Four people ages 19 and 20 were all seriously injured in an automobile accident in St. Claire, MO when the vehicle they were in went off the road and slammed into a tree after being airborne for a short time. The 19-year-old driver was given a citation for driving while intoxicated and authorities were conducting an investigation to determine if the accident was caused because of a driving stunt they were trying to pull off. The accident occurred when the 19-year-old driver lost control of the Volkswagen causing it to flip multiple times before landing on its roof.
A 25-year-old New Jersey woman involved in a three-car accident was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Police said the accident involved a Parking Authority official and the accident resulted in the street being shut down to clear the debris. The accident occurred as the Parking Authority vehicle was attempting to make a left turn from a southbound lane when the woman driving the other vehicle struck the official’s vehicle. Her vehicle continued to veer onto the sidewalk following the accident before coming to a stop.
An 18-year-old girl could be facing charges following an automobile accident that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old girl and a 19-year-old boy and serious injuries for another 22-year-old victim. The accident occurred just after the 18-year-old had left a party and lost control of her vehicle after hitting a patch of ice on the road. Police said the 18-year-old girl admitted to texting while she was driving and she had been drinking before the accident occurred. Prosecutors said there will be charges filed against the 18-year-old but the specifics of the charges she faces have yet to be determined.
A New York woman and her 6-year-old son were involved in a serious automobile accident that left the woman trapped in the vehicle for a significant amount of time. The accident occurred when the woman swerved to avoid an oncoming truck and veered off an embankment down a steep, snowy hill. The car the two were riding in rolled over multiple times before landing upside down at the bottom of the hill.
The National Traffic and Safety Board in Washington D.C. have agreed to a recommendation to ban the use of cell phones while driving including hands-free and hand-held phone systems. This recommended ban comes just over a year after a fatal traffic accident in Missouri that took the life of a 19-year-old driver operating a pickup truck. Officials found that the driver had received 11 text messages in 11 minutes just before the crash had occurred. The accident occurred when the pickup truck slammed into a tractor-trailer and 2 school buses subsequently collided with the pickup truck.
A 34-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the hit-and-run death of a 19-year-old woman. The 34-year-old man had his license suspended 10 times and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The charge is a felony charge. He was also charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, vehicle and traffic violations, and failure to exercise due care; all of which are misdemeanor charges.
A four-car pileup left one person dead and one seriously injured in Seminole County, Florida. The accident occurred when a 31-year-old woman failed to stop in time to prevent from hitting a Jeep in front of her. Authorities said the woman did not see that traffic had stopped in front of her but they are unsure what caused her to not see the traffic stopping. The vehicles both caught fire and the passenger of the Jeep was burned beyond recognition. These vehicles are currently the subject of a recall because they are susceptible to catching fire if they are struck from behind; a result of the location of the fuel tank on the vehicle. As a result of the fire, the roadway near the area where the accident occurred will need to be resurfaced.
Four people were transported to a medical facility, two in serious condition and the other two in critical condition following a serious automobile accident in Edinburg, Texas. Emergency crews had to use the Jaws of Life in order to rescue the four people trapped inside one of the vehicles. The roof and all four doors had to be removed from the vehicle in order to rescue the victims. The accident originally occurred when a black Chevy truck was trying to pass a slow moving vehicle that was in the middle lane and the truck rear-ended a sedan as it crossed into the next lane of traffic.
Four teenagers in New York lost their lives in a late evening automobile accident when an automobile struck two Asian exchange students while they were walking. Two others in the vehicle were killed as a result of the accident as well. The car ultimately caught fire after colliding with an embankment. Just before crashing into the embankment the vehicle struck the two teenagers walking along the side of the road. The accident is still under investigation by police to determine what the cause of the accident was. All four teenagers were 17 and 18 years of age. The two in the vehicle were both 17 years old.
A school bus accident resulted in the death of 20 people following a head-on collision. The bus, which was carrying 64 passengers, had only 9 seats on it. A majority of the passengers were children ranging in age from 5 and 6 years old. The driver and four of the children died at the scene of the accident and the rest of the passengers were transported to a medical facility. Several people suffered serious injuries in the accident. Hospital officials did not comment on the status of the passengers following the wreck. Authorities said this was the fifth auto wreck involving a school bus with children inside.
A man in Fruit Heights, Utah was killed and his wife was critically injured in a car-pedestrian accident. The two had pulled over on the side of the road they were traveling on when another vehicle traveling behind them struck their vehicle as they exited. Authorities said the couple did not pull over completely on the side of the road and their vehicle was still partially in the lane at the time of the accident.
A New York airport shuttle bus driver was charged with misdemeanor DWI charges following a single-vehicle accident. The driver claimed she swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle when she struck a sign post. However, authorities investigating the accident were unable to find substantial evidence proving that the driver in fact tried to avoid another car. There were no passengers in the shuttle bus at the time of the accident and the driver was uninjured. The vehicle travelled through a garden before hitting the sign and the front-end of the vehicle had significant damage to it.
In a recent court settlement, the plaintiff in a 2006 lawsuit was awarded $73 million following a lawsuit against Ford Motor Company. The plaintiff sued the company claiming they were negligent for an automobile accident that killed two members of a Presbyterian church and injured two others. Accident reports said the van the church members were driving began wobbling. The accident report showed the tire tread came apart from the tire that was installed by Ford Motor Company, a tire that was reported defective by tire maker Goodyear.
A two-vehicle accident in Milton, WV left one woman dead and at least two others injured. The incident occurred north of an intersection and the woman’s vehicle caught fire as a result. The woman was not burned but did suffer several injuries to her body. Authorities said she died after arriving to the hospital where she was transported.
An Ohio man was killed in an automobile accident after the tractor-trailer he was driving collided with a semi truck and then a guardrail. The tractor-trailer then went up in flames, killing the driver. The driver of the vehicle he collided with was uninjured in the accident. According to authorities, the driver collided with another tractor-trailer that was stopped due to slow-moving traffic. Authorities investigating the incident found no mechanical failures for either of the tractor-trailers involved in the accident.
In Tampa, Florida staged automobile accidents have caused automobile insurance rates to rise to very high prices. A 43-year-old woman stated she pays nearly $1,000 in insurance premiums which she is finding increasingly difficult to pay. The staged auto accidents are created in several ways, however, one way involves perpetrators coercing innocent drivers into these accidents. The scams work as the perpetrators involved in these accidents make false medical claims to their insurance.
A New Jersey woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a car in which she was a passenger collided with a tree. The 40-year-old man driving the vehicle was arrested and charged with assault and drunk driving and faces arraignment this week. The 36-year-old female passenger suffered a fractured ankle and a non-life-threatening head injury in the accident. The incident occurred when the driver failed to negotiate a turn and lost control of his 1999 Volvo sedan.
A self-driving vehicle manufactured by internet giant Google was involved in an automobile accident near the company’s headquarters. The company stated that the incident was not a result of the vehicle’s self-driving capability but because of human error from the driver behind the wheel. The company stated the vehicle was being manually driven at the time the accident took place. No injuries were reported but several witnesses stated there were at least five cars involved in the accident when it occurred.
A 60-year-old woman was killed and 3 other people were injured including 2 children when a backhoe that was being towed by a construction vehicle rolled onto the victims’ vehicle. The vehicle towing the backhoe was traveling on a southbound road in Southborough, MA when it jackknifed and caused the backhoe to roll off. The backhoe landed on top of the vehicle behind it. The vehicle that was struck rolled into an embankment and the backhoe landed on top of it, trapping the victims inside.
Two Florida families are suing a cheerleading school over injuries suffered by their teenage daughters during gymnastics practice. The families claim the school's coaches ignored complaints and forced the girls to practice until they were injured.
A group of twelve retired players are suing the National Football League over the widespread use of a painkiller that can put someone with head injuries at increased risk. The players contend that the widespread use of the drug put the victims of head injuries at increased risk of concussion-related symptoms.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced it is launching an investigation into the battery for Chevrolet Volt plug-in car. The investigation comes after two batteries caught fire in crash simulations.
Three teenage students from Ole Miss traveling to Oxford to attend church were killed in an automobile accident. The three victims, one 18 years old and the other two 19 years old, were killed when the 18-year-old’s Infiniti vehicle went off the road in I-55 near the town of Vaiden. According to a Highway Patrol Trooper, the vehicle went off an embankment and flipped several times before coming to a stop on its roof. All three of the victims were wearing their seatbelts and neither alcohol nor drugs were thought to be a factor in the accident. The three were all killed instantly upon impact.
A 61-year-old woman was given a plea deal in a court case that followed a car-bicycle accident involving a police officer. The 61-year-old woman told police after the incident that she was distracted by her children in the back seat of her vehicle and although she realized she struck a bicyclist, she did not want to stop. The police officer on the bicycle was training with other officers at the time of the accident. The woman pleaded guilty to failure to stop after an accident causing death and she would have served four years of home detention but the sentence will be reduced to two years if the woman exhibits good behavior.
A Cedar City, Utah man died from fatal injuries he suffered following a two-car auto accident. The 74-year-old man was riding in a minivan along with 2 other occupants when an SUV traveling south collided with them as they attempted to cross in front of the SUV and make a left turn. Witnesses attempted to provide some sort of aid to the victims and assisted in getting them out of the vehicles.
In Tremonton, UT, a 58-year-old woman was left in critical condition after she was struck by a vehicle crossing the roadway. The woman was walking across the street with her 16-year-old son at the time of the accident and the vehicle driven by a 44-year-old man struck her. The driver was cited for failure to yield following the accident.
The Cross Bronx Expressway in New York was the scene of a fatal accident after two siblings fell from the overpass in a serious automobile accident. The 21-year-old driver of the vehicle and her 20-year-old brother fell from the expressway after crashing into several other vehicles due to slick roads that had black ice. The two victims were part of a group of 10 that were riding in the Chevy Venture that crashed. The victims fell off the overpass when they got out of their vehicle to inspect the damage and were struck by an oncoming Toyota Corolla that was involved in a separate multi-car accident.
A 25-year-old man who is a pastor at a North Carolina church was involved in a motorcycle accident after trying to avoid colliding with two vehicles in front of him. The 25-year-old man reportedly saw the two vehicles make a sudden stop in front of him and tried to prevent hitting them when the bike overturned. He was ejected from the bike and came to a stop in a westbound lane of traffic.
A 9-year-old girl was burned to death and her mother was left with severe burns after an automobile accident resulted in a car fire. The driver, a 27-year-old woman, lost control of her 1996 Chrysler Sedan and collided with a center divider, spun out and collided with a tanker-truck carrying liquid nitrogen. The vehicle then rolled 20 feet on its roof before catching fire. Both victims were trapped inside the vehicle because of the intensity of the fire.
At least 12 students were injured and one person was killed in an automobile accident that involved a high school bus and a car. The 39-year-old driver of the vehicle died in the accident as his car crossed into the oncoming traffic lane where the bus was. Authorities said the crash is still under investigation to determine what factors played a part in the accident. The 12 injured students were transported to medical facilities as a precaution.
A 46-year-old Flint, MI man was working at a car wash when he was struck and injured by a 2008 Saturn Vue SUV. The worker was dragged roughly 50 feet under the car as the vehicle moved forward. A witness to the accident stated they believe the driver accidently hit the gas pedal rather than the brakes, which led to the incident.
