Articles Posted in Car Accidents

You’re not going to be alone on our state’s highways and byways this Labor Day holiday weekend. Not only are more than 43 million Americans expected to travel more than 50 miles to their Labor Day vacation destination, but there will also be roughly 250 local and state law enforcement agencies that will be on the lookout for dangerous drivers as a part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, according to the Kokomo Tribune.Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that close to 90 percent of the travelers this year will be getting to their destination by motor vehicle. There are more travelers this year than any other year since September of 2008. In 2011, there were roughly 140 people killed in traffic accidents that involved a drunk driver in the state of Indiana. Of the close to 5,000 alcohol-related accidents that happened on our state’s roadways in 2010, about 30 percent resulted in injury or death.

“AAA is forecasting a lift in Labor Day travel this year due to the increasingly positive economic outlook and optimism in the housing market,” president and CEO Robert Darbelnet said.
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We may have passed the deadliest day to be on the road (July 4), but August 1 kicked off the deadliest month to be driving.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more drivers died in the month of August than any other month of the year. This fact has held true every year since 1994. MSN MONEY reports that more than 90 people die each day during the month of August. That’s a fatality every 16 minutes. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), several of the deadliest days on our roadways occur during the month of August.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that many of you are using this time to get out and go on those summer vacations. Unfortunately, we can’t take a vacation from safety as your risks for a traffic collision on the way to and from your summertime destination are alarmingly high.

Officials believe that the risks are higher during this time because there are more people out on our roads and there are more miles being traveled. Whenever there is an increase in travel, there’s an increase in accidents as well. This is also why we’re likely to see more accidents during the weekend days. That’s when people are out running more errands and visiting places.

As a matter of fact, Saturdays are the most dangerous day of the week. In 2009, Saturdays averaged about 123 fatalities a day. Sundays were ranked as the second-deadliest day in 2009, with an average of 107 deaths, followed by Fridays with 102 average fatalities.

Wherever your summertime destination may be, it’s important that you take a minute to review some safe travel tips before heading out from SaferCar.gov. Planning and prevention are the measures that are going to help to keep you safe:

Before You Go:

-Check the inflation in your tires. Proper tire pressure is going to help to prevent a breakdown or an accident.

-Look under your hood, make sure that all fluids are filled and belts are in good-working order.

-Check the lights in and out of your vehicle. Make sure that all are working properly.

-Make sure you windshield wipers work properly. In the middle of a rainstorm is not the time to figure this kind of information out.

On The Road:

-Stay off your phone and avoid all distractions while you’re behind the wheel. Driving needs your full attention.

-Make sure you share the road, especially with pedestrians. These individuals are just as vulnerable (if not more) than a bicyclist or a motorcyclist.

-Never drink and drive. Although you might want to let loose a little bit on your vacation, just make sure you don’t mix it with driving.

-Make sure you leave with plenty of time to spare so you can better avoid rushing and road rage.

-Know where you’re going. Behind the wheel is no time to mess with a GPS.
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You know that distracted driving is dangerous, but did you realize that those hands-free devices in your car are just as dangerous? That’s right. According to The Street, hands-free phones are just as distracting as holding a phone to your ear.”‘Hands-free’ is not risk free,” says David Strayer, who recently studied distracted driving for AAA.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that people feel that they need to be connected 24/7. At the same time, we’re forgetting how important it is that we’re safe 24/7, too. And that’s why officials with the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA) are working to focus on each state’s efforts to crack down on distracted driving. Sure, national ads and campaigns are great, but it’s true that local and state awareness, education and enforcement are just as (if not more) successful.

According to the recent report, “2013 Distracted Driving: Survey of the States,” much of today’s focus on distracted driving centers on the use of cell phones behind the wheel and our growing dependency on these versatile devices. From simple conversations to text messaging to mobile information sources, hand-held cell phone technology is an attractive answer to many of our mobile lifestyle needs. At the same time, rapidly advancing communication and information processing technologies have continued to capture the attention and spending of American consumers.

