Articles Posted in Auto Accident

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October 5th is International Walk to School Day. This week, various schools across the state will be participating in and coordinating a number of events to help reduce the risks of pedestrian accidents in Indiana.

Back in 2005, legislation was passed to provide funding to individuals states to help create pedestrian-friendly roadways. Politicians around the county understand the importance of safe routes to school for our school-aged pedestrians. Unfortunately, less than 2 percent of road spending is done with pedestrian safety in mind. Events like this help to shine light on these issues and to attract government attention. More importantly, they help remind parents of the risks.Our Lansing pedestrian accident attorneys understand the need for safe routes to school for our children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 1,300 young pedestrians aged 14-years-old and younger who were killed because of traffic-related accidents in the U. S. in 2009. There were another 179,000 young pedestrians injured in these types of accidents during the same year.

Indianapolis schools participating in the festivities:

–Crestview Elementary: This school is coordinating a Walk to School with the Principal Event. This area has no continuous crosswalks or sidewalks. School officials are hoping to shine light on the need for crosswalks, trails and sidewalks in the area to help keep students who walk to school safe on our dangerous roadways.

–Center for Inquiry, IPS School 84: This school participates in a number of walk-related activities throughout the year. It’s expecting a 60 percent participation rate this year.

–St. Thomas Aquinas: This is the third year of participation for this school. Parents, partners and volunteers all join together to help raise awareness during this time.

The International Walk to School Day started back in 1997. By 2002, there were approximately 3 million walkers across the globe who participated in the event. The organization pushes the event every year to help create healthier habits in children, to improve our roadways and to campaign for cleaner air.

Indiana Safe Routes to School Program is a year-long program that works the same initiatives as International Walk to School Day, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).

INDOT claims responsibility for looking over the Safe Routes to School Program. The DOT works with the program using federal funds to create safe-pedestrian initiatives.

According to the program, if the same number of kids who walked to school today was the same as the number of kids who walked to school in 1969, our country could cut more than 3 billion vehicles miles traveled every year. We would also be able to cut nearly 2 million tons of CO2 and nearly 90,000 tons of other pollutants from our air.

These eliminations would be just like taking 250,000 vehicles off of our roadways for one year. Aside from the benefits that our planet would experience from more walking, residents will benefit as well. Walking promotes a healthier lifestyle. With more pedestrians, there would be fewer vehicles and less traffic-related pedestrian accidents. Until that time comes, we all need to work together to stay safe on our roadways.
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From 2000 to 2009, there were nearly 1,000 fatalities resulting from traffic-related pedestrian accidents in Indiana, according to Transportation for America. These accidents cost the state nearly $3 billion. Our state ranks 25th out of the 50 states for pedestrian danger. We surely aren’t the worst, but we surely aren’t the best.According to a recent study that was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety the relationship between a pedestrian’s risk of death and the speed of the vehicle upon impact is directly correlated. This topic has been studied extensively, but had not been revisited in recent years. Older studies lack relevancy when compared to today’s cars, technological advancements and modern street designs.

Our Highland pedestrian accident attorneys understand that bicycle and pedestrian accidents commonly result in serious or fatal injuries. Before concluding the study, AAA comprised a list of recommendations that local, state and federal transportation officials should consider to help make our roadways safer for pedestrians and all other travelers.

“It’s time for a healthy reminder that Indiana’s sidewalk and trail network is also expanding to serve a demand for non-motorized modes of transportation and recreation,” said Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Commissioner Michael B. Cline.

The AAA Foundation reports that there were about 4,000 pedestrians who were fatally injured on U.S. roadways because of motor-vehicle-related accidents in 2009. Another 59,000 were injured in these types of incidents. Through the study of pedestrian accident data, the Foundation has determined that the speed of the involved vehicle was a top contributor in these accidents. Faster accidents more often resulted in serious or fatal injuries to accident victims.

According to the study, a pedestrian faces a 10 percent risk of injury when hit by a vehicle that is traveling just 16 mph. Pedestrians face a 25 percent risk at 23 mph, a 50 percent risk at 31 mph, a 75 percent at 39 mph and a 90 percent risk at 46 mph.

The risks increase just the same when calculating the risk of death. A pedestrian faces a 10 percent risk of death when hit by a vehicle that is traveling at just 23 mph, a 25 percent risk at a speed of 32 mph, a 50 percent risk of death at 42 mph, a 75 percent risk at 50 mph and a 90 percent risk when a vehicle strikes at 58 mph.