A 21-year-old man was found trapped underneath his Ford Mustang vehicle following a five-car pile-up in Warwick, R.I. The accident occurred when the 21-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle and veered into the opposite, oncoming traffic lane. The vehicle was struck by a pickup truck and came to a stop near a parked car in a parking lot.
A 22-year-old woman and her 2-year-old son were found trapped underneath a piece of farm equipment after their vehicle collided with the piece of equipment. The woman reportedly rear-ended the farm vehicle which left the front-end of her vehicle trapped underneath it. The farm vehicle was towing a large trailer unit. The driver of the farm vehicle was uninjured in the accident but the woman received moderate injuries.
In New York, an 18-year-old man was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by a 29-year-old driver. The victim was walking home from a friend’s house late at night when the accident occurred. The driver reportedly fled the scene after the accident occurred. Police eventually found the driver and arrested her, charging her with leaving the scene of an accident and failing to keep right.
Soccer star Charlie Davies, of the Major League Soccer team DC United, has filed a $20 million lawsuit against a nightclub and the organizers of a party who served alcohol to a drunk driver responsible for an accident that severely injured Davies and killed another passenger. The suit contends that the companies continued to serve the driver despite the fact that he was clearly drunk and they are therefore responsible for the injuries to Davies and the wrongful death of the passenger.
A serious automobile accident left a 47-year-old man injured and severely damaged the vehicle he was driving. The incident was a single-vehicle accident that caused the cab of the man’s pickup truck to be torn off of the frame and sent into the woods. There is no report on what caused the accident in the first place.
After a serious five-vehicle accident that sent two people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police reportedly found one of the people involved trying to set herself on fire inside another person’s home. Police said they found the woman, who was believed to be in her late twenties, inside an elderly woman’s home near a stove with all the pilots on. When the stove pilots did not work, the woman went outside and tried to set her hair on fire with a lighter.
An automobile accident that occurred in Franklin Township, NJ left a woman and her 8-year-old daughter dead as a result of the injuries they sustained. The accident occurred when the woman attempted to pass a slowing vehicle in front of her. The woman reportedly lost control of her vehicle as she attempted to pass the other and struck the curb. The right-rear tire of her car then blew out and caused the vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic.
A car-pedestrian accident that occurred at the Galveston seawall left one person dead earlier this week. The accident occurred in the early morning hours when a vehicle had driven off the seawall. When police arrived at the scene they found two people who had been run over. The victims were a 34-year-old woman from Arkansas and a 36-year-old man from Texas.
An automobile accident in Virginia Beach claimed the life of a 19-year-old man earlier this week. The accident occurred when the Nissan Xterra in which the man was a passenger ran off the road and into some trees before coming to a stop in a ditch. The driver of the vehicle, also 19-years-old suffered minor injuries in the wreck. A 21-year-old passenger in the vehicle suffered more serious injuries.
Police have identified two men that were killed in a head-on collision that also injured a third person and left them in critical condition. The accident originally occurred last week and the two victims that were killed were identified several days after the accident. All three men were in a 1990 Honda Civic that had been reported stolen and they collided with a 2004 Pathfinder. The driver of the Pathfinder suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the accident.
This past September was World Rabies Day, an event utilized to raise awareness of the disease caused by rabid animals. A Georgia attorney states that although the disease is somewhat rare, it is still important to raise awareness of what the disease can cause and it is important to be on guard whenever possible. He says dog owners can help raise awareness and also to prevent the disease by ensuring that their dogs’ vaccinations are up to date.
A traffic accident in Virginia left one man with severe injuries to his legs and killed another. The man who was killed was a dean at J. Sargeant Community College in Virginia. Police believe the 68-year-old man was killed on impact when the other vehicle struck his on the driver’s side while at an intersection. The intersection where the crash occurred had traffic lights set up. The victim’s car struck a tree after being hit by the other vehicle.
A single-vehicle accident in which a 35-year-old man flipped over driving a 2000 Ford Windstar minivan is currently under investigation. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle and traveled over a guardrail and down an embankment ultimately landing right-side-up at the bottom. The driver did not have a driver’s license at the time of the accident.
After broadsiding a truck while riding her motorcycle, a woman in Indiana nearly lost her leg. The accident occurred when the motorcycle rider was crossing through an intersection when she collided with the side of a pickup truck also going through the intersection. Authorities found the woman on a nearby lawn and her leg had been partially severed and she had massive blood loss.
Police in Amarillo, TX were investigating a car-pedestrian accident that left a 67-year-old man dead and injured another man as well. The accident occurred when a truck driver hauling wheat stepped out of his truck onto the road to talk to talk to another truck driver in a turning lane. At that time a Dodge Charger struck the truck which in turn struck both truck drivers.
After a bus accident that killed 15 people occurred in March, the bus driver faced a trial last week where prosecutors stated he knew he had gotten very little sleep prior to driving the bus from Connecticut to New York City. In addition prosecutors stated the bus driver did not have a valid license at the time of the accident. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the bus. The driver stated that he lost control after being hit by another vehicle but investigators could not verify the validity of that claim.
A bus crash left 34 people dead after one of the buses caught fire upon impact. The second bus involved in the accident did not catch fire but most of the occupants in that bus were still killed as a result of the impact. The accident also involved a semi truck that collided with the two buses. The two buses were reportedly trying to overtake one another when the collision with the semi truck occurred. The driver of the semi truck and its passenger were also killed in the accident as the vehicle caught fire. At least three people sustained serious injuries in the second bus involved in this accident.
A Houston, TX man was killed and two others were injured after a scuffle that came about because of a dog bite. The incident occurred early this week when the three people involved were at a party. One of the people got upset after he was bitten in the leg at the party. The man confronted the dog owner and left the party soon after. The man came back later in the day with a gun and killed the dog owner and wounded two others in the scuffle.
In Alpharetta, GA, several people were involved in an automobile accident as a result of reckless driving on the part of another vehicle. The accident occurred last month when the driver of a Ford Taurus was reportedly driving on the wrong side of the road. The 22-year-old driver caused another driver to brake quickly which resulted in a domino effect causing several vehicles to crash into one another. The driver of the Taurus then left the scene of the accident. Authorities caught up with the driver and arrested him on charges of leaving the scene of an accident, driving on the wrong side of the road, and reckless driving.
In Indianapolis, Indiana, an 18-year-old girl was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury after she reportedly struck a 20-year-old man and dragged him 25 yards. The accident occurred after the 18-year-old was leaving a party when the 20-year-old jumped in front of her car in an attempt to stop her. The girl struck the man and dragged him for 25 yards before coming to a halt. The victim suffered broken bones, a head injury and road rash but was said to be in stable condition in the hospital.
A 65-year-old pedestrian was killed after a single-deck bus struck him. The incident originally occurred in January and police recently discovered the bus driver had only received 30 minutes of training with this particular model of buses before she got behind the wheel of the bus. The accident occurred when the 44-year-old bus driver attempted to turn the corner in the road when the bus rolled onto the sidewalk striking a street lamp post and ultimately hitting the 65-year-old Ministry of Defense worker and pinning him against some railings. The bus continued to roll 165 feet before coming to a stop.
Most people think that if you follow the rules of the road and you are a cautious pedestrian, you will be out of harms way. Elderly individuals are more at risk for pedestrian accidents since their reaction times are slower and since some of them walk with a cane, walker or other aid. An elderly woman in New Bedford, CT was struck by a tractor-trailer as she entered the crosswalk at the north intersection of Pleasant Street and Route 6.
A Pennsylvania man suffered injuries to his head and neck and had to be transported to a medical facility after an accident involving a construction truck. Witnesses told authorities that the victim got out of the truck and went to grab equipment and a lunchbox out of the back of the truck. The victim then knelt down on the ground to pick up some of the items that he dropped when the driver of the truck backed up into the man striking him in the head and neck area.
Two people were sent to the hospital last week after an automobile accident that police believed was caused because the two victims were racing. One of the victims, a 29-year-old man was riding a Honda motorcycle with a passenger and the other victim, a 30-year-old man driving a Datsun/Nissan. The motorcycle rider’s passenger was a 34-year-old man. The accident occurred when the motorcycle rider tried to pass in front of the Nissan vehicle driver.
In Palm Bay, FL a 7-year-old boy was seriously injured when the dirt bike he was riding was hit by a pickup truck. The accident occurred when the boy reportedly ran a stop sign and attempted to make a left turn at an intersection when a Ford F-150 driving in the opposite direction collided with the boy’s bike. The boy was ejected from the bike and rolled 20 feet and stopped in the roadway.
A Freemont, CA man was killed after he lost control of his motorcycle on an on-ramp to Highway 680. Witnesses said they saw the rider trying to merge into the northbound lane of traffic when smoke started coming from somewhere on the bike. The bike then veered into a median the separates the on-ramp from the highway itself and the rider was ejected from the bike upon impact.
A Utah man that was the victim of a motorcycle accident in a construction zone is claiming the zone was not properly marked, which led to his accident. Utah Highway Patrol was investigating the accident to determine if the construction zone was in fact improperly marked or barricaded to prevent the accident. The victim stated there were no orange barrels barricading the construction zone and that he rode through a large gap that he thought was an open lane in the roadway.
Despite being trapped underneath a bus for over an hour, a Whitney Point, NY woman involved in a bus accident suffered non-life-threatening injuries when the bus rolled over into a gully. The accident happened last week late at night when the bus rolled over an embankment into the gully. There is no report on what caused the bus to roll over in the first place. Authorities were unsure how many people were injured but they noted there were no serious injuries or fatalities in the accident.
The death of a 19-year-old teen that was killed in an automobile accident last year has resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver. The driver, who was 17 years of age at the time of the accident was charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, elevated aggravated assault, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated driving. The accident originally occurred in October when the driver was traveling in a northbound lane and lost control of her vehicle colliding into some trees.
A Nevada woman was killed after being struck by a silver Ford truck as she crossed the crosswalk on US Highway 50 in Lake Tahoe. The incident occurred back in July in the early morning hours. The truck attempted to leave the scene of the accident but a witness to the accident followed the driver.
A three-vehicle accident resulted in a citation for three people following an incident of road rage. Authorities said two drivers admitted that road rage played a part in the accident after one of the drivers got upset when the second driver did not yield to him in a construction zone. The second driver was allegedly tailgating the first driver and flashing his bright lights at him. When the first driver put on his brakes to prevent from hitting construction barrels up ahead, the second driver collided with him after attempting to drive around him.
The result in the case of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a couple whose son was killed in an automobile accident could hinge on the accident reconstruction conducted by an engineer that examined the evidence. Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials argue that the accident reconstruction engineer declared the teen’s death an accident. However, the teen’s family contends that the accident was a result of a sheriff’s vehicle bumping into the teen’s car, causing him to lose control.
A Pennsylvania school bus transporting children and adults to a camp overturned on a rural road injuring 23 people total. Police reported 17 of those people, which included adults and children, were transported to one hospital while 6 others were transported to a second hospital. All occupants in the bus were said to be in stable condition and nobody suffered life-threatening injuries in the incident.