Officials with GHSA surveyed states in 2012 to see exactly out how they were responding to this significant safety issue. And the results were alarming.

According to the report, the state of Indiana did include distracted driving in its state strategic highway safety plan. Unfortunately, the report also found out that there was a lack of funding for enforcement, as well as a lack of funding for media, campaign materials and enforcement support. It also found there is not a strong enough law on the books to discourage this dangerous behavior.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), only drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a handheld cell phone while driving. On the other hand, all drivers are banned from text messaging. But how is an officer supposed to be able to tell if you were dialing a phone number (legal) or typing a text message to send (illegal)? You see that officers have a tough time determining which act is taking place and therefor have a tough time enforcing these rules.

Until lawmakers step up with stricter laws and tougher enforcement efforts, driver won’t feel the need to hang up. That’s why we’re turning to you, asking for your help in the battle against distracted driving. Step up, put the phone down (or bluetooth headset) and help to improve roadway safety for everyone. Keep your attention on the road at all times. Sharing that attention with a phone just isn’t worth the risks.
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We’re currently in the middle of the most dangerous time for teenagers to be behind the wheel. According to USA TODAY, the most dangerous months for our newly-licensed drivers are from June through November. August is the most dangerous month of all, holding 4 of the deadliest days for our young motorists.In the month of August, the 1st, 2nd, 14th and 29th are the most dangerous, all of them seeing more than 14 teenage fatalities in the last few years.

Our Highland car accident attorneys understand that there are many factors that put our newly-licensed drivers at risk for fatal traffic collisions. Two of the most common that we see are driving under the influence and distracted driving. While those are the factors that get the most attention, we’re forgetting about one big one — speeding!

Did you know that speed was a factor in roughly a third of all fatal teen car accidents in 2011? And that’s a number that has been on the rise since 2000.

According to a recent study from the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), there were close to 20,000 speed-related accidents in the U.S. among teen drivers from 2000 to 2011.

Still, car accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for teens not only in Florida, but elsewhere throughout the nation.

According to Susan Ferguson, a highway consultant who authored the report, if we’re going to make progress is helping our teens to driver safer, then we’re going to have to put more emphasis on speed limits.

Believe it or not, but about half of all fatal accidents that involve a 16-year-old driver with three of more passengers in the vehicle is speed-related.

And the worst offenders are our younger males. They’re more likely than any other driver to speed out there.

So how can parents and guardians help? Encouraging teens to develop the right attitudes today can lead to a lifetime of safety. Involved, informed parents have long been considered the most influential factor in promoting safe teen driving.

-Sit down and talk with your child about the importance of following all road laws and regulations.

-Make sure you’re providing your child with plenty of supervised driving time. By keeping an eye on their developing habits, you can help to steer them into the right direction and a lifetime of safe navigation.

-Consider creating a parent-teen driving contract. Lay out all of the driving rules you deem necessary and make sure the consequences for breaking these rules are included.

-Remind your young drivers to keep their eyes on the road. No distraction is worth losing a life.

-Keep communicating your expectations for their driving. Keeping the idea fresh in their mind will help them to perform better behind the wheel.
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According to JConline, two truck drivers were killed around 7:30 a.m. in a three-semi crash along I-65 between the Indiana 25 and Indiana 43 exits. Two of the semis were stopped on the side of the road, with their triangles out, and we’re hit by a passing semi who failed to see them and so didn’t allow them enough safety space.But that’s not all with the accidents for that week. According to KYPost, another accident happen with the same scenario. A tractor-trailer was broken down on the side of the road when it was rear-ended by another passing semi. This accident forced officials to shut down part of the interstate along a stretch of eastbound Interstate 275 near Lawrenceburg.

Our Indiana truck accident attorneys understand that these large, commercial vehicles don’t operate like the passenger vehicles. Because of their size, weight and power, accidents involving these trucks oftentimes turn deadly. As a matter of fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were close to 4,000 people killed in trucking accidents across the U.S. in 2011. In addition to these fatalities, there were 100,000 people injured. Fatalities in accidents involving these trucks in 2011 actually increased 2 percent year over year. During that same year, Indianan saw close to 150 tractor-trailers involved in fatal accidents.