Indiana transportation officials continue to move forward with new plans for a Bicycle and Pedestrian Program that is aimed at increasing the safety of our pedestrians and cyclists.

Bicycle and pedestrian plans have recently been approved for the following communities:

-Fort Wayne
-Northwestern Indiana
-The South Bend-Elkhart area
-Muncie
-Indianapolis/Marion County
-Hamilton County, Bloomington
-Lafayette
-Anderson
-Goshen
-The urban portions of Clark and Floyd Counties
-Terre Haute,

-Madison
-Zionsville
-Kokomo
The AAA Foundation summed up its report with a number of safety measures that federal, state and local governments can look at to help reduce the risks of pedestrian accidents.

One of the first recommendations included reducing speed limits. Speed limits should be reduced in areas where a large pedestrian population tends to travel. In areas where fast-traveling traffic is a necessity, officials are encouraged to create a physical separation to keep pedestrians and motor-vehicle traffic separated from one another. The study also reaches out to car manufacturers, urging them to find ways to create smarter in-car technology that has the capability of detecting pedestrians who may be dangerously close to the vehicle and either alerting the driver or automatically rerouting the car itself.
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After yet another fatal trucking accident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has decided to make another recommendation for commercial truck drivers to be banned from using a cell phone or any hands-free device while driving. The most recent accident took the lives of 11 people and destroyed some shops off Interstate 65 in Kentucky. The driver’s phone records reveal that he was making phone calls and sending text messages just seconds before the fatal accident, according to Reuters.In 2009, there were more than 100 large trucks involved in fatal trucking accidents in Indiana. Many of these accidents could have been prevented if there were more restrictive laws regulating driver distractions. These types of accidents are in fact preventable.

Our Highland trucking accident attorneys understand that mixing a distracted driver and a 40-ton commercial vehicle is a recipe for disaster. Often, these types of accidents turn deadly and cause serious property damage. With current laws and enforcement efforts, too many drivers are continuing to drive while engaging in a number of distractions on our roadways. Until more comprehensive regulations are enacted, motorists will unfortunately continue to suffer in these accidents.

“Distracted driving is becoming increasingly prevalent, exacerbating the danger we encounter daily on our roadways,” said Deborah Hersman, chairman of the NTSB, according to Reuters.

According to the phone records of the commercial trucker who was heading down the Kentucky interstate, he made four calls within the minute before the accident. He also made nearly 70 phone calls and text messages within the 24 hours leading up to the accident.

The new recommendation from the NTSB supplements a proposal from federal officials. There have been previous suggestions of a complete ban on the use of all hand-held phones by commercial trucks and drivers of buses.

“This is the most comprehensive recommendation we’ve made,” said Hersman.

The NTSB doesn’t have the authority to make a proposal a law. The Board does have high expectations though. The recommendation has been sent over to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Previous recommendations have been transformed into laws in the past. The NTSB is using this platform as a catalyst.

Support for this type of ban is universal but authorities are having a hard time figuring out who’s best to enforce it. If the proposal takes effect, lawmakers in every state would have to take action to help hold up its end of the bargain, according to FOX News.

“It’s going to be pretty difficult politically to get that kind of law through a state,” said spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association, Jonathan Adkins, according to FOX News.

As of now, there are more than 30 states that prohibit commercial truck drivers from texting behind the wheel. That means that the 2.8 million commercial truck drivers who were recorded in the U.S. in 2008 must pull over and park before sending a text. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case and that’s how people get killed.
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Students in Vigo County are mourning the death of a classmate who recently died from injuries sustained in an Indiana teen car accident. The collision happened when the vehicle of the teen driver and her two passengers drifted into the path of another vehicle while traveling along State Highway 246. The two passengers remain in the hospital.

“She was a great art student she was really creative. I will always remember her smile and enthusiasm. It was her goal to get it done, she was going to graduate,” said Christy Eileen, an art teacher at McLean High School, according to a WTHI Channel 10 report. The students and the faculty made posters and crafts to display at the student’s funeral, the report stated.Our Indianapolis car accident attorneys understand the risks that young drivers face on our roadways. Newly-licensed drivers possess much less driving experience than older drivers and are usually unable to properly judge the hazards and dangers on our roadways. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, young drivers in our state are required to complete two stages of restricted driving, or a Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) program, before receiving an unrestricted license once they’ve reached the age of 18. Unfortunately, recent studies illustrate that these GDL programs aren’t as effective as one thought. Studies conclude that drivers who have completed the program are at more of a risk for an accident once they receive a full license than they faced in the program. Parents and guardians need to understand that our job doesn’t stop once they’ve received an unrestricted license. Education and reminders need to continue long after our young drivers are out of school.

