Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog

In less than two weeks, Toyota has recalled 3.4 million vehicles in the US over accelerator-related auto defects. The first recall, involving 2.3 million vehicles, was announced because of a sticky gas pedal problem. Toyota has recalled 1.9 million vehicles over the same problem in Europe and China.

That recall was followed by the announcement this week that an earlier recall, involving floor mats that a gas pedal can get stuck on while the car is running, had been expanded. 1.1 million autos are joining the list of 4.3 million vehicles that were recalled last November—adding up to a grand total of 5.4 million Toyota vehicles that may possess this possible vehicle defect.

On Saturday, Toyota told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it had come up with a fix to the sticking gas pedal problem. Details would be announced on Monday. The auto manufacturer’s reputation has been seriously tarnished in the wake of so many safety issues and auto defects.

The floor mat-gas pedal defect was responsible for the August deaths of four family members who were riding a Lexus that not only accelerated to speeds of over 100 mph but also could not be stopped. It turns out the floor mat had jammed the gas pedal. In December, another four people died during a single-vehicle Toyota car crash involved what appears to by a runaway Toyota. This time, the floor mat had been removed from the driver’s side. ABC News reports that there have been over 60 Toyota runaway car accidents in the last few months.

Accelerator-related defects can cause serious Washington DC personal injuries and may be grounds for an auto products liability lawsuit. While recalls are positive in the sense that an auto defect can be fixed, in many instances, the car manufacturer may have waited until after serious injuries or fatalities had occurred before announcing the recall.

Toyota gas pedal fix blessed by government; parts could be at dealers next week, Los Angeles TImes, Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2010

Toyota recall list: What to do if your gas pedal sticks, Christian Science Monitor, January 27, 2010

Toyota recall: 2.3 million cars, CNN, January 22, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Toyota Motor Corp.

Continue reading "Preventing Washington DC Auto Products Liability: Latest Toyota Recalls Over Floor Mat and Gas Pedal Defects Have Consumers Worried" »

The US Department of Transportation and the National Safety Council have created FocusDriven. This is the first national advocacy group focused on supporting distracted driving victims and raising awareness about the dangers this very bad driving habit presents to motorists and pedestrians. The group was developed as a result last year’s Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC. On its Web site, FocusDriven states that its vision is to save lives and prevent injuries by eliminating the use of cell phones while driving.

For awhile, motorists and lawmakers thought that using a cell phone wasn’t too dangerous as long a driver kept both hands on the wheel and used an earpiece or Bluetooth device. While there are accident statistics that indicate a higher crash risk when a driver uses a handheld cellular phone, rather than a hands-free device, the mounting data which proves that talking on any type of cellular device while operating a motor vehicle is just plain dangerous can no longer be ignored. Like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), FocusDriven wants everyone to fully comprehend that there is no doubt whatsoever that talking on a phone while driving can injure and kill people.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the NSC chose to announce creation of the advocacy group on Tuesday, exactly one year after the NSC called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. The US government also recently launched a federal Web site called Distraction.gov, which focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. LaHood says the Obama Administration is committed to “putting an end” to distracted driving.

Washington DC Car Accidents
In a busy city like Washington DC, it is not uncommon for motorists and pedestrians to multi-task while trying to manage busy careers, social calendars, and personal lives. Many people are wedded to their cell phones and PDAs, so it is not uncommon to make calls and send messages while commuting to and from work. Unfortunately, multi-tasking while operating a motor vehicle is a bad idea and can be considered negligent driving if someone is killed or hurt in a Washington DC motor vehicle collision as a result.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the National Safety Council Announce FocusDriven, January 12, 2010, (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
FocusDriven

Distraction.gov

National Safety Council

Continue reading "US Department on Transportation and National Safety Council Step Up Fight Against Distracted Driving with FocusDriven Advocacy Group" »

According to police, the driver of the vehicle that US national soccer player Charlie Davies was riding when he was critically injured during a Washington DC car accident last October told them she consumed alcohol before the fatal collision.

Davis, 23, sustained serious bladder injuries and two fractures during the single-vehicle collision on October 13. 22-year-old Maryland resident Ashley Roberta, who was also a passenger, died from her injuries.