In Pittsburgh, PA, an elderly man in a motorized wheelchair reportedly rode into downtown Pittsburgh traffic and caused a three-vehicle accident July 12th. The accident occurred in a domino effect as the first two vehicles stopped just in time to prevent from striking the elderly man but the third vehicle was unable to stop and collided with the second vehicle, which resulted in a collision with the first vehicle.
In Humble, Texas the family of a 23-year-old man who died in an automobile accident in April is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the bar where the victim was drinking prior to the accident. The 23-year-old man was one of two people who died in the single-vehicle accident. The accident occurred April 27th when the vehicle collided into a ditch and then into two poles. The collision caused the vehicle to go airborne and the second victim to be ejected from the vehicle.
An Idaho teen’s death in a single-vehicle accident has spurned a wrongful death lawsuit from the teenager’s family. The incident originally occurred in September when the 18-year-old was traveling at high speeds and failed to turn through a curve in the road. Authorities found the victim’s blood alcohol level was just over two times the legal limit.
The Governors Highway Safety Association conducted a study that revealed that driver distraction due to smartphones accounts for roughly 15 to 25% of all traffic accidents. The GHSA is urging states to enforce laws pertaining to cell phone use for novice drivers as well as laws pertaining to texting while driving.
In Kansas City, a university football player was killed and several others injured in a single-vehicle automobile accident that occurred June 10th. The 18-year-old student died of head injuries that he sustained in the accident. The incident occurred when the car was headed down a two-lane roadway when it swerved to avoid another car in front. The vehicle subsequently rolled over into a nearby yard. Police did not believe alcohol or high speeds were factors in this accident. The football player that was killed was a passenger in the vehicle that was involved.
Two Texas women were killed in an automobile accident in Carson City, Nevada when a heavy road stripping truck collided into their parked SUV on Highway 50. The 61-year-old driver of the truck suffered minor to moderate injuries in the accident and was treated at a medical facility. One of the victims, a 53-year-old school teacher was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
A 44-year-old man was transported to a medical facility in South Lyon, MI in critical condition after he lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a guardrail in the oncoming lanes of a road. The 44-year-old man was unable to make a turn at a curve in the roadway when he lost control of the bike. The victim was subsequently ejected from the motorcycle and suffered severe trauma from the accident
Two teenagers were killed and one sustained serious injuries and was left in critical condition after they were struck by a speeding vehicle while crossing the street. According to thenews.com.pk, the boys were riding their bicycle through the street when a vehicle driving in the opposite direction as the three children collided with them. The two victims that were killed were 13 and 14 years old.
A Delaware family is mourning the death of their son after a dirt bike accident killed him. Their 14-year-old son was riding with his 16-year-old friend were riding their dirt bikes along an access road when they collided nearly head on. Police have stated that the teens were thrown from their bikes after the crash and that boy of them were wearing helmets at the time.
A train in New Jersey overran the stop at a train station forcing the station to close down the entire morning. 38 people suffered minor injuries, 33 of which were transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The other 5 people were treated at the scene of the train accident. The CNN report states the train was not derailed when it crashed into the bumper in the station. The bumper block that it crashed into absorbed a majority of the impact, preventing a more serious crash from occurring. The incident is currently being investigated by authorities to determine the cause of the crash.
A construction company was fined $30,000 after an employee working for the company fell off a pier while working on a truck-mounted crane. The 49-year-old man suffered serious injuries including a fractured vertebra, broken ribs, and a broken wrist. The incident occurred in 2008 when the 49-year-old worker was attempting to climb over one of the stabilizers for the crane to reach the far end of the pier.
An employee working for a staging company in Wilkes-Barre, PA suffered an extremely serious leg injury that caused his leg to be severed from his body after a large pipe fell on him. The accident occurred the morning of the 26th when the employee was helping to move the pipe using some type of machinery when the pipe slipped and fell on him. Federal officials and officers with the Occupation Safety and Health Administration launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the employee accident. The man suffered other injuries in the accident but city officials did not release any information pertaining to the extent of those injuries.
The company Raicam Clutch LTD, a British construction company was fined £5,000 (over $8,000 US) after one of its employees suffered injuries to his back and his neck after falling off a roof. The incident occurred in 2009 when the man tripped on a cable on the roof and fell 3.5 meters (11 ft) and suffered five broken vertebrae and whiplash on his neck. The company was fined because they failed to provide protection from falling for its employees.
The family of a 19-year-old Canadian woman has settled a lawsuit against the Correctional Service of Canada following the woman’s strangulation death in her cell. The suit was settled just after documented letters from the 19-year-old to her parents showed evidence that she faced abuse from the guards at the facility where she was imprisoned. The evidence from the letters was not included in the suit but they are being used as leverage to get the coroner to release videos showing the woman getting forced injections of anti-psychotic drugs.
A personal injury lawsuit against the Salt Lake School District filed after a parent complained her child was burned by a teacher has come to an out-of-court settlement. The school district paid the woman just over $50,000 in the settlement. The woman filed the lawsuit in April of last year after her son, who suffers from cerebral palsy, suffered burns to most of his left hand.
In Napier, New Zealand a contractor company was forced to pay $60,000 after one of its employees lost his leg following a logging accident. The company A1 Contractors Ltd. was being prosecuted by the Department of Labor following this accident. The unnamed employee suffered very serious injuries to his leg and required amputation surgery on the lower part of his leg.
Two Gwinnett County, GA busses were involved in an automobile accident that injured the driver of one bus and 10 students complained of back pain. None of the children were seriously injured in the accident. The incident originally occurred when 2 busses were parked waiting for children to board.
A 22-year-old driver was charged with negligent vehicular assault, criminal endangerment, and a misdemeanor count of DUI following an automobile accident that left a 20-year-old female passenger with a broken neck. Mitchell Lane Ralph was reportedly riding with 4 other passengers in his pickup truck when he lost control of the vehicle and rolled through an embankment.
A 67-year-old man riding a bicycle was seriously injured when a motor vehicle struck him and left him lying in a ditch near the highway in Molalla, Oregon. The elderly man died as a result of his injuries at OHSU hospital. The driver was driving a 90s Dodge Caravan and police are seeking any information they can get from witnesses or anybody that may have information about the vehicle involved.
A teenager is facing serious charges of vehicular assault, careless driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol, vehicle theft, and causing a hit-and-run accident. 19-year-old Nicholas Joseph Binder was involved in a roll-over accident at the intersection of Seventh St. and Crossroads Blvd. in Colorado.
A man fleeing from police on the 29th of March caused a very serious automobile accident when he crashed into a bus stop, injuring several people in the process. According to people who saw the accident, one of the victims had his leg cut off as a result. Police eventually caught up to the man after he tried to get away on foot.
In Washington State, a 24-year-old man pleaded guilty to drunken driving causing the death of a 19-year-old and injuring a 17-year-old and a 25-year-old passenger in his vehicle. Loren Seaman had a blood-alcohol level of .20 at the time of the accident. The legal limit in the United States is .08. Seaman was driving along a mile-long stretch of road when he collided with a telephone pole backwards.
Two men in Illinois were seriously injured after an automobile accident occurred as a result of the driver operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. 22-year-old Eric J. Larson suffered non life-threatening injuries. The 23-year-old passenger suffered a broken back, a punctured lung, and a broken ankle. A second passenger suffered an eye injury and a possible broken leg.
In West Valley City, UT, a 12-year-old boy suffered a broken pelvis, a broken arm and internal injuries after being struck by a vehicle as he was crossing a crosswalk to school. The boy is in serious condition in a medical facility as a result of this incident. A 36-year-old man driving his vehicle through the crosswalk struck the boy as he was crossing to get to school.
A sophomore student baseball player has returned home after a serious automobile accident caused a life-threatening brain injury last year. Rhett Nelson was reportedly driving north on Highway 221 in South Carolina when he lost control of his vehicle. Nelson’s vehicle flipped about four and a half times and landed in the southbound lane of the roadway. Nelson’s mother, Rosemary suffered several broken bones in the accident.
A Mount Pleasant, MI man was pronounced dead at the scene of a car-pedestrian accident that occurred at the intersection of High Street and Watson Road in Michigan. 51-year-old Joseph Feasby was struck by a Chevy truck as he was crossing through the intersection. The truck was being driven by a 16-year-old driver. The report states that neither drugs nor alcohol were involved in this incident.
A California father whose son was killed by a driver who didn't see him because she was texting is lobbying the Arizona Legislature to pass a texting while driving ban. Robert Okerblom's 19-year-old son Eric was hit and killed by a teen driver who was texting in 2009. Okerblom now runs the Eric Okerblom foundation, which advocates for tougher distracted driving laws around the country.
A 22-year-old New Port Beach woman was believed to have been driving under the influence when she was involved in a car-bicycle accident with a 41-year-old man. 22-year-old Diane Marie Miller was driving her Volkswagen Jetta when she collided with Amine Britel.
A 29-year-old high school teacher from Mohave High School was killed on the 28th of January when the sports car she was riding in veered off the road and rolled over. Valerie Palermo was riding in the vehicle with 32-year-old Robert Day when the accident occurred. Both Day and Palermo were taken to a local medical facility following the accident.
In Long Beach, FL, a vehicle was ripped in half after a very serious collision with a second vehicle. The accident occurred on a roadway east of the San Gabriel River Freeway. According to a member of the Long Beach Fire Department, the front portion of the vehicle that was ripped in half stayed stationary but the other half landed in an embankment nearby.
Two men in San Antonio, TX were injured after a motorcycle collision late Friday. According to the report on ksat.com, one man lost control of his motorcycle and fell off. The second rider was riding just behind the first and struck him with his bike. The first man suffered serious head injuries in the accident because he was not wearing a helmet. The second rider suffered cuts to his head as well. An investigation is currently ongoing to determine what factors, if any, played into this accident. In particular, police are investigating to determine if alcohol was a contributing factor to this accident.
A fatal accident in Newport Beach, CA took the lives of three people and injured three others on January 15th. 27-year-old Julia Allen, 49-year-old Christopher De La Cruz, and 69-year-old Linda Burnett were all killed when the Ford Taurus Allen was driving slammed into the pickup truck De La Cruz and Burnett were riding.
In Sebewa, Township, Michigan, the passenger of a vehicle was killed in a two-car auto accident that occurred January 13th. 40-year-old Scott Schafer was riding in a vehicle driven by a 30-year-old woman when their vehicle crossed the center dividing line in a northbound road when a second vehicle traveling southbound struck the first vehicle on the passenger’s side. Schafer was pinned inside the vehicle and medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene of the accident.
An off-duty police officer was killed in Cape Coral after being involved in a motorcycle accident. 24-year-old Scott Wheeler was riding his motorcycle on an eastbound road when another vehicle turned in front of him and Wheeler struck that vehicle. He was then ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene of the accident. According to an accompanying video in the CBS affiliated winknews.com, authorities believe speed may have played a part in this accident.
In Colorado, a 35-year-old woman was killed when a wheel from a semi-truck fell off the vehicle and struck the roof of her car. The semi-truck was traveling southbound on I-25 in Colorado and the Toyota Camry the woman was driving was traveling northbound. The impact caused her vehicle to go off the road. The second wheel from the semi-truck came to a stop in a store parking lot. There is no report on what caused the wheels to come off the truck. An investigation has begun to determine the cause of the accident.