But whose fault is it?

Nearly 20 percent of all large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2011 had at least one prior speeding conviction, compared to 18 percent of passenger car drivers involved in fatal crashes.

So how can you help to avoid one of these accidents?

– Avoid cutting off large trucks. They take a lot longer to stop than our passenger vehicles do. You don’t want to get caught in front of one.

-Always wear a seat belt. This is your best defense against injury or death in the event of an accident.

-Stay out of a trucker’s blind spots. These are the areas around the truck that the driver cannot see. A good rule of thumb is to remember that if you can’t see a truck driver, then they cannot see you.

-Pay attention to the road and the traffic around you. When you are driving, please focus only on the road. If you need to attend to another matter while driving, safely pull over in a parking lot or rest stop.

-Keep a safety cushion around trucks. Try to leave a 10-car length gap when in front of a truck and 20-25 car lengths when behind a truck.

-Remember that trucks make wide turns. Because of their large size, remember that a truck making a right turn may first swing left to clear the corner. Conversely, a truck making a left turn may first swing right to clear vehicles and other objects on its left side. Expect this and be prepared!
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A truck that was heading southbound on Indiana 1 reportedly didn’t stop at railroad tracks and wound up getting slammed into by a westbound train. One person died in this accident. According to Wayne County Sheriff Jeff Cappa, the man who died was the 92-year-old truck driver. Accident reports indicate that the man drove right through the crossing gate (which was down at the time) before hitting the train.According to the Indy Star, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Following the accident, emergency crews and railroad workers had to close the roadway in both directions.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that railroad tracks can be a dangerous place, and many of us overlook the dangers associated with these areas. According to Operation Lifesaver, there were close to 2,000 collisions at railroad crossings in the U.S. in 2012. In these accidents, there were more than 270 people killed and close to 950 injured.

According to a report issued by the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General, 94 percent of all grade crossing accidents are caused by risky driver behavior. Still, more than a dozen states are under federal mandate to improve crossing safety and many railroad crossings lack proper warning equipment. In other cases, the equipment may be in disrepair. These cases should always be carefully reviewed by an experienced injury attorney.

Did you know that it takes a train more than a mile to brake and come to a complete stop? Even it hits something.

There are more than 210,005 railroad crossings in the United States — and that equates to some serious danger — especially when 129,644 intersect with public roads. It’s no wonder why every 90 minutes there is a train collision or derailment.

Railroad Crossing Accident Statistics:

-Close to 65 percent happen during the daylight hours.

-About a quarter of accidents happen when a vehicle slams into a train.

-Most of the accidents happen while a train is traveling less than 30 miles per hour.

-Most accidents happen within 25 miles of the driver’s home.

-A typical locomotive pulling 100 railcars can weigh roughly 6,000 tons, making the weight ratio of a train to an automobile proportional to that of an automobile and a soda can.

-Dying is about 40 times more likely when involved in an accident with a train in comparison to an accident with another vehicle.

-Track defects contributed to more than 34 percent of accidents.

Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation are here with some railroad crossing safety tips to keep you safe out there:

Remember that trains don’t run on schedules and be unpredictable. When you do encounter one, you want to yield to it — not expect it to yield to you. When you’re at a crossing and see warnings signals, don’t ignore them — ever. Lastly, remember that these trains travel a lot faster than you think. One in four crashes occurring at highway-rail crossings takes place when drivers run into the side of the train. Often, it’s because the driver is going too fast for conditions, such as darkness, rainy weather or fog.
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You might want to be a little safer out there behind the wheel as we’ve got news that traffic accident fatalities are on the rise.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities in 2012, there were close to 35,000 people killed in traffic accidents across the nation last year. That’s up close to 5.5 percent from the previous year.Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that this is a number that’s up after years of declines. If these early estimates are correct, then 2012 will be first year with a year-to-year increase in fatalities since 2005. The number of these kinds of fatalities has been on a steady decline over the last six years. From 2005, the number of traffic accident fatalities dropped by more than 26 percent through 2011.