The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries. She also reportedly told police that she was adjusting her GPS unit when Roberta called out to her to “Watch out.” The vehicle then struck a guard rail close to Boundary Channel. The impact of the crash cut the vehicle in half.

The fatal collision happened about an hour after Davies, the driver, and Roberta were seen at a place where alcohol is served. Police say there is no evidence that the driver attempted to brake before the collision. There is a 113-foot tire rut before the guardrail. The authorities also think that the driver may have been operating the vehicle at a speed faster than the 40 mph speed limit.

Alcohol-Related Crashes
Driving under the influence increases the chances that a motorist will be involved n a car crash. This is a senseless way to die and/or injure others. Most drunk drivers don’t intend to cause injury or death. Many inebriated motorists may not even realize they are incapable of driving or think that they are sober enough that their actions won't lead to catastrophic consequences.

Time and again, drunk driving continues to destroy people’s lives. The driver can even be held liable for Washington DC personal injury or wrongful death.

On New Year’s Eve, our Washington DC car accident lawyers would like to remind everyone of the dangers of drinking and driving. A few ways to avoid causing a drunk driving crash as we head into a new decade:

• Don’t get behind the steering wheel of a car
• Don’t let another drunk person drive
• Call a cab
• Designate a sober driver among your friends

Driver in fatal crash that injured soccer star had alcohol: Police, Washington Post, December 17, 2009

Davies needs to be a warrior again, SI.com, October 14, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Fatalities and Fatality Rates in Alcohol- Impaired-Driving Crashes by State, 2007-2008, NHTSA, December 2009 (PDF)

District Department of Transportation

According to AAA, about 87.7 million people in the US are expected to travel at least 50 miles away from home this holiday season—77.7 million travelers by motor vehicle. In Washington DC, approximately 2.5 million people are expected to leave town and most of them plan on doing so by car. That’s 4 out of 10 Washingtonians, says AAA.

With many roads and freeways undoubtedly more crowded than usual, our Washington DC car crash lawyers would like to remind motorists to drive safely so that you aren’t involved in an auto collision. Common bad driving behaviors that cause Washington DC motor vehicle accidents and can be cause for personal injury claims or wrongful death lawsuits include:

• Drunk driving
• Not paying attention to the road
• Texting while driving
• Using a cell phone
• Falling asleep
• Drowsy driving
• Speeding
• Failure to obey traffic lights and stop signs
• Tailgating
• Aggressive driving
• Road rage

With icy and wet roads a factor during the holiday season, motorists should adjust their driving speed to the road conditions. It is also a good idea to drive with the appropriate tires (all weather tires, snow tires, snow chains) and be up-to-date on all maintenance matters to make sure that your vehicle is running smoothly and no mechanical problems occur that could cause you to be involved in a Washington DC traffic crash.

Unfortunately, the holiday season can be a time when motorists forget to be careful. When this happens, the liable driver and those involved in the Washington DC car accident can spend years dealing with the consequences.

Our Washington DC injury law firm knows how tough it can be to deal with the ramifications of a car crash, a motorcycle collision, a pedestrian accident, or a truck crash, especially one that was another party’s fault. We help our clients recover compensation from these negligent parties.

2.5 million D.C. residents expected to travel for holidays, Washington Post, December 18, 2009

Preparing your vehicle for winter weather, National Safety Commission, November 12, 2009

Related Web Resources:
AAA

NHTSA

In Washington DC, the US Supreme Court has rejected Ford Motor Co’s appeal to reverse an $82.6 million auto products liability decision against the auto manufacturer. A jury initially award Benetta Buell-Wilson and her husband $356 million after a 2002 car crash caused her to become a paraplegic. A metal piece had fallen off the vehicle in front of Buell-Wilson’s 1997 Ford Explorer, which rolled over as she swerved the vehicle to avoid striking the object.

Ford has spent the last five years seeking to overturn the auto products liability verdict, which an appellate court later reduced to $82.6 million: $55 million for punitive damages, $5 million for loss of consortium, $18 million for noneconomic damages, and $4.6 million for economic damages.