In San Antonio, TX, an unidentified man was killed in a motorcycle accident when he lost control over the bike and struck a barricade. The man was reportedly not wearing a helmet when he was riding on Loop 410 traveling southbound at over 100 miles per hour according to witnesses that saw the accident occur. The posted speed limit was 75 miles per hour on the highway. No information has been released as to the cause of the accident aside from excessive speeding. There is also no information on any pending investigation into the accident either.
In Phoenix, AZ, two people were left in extremely critical condition following a motorcycle accident. Both victims were riding together and the driver attempted to make a left-hand turn in the roadway but was unable to complete the turn. The motorcycle fell on the road and seriously injured both victims, each in their 40’s. Authorities believe alcohol was a factor in the accident. Neither person was wearing a helmet when the accident occurred. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
In McKees Rocks, PN a 7-month-old-girl was badly burned by a chemical soaked diaper while she was being cared for at a day care on Tuesday January 3rd. The manager of Butterfly Garden early Learning Center claims that the worker at the daycare was unaware the diaper was soaked in any chemicals and is unsure how the chemicals came into contact with the diapers.
The children of a San Diego couple have been awarded $14.4 million in a wrongful death lawsuit settlement. In 2006, the couple was driving on Highway 98 in Arizona when Casey Barber lost control of their Ford E350 van. The van subsequently rolled over and killed Barber and his wife Melanie. Authorities are blaming right-rear tire separation for causing the accident. At the time of the accident, the children were ages 3, 5, and 8 years old.
An 18-year-old New Jersey man pleaded guilty to several charges including assault by auto and vehicular homicide stemming from an incident that occurred in March. Michael Woehrle, then 17 years old, was originally charged as a juvenile but had his case transferred to criminal court in the Superior Court in Freehold, New Jersey. Woehrle pleaded guilty to the charges in connection to the homicide of 22-year-old Tyshon Thorpe.
At least 16 people were killed in a head-on collision involving two Toyota buses. Ten other people were transported to a medical facility with varying degrees of injuries and four others were uninjured in the accident. The Federal Road Safety Commission commander stated the accident occurred as a result of one car attempting to overtake the other and colliding with another vehicle in the process.
The family of a former marine in Wilmington, DE has been awarded $875,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city of Wilmington. According to the lawsuit, 25-year-old Derek J. Hale was repeatedly electrocuted with a stun gun and also suffered a fatal gunshot wound. Hale was reportedly being arrested when he was shot three times and shocked with a Taser gun. Hale’s widow will receive the entire award in the lawsuit.
A tragic collision on the northbound lanes of Interstate 25 in Santa Fe, N.M was the result of a wrong-way car that was traveling more than 100 mph. The wrong-way car was traveling southbound in a northbound lane when it collided head on with an ambulance at around 2:30am on Tuesday.
Some of the residents in Crestwood, Ill. filed a class action lawsuit claiming they had been exposed to contaminated water supplies for over 20 years. In an investigation from the Chicago Tribune, it was discovered that the area was receiving water from a water well that was contaminated even after several warnings about the contamination. The $2 million settlement will be split amongst the residents involved in the class action lawsuit and it will also be used to cover expenses for the residents. In addition, details in the settlement state residents will get a freeze on vehicle sticker and business license costs as well as trash removal service costs for two years.
The company that manufactures Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco has settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed against them after a man reportedly died from mouth cancer. 42-year-old Bobby Hill’s family will receive $5 million in the settlement agreement against the company. The report on detnews.com states this is the first wrongful death lawsuit settlement over chewing tobacco. The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company will handle the payment of the award to the family.
The family of a South Carolina man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on his behalf against the city of Columbia and a bus driver for acting negligently while operating the bus. 34-year-old Michael Heaston was killed after he crashed into a bus at an intersection. The bus driver, Archie Smith Jr. was attempting to make a left turn at the intersection and Heaston had to swerve to miss the bus. However, Heaston ended up getting pinned underneath the bus. He was transported to a hospital where he died a day later.
A five-year-old boy in Alabama tragically dies after being attacked by a pack of dogs. Police are currently investigating the death that occurred in the boy’s yard.
In Lubbock, TX, the community has launched a campaign called See Us Save Us to raise awareness on motorcycle safety. The campaign’s organizer, Deanna Jandrew stated that she launched the organization creating the campaign after a close friend was killed in a motorcycle accident. The organization conducted a motorcycle ride throughout Lubbock this past Saturday in an effort to educate the public on motorcycle safety and to pay more attention to the roadways in order to prevent any accidents.
Four people riding in motorcycles and the passenger of a Dodge Avenger were killed Saturday the 13h when the Dodge Avenger collided with 12 motorcycles in San Diego, CA. The driver in the Avenger was attempting to avoid hitting a Honda Civic that had driven past the 12 motorcycles.
According to the Northwest Herald in Illinois, a 42-year-old man was killed following an early morning car accident on the 14th of November. Pedro Gomez was reportedly walking along the road when a 1991 Honda vehicle struck him. The vehicle was driven by 60-year-old Richard Trevin.
In Phoenix, Arizona, two teenagers are suffering life-threatening injuries following an automobile accident. A 14-year-old boy was driving a 1999 Chrysler LHS at a high rate of speed and collided with a fence. One of the metal poles from the fence pierced through the front of the car and impaled the driver and a passenger in the backseat.
In the desert terrain, ATV riding has become a popular sport for many families. Unfortunately many families are unaware that ATV riding produces more accidents than motorcycles, according to ATVsafety.gov. In Sumner County, KA a tragic ATV accident left one man dead and a woman critically injured on Saturday, October 17th at around 11pm.
The family of a 25-year-old man that was killed in Galveston, TX has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against R.D. Mainor Enterprises Inc, residents of Galveston Orvel Speck, Michael Drager and Robert Mainor arguing that Speck left a bar owned and operated by Drager and Mainor and was in an intoxicated state. The suit claims as a result of that intoxicated state, Speck slammed into Albert Meredith, his 3-year-old stepson and a second child.
According to a report on medisonrecord.com, an Illinois man is seeking $50,000 following an automobile accident in which he suffered severe injuries. Brian Sabatino, the driver of the vehicle that was struck, is suing Ann W. Behne arguing that Behne crossed dividing line traveling in the opposite direction of the roadway he was on and struck his vehicle.
In Burlington Twp., NJ a 22-month-old girl got entangled in a window blind cord and is now in critical condition. The child was at home with her mother on Parker Avenue when the cord entrapped her and wrapped around her neck.
Most consumers of organic and natural food distributors like Trader Joe’s never suspect that anything can be wrong with their products. Trader Joe’s has alerted their customers about the recall of products that contain a cilantro ingredient that can cause serious food borne illness.
A road worker that was on an interstate bridge that links Minnesota and Wisconsin sustained a serious leg injury on Wednesday afternoon.The worker apparently fell between two spans of the interstate bridge.
Ocala.com reports that ten children were taken to three Florida hospitals after the school bus they were riding in was struck by another vehicle. A 2008 Mustang was exiting a subdivision attempting to turn onto a county road but failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the left side of the school bus. The bus was reportedly traveling with 65 elementary school students at the time of the accident.
According to a report on oakridger.com, police are investigating an accident that occurred in Oak Ridge, Tenn. in which a woman struck a 7-year-old by riding his bicycle. According to the report, 27-year-old Carrie Rachelle Moses was driving down a residential neighborhood when Isaac Harvey inadvertently rode his bicycle into the vehicle’s path.
Approximately 200,000 children’s window shades and 11,400 drop-down cribs are being recalled because they all pose a very serious strangulation hazard. Green Mountain Vista Incorporated’s Roman window shades and roll up blinds were recalled beginning last December.
A seventeen-year-old high school football player had to have his leg amputated after an on-field injury. Trevor Roberts of McLouth, Kansas suffered a compound fracture in a game on September 24 and attempts to save his leg failed.
A report from the Zanesville Times Recorder has posted a story on their website about a 33-year-old Zanesville woman that was hospitalized after suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident. According to the report, Misty Wood was attempting to take a curve in the road when her motorcycle swerved to the side of the road and she collided with a guardrail
In Arbroath, Scotland, a 78-year-old woman has died one month after sustaining severe injuries in an automobile collision. Agnes Ferrier had initially been listed in critical condition but had been recovering from her injuries following surgical procedures. Ferrier reportedly suffered a shattered pelvis and internal bleeding after being struck by a vehicle. Following surgery to repair the damage that was done, Ferrier was said to be in good condition and making a good recovery.
According to the Dallas Morning News, 18 people were injured when a charter bus carrying over 30 people collided with a concrete divider on a major interstate highway. The report states the bus veered out of control before colliding with the divider. The injuries that passengers suffered were bruises and broken bones. There were no deaths reported in the accident nor were any injuries life-threatening injuries.
According to a report from News 4 in Jacksonville, FL, one person was killed and one critically injured in a motorcycle accident that occurred in an entrance ramp for a major interstate highway. The operator of the motorcycle reportedly lost control of the bike, possibly as a result of hitting an oil patch in the road and the bike swerved.
A report by the Orange County Register states that the company Yamaha is facing hundreds of lawsuits as a result of several roll-over accidents that have occurred involving the company’s Rhino vehicle. The off-road vehicle, which resembles a large golf cart, has caused extremely severe injuries according to the lawyers of the victims in each incident. Broken arms, legs and amputations occurred as riders of the Rhino were crushed underneath the weight of the vehicle.
A woman was killed and five children were injured in a serious automobile accident. Police say the accident involved a Renault Clio vehicle carrying only the driver and a minivan carrying the driver and five children.The driver of Clio died and the driver of the van and all five children were seriously injured.
In Montgomery Co., Virginia a single car accident resulted in three people suffering from serious injuries. The driver was cited for driving under the influence and suffered minor injuries. The two passengers both suffered serious injuries and one is in critical condition.
An Ohio man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident that occurred Friday evening. According to the report on portclintonewsherald.com, 28-year-old Joshua Logan was transported to an Ohio medical facility after his motorcycle veered off the right side of the roadway he was driving on.
A motorcycle rider in Austin, Texas was killed following a hit-and-run accident with a pickup truck. The pickup truck reportedly fled the scene of the accident but police located the vehicle later on and detained the driver. No information has been given on any pending investigation into the accident and there is no information on the factors that contributed to it.
In Wells, Maine, two teenagers died tragically in a single car accident shortly after midnight on Saturday, September 11th. The accident occurred at around 12:40 a.m. on Tatnic Road. Christian Lumenello, a 16-year-old, was driving a Ford Taurus and traveling east-bound at high speeds when he went over a knoll on the road that caused the car to become airborne.
NBC affiliate KXAN News in Austin, Texas has reported that a teenage student has died in a serious automobile accident. According to the report, 17-year-old Jon Chin lost control of his vehicle and collided with a tree early last week.
In an article by The Times Herald posted on September 11th includes tips for how to avoid rabies. Animal bites are a major concern in most areas and they can be avoided by taking preventative measures.