As our economy continues to cover, drivers are spending more time behind the wheel. With a stronger economy, drivers are feeling a little better spending at the pump and taking those vacations they put off in recent years. Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2012 increased by about 9.1 billion miles, or about a 0.3-percent increase. On a quarterly basis, the 2012 VMT increased by 1.4 percent and by 0.8 percent in the first and second quarter, respectively, and decreased by 0.2 percent and by 0.7 percent in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. The fatality rate, per 100 million VMT, for 2012 is projected to increase to 1.16 fatalities per 100 million VMT, up from 1.10 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2011. This rate surpasses the rate of 1.15 last reported in 2009.

Believe it or not, Indiana was in one of the two regions that saw a decrease in the number of traffic accidents fatalities throughout the year. Indiana was a part of Region 10, which also includes Washington, Oregon, and Montana, Our Region saw only a 1 percent decrease during this time, which is nothing to brag about.

In 2012, there were close to 350 traffic accident fatalities in Indiana, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. More than 215 of these occurred in our state’s rural areas, while only about 110 occurred in urban areas.

We need to be on our best behavior behind the wheel — at all times. In 2011, dangerous-driving actions were a contributing factor in more than 10 percent of all traffic collisions and close to 25 percent of fatal collisions in our state. Nationally, speeding is a factor in roughly a third of all fatal accidents, while drivers not obeying traffic signals are a factor in close to 10 percent.
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According to a new study from the FocusDriven and National Coalition for Safer Roads has found that more than 10 percent of red-light violations are the result of distracted driving.According to Auto Blog, the study looked at close to 120 intersections in about 20 communities during a three-month period and paid particular attention to those who ran red lights. The results of this study helped to prove that U.S. drivers are spending far too much time on smartphones and they’re increasing their risks for an accident because of it. Researchers even took it a step further and estimated that distracted driving was the cause of close to 7.5 million red light infractions each and every year.

Our Highland car accident lawyers understand that red-light running is one of the top causes for auto collisions in urban areas. When you factor in that cell-phone use alone is a factor in more than 20 percent of all accidents, it’s easy to see why we’re concerned.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), only drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cell phone behind the wheel. On the other hand, all drivers are banned from text messaging at the wheel. With most drivers allowed to talk on the phone behind the wheel, it’s no secret as to why distracted driving problems are a focus here in the state of Indiana.

Still don’t think it’s a serious problem? Consider this: NBC News reports that close to 60 percent of American adults are now using a smart phone. That’s up from about 35 percent just two years ago.

What’s even worse is that 9 out of 10 Americans have a cell phone of some kind. And that means that 9 out of 10 drivers have them, meaning there are more out there to be used behind the wheel. In just 2011, there was more than 15 percent of Americans who didn’t even have a cell phone. Now, only about 10 percent don’t have one.

And that’s probably why there are thousands killed in these kinds of accidents every year. Drivers just aren’t understanding the risks associated with distracted driving.

According to Distraction.gov, there were more than 3,330 people killed in distracted driving car accidents in the U.S. in 2011. That’s a number that continues to grow. And in addition to those fatalities, there were another 400,000 people injured in these same kinds of accidents.

In the month of June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent or received in the US, up nearly 50% from June 2009.

It’s really quite simple to understand — if you take your eyes and your attention off of the roadways, you’re going to increase your risks for an accident.
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A number of popular sport utility vehicles performed very poorly on the new, tougher crash tests recently conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.Our Calumet City car accident attorneys are concerned what this will mean for those who are involved in crashes, particularly the small overlap frontal crashes that were tested under more stringent guidelines. There is a strong likelihood that drivers and front seat passengers in the vehicles that performed poorly will suffer more severe injuries than those who are in safer vehicles.

Among those models that performed poorly:

• Hyundai Tucson;
• Ford Escape;
• Kia Sportage;
• Chrysler Group’s Jeep Patriot;
• General Motors’ Buick Encore.