The Supreme Court already returned the auto products liability lawsuit to the lower courts in 2007 following its Philip Morris USA v. Williams decision, which found that juries can’t make defendants pay punitive damages for harm suffered by people not connected to the case. An appeals court, however, determined that no modification of the previous ruling was necessary.

This time, the Supreme Court refused the case and did not provide commentary.

Automakers can be held liable for auto products liability and wrongful death if a vehicle defect or manufacturing error contributed to causing a catastrophic Washington DC car crash. Car manufacturers have been successfully sued over injuries stemming from tire blowouts, seatbelt defects, brake failure, engine malfunctions, rollover crashes, roof crush incidents, and car defect-related fires.

Auto manufacturers cannot afford to make faulty vehicles because often consequences for car accident victims and their families are life-shattering.

Supreme Court declines appeal in Ford Explorer rollover case, Business Journal, November 30, 2009

Supreme Court rejects Ford's appeal in rollover case, Los Angeles Times, December 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Supreme Court

People Safe in Rollovers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is recalling 11,000 Toyota Tundra pickup trucks in the District of Columbia and 20 US states, including Maryland. The recall was announced due to concern that road salt can cause the vehicle’s frame to corrode excessively. The recall only affects Toyota Tundras, model years 2000 – 2003, registered in US states where chemical-de-icers are used on roads during winter weather.

The NHTSA says Toyota will replaced any damage to a vehicle’s frame or place a rust-resistant compound on the affected area. There is concern that corrosion may cause the vehicle’s spare tire, which is stored in the motor vehicle, to dislodge and fall onto the road (posing a potential road hazard) or on another vehicle. The development of rust on the vehicle can also lead to brake failure if the rear brake lines become damaged.

Considering that drivers need their brakes to work properly so that they can stop their vehicles, having brakes that don’t work properly can prove catastrophic. Brake failure can cause a vehicle to collide into another auto/solid, nonmoving object, strike a pedestrian, or drive into oncoming traffic.

The federal government has received at least 20 complaints that the corrosion has caused causing brake problems or spare tire separation.

Motor vehicle defects can cause serious injuries, as evidenced by the tragic accident that compelled Toyota to recall 3.8 million motor vehicles last September because of concerns that the floor mat on the driver's side can jam the accelerator. A family died last August because of this very defect.

Auto defects can be grounds for a Washington DC auto products liability lawsuit by the victim or surviving family members.

Recall Alert: Toyota Tundra, US News, November 25, 2009

Toyota Safety Recall Involves Record 3.8 Million Cars, Wired, October 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Toyota

Continue reading " 110,000 Toyota Pickup Trucks Recalled in Washington DC, Maryland, and 19 Other States Because of Worries that Excessive Rust Can Lead to Brake Failure and the Dislodging of Spare Tires" »

A 76-year-old man has died from his injuries after he and his wife were struck by a motor vehicle on the Mall in Washington DC this Sunday. According to police, Richard Greenstein and his wife were in a marked crosswalk on Madison Drive NW at 12th street when a vehicle that was backing up struck the two of them.

Greenstein’s wife was treated for minor injuries before being released. Police are investigating the Washington DC pedestrian accident.

In another pedestrian accident, this one on the DC-Maryland border, a 54-year-old man died from injuries he sustained in Temple Hills when he was struck by two Secret Service autos on their way back from Andrews Air Force base. The vehicles are used by Vice President Joseph Biden, who was not in either auto when the pedestrian crash happened at around 3am EST.

Larry D. Moore was crossing the parkway at Naylor Road when he sustained “multiple critical injuries.” He was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating the deadly traffic crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of the 34 Washington DC traffic deaths that occurred in 2008, 9 of them were pedestrian fatalities. Nationally, 4,378 pedestrians were killed and 69,000 others were injured.

More NHTSA 2008 Pedestrian Facts:

• 72% of US pedestrian deaths took place in urban areas.
• 70% of the pedestrians that died were males.