Arizona authorities responded to a 69-vehicle pileup that occurred on Interstate 10 near the Downtown Phoenix area. The vehicles were involved in 3 separate collisions according to a report on KWTX.com.
On Tuesday, August 24, 2010 a three car accident in Kent, WA killed a man and a woman at about 8:46pm. The Kent Police are still not releasing the names of the victims until the information has been confirmed by the King County Medical Examiner and the family members of the victims have been notified. The man and woman who died were traveling in a Kia Sudan traveling northbound on 108th Avenue Southeast (Benson Highway) according to a media release by Kent Police.
In Rio Rancho, NM a family is grieving over an accident that killed their 10-month-old son, Nico Ortega. The mother, Nicole Ortega had just placed their son in the back seat of their SUV while his father went to get his car seat out of the garage. The mother apparently did not realize her son was leaning against the door and when her husband opened the door and Nico fell out.
In Marana, Arizona a plane that had circled around back to a southern Arizona airport only to crash after it missed the runway. Two individuals who were onboard the flight are suffering serious injuries.
According to the Seattle Times, two Washington State Patrol motorcycle officers were injured following a motorcycle accident that occurred Saturday morning. The report states that the two officers were traveling along a roadway when a 72-year-old woman attempted to make a left-hand turn and the two officers collided with her vehicle.
The Winona Daily News in Wisconsin has reported that a woman was injured after colliding with an oncoming vehicle on Thursday. Paramedics at the scene of the accident treated 45-year-old Tammy Getter for lacerations to the face and later released her. According to the report, 23-year-old William Christensen was driving a Ford Focus and was attempting to pass another vehicle in the fog when he struck Getter’s motorcycle.
According to a report from the News and Sentinel website in West Virginia, a 66-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle-car accident that occurred on Saturday afternoon. Roy Hearn was declared dead at the scene of the accident. In a separate incident, Hearn’s son and daughter-in-law were injured when their own motorcycles also crashed.
According to NBC affiliate KDLT; a Missouri man was killed following a motorcycle accident that occurred in Hartford, MO. The driver reportedly didn’t notice a semi truck in front of him that had slowed down due to construction on the roadway.
On Thursday August 5th, 2010 a Phoenix man was struck by a white Chrysler 300 while running across the street to a bus stop. The 56-year old man was running across Hayden Road near Camelback Road when he was struck by the vehicle that was traveling southbound.
In Grand Junction, Colorado a nine-year-old girl from Aurora has died in a tragic go-cart accident. Taybor Duncan’s go-cart collided with a maintenance vehicle at Grand Junction Motor Speedway. The police department stated that Taybor's go-cart rolled multiple times after it clipped a maintenance vehicle on Sunday morning.
In Bellevue, WA twenty two middle and high school students are in the hospital after their Boys and Girls Club bus crashes into a Blazer SUV on Friday evening. On the 15300 block of Lake Hills Blvd. at around 6pm the bus crashed into the Blazer SUV and careened across the road before slamming into a tree.
Emil Smith, a 2011 football commit to Boise State, died in a car accident on June 17th Saturday evening. Smith was a passenger in the speeding automobile with 22-year old Dimitri Garcia who also died.
According to an article by abc15.com, on Friday June 30th a man was transported to the hospital after allegedly being hit by a boat in Lake Pleasant. Authorities have not yet released the man’s name, but he was in his late 60’s and was swimming in the lake as the boat was backing up.
New legislation has been put into effect in Boston, MA that will put serious regulations on ATV riding, much to the relief of families who have been victims of having their children injured on or by one. The legislation has received some criticism from avid ATV riders.
According to an article by the New York Times, auto accidents involving prescription drugs are harder to convict and prove as a contributor to an accident or even the sole reason for its occurrence. One of the issues that detectives and police force are facing is that there is no agreement on what level of drugs in the blood impairs driving.
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a man whose wife was killed in a 2008 Maryland helicopter crash. According to the lawsuit, Kenneth Mallard is seeking $7 million in damages arguing that negligence on the part of the FAA led to the death of his wife in the paramedic helicopter.
According to a report posted on Rochester, NY’s WHEC.com, a 20-year-old man was killed following a motorcycle accident on Thursday. The report states Justin Melia lost control of his motorcycle and hit a guardrail along the side of the road and he was then thrown from his bike.
Wvrecord.com reports that a Sissonville, VA woman is suing a company called Slack Group after suffering an electrical shock injury. According to the report, Cathy Seabolt was walking through a trailer park to visit one of the homes when she suffered a shock from a live electrical wire.
Myfox8.com in North Carolina has posted a news story about a man that was killed in a motorcycle accident in Winston-Salem, NC Wednesday morning. 51-year-old Ricky Neal Myers was driving a 1999 Harley Davidson bike when it ran off the road at an intersection and moved through a grassy median.
The City Council of Worcester, Massachusetts has given preliminary approval to ordinance that would impose stricter restrictions on owners of pit bull dogs. A decision will be made next month whether or not this ordinance will pass to state law.
The website Indiananewscenter.com is reporting that a previously unidentified motorcycle crash victim has now been identified. 46-year-old Walter W. Wurmel Jr. was killed in a motorcycle accident that occurred Saturday morning. According to the report, Wurmel was riding a 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle and he suffered blunt force injuries in the accident which were a direct cause of death.
In 2008, bicycle deaths represented two percent of all traffic fatalities in the country. On July 5th in Tucson, AZ a 47-year old man was killed while traveling on his bicycle down a Tucson street.
CBS affiliate actionnews3.com has reported that a motorcycle accident in Blair, NE has left two people dead. The report states that local investigators are trying to figure out what caused the accident that occurred Saturday evening. The motorcycle was reportedly heading eastbound when it veered off the road and struck a traffic sign on the side of the road.
On Friday July 2nd, a Valley Metro Bus was unexpectedly destroyed Friday afternoon when it went up in flames in Tempe, AZ around Southern Avenue and the Loop 101.
The Sheriff’s Office in Madison County, VA faces a lawsuit after a former sheriff’s deputy used a Taser on a disabled individual. The lawsuit was filed alleges that Sgt. Scotty Anderson used excessive force against Sammy Harris, a resident of Richmond, VA. According to the report, Harris’ daughter called the sheriff’s office to report a theft. Anderson reportedly arrived at the home and Harris went on a motorized scooter to be with his daughter while she met with Anderson.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a voluntary recall has been announced by Campus Cruisers because the front fork could potentially crack or break. As of the time the report was posted, CPSC had received four reports of cracks in the front forks; however, no injuries have been reported as yet.
A California woman suffered serious injuries and left her a quadriplegic following an automobile accident. According to a report on the website personalinjurybureau.com, the woman was driving a 1997 Ford Explorer when the left-rear tire separated from the tire tread and caused the woman to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle veered off the road and rolled over into an embankment.
The News Herald website reports that a 14-year-old boy led police officers on a high speed chase on June 12th that ended with the boy crashing. According to the report, a police officer saw a Ford Taurus driving with its lights off. The officer proceeded to follow the vehicle in an attempt to pull the driver over. The driver attempted to get away from the officer, increasing speed and swerving into oncoming traffic lanes.
In Ocean City, MD six people were injured in a boating accident. The boat involved in the accident was a sixteen foot open cockpit boat which was holding seven people when the accident occurred. The boat struck an intercoastal waterway marker injuring six of the people on board, one of them being an eight-year-old child.
Hawaii247.com reports that a 62-year-old man was killed in a truck/motorcycle accident. The report states a 31-year-old man was driving a Toyota truck attempting to make a left turn at an intersection when the man driving the motorcycle attempted to overtake the truck driver.
The news website wiscnews.com has posted a report stating that beginning June 1st, drivers will be required to have auto insurance paperwork up to date because a law will be passed requiring all Wisconsin motorists to have auto insurance.
WTHITV.com from Terre Haute, IN has posted a report regarding a man that was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident. According to the report, 61-year-old John Beaty was reported missing on Sunday after he had not returned home. Local deputy officers reported that Beaty’s body and his motorcycle were discovered Monday morning when somebody was driving by and found the body in a creek at the side of the road. There is currently no information on what caused the accident, however, investigators continue to try and determine the cause at this time. Police do not believe high speed driving was a factor in this accident. The report states an autopsy shows Beaty died as a result of the injuries he suffered in the accident
Businessweek.com has a report that Toyota has halted sales of the Lexus LS Sedan in the United States in order to rectify flaws in the steering wheel. The automaker recalled 3,800 of the 2009 and 2010 LS 460 models as well as the LS 600h L sedans in order to fix a steering wheel condition that could occur in certain driving conditions. A total of 11,500 Lexus vehicles have been recalled worldwide as a result of this steering wheel malfunction. The report states that no injuries or accident complaints have been made as a result of the malfunctioning steering wheel.
Insurancejournal.com reports that several auto insurance companies have been given fines for various violations. One insurance company was charged $360,000 for mischarging customers for auto insurance. An Illinois-based company was fined $136,000 for conducting business without a license. The report states it is the first time New York insurance regulators fined the Illinois-based company. Other fines were given to several companies and many others lost their licenses due to various violations. The report states the fines that were handed out were the highest that have been handed out.
According to a ABC15.com, a tragic car fire ended in serious injuries of two individuals from Mesa. On Saturday afternoon May 23rd, the two people were airlifted to a valley hospital after being trapped in their vehicle that caught on fire.
According to the Ohio News-Herald, a 2-year-old infant required over 200 stitches after suffering a dog bite to the face. Ohio authorities stated the family dog attacked the boy without any deliberate provocation from the boy.
Two men in the Dallas area were killed following a serious motorcycle accident. 45-year-old Paul Bellard was walking across the street when he was struck by 38-year-old Lashon Hudson who was driving a motorcycle. The report states Hudson’s motorcycle front wheel was in the air and Hudson was traveling at a high rate of speed when he struck Bellard. This accident demonstrates the dangers for both pedestrians and motorcyclists.
In an inspection by ABC15, it was found that within the last three years of health inspections for Jobing.com arena, Chase Field and US Airways Center, there have been 712 violations in their food inspections.While each of the violations vary, there were some cases in which there was mold on cheese and mold in the ice machines, there were even rat droppings and slime accumulation.
The entire jewelry line by Miley Cyrus is being recalled at Wal-Mart.The jewelry line, which includes necklaces rings and bracelets, has been found to contain high levels of the toxic metal cadminium.
31-year-old New York police officer Carlos Olmeda is in grave condition in Brooklyn, NY following emergency surgery. Officer Olmeda was chasing robbery suspects on foot when a motorcycle struck him and sent him flying in the air. Officer Olmeda landed head first on the pavement and suffered severe head injuries as well as a broken arm and leg. Emergency surgery was performed in order to relieve pressure on officer Olmeda’s brain resulting from the accident.
AZcentral.com reports thata Glendale police officer on a motorcycle was injured on Thursday after being struck by another car that veered into the lane he was on. The officer was in a turning lane on Sweetwater Ave. when a car rear-ended a truck and subsequently veered into the officer’s lane.
