One Person Killed in Automobile Accident, Car Catches Fire

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Jessica Navarro

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.

The Jeep Company stated they had cooperated fully with the investigation launched by the NHTSA regarding the fuel system in the Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The vehicles affected are from 1993 to 2004 model years. The company said they had conducted their own tests on the affected vehicles and found that they do not pose a serious threat in rear-impact collisions in terms of the location of the fuel system. However, if the police investigation in this accident presents evidence that the vehicle caught fire as a result of the fuel system being damaged in the rear-impact accident, the company could be held liable for their negligence in ensuring that the affected vehicles were safe.

Automobile accidents due to defective vehicles are not very common in any situation, but this accident shows that there is still a possibility for them to occur and it is the company’s responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are completely safe and there is no risk to human life as a result of the defects. Although the company did their own testing, it still does not rule out the possibility that damage to the fuel system in this particular Jeep model was a direct cause of the death of the passenger in the Jeep vehicle following this accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of a defect in a vehicle that resulted in a serious accident, the company should be held liable for their negligence and an attorney can assist you in bringing justice against the company for failing to repair or adequately prevent the defects in their vehicles.
 
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Glendale Police Officer Injured in Motorcycle Accident

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Jessica Navarro

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.

Fortunately, the officer did not suffer any serious injuries and only suffered minor abrasions resulting from the accident. The report states there is no information on whether citations were given or not. 

Injuries from automobile accidents involving motorcyclists (whether they are police officers or not) have slowly been rising over the last 10 years or so. National Highway Traffic Association (NHTA) statistics show that in 2008, 5,290 motorcyclists were killed – an increase from 5,174 in 2007. Although in this incident, the officer in the motorcycle only suffered minor injuries, the dangers of riding motorcycles should not be taken lightly. There are many ways injuries could occur to motorcycle riders. In most cases, motorcycle riders do not wear a helmet, which exponentially increases the chances of serious injury or even death. Actions such as cutting off a motorcycle while turning can put a rider in extreme danger of falling off the motorcycle or even being propelled over the bars of their motorcycle. Negligence from motorcycle riders is also a common occurrence and can just as easily put the rider in danger of being injured very seriously. Many incidents of motorcycle accidents where the rider was thrown from the bike have surfaced in recent weeks, which only serve to highlight the dangers of riding a motorcycle. 

 For more information on motorcycle accidents and what to do if you are involved in one, visit the Solomon & Relihan Motorcycle Accident website.
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Florida Highway Patrol Accident Killed in Auto Accident

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Jessica Navarro

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.

 

Rear impact collisions are very similar to frontal impact collisions in that it does not take a high rate of speed to cause varying degrees of injuries to victims. In most cases, rear impact collisions are not as serious as frontal or side impact collisions since both vehicles involved are traveling in the same direction and not in opposite directions – if the two vehicles were traveling in opposite directions, the impact would be far greater than if they were traveling in the same direction. Regardless, it is still possible to suffer serious injuries resulting from rear impact collisions. A majority of injuries occur as a result of the force pushing the victim forward, causing varying degrees of injury to the head, neck or back. As this case demonstrates, even fatality can occur from rear-impact collisions, especially if the driver of the other vehicle is moving at a high rate of speed.

 For more information on auto accidents and what to do if you are involved in one, please visit the Solomon & Relihan Car Accidents Information page.
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Rear-End Collision on Morning Commute Injures Two

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Martin Solomon

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.
 

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