The two that did well were the Misubishi Outlander Sport and the Subaru Forester.

Vehicles that earned a “marginal” rating in the test were:

• Nissan Rogue;
• Mazda CX-5;
• Honda CR-V;
• BMW X1;
• Jeep Wrangler;
• Volkswagon Tiguan.

In the test, researchers set up a scenario whereby the vehicle hits a barrier traveling 40 miles per hour with just one-quarter of the front bumper, with the impact occurring on the side left, just in front of the driver’s seat. What this does is concentrate the crash force in a small area that is outside the strong crash force safety structures that are routinely built in to most of the newer model vehicles on the road.

It’s an important test because about 25 percent of all serious and fatal frontal crashes are those that occur in this small overlap area, the Institute reported. On the road, the majority of these crashes happen when a vehicle, for whatever reason, leave the road and strikes a utility pole or tree. However, it’s not unheard of for these types of crashes to involve other vehicles as well.

In addition to head injuries, individuals are at risk for major foot and leg injuries in this type of a collision because what usually happens is that the front wheel of the vehicle will end up being pushed all the way back into the passenger compartment.

These crashes are also especially dangerous because in most cases, the vehicle will spin rapidly after impact. The occupant is often thrown sideways – away from portions of the vehicle that are covered by airbag protection. Additionally, the angle of the impact may result in the vehicle being contorted to the point that the airbags aren’t in the right location to protect passengers, even if they are being flung forward.

The small overlap test is one of many that the Institute performs, and the majority of vehicles did quite well in the other types of tests. General Motors and Chrysler have said that when it comes to overall safety, their two models received the “Top Safety Pick” award from the Institute.

Ford said that it will be reviewing the findings of the test to determine whether there are improvements that can be made to the current design of the vehicle.
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As motorists pack their vehicles and hit the road over this Memorial Day holiday weekend, officials with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) are reminding everyone to make sure that their seat belts are buckled. It’s all a part of Indiana’s 2013 “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign to get more motorists to buckle in. This effort kicks off Friday, May 24, according to The Salem Leader.Our Highland car accident attorneys understand that the “Click It or Ticket” campaign is an effort that’s supported by thousands of law enforcement agencies across the nation. In our state alone, there are close to 350 law enforcement agencies that will be participating in this year’s efforts.

During last year’s enforcement efforts (the 21-day period), officers throughout the state cited more than 18,100 drivers for not wearing a seat belt. During the same times, there were more than 150 traffic accidents and a dozen fatalities involving un-belted motorists in the state. More than 90 of these accidents involved ejections because occupants weren’t buckled in.

During the Memorial Day weekend last year, there were more than 40 accidents and 2 deaths in the state involving motorists who were not wearing seat belts. There were 30 ejections because motorists weren’t buckled. Many of these injuries and fatalities could have been prevented if more motorists had chosen to wear their seat belt.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), more than 145 people will be saved in car accidents because they wore their seat belt this weekend. Officials believe that more than 100 more could be saved if everyone were to wear their seat belt during this holiday travel period.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 50 percent of the more than 21,250 passenger vehicle occupants who died in 2011 car accidents were not buckled in when the accident happened.

Fatalities among those who aren’t wearing a seat belt at the time of an accident are more common at night than during the day. As a matter of fact, the NHTSA reports that more than 60 percent of the 10,150 people who were killed in 2011 during the evening and early morning hours were not wearing a seat belt.

Unfortunately, these national statistics are alarmingly similar to the ones here in Indiana. In 2012, there were close to 3,500 accidents involving unbuckled motorists. These accidents involved close to 275 deaths. Close to 2,000 victims were ejected from their vehicle because they weren’t wearing a seat belt.

The younger motorists are the ones we’re talking to the most here. As a matter of fact, motorists between the ages of 18 and 34 are more likely to be killed in an accident than any other age group.

If there’s one thing you do this Memorial Day weekend, it should be to wear your seat belt. Whether you’re staying local or heading out of town, a seat belt can save your life!
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