WMBB in Florida reports that a Grand Ridge, Florida man is critically injured after being thrown from his motorcycle when another car struck him from behind. 18-year-old Steven M. Hooppell was struck by 59-year-old Angela D. Jackson’s car causing the motorcycle to flip. Jackson was unharmed in the accident and Hooppell remains in critical condition. The report states that charges are currently pending in the accident.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun two separate investigations on the Ford Windstar and Chevrolet Corvette following complaints of malfunctions. USNews.com reports that the NHSTA has received 234 complaints on malfunctions of the rear axles of 1999-2003 Ford Windstar models.
A six month old baby who was described as a “very cute happy little baby” was taken to the hospital from almost drowning in a bathtub on Thursday May 5, 2010.According to police reports, the mother left the infant unattended to check her e-mail for five minutes while the water was running.
The Miami News Times website has posted a report of the death of Florida Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Ambroise. According to the report, officer Ambroise was parked on the side of the road when the car was struck by another car driven by 19-year-old Jonathan Garcia. The collision then sparked a fire inside the officer’s car and he later died at the scene of the accident. Garcia, the driver of the other car, remains in the hospital following the accident. The report does not state what caused the fire in Ambroise’s patrol car.
The city of Fort Worth, TX is offering a record $2 million to the family of a young man who died after being Tasered by police last year. It is the largest lawsuit settlement Fort Worth has ever made for a wrongful death or injury case. This incident is one of more that 350 deaths from Tasers that have occurred in the last decade.
The Toyota safety problems continue to add up, now including the 2010 Lexus GX 460. Toyota Motor Company has announced that its 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV has a problem with handling. Toyota's findings are in line with those of Consumer Reports, which warned of the SUV's potential for errant slide and gave it a "Don't Buy" rating.
As more information is uncovered about the extent of Toyota safety problems and the company's attempt to cover them up, old Toyota safety cases are being reopened. According to Gather.com, Toyota currently has over 100 lawsuits pending for injuries or deaths related to the excessive acceleration problem that caused January's massive recall. As more information has been uncovered, it has been revealed that Toyota's safety problems may go back several years and not be limited to excessive acceleration
In an Op-Ed column in last Sunday's New York Times, Oprah Winfrey warned about the dangers of texting while driving. Oprah compared the rise of cell phone and texting-related deaths to the rise of drunk driving deaths in 1970s and explained her own policy of forbidding her employees of using cell phones for company business while driving.
A jury in San Angelo, Texas found Hyundai Motor Company responsible for the wrongful death of a woman due to a reclining car seat. The jury awarded the victim's family $1.8 million after determining that the woman died because her reclining car seat was overly-reclined.
A California man recently received a jury verdict of more than $21 million from a lawsuit pertaining to an auto accident that caused him to have a debilitating stroke. 29-year-old Michael Nelsen was riding as a passenger on August 17, 2007 when the vehicle he was riding in was rear ended by a truck traveling at least 80 miles per hour. The truck was owned by Hillyard, Inc., a cleaning supply company. Nelsen suffered a broken femur and other fractures and suffered a stroke caused by blood clots the resulted from the accident. The stroke has caused permanent damage to the left side of his brain. Nelsen filed suit against the company and received the $21 million settlement to cover his medical costs and pain and suffering.
When an employee is driving a company vehicle, as in this case, the company is responsible for the actions of those employees. This means that if an employee causes an automobile accident, the company may be held responsible for the resulting injuries. In this case, the injuries to Mr. Nelsen are permanent and will most likely require medical treatment for the rest of his life. This is why the jury awarded such a large judgment against Hillyard.
Injuries can occur in the most unexpected places. In an odd case in New York City, a woman is suing a restaurant after a large stuffed moose head fell of the wall and struck her in the head, leading to a concussion. Raina Kumra was dining at the Scandinavian-themed White Slab Restaurant when the 150 pound moose head fell from the wall and struck her in the head. The incident led to a concussion, chronic neck pain, fatigue, and dizziness. Kumra claims that the restaurant was negligent and put patrons in danger by failing to properly secure the large moose head to the wall.
While this case may at first inspire some chuckles, the incident illustrates a serious problem. Proprietors of restaurants and other businesses have a duty to ensure the safety of their customers. However, safety is often overlooked in favor of looks and entertainment. The large moose head was a part of White Slab’s Scandinavian theme and contributed to its “whimsical” nature, but the proprietors should have also ensured that the moose head was properly secure and did not endanger its customers. If you have been injured at a restaurant or other business due to negligence on the part of the business owners, you should not have to be solely responsible for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that result. You should consult an attorney to discuss your case.
The City of Williams, Arizona has settled a $2.3 million lawsuit filed by the family of a Mesa man who was struck and killed by a policeman’s vehicle while riding his motorcycle on Highway 64. James Innes was hit by the police officer on May 20 when the officer, Brandon Hernandez, attempted a U-turn and apparently did not see Mr. Innes. Officer Hernandez was issued a traffic citation, but no charges were filed.
This case illustrates two important issues for motorcycle riders. First of all, it once again shows how susceptible motorcyclists are to accidents when inattentive drivers do not notice them. An internal investigation by the police department determined that the accident was “avoidable,” meaning Officer Hernandez did not exercise proper care and discretion before attempting his U-turn. It requires extra effort and attention to see a motorcycle, which Officer Hernandez apparently did not demonstrate. In addition, since Officer Hernandez was on duty and in a police department vehicle at the time of the accident, this means that the city of Williams, and not Officer Hernandez personally, was the responsible party for the accident. This is why Innes’ family filed suit against the city and not Officer Hernandez. Filing suit against a government agency for a traffic accident caused by one of their vehicles can be a difficult and confusing process, and you need an experienced attorney on your side to do so.
A Northern California man who was left quadriplegic after an accident at a dump is suing the county responsible for maintaining the facility, claiming that if the county had properly maintained it, he would not have suffered his horrific injury. Reginald Soto fell off of a 5-foot-ledge at the Lovelace Materials Recovery and Transfer Station north of Manteca, California on July 8, 2009. His suit argues that the San Joaquin County, which maintains the facility, did not follow proper building and safety codes and should have installed a guardrail to prevent such accidents from occurring. Many other accidents have occurred at the facility due to the lack of a guardrail. According to Soto’s attorney, eight people fell from the ledge between 1995 and 1997 alone, and he is investigating other possible accidents at the facility.
Owners of public facilities, whether they are governments or private businesses, have a responsibility to take reasonable action to ensure the safety of people who come on to their property. In many cases, such as Mr. Soto’s, a simple solution, like a guardrail, could have prevented a tragic and life-altering accident. The fact that this simple solution was not put in place after earlier accidents had occurred demonstrates the possibility of negligence or willful disregard for safety on the part of the operators of the facility. If you have been injured in a public facility, you should discuss your case with an attorney. Your attorney can investigate the circumstances of your accident and determine if the operators of the facility should be held responsible for not properly ensuring your safety
La Salle University recently agreed to pay $7.5M to the family of a football player who suffered a severe brain injury in a 2005 game. Preston Plevretes was a 19-year-old sophomore when he was knocked unconscious, woke up combative for three to five minutes, and then slipped into a coma. He had to have emergency surgery to relieve brain swelling. His family’s lawsuit contends that the severity of the injury was caused in part by a concussion Plevretes had suffered a month earlier in practice, and that the university was liable for allowing him to play after the concussion.
Head injuries in football have recently become a major issue in the national news and while the focus has been on professional players, it is an especially disconcerting issue for parents of junior high, high school, and college players. Schools are legally responsible for protecting the well-being of their students, so when they put them in danger by allowing them to play sports injured, they may be liable for the for the student’s medical bills and pain and suffering. If you believe your child’s school put them in danger and contributed to injuries they suffered, whether in sports or other activities, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.
Recently an Illinois man and his teenage daughter received $6 million in a lawsuit settlement in Joliet, Illinois. It is believed to be a record for Will County, Illinois. In 2006, Richard and Kelly Wright were struck by a pickup truck driven by John Martis when he attempted to turn left at a stop sign. Both Richard and Kelly suffered severe injuries. Richard suffered a fractured wrist and ankle, which required surgery, while Kelly, who was 15 at the time, suffered a severely broken left ankle and a severe right tibia fracture. Though the accident occurred over three years ago, she has not yet fully recovered and is scheduled to have fusion surgery on her ankle later this year.
This case highlights two of the biggest dangers to motorcycle riders. First of all, motorcycles are often hard to see, so are more susceptible to be hit by inattentive drivers, especially at intersections, as in this case. Second, motorcycle riders are more exposed to injuries, so even a minor car-motorcycle accident can cause severe injuries which can incur severely large medical bills. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another vehicle, you should contact a motorcycle injury attorney to discuss your case.
A Rite Aid pharmacy was heavily damaged after an elderly woman crashed her vehicle through one of the walls of the store. On December 9th, 91-year-old Leona Ricker was driving her Chrysler Sebring when she veered into the Rite Aid store, destroying a wall and several windows. Nobody was injured in the accident including the driver and the passenger in the Sebring. When police questioned Ricker as to what caused her to crash into the store wall, she stated that she was unsure what happened. The pharmacy remained operational while firefighters and police officers cleared the area of debris and removed the vehicle.
As a new year begins, people across the country are making resolutions to do a few things differently. Hopefully for at least 4,500 Arizonans, one resolution will be to stop driving while impaired.
Four thousand five hundred is the number of Arizona residents who were arrested for DUI since Thanksgiving. That's almost a 2000 person increase since the holiday season of 2008. The Associated Press reported, arrests for the entire year numbered above 14,000: a 3,500 increase since 2008.
These rising numbers reveal two trends. The first is the good news that increased enforcement has taken more unsafe drivers off the road. Hopefully this will inspire them and others to stay sober behind the wheel.
But, the second trend is of a large number of drivers ignoring the potential consequences of impaired driving and choosing to put others at risk. Preventable injuries to motorists and motorcyclists are caused each week when someone makes the negligent decision to reach for the keys when buzzed or drunk.
We can only hope that public awareness and deterrence can begin to lower number of impaired drivers and the injuries they cause. Perhaps this holiday's spike in enforcement will help spread the message and keep Arizona's drivers a little safer in 2010.
If you're wondering why the car ahead of you keeps drifting out of its lane, consider that this year one trillion text messages were sent by drivers. This shocking fact is revealed in a major study that also indicates the rate of teens texting while driving is on the rise.
This trend is disturbing considering the huge distraction texting poses. Reuters news service reports that texting makes drivers 23 times more likely to be in an accident. Teens texting will surely be at greater risk when their lack of driving experience is factored in. However, in a survey teens reported little concern about the dangers of texting while driving. This growing danger has lead for the call to create a national texting while driving ban.
Phoenix is one of a few cities that does have a ban on texting while driving. But, this does not necessarily mean Arizona roads are safer. In the survey, teens admitted to ignoring such laws. Police also state the laws are notoriously difficult to enforce.
Given that teens and young adults are so reliant on mobile technology and texting, signs point to continued texting even if a national ban is passed. If you are ever in an accident and suspect the driver was texting at the time, that fact may be critical in helping you hold the negligent driver accountable. Your best option is to contact an experienced accident attorney who can help bring that fact to light.
The Arizona Republic published a small blurb about two cars being struck by a Semi on the westbound I-10 in Phoenix. Though the paper dedicated only about five lines, I’m sure that accident was much more significant for those involved.