GDL programs first started in 1996 and according to a recent study that was printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 16-year-old drivers witnessed a 26 percent decrease in the rate of fatal accidents from 1986 to 2007. But, during this same time period, 18-year-old drivers experienced an increase of more than 10 percent in the number of fatal accidents. This increase in the older teen drivers completely wiped out any progress in the death rate for all teen drivers, according to CNN Health.

The GDL program in Indiana started back in July 2009. Through this program, 16- and 17-year-old drivers are under probationary restrictions until they reach the age of 18. These stages in the program are meant to expose young drivers to potential hazards gradually instead of overwhelming them with everything at once. Once they’ve mastered a level of driving, they’re permitted to move on to the next stage.

“Right now, we’re not getting the net effect across all teens that we’re hoping for,” says Scott V. Masten, Ph.D., author of the recent study cited in the JAMA article.

Experts believe that 18-year-old drivers are experiencing more fatal traffic accidents because youngsters are choosing to opt out of the restricted driving privileges and are avoiding driving until they’re 18. Others believe that younger drivers are at more of a risk after completing the program because they’re forced to miss out on valuable experience, meaning they’ve been coddled throughout the learning process.

The study reveals that no one is guaranteed to avoid a car accident, regardless of education. Parents are urged to continue to remind their young drivers about the responsibility and dangers of driving. No one is ever too old or too smart for a better driving education.
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A recent teen car accident in Veedersburg killed two Fountain Central High School students. Three teens were involved in the single-car accident that happened on the Kingman Road, according to Commercial-News.

Two of the teens were airlifted to local hospital. One was transported by ambulance.

The Fountain County Sheriff’s Department reports that two of the teen motorists died shortly after arriving at the hospital. The third was last listed in stable condition at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Local sheriff deputies are investigating the accident.Our Northwest Indiana car accident attorneys understand that car accidents are the number of cause of death for teens in the United States. As the new school year begins, we encourage all parents to discuss the importance of safe driving habits with their teen drivers. Many of these fatal accidents can be prevented with proper driver education and practice.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor-vehicle accidents account for most accidental teen deaths. About eight teens ages 16-19-years-old died because of traffic accidents each day in 2009. If calculated per mile driven, young drivers of this age group are approximately four times more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers in older age groups.

The CDC reports that there were approximately 3,000 teens killed in car accidents in the United States in 2009. Another 350,000 teens were injured in traffic accidents throughout the year.

Although these young drivers, ages 15- to 24-years-old, account for 15 percent of the entire U.S. population, they make up approximately 30 percent of the costs resulting from motor-vehicle injuries — or about $26 billion a year.

Here are some safe teen driving tips for parents to discuss with their young drivers:

-Set a good example. Make sure that you practice all of your own advice and safe driving habits when you’re driving with your teen in the vehicle.

-Allow your child to have plenty of supervised driving time. Practice helps them to be more prepared for the hazards they’re going to face on our roadways.

-Make sure you ride with them during various driving conditions. Ride with them during early morning hours, during the evening, in the rain and through the snow. All of this practice will help prepare them for unavoidable conditions.

-Don’t allow them to drive with any passengers for the first six months after receiving their license. Passengers can be some of the most influential distractions and contribute to the risks of a fatal car accident.

-Require that your child call or text you when they arrive and when they leave their destination.

-Give them a curfew. Accident risks increase during evening hours.

-Create a parent-teen driving contract between you and your teen to help lay down ground rules that everyone can agree on. Make sure you lay out the consequences of breaking one of these rules too!

Teen drivers are more likely to underestimate dangerous driving situations or not be able to recognize hazardous driving situations. This ability comes along with experience, so get out there and practice with your young driver.
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          Effective today, it is now illegal to text or email and drive in Indiana.   Doing so is now an infraction subjecting the unsafe and negligent driver to a $500 fine.  It is hoped that the new law will lessen driver distraction and decrease many car accidents caused by the failure of drivers to keep a proper lookout as they read, text and drive.

 Indiana lawmakers indicated that the law against texting will prevent many auto accidents especially among teenagers that can cause serious injuries, damages and even wrongful deaths.  However, the law does not prohibit game playing, picture taking and even surfing while driving! 

