles. They will soon be on the road in the spring.  I further pondered what really prevents motorcycle accidents.  Are there steps that motorcyclists can take to prevent being involved in a motorcycle accident on Kentucky roads? 

One article I found about motorcycle safety had the premise that other drivers don’t care about motorcycles. The point was that car drivers are not specifically looking for motorcycles. This attitude puts an extra burden on the motorcycle to anticipate a cars next move.

I also found a lot of misconceptions that are believed by motorcycle riders to be true which in fact are statistically false! These include:

• Loud pipes save lives.
• Motorcycle helmets break necks.
• Helmets block your ability to see or hear danger.
• A helmet won’t help in most crashes.
• A helmet will leave you brain damaged in a crash when you would have been simply dead.
• A skilled rider should be able to handle almost any situation.
•  One beer won’t hurt.
• It’s better to stay in your lane than split lanes.
• I’m safer on the street than on the interstate.
• A skilled rider can stop better with conventional brakes than with anti-lock brakes.
• Laying it down prevents accidents

      Statistically all of the above are inaccurate. They are common misconceptions. Nobody wants to cause a motorcycle accident.  As a motorcycle rider you need to be aware of things that can hide or limit the visibility of your bike such as the sun, roadside poles, signs, other cars and trucks, etc.  To put it simply: Be aware of your situation and your surroundings.  This will help prevent auto accidents and motorcycle accidents.

Let’s look at a few of the above and why they are in fact inaccurate statements.

• Although loud pipes can save lives and there’s arguments for that, it usually won’t help a driver notice you if he’s making a turn in front of a motorcycle.  Once again, you need to be aware of your situation.  Wear brightly covered clothes to make you more visible to cars and traffic.
• All studies show that helmets will help in crashes.  They don’t hurt your field of vision. Statistics are clear that riders and passengers that wear helmets survive more accidents. Wear one.  Although I don’t ride a motorcycle I would not dream of skiing or riding my bicycle without a helmet. It could save your life.
• Laying it down just ensures that you’re going to be in an accident.  Once again, be aware of your situation. There is not one avoidance tactic that works for every potential accident.
• Don’t drink at all if you’re riding a bike.  One beer will lower your reflexes and may be the difference in avoiding an accident.  Not everyone is Dr. Johnny Fever, of WKRP in Cincinnati fame.
• Interstates are the safest roadway for motorcycles. This is because there are fewer distractions for drivers. There are no pedestrians and there are no intersections.
• Anti-lock brake systems stop faster and don’t skid.

Car drivers need to be aware of motorcycles as they come out in the spring and become more prominent.  Unfortunately, as a motorcyclist you can’t count on this. If everybody is aware of what is going on there will be fewer accidents.

·        Wear a helmet.

·        Wear bright colors.

·        Turn your high beams on during the day.

·        Ride as if other drivers on the road can’t see you.

·        Don’t drink and drive.

This will help prevent serious motorcycle accidents and injuries this spring and summer in Kentucky.

            Without evidence you will not be successful in pursuing your Kentucky accident claim. Whether it is a car accident, a truck accident, a bicycle accident or a wrongful death case you must be able to prove what happened. I know this is a harsh statement to start this article off with but it is the truth.  Without witnesses, pictures, medical proof and other documented evidence you are not going to be successful in prosecuting your Kentucky accident claim.  I use the word prosecuting because as an accident victim you are in a position of being required to prove your claim to the insurance company. Yes, much as a prosecutor does in a criminal case when he is arguing for a conviction. 

In the past few weeks I have had numerous clients come into my office who have been injured in auto accidents.  The facts have been somewhat strange and bizarre. They include:

·        Hitting parked cars

·        Cars illegally parked

·        Cars in front going into reverse and backing up for seemingly no reason. 

·        Buses swerving over the center line

You might think that this is a no?brainer. How could anyone not believe these people?  Isn’t it easy to show whose fault these accidents are? This is not always the case.  You never know what the other side is going to say, what reasoning they’re going to give or what they’re going to say about you. Believe it or not they may not tell the truth.  I have had to decline representing people in the last few weeks because:

• There were no photos to prove the position of the vehicles at the time of the accident.
• There were no independent witnesses to verify my potential client’s story.
• The police investigation was inadequate.  There were no diagrams or measurements made as to the positioning of the vehicles. 
• There was not immediate medical treatment.