Accidents with semis, also called tractor trailers, can be terrifying. Their large size and momentum make them imposing figures to nearby cars, trucks and motorcycles. Also, their actions may seem unclear to regular motorists who are unfamiliar with the requirements of driving a big rig.
The Republic did not explain how the accident occurred, but there are several unique risks associated with big trucks. The cars may have been in the large blind spot along the trailer. If the side-view mirrors were not visible to the accident victims, the truck could have merged into them. Additionally, long haul truckers often work at a grueling pace; the driver may have been suffering from fatigue.
The occupants of the smaller vehicles reported minor injuries at the scene, but the symptoms may worsen as the adrenalin wears off. If the truck driver was at fault, the claim “he just did not see them” is not a valid excuse for a negligent mistake. And, those injured motorists are entitled to seek compensation for their injuries and damaged vehicles.
If you find yourself sharing the road with a semi or another large vehicle, be sure to give them a wide berth to avoid an accident. If the road is crowded, at least be sure you are in the field of vision of the side-view mirrors. And, don’t hesitate to use your horn if necessary.
Morning rush-hour can be inconvenient, but this Tuesday’s was much worse for a few Chandler motorists. Three cars were stopped at a red light on Dobson road, when a fourth slammed into the rear car, causing a series of collisions. The Arizona Republic reported, two motorists received significant injuries and were transported to a trauma center and local hospital.
In Arizona, drivers have the responsibility to follow at a safe distance and speed to avoid a rear-end collision. That the victims of this accident were stationary at the light indicates the driver that caused the collision was speeding, misjudged the stopping distance, or simply wasn’t paying attention. Either of these scenarios indicates a situation of driver negligence, the consequences of which injured two innocent people.
There are many potential distractions on the morning commute. Contributing factors include talking on the cell phone, checking email on a wireless device, or trying to save time and eat breakfast or apply makeup in the car. As tempting as these timesavers may be, a driver’s first responsibility remains the safe operation of his or her vehicle and avoiding collisions like the one Tuesday.
Drunk drivers are a threat to anyone on the road: even law enforcement. This was made abundantly clear when a suspected drunk driver slammed into a border patrol vehicle in Southern Arizona. The officer only escaped injury by diving over the guardrail before his vehicle was struck.
The Associated Press reported the agent was stopped on the shoulder of the I-19, assisting a motorist with a flat tire. The suspected drunk driver was recklessly attempting to pass slower traffic when he hit the agent’s vehicle. The driver was transported to a local hospital and is under investigation for impaired driving.
Impaired drivers often make risky decisions and have poor control of their vehicle. In this case, it was extremely fortunate the officer was able to react in time. If he were not present, the motorist with the flat tire could have been killed or severely injured. This is a sobering reminder to take care if your car blows a tire or is disabled on the freeway, and to call the highway patrol or roadside assistance if necessary.
Many assume that motorcyclists are reckless people because riding a motorcycle involves more risk than a passenger vehicle. It is true that motorcyclists in Arizona face many risks when they take to the streets. They risk other motorists not seeing their smaller profile, and they also face the greater risk of injury during collisions. But, the assumption that they are reckless is an unfair judgment not supported by the facts. And worse, this bias sometimes prevents motorcyclists from receiving fair treatment when a collision does occur.
One motorcyclist in El Mirage suffered a serious leg injury Wednesday when struck by an oncoming vehicle. This potentially deadly head on motorcycle accident occurred at 6:45 p.m., on Dysart Road near Olive Avenue.
The assistant police chief told the Arizona Republic, there was no indication the motorcyclist was speeding. However, focus on the motorcyclist’s speed propagates the bias that motorcyclists are irresponsible drivers and are typically at fault because they “knew the dangers” or “chose to take the risk.”
In fact, the vast majority of motorcyclists follow the rules of the road precisely because they know the risks and want to avoid injury. The Hurt Report and MAIDS study show that very few motorcycle accidents are caused by excessive speed. Instead, the majority of collisions occur when a driver of a larger vehicle violates the motorcycle’s right of way. The biased notion that motorcyclists take undue risks, though clearly not based in truth, still makes it difficult for motorcyclists to get a fair hearing from the law and the insurance companies. Hopefully this motorcyclist makes a quick recovery and can concentrate on getting well, instead of the hassle of dealing with obstructionist insurance companies.
There is some unusual new evidence showing the danger of driving while talking on a cell phone. It is common knowledge that a driver on their phone is distracted, but to what extent? Do they notice turn signals? Brake lights? …A clown on a unicycle?
Yes, a study in Western Washington University found that most students talking on a cell phone while walking were so distracted they did not notice a clown in bright purple and yellow clothes riding a unicycle nearby. In fact, a staggering 75 percent of students on their cell phones were completely oblivious to the clown and were surprised when surveyors pointed him out.
This creative example demonstrates why talking on a cell phone is particularly risky when driving. Two other scenarios—pairs of students talking and individuals listening to music—each saw better results than cell phone users. The author of the study commented, “a cell-phone conversation is just harder to maintain; it takes more effort; it's harder to understand the other person; it's harder to get the timing right. It's just a much more difficult task.”
This difficulty is what causes distractions and risks accidents. Arizona does not currently have a cell phone ban, but distracted driver laws are in effect in communities throughout the Phoenix area. And as this study colorfully illustrates, the distraction of cell phone use while driving put other drivers, pedestrians and even clowns at risk.
Four valley residents narrowly escaped serious injury early Sunday morning after their car was struck by a speeding drunk driver. The Arizona Republic reported that the driver slammed into their vehicle while they waited at a stop light on Camelback Road, near Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Police say the driver, Thomas Duwyenie, was drinking underage and driving at unsafe speeds. These negligent errors very nearly killed four innocent people who did not have time to react. The drunk driver was seriously injured, and taken to the hospital. When released, police say he could face alcohol-related charges.
Luckily, in this case, those inside the struck vehicle apparently escaped without serious injury. However, rear end collisions, often cause soft tissue damage, such as “whip lash,” that might not be immediately evident. It would be advisable for these victims or any victims of a car accident to seek medical care to find any injury that may have been masked by the adrenalin rush.
This is an example of the possible consequences when someone chooses to drink and drive, but it could have been much worse. Impaired drivers often do not realize they risk the lives of others when they get behind the wheel. It is common for victims of impaired drivers to suffer serious injuries such as broken bones, paralysis, and head trauma. Thankfully, that was not the case this Sunday morning.
Soon after you recover from the shock of an accident, the first thing you should think about is, “how do I go about settling with the insurance company without being taken advantage of.”
You should consider settlement as two separate transactions. One for your property damage and the second for your injury.
Settling property damage claims is relatively straight forward. Your vehicle needs to be repaired or replaced and the cost of each can be determined by simply contacting repair shops and car lots to obtain estimates for repair or replacement costs for vehicles that are totaled.
Some property damage issues are in fact more complicated, such as the value of custom vehicles or the diminished value of damaged vehicle upon sale. These issues require special knowledge and negotiation.
The area requiring the attention of an attorney with investigation and negotiation expertise is that of a bodily injury claims attorney.
The value of these claims are mainly subjective necessitating knowledge of the insurance company tactics as well as local values of similar injuries.
For example, the value of an injury claim in Arizona is different than the value of an injury claim in California. The value of these claims are based, in part, on the amount juries award for similar injuries in local courts.
The likelihood of receiving the maximum value for an injury claim is substantially enhanced by a speedy investigation and an experienced negotiator.
I'm frequently asked about whether accepting a "quick" settlement for a minor accident claim isn't better than waiting several weeks or months after the accident.
The problem with a "quick" settlement is that an injured person only gets "one bite at the apple", and if the injury turns out to be worse than first thought....you are out of luck!
To be safe you should wait at least four months after you are symptom free to consider settling your accident claim, even for a minor accident.
What if the accident was not my fault and that fact was clearly documented in the police report, do I need a lawyer to resolve my claim with the insurance company?
Maybe, but lets look at the question in more detail.
You may not need an attorney if the only harm caused was the damage to your vehicle and the insurance company agrees to:
1. Pay to have your vehicle repaired at a mechanic or body shop of your choice; and
2. Pay the reduced value of your vehicle because the market value of a vehicle that has been involved in an accident is worth less than it was before the accident.
But if you have been injured in the accident, then you definitely need an attorney to evaluate your damages and make sure you are treated fairly by the insurance company.
This, among other things, may involve:
1. Investigating the accident;
2. Interviewing the witnesses;
3. Recommending physicians;
4. Negotiating a reduction of your medical bills;
5. Negotiating a settlement of your claim with the insurance company;
6. Litigating against the insurance company’s attorneys on your behalf.
You should at least discuss your accident claim with an attorney, soon after the accident, to determine whether you need their services or whether your accident claim can be resolved without their assistance.
Many times immediately after an accident, even though a person is injured, the adrenalin rush minimizes any pain. Because of this condition, individuals requiring emergency care may postpone obtaining treatment.
Within a day or two after the accident, pain otherwise absent begins to appear.
This delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in increased injury, prolonged care and rehabilitation.
In addition, it may appear to the untrained observer that an injury should be present immediately after an accident and therefore any delayed appearance means that the injury has been manufactured.
The lesson to be learned is that anyone involved in an accident should be seen at a hospital emergency room or by a family physician as soon as possible.
Remember, early evaluation and treatment can avoid costly and painful consequences.
It was Sunday and I was reading “The New Yorker” magazine when I came across an article written by John Seabrook.
It concerned a speech given by Phillip Howard promoting his new book “Life Without Lawyers.” As reported, Howard talked about “lawyers who hang out at the intersection of tragedy and greed.”
Well, that got my attention and my dander up.
He went on to praise President Obama’s call for “a new era of personal responsibility” and told the audience that Americans are constrained by too many rules and that “any time someone gets angry they can sue.”
Considering the fact that the world is in the worst economic position in history next to the great depression caused by an American administration that abandoned rules and ignored enforcement, I am surprised he had any audience at all.
The problem Mr. Howard fails to address is the unequal balance of power that enabled financial institutions to run amok.
The same unequal balance of power exists in industry enabling pharmaceutical manufacturers to place deadly drugs in the marketplace, tire manufacturers to sell defective tires, and the insurance industry to abuse its policy holders.
Personal responsibility without the power to stand up to the abusers of power is slavery.
It is the brokers of power that “hang out a the intersection of tragedy and greed.”
The equal balance of power is indispensable and one only hopes that President Obama’s new era of personal responsibility includes an new era of industry accountability.
You bet. After your car has been repaired it is worth less, even if it looks and drives as good as it did before the accident.
Your car has suffered “diminished value” and you are entitled to claim that loss along with the other losses you have suffered in the accident.
Your attorney will need to have a property damage expert examine your car, before it is repaired, if possible, and also review the damage estimate prepared by the body shop.
The expert then determines what the market value for your car is before and after the accident and provide you with his professional evaluation of the loss you have suffered.
The loss can depend greatly on the type of vehicle, the mileage, the condition it was in before the loss, and the local, and sometimes the national market value for your vehicle, at the time of the loss.
Former clients call and ask for advice about what to do when they are involved in a minor auto accident.