  Fortunately, Indiana has other laws that an injury lawyer can rely upon in helping clients.  A distracted driver may not realize that they are speeding or approaching areas that require speed reduction for the safety of other drivers and their own passengers.  The Indiana Vehicle Code requires that the driver of each vehicle shall, drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, approaching and going around a curve, or hill crest,  while traveling upon a narrow or winding roadway and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. 

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Please attend the 2011 Sorrow to Strength Conference for Truck Accident Victims, their families and all other interested people.  This truck safety conference will be held in Washington, DC from Saturday, April 30th to Tuesday, May 3rd.  We hope to bring together families and friends of truck crash victims and truck crash survivors.  There is no charge, and the conference is open to all survivors, advocates, and legal/medical/other related professionals interested in truck safety.   This is an opportunity to join with others  for a weekend of sharing, remembrance, and workshops.  On Monday and Tuesday the participants will bring their messages for improved truck safety policies and laws to Capitol Hill and the Department of Transportation during meetings which will be pre-arranged for those with something to say about truck safety and attended by a Truck Safety Coalition staff member.

If you are interested in attending,or have any questions call the truck safety organization at 888.353.4572 or 703.294.6404.  You can also send an email to info@trucksafety.org.  More information will be posted at www.trucksafety.org in the near future.

You may also contact Burton A. Padove a truck safety member for more information on this conference, truck safety issues and for truck and tractor trailer accident representation.  Attorney Burton Padove accepts trucking negligence cases for seriously injured victims on a no recovery-no fee basis. Truck/car collisions result in wrongful death, brain injuries, paralysis, fractured bones, internal damage, pain, suffering , disability, disfigurement and lost income every day, not only on the interstates, but in towns and on highways and roads everywhere.

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Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a Defect Information Report from Lexus, a division of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The report disclosed defects on roughly 138,000 Lexus vehicles.

Lexus believes that a change in the manufacturing process has led to the risk of foreign material contaminating some of the valve springs. If this occurs, the engine may cease while driving, posing a risk for serious injury and death. Though the risk is suspected to be rare, it is important for manufacturers to disclose such risks. It is not known for certain if a person driving an affected Lexus would receive a warning sign (engine noise) before the engine would cease.

The report shows that the problem may affect Lexus vehicles powered by 4.6 and 5.0 liter V8 and 3.5 liter V6 engines in certain 2006, 2007 and 2008 GS, IS and LS models in the U.S.

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Over 335,000 vehicles have been a topic of discussion as subjects in the latest vehicle recall. This reinforces the idea that no vehicle is immune to the possibility of a recall. Though, the risk of a recall is less after the vehicle has been on the market for five years or more. This is because the masses have used the vehicles for a long time period, providing ample time for risks not discovered during the design or production process to be discovered and repaired.  The most recent risks are:

The Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass have been known to create a risk for a sticky pedal that may result in an accident, injury or death. The 2008 and 2009 Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country Minivans are also part of the recall. These vehicles are associated with risk of fire due to an improperly routed wiring harness which may short circuit. There is another defect in the affected Crystal vehicles. In some vehicles, the front inner fender liner may inadvertently rub against the brake lines, resulting in the risk of a brake line leak, break failure and a crash.

Injury Reports

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Toyota has agreed to pay $16 million in penalties after the government contended that Toyota knowingly refrained from disclosing the sticky gas pedal defect to the public and did not take action to protect the public from harm. Toyota’s agreement does not mean that the company admits to wrongdoing. However, the company accepted the $16 million penalty within a 24 hour time period. The next legal cases will be those of people that were injured or died because of the sticky gas pedal. Personal injury lawyers are preparing their legal cases against Toyota nationwide. In fact, over 150 lawyers recently gathered in San Diego to bring attention to the high number of reports of people injured by Toyota’s sticky gas pedal.  Lawyers may contend that Toyota committed fraud and racketeering in a conspiracy to mislead the government and consumers. People that have been injured because of a sticky gas pedal on a Toyota vehicle may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries, including: lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering.  Toyota owners that have lost value in their vehicles because of the extensive recalls may also be entitled to financial compensation.

The Latest Recall: Sienna Mini Vans

Toyota Sienna Mini Vans (1998-2010), totaling 600,000 vehicles, were the latest Toyota recall Toyota model to come to the forefront. The reason for the recall relates to the risk that the spare tire carrier cable can corrode following exposure to road salts. This poses a risk that the cable will fail, leading to the spare tire dismounting from the minivan and a possible car accident. The Sienna Mini Vans are added to the millions of other Toyota vehicles that have been recalled since October of 2009.

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