Immediately following an accident the adrenaline is flowing.  Your brain is foggy.  You’re almost on auto pilot.  You are not concentrating on what is necessary to prove your case. You have no idea that any of this will be an issue. This is the furthest thing from your mind. Over the next several months you may find that without these items it is impossible to prove your case. The insurance adjuster may not be as friendly when you are finally asking to be compensated for what you have been through.  

You need to make sure you protect yourself by:

·        Obtain the names of witnesses to the accident.

·        Take pictures of the damage to BOTH vehicles. 

·        Document the position of the vehicles with photos.  You can do this with your cell phone or a camera in your pocket. You can use a sketch pad. But get the information!

This is just at the accident scene.

            I was speaking to an insurance adjuster today about a client’s claim. We will call her Sarah.  A witness that was in a yard next to where the accident happened had given a statement to the police. This witness claims that Sarah struck the car in front of her before she was rear ended.  The impact from behind was definitely more severe and we will be able to collect on the claim.  However, the adjuster wants to deduct for Sarah’s contributory negligence. He is arguing that Sarah is partly to blame for her injuries, based on the witness statement.  This may in fact occur. It is a jury issue. But Sarah has a fighting chance. She was on the ball enough to get the names of two independent witnesses who were not listed on the police accident report. They were on the front porch of the house next to where the accident happened. They observed the accident and can verify that Sarah did not run into the car in front of her until she was propelled into that car by the rear impact.

Sometimes this is just luck but having the awareness to document the evidence can save your Kentucky accident claim.  We have a fighting chance to prove that Sarah is right.

The insurance company is looking for any reason they can to:

·        Deny your claim

·        Defeat you claim

·        Lower the amount of money they are going to have to pay out on your claim. 

This is their job.  This is why they make the money they do. That is why insurance companies are profitable. That is why they have the lobbyists in Frankfort arguing their position. 

Protect your Kentucky accident case by documenting and documenting and documenting from the time you’re in an accident to the time you have finished treating and finally settle your claim. You must document.  By doing this your Kentucky bicycle accident case will be successful! Your Kentucky motorcycle case will be successful! Your Kentucky truck accident case will be successful!  Do not get caught into the trap and think that somebody else will do it for you.  Take matters into your own hands so that you can successfully prosecute your claim.

Tomorrow is December 23.  For most people this is not a date that comes with great anticipation, but for Seinfeld fans we all know that December 23 is Festivus.  As Frank called it: “A Festivus for the rest of us.” 

The reason I bring this up is in the Seinfeld episode during the Festivus dinner you gather your family around and you tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year.  This is called the airing of grievances. 

So I thought I would air my grievances about Louisville drivers and how their actions can cause serious automobile accidents here in Kentucky.  Car accidents can have severe consequences and distracted driving is even worse during the holiday season. We all have our minds on other things.  Holiday road rage runs wild.  Here are a few of the grievances I have against some of those drivers that use the Louisville roadways:

            1. Bicyclists That Ignore the Law.    As I was riding to work this morning I got off the expressway at Jefferson Street.  As I was driving down Jefferson Street I saw someone riding their bike to work, which I commend.  The same laws of the road apply to bike riders as to cars.  This particular rider, during rush hour mind you, was riding the white line of a lane in between cars. He was only giving himself a foot on either side as he went down through the traffic.  This is just downright dumb.  I hope he made it to work.  The chances are if he continues this activity, he is going to be involved in a bicycle accident. He will be injured and have problems for the rest of his life.

            2. Texting and driving.  I had someone pull over into my lane as she was texting and had no idea that it even happened.  Get off the phone and concentrate on driving.  It’s very simple to do and it will save your life as well as others’ lives.  Is it worth being in an accident because you need to text, “Oh my gosh” to your girlfriend in the next 13 seconds?