They tell me that they have been in an accident but, other than being a little sore, they feel fine. They go on to say that the insurance company has offered to repair their car, pay for their emergency room visit and give them $500 for any “inconvenience”. What should they do?
This happens so frequently that it does not take me long to reply. I tell them the story about a similar call I received when I first started practicing law.
Many years ago, a young woman called for her husband who had recently been involved in a “minor” collision. She told me that since he had only been sore for a couple of days after the accident, he agreed to settle his claim for $1,500 (which back then was a great deal of money for a “no injury” claim).
Six or seven weeks later, his soreness became radiating pain which eventually required surgery costing many thousands of dollars. However, since he had given up his right to recover, he was not able to be compensated for any more than the original $1,500.00.
The lesson is, don’t be in a hurry to settle a “minor” collision accident, even with only “a little soreness”.
Injuries may take time to develop and mature. As a general rule, settling any claim in less than six months may not be a good idea.
Every injury is different and the decision to settle should not be made in haste.
Consulting with an attorney soon after the accident in order to get a professional opinion about the specific facts of your accident is sound advice, even coming from an attorney.
A semi-truck in Phoenix, Arizona kills three and critically injures a fourth occupant of a passenger car by running a red light according to an article by Emily Dean, appearing in the Arizona Republic on April 6, 2009.
Why did the driver of the semi-truck run the red light? Was it inattention or something more sinister, like fatigue as a result of not adhering to federal law requiring frequent driver rests when traveling interstate?
Unfortunately, driver fatigue is much too common when commercial pressures force interstate drivers to violate safety regulations.
Our prayers go out to the family of the victims of this tragedy and we can only hope that the owners and drivers of semi-trucks adhere to regulations designed to protect the public.
In Arizona, as in other states, when an injury is claimed in litigation the defense is entitled, as a matter of right, to have the injured plaintiff examined by a physician.
In Arizona, these exams are entitled, “independent medical examinations” and are conducted by hand picked physicians who are anything but “independent”.
Although reason dictates that the defense should be entitled to have the plaintiff claiming an injury examined by a physician, the system as it now exists is merely gamesmanship.
These “independent” physicians uniformly prepare reports which claim that the injured plaintiff is not injured at all, but in fact is only seeking money.
These reports become suspect when the same “independent” physician writes the same boilerplate report for every plaintiff being examined.
As was recently reported in a New York Times article written by N.R. Kleinfeld, Dr. Hershel Samuels, an independent medical examiner in New York state’s workers’ compensation system stated that, “If you did a truly pure report, you’d be out on your ears and the insurers wouldn’t pay for it. You have to give them what they want, or you’re in Florida. That’s the game, baby”.
Another method for obtaining a truly independent medical examination and evaluation, for the defense, would be for a list of physicians to be assembled by the court. Every medical examination requested by the defense would be conducted by one of these physicians, on a rotating basis, from this list.
Motorcycles - It’s not that we ignore them on the highway nor is it that they sneak up and surprise us. The reason we don’t see them is a function of the human brain. We are wired not to see motorcycles unless they are conspicuous.
Our primitive brain was much more aware of potential danger than our civilized brain. In our ancestral past, we perceived threats to ourselves and our fellow tribesman and reacted by fleeing or fighting. However, contemporary man has lost the instinct to readily recognize danger or timely react to it.
What can be done to prevent colliding with a motorcycle, knowing that its difficult to recognize?
Well, first of all, motorcycle manufacturers have already recognized the problem and have made motorcycles more conspicuous by wiring its lights to remain on when the motorcycle engine is turned on.
Both automobile drivers and motorcycle riders must make a conscious effort to anticipate one another. This isn’t easy because it runs against our nature and biology, but with practice we can raise the level of our awareness.
When highways are constructed or repaired there are hazards that, if motorists are unaware of, can be fatal. One such hazard is the roadway drop off.
A roadway drop off is where a newly paved portion of the road adjacent to the dirt portion of the road drops off without warning. This drop off, if deep enough, can cause the driver to lose control of his vehicle and not regain control before striking another vehicle or concrete road embankment.
Drop offs are more likely to occur on undivided rural highways with higher speed limits (between 45 and 70 mph) where drivers encounter twists and turns, driveways and oncoming traffic.
Good highway design and construction requires that the drop off on a highway where the speed limit is 55 mph should be no greater than one inch.
In addition, designers should provide space at the shoulders of highways to enable drivers to take evasive maneuvers to avoid potential crashes.
According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, “well-designed and properly maintained shoulders are needed on rural highways with appreciable volume of traffic.”
When we board a bus we assume that a large vehicle provides an extra degree of safety; however, our assumption is wrong.
Buses are dangerous because bus companies are not required to have buses equipped with modern safety equipment and existing safety regulations are not uniformly enforced by the government.
For example, seat belts aren’t required in buses, there are no requirements for roof crush support structures, nor are there requirements that buses have ejection resistant windows.
Bus safety is low on the government’s priority list and the bus industry is pleased.
Even the simplest regulatory measure to ensure that bus drivers are qualified to operate a bus safely is neglected by regulators.
There are many bus accident where bus passengers are thrown about and injured because there are no seat belts. When a bus overturns and lands on its top there is little to prevent the roof from crushing down and seriously injuring and killing passengers. Also in a bus rollover it is common for passengers to be ejected from bus windows and injured or killed on the highway.
There are many long standing safety features that would improve bus safety and save lives, but they haven’t been required by the government.
Perhaps under the Obama administration we will now see a new emphasis on bus safety; until then, drive your car or take a plane.
Being involved in an accident is bad enough, but dealing with the negligent driver’s insurance company can add insult to injury because they take advantage of your lack of experience in such matters.
To protect yourself, there are a few things you need to know about what to do at the accident scene. You will also need to understand how the other driver’s insurance adjuster will approach your claim.
The Accident Scene
Always call the Police.
Even though the party responsible for the accident apologizes and offers to pay for the damage, always call the police to the scene.
Some benefits of a police investigation:
1. There will be an official report of the facts of the accident and a diagram of the scene.
2. The accident report will contain the names and addresses of all persons involved, including witnesses.
3. You will obtain the other driver’s insurance information.
4. The police officer may be a witness to any admission of fault made by the negligent driver.
Witnesses
Locating witnesses is important. If you are able, get each witness’s name, home address, business address, and phone numbers while you are still at the scene. Even though the police officer may get these names as well, it may be some time before his report becomes available to you.
If you are seriously injured, a good investigator is a wise investment.
All witnesses should be interviewed by a professional investigator, as soon as possible, before memories fade or the insurance company’s investigator has a chance to influence the witness’s version of the accident.
Witnesses are usually candid about what they observed, however, a well trained insurance investigator can influence a witness’s answer through a well crafted question.
Towing Away The Vehicle
The company that is selected to tow your vehicle away from the scene is important. If the police have the vehicle towed, make sure its taken to your repair shop and not to a tow yard, because the average tow company will charge you for every day the vehicle sits at their tow yard.
Photographs
If you have the opportunity to take photos of your vehicle and the other vehicles involved, take them. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and a picture taken at the scene may be worth much more.
Reporting the Accident
The responsible driver may or may not report the accident to his insurance company. If he doesn’t then you should.
Preparing to Settle Property Damage
If you suspect that your vehicle is a total loss (vehicle is not repairable or the cost of repair exceeds the replacement cost), contact several dealerships that sell your brand of vehicle and ask them for a letter stating the sales price of that make and model with similar mileage and similar condition.
If your vehicle is damaged and repairable, contact several dealerships for an estimate for the cost of the repair.
You will then have the ability to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company of your property damage only.
You may also be entitled to an amount for “loss of use” of the vehicle from the time of the accident until the time your vehicle is repaired or the time you receive payment for the totaled vehicle.
Get to a Physician
After an accident you may feel sore, but don’t believe you are seriously injured. Be aware that it sometimes takes days or perhaps weeks before serious injuries are apparent. It is always a good idea to visit your physician as soon as you can get an appointment. If you are unable to get an appointment within a day or two, then get to an emergency room for an examination.
The Insurance Adjuster
This is where things can get frustrating. Remember, you are not being singled out, it’s just how “they” do business.
It is not uncommon for insurance adjusters to engage in the following tactics:
1. Not returning your phone calls.
2. Delays in processing your claim.
3. Requiring you to sign authorizations permitting them to get all your medical records, even if the records have nothing to do with the injuries you received in the accident.
4. Requiring you to be examined by the insurance company doctor, before you finish treating with your own doctors.
First, let me say that, you can’t eliminate the frustration of the unreturned pone calls or delays in processing your claim. However, as to the other tactics, you are not bound by the insurance adjuster’s demands.
Releasing Your Medical Records
Don’t sign any authorizations for release of medical information for the other driver’s insurance company. The physician-patient relationship is private and there is legal duty that a physician not disclose any of your medical information without your permission.
There may be personal and confidential information contained within your medical records which may be unrelated to the injuries you suffered in the accident.
A better way to provide relevant medical information to the insurance adjuster is for you to obtain a copy of your medical records from your treating physician, for the visits pertaining to the accident.
You can then provide a copy of those records to the insurance company, along with a letter instructing them that you are not releasing any of your medical records which do not pertain to the accident. You should also write that you are giving them the specific records for the limited purpose of settling your claim.
Before sending the insurance company a copy of your medical records, read the records yourself to make sure they don’t contain any non-relevant, personal information.
The Insurance Doctor
Insurance companies have “their” own doctors and may ask you to submit to a physical examination. It is not uncommon for the insurance company doctor, after they “examine” you, to say that you are fine and that any further care is unnecessary.
You should rely on your own physician’s opinion on your condition and on any future care you may need.
Don’t agree to an “insurance” company doctor examination as long as you are under the care of your own physicians.
Some attorneys believe that you should never agree to an insurance company physician examination unless ordered to through legal proceedings.
Victims of serious motor vehicle accidents find that they have entered a world in which their lives are now controlled by insurance adjusters and lawyers.
We have created this blog so that these unfortunate souls may become familiar with the landscape as quickly as possible.
At first blush, the facts of an accident may appear simple and straightforward. “The truck hit my car and I was injured.” However, there are a host of “hidden factors” which can either hinder or enhance the pursuit of justice.
All serious accident injury claims justify an in-depth investigation to uncover potential “hidden factors.”
A “hidden factor” is information that is not apparent on the surface, requires investigation to discover and is critical to the outcome of an accident insurance claim.
For example, the “accident” may not have been caused by mere inattention, but instead may have been the result of an intentional violation of federal safety regulations, making the “accident” inevitable. Armed with the additional information, the accident victim’s claim will be significantly enhanced.
The “hidden factor” may involve a tire manufacturer who, in order to cut corners, manufactures an inherently dangerous tire. Or, it might be a highway designer who fails to consider the safety risks his design poses to the average driver.
We will address many of these “hidden factors” in future postings.
However, even if the accident is in fact straightforward without any “hidden factors,” understanding the investigation and claims process will help set reasonable expectations.
Our next article will discuss the insurance claims process.
The “Accident Information Law Blog” (AILB) provides readers with information necessary to appreciate the issues and options available in the pursuit of safety and justice.
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