            3. Using Two Lanes to Make a Turn. Stay in your lane. Don’t make a right turn by initiating your turn toward the left.  Stay in your lane.  You don’t have to veer to the left and into the other lane in order to make a right-hand turn.  You can do it within the lanes.  That’s why the lines are there.

            4. Tailgaters.  Get off the rear end of my car.  You’re not going to get there any quicker because you’re 5 feet off my bumper.  Be three car lengths back.  There is a reason this is recommended.  You’re reaction time is not good enough if I have to slam on the brakes for a deer.  You’re going to cause an accident and you’re going to hurt my back.  Back off.

            5. Icy Road Speeders. When the roads get wet and snowy, slow down.  There’s no reason to go 75 miles an hour in a 45 mile per hour zone weaving in and out traffic.  I know 95 percent of the road is okay, but if you hit that one spot at the wrong time you’re going to lose control and cause a serious car wreck.  You don’t need to be in an accident this time of year and neither do I.  Slow down, drive smart, don’t be an idiot.

            These are just five of my grievances I have to voice against Louisville drivers. I have many others. These are just some of the poor driving skills I’ve seen in the last few weeks.  I know I’m somewhat making light of this, but my point is if you are careful you can save yourself from being in an accident. You don’t have to be injured.  Christmas is a great time of year.  Let’s all drive smart and take care of ourselves and take care of other drivers on the road so that we can eliminate bicycle accidents, car accidents and truck accidents.  Have a safe and happy Festivus and let’s hope that there are no grievances to air about Louisville drivers and Kentucky car accidents in the coming year.

This past weekend I was invited to help plant trees along Bardstown Road between the Showcase Cinema and Hikes Lane.  This invitation was extended to me by Cindie Cook of the Bon Air Neighborhood Association.  For those of you who are not familiar with Cindie she was friends with Jen Futrell. Jen was the cyclist that was struck and killed by a van while riding her bike home from work down Bardstown Road on October 3, 2008.

This was a tragic accident that has brought attention and outrage to the plight of cyclists and pedestrians.

The Bon Air Neighborhood Association, as a group is a big part of an effort to make the Bardstown Road corridor a tree-lined boulevard that is both pedestrian and bicyclist friendly.  Cindie Cook believes this would encourage people to stop and shop.  Also, there is a hope that it would bring new business to the area, especially the now vacant Showcase Cinema buildings.

I believe an area that is active and as busy as Bardstown Road could be a much safer place for pedestrians and cyclists and especially those that live in the area.  As I was planting trees along Bardstown Road, the amount of traffic was unbelievable. Cars were buzzing by with very little break. I know it is hard to judge speeds as you are standing along the side of the road, but I would guess that many of these cars were speeding. During my three hours on Bardstown Road I saw two car accidents that occurred within 75 yards of where I was working. I also became oblivious to the horns that were honked almost continuously.

There was very little way for people in the neighborhoods along this stretch of Bardstown Road to walk to the mall, to restaurants or to even to cross the street.  My hope is that the efforts of Ms. Cook and the Bonaire Neighborhood Association will make this area safer, limiting automobile accidents, pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents. 

I learned from Cindy that Kentucky is currently seventh in the nation in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities.  There were 32 cyclists and pedestrians killed in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky in 2008.  It is her hope that the tree plantings will add awareness to bikers and walkers, as well as being a tribute to her friend that was killed.  I applaud Cindy Cook for her focus on celebrating and memorializing the life of her friend and for trying to make the streets a safer place. I believe her efforts will save lives and prevent many serious accidents from occurring.

The City of Louisville has experienced bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents that have resulted in deaths over the past year. These include the triathlete that was killed during an event at E.P.Sawyer State Park earlier this year as well as several young children who were hit while riding their bikes. All of these deaths are needless and my sympathy goes out to the families and friends. They do, however, help to show the need for more driver awareness of those they share the roads of Kentucky with. We need more Cindies in Louisville to help make our roads safer.

Pedestrians and bicyclists beware! The Smart Car could get you. A problem has arisen with the national trend toward the development of electric cars. Electric cars make very little sound. That is a good thing for a driver and a passenger trying to carry on a conversation, but a potentially dangerous situation for pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents can be deadly.

The goal of the manufacturers of electric cars has been to develop and make them as quite as possible, as if the occupants were riding on air. This lack of noise and quietness can be extremely dangerous for those who depend on the noise of a car to avoid an accident. When I am out on the road riding my bicycle it is hard for me to hear an electric car until it is right up on me and passing me. It is as if it appeared from no where.

My wife has had the same experience while she is out walking for exercise. She trains for walks as long as 26 miles. I have heard her complain of cars sneaking up on her. This can be dangerous for all concerned. It is just as dangerous for a pedestrian crossing the road at a crosswalk. If a car making a turn and coming around the corner it is out of the sight of the pedestrian. The likelihood of an accident is increased if the pedestrian is not able to hear a car coming. I suspect that this is an even greater problem for the visually impaired.

Engineers are developing ideas to equip electric cars with artificial noises. Maybe in the future you will be able to pick the sound your car makes as it goes down the road much the way you now pick ring tones for your cell phone. I might pick a Jimmy Buffett song for my car.

At a meeting this September Nissan presented several proposed sounds to the National Highway Safety Administration. These artificial noises included:

·        The Chime

·        The Melody

·        A Futuristic Whirl

Congress is looking into legislation that would require vehicles to give “non-visual” warnings to pedestrians. There is a divide as to whether these sounds should be added to the electric car.

I believe adding sounds to an electric car will help to prevent some serious and deadly automobile accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles. This is especially true in the city. Without some sound coming from a car a bike or a pedestrian has very little chance of avoiding a serious accident.

Several years ago I was waiting for the light to change so I could cross. I was standing at the corner of 5^th Street and Muhammad Ali Blvd. I had my mind on a court hearing I was headed to. As the cross walk sign changed from “Don’t Walk” to “Walk” I put my foot over the curb and stepped into the cross walk. As I was doing this I heard a loud noise and instinctively stepped backed as a bus roared by me as it ran the red light. I was very close to becoming a hood ornament. Without the noise the bus made I am sure I would have been.

There are sounds on crosswalks and in elevators. Putting a noise or warning system on electric cars seems like a no brainer to me. It will make Kentucky roads safer and give bikers and walkers a chance at avoiding a serious car accident.

Over the last week I have seen a lot of bicycles out on the roads in Louisville as well as the Prospect, Kentucky area. I am not talking about all of the athletes that were in town training for and competing in the iron man competition. What I saw were people riding their bicycles through downtown Louisville that either do not know the law or are ignoring it. I was probably conscious of bikes since I had interviewed three potential clients in the last few weeks that were injured while riding a bicycle and were hit by a car.

The one common thread in these bicycle/automobile accidents was the fact that the bicycles were being ridden on the sidewalk. This is against the law and very dangerous. Local Louisville regulations apply to the operation of bicycles. This is defined in the local Traffic Code chapter on Bicycles and Motorcycles. The Traffic code states that: No person 11 years of age or older shall operate a bicycle on the sidewalks located within the geographical boundary limits of Louisville Metro.

There are a lot of other interesting rules, laws and safety considerations that all bicyclists should read, but that discussion will be for another time.  What this means is unless you are a child 10 years or other your bike is to be ridden on the roadways in Louisville, Kentucky. Not on the sidewalk!

Why can’t adults ride on the sidewalk? In my opinion it is for the safety of walkers as well as the cyclists. All of the accidents that I am talking about had a variation of the fact of bicycle riding on the sidewalk and then traveling into the street crosswalk where they were struck by a car. In most situations a car has no chance of seeing a bicycle entering the street from the sidewalk. The driver is not looking for anyone other than a pedestrian.

Know the law and protect yourself. If you are 11 years of age or older ride your bike on the road obey the rules of the road and use appropriate safety equipment such as reflectors and helmets. Protect yourself. Know and obey the law. Don’t find out after an accident that you were in the wrong. This will make all of us safer and prevent accidents.