Because they have nothing to protect them during the impact of colliding with a truck, bus, car, or motorcycle, pedestrians nearly always get the short end of the stick when involved in a Washington DC traffic accident. The injuries are often fatal or incredibly serious, requiring extensive medical procedures and rehabilitation care.

Man struck by car on Mall dies, Washington Post, November 17, 2009

Man killed in Secret Service crash identified, Gazette.net, November 12, 2009

Biden’s Secret Service motorcade involved in fatal accident, The Raw Story, November 11, 2009

Pedestrians, NHTSA (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
United States Secret Service

US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Elderly Man Dies from Injuries Sustained during Washington DC Pedestrian Accident on the Mall" »

According to the 2009 Sleep in America poll by the National Sleep Foundation, about 1.9 Million Drivers are involved in drowsy driving car crashes or near miss accidents each year. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the power sleepiness can have in causing Washington DC car accidents.

Per the poll, 105 million US drivers have driven while sleepy in the last year. 54 million drivers drive while drowsy at least once a month.

National Sleep Foundation chairman Thomas Balkin says that while motorists are good at recognizing when they are tired, this doesn’t stop them from getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and driving. Balkin says that people mistakenly think that they can will themselves to stay awake but they often don’t even realize that they are falling asleep. Balkin notes that just one moment of “reduced awareness” can cause a motor vehicle crash.

Drowsy driving slows reflexes, reduces alertness, and impairs one’s ability to think clearly and rapidly respond to an emergency situation. A person who is sleepy or very tired while driving might inadvertently lane change, let go of the steering wheel, fail to notice traffic signs, not see other vehicles or pedestrians, drive off the road, or drive into oncoming traffic.

Drowsy driving can be grounds for a Washington DC injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit if another person is injured as a result.

In an attempt to decrease the number of drowsy driving accidents, the National Sleep Foundation has declared November 2 – 8 Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

Ways to Avoid Drowsy Driving:

• Get a good night’s driving.
• Take periodic brakes (every 2 hours or every 100 miles).
• Don’t drink alcohol or take medications that cause drowsiness before driving.
• If necessary, stop and take a nap.
• Take caffeine if necessary.

.9 Million Drivers Have Fatigue-Related Car Crashes or Near Misses Each Year, Reuters, October 29, 2009

Drowsy Driving: Reduce Your Risk of Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel, Associated Content, June 27, 2006

Related Web Resources:
National Sleep Foundation

NHTSA

Continue reading "Stay Alert and Awake: Drowsy Driving Prevention Week Reminds Motorists to Prevent Washington DC Car Accidents Caused by Sleepiness and Fatigue " »

Ghosts and goblins may not be the scariest part of Halloween for kids. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is the second deadliest day of the year for pedestrians. Meantime, Safe Kids USA reports that kids are twice as likely to die in a child pedestrian accident on Halloween night than any other night.

The reason that the night of October 31 brings with it a greater risk of Washington DC pedestrian accidents is that there are more kids out on the streets and sidewalks than on other nights because they are trick or treating. Also, Consumer Reports is reminding readers that this year, Halloween is on a Saturday. This means there is no school or work the next day. The NTSB says that more pedestrian accidents happen on Saturdays than on any other day of the year. Because November 1, 2009 is when we’ll turn our clocks back an hour, this year, people have one more hour to stay out on Halloween.

Just because Halloween is a time for tricks and treats doesn’t mean that drivers and pedestrians should become less vigilant when out on the streets. Little kids in costume can be hard to see—especially if they are wearing dark clothing or masks—and in the excitement to get from one house to the next a young child may run into the middle of the road unexpectedly. Parents should make sure that young kids do not walk around by themselves unattended or, at the very least, familiarize them with the rules of safe walking.

For drivers, driving drunk on any night is never a good idea. It’s an especially bad idea on Halloween night when motorists must watch out for child pedestrians. Driving slower than the speed limit can also help. Now is also a good time (as any) to stop text messaging or talking on the cell phone while driving.

If your child was injured in a Washington DC pedestrian accident because a motorist was careless or reckless, you may have grounds for an injuries to minors lawsuit.

Real horror of Halloween: Pedestrian deaths, USA Today, October 26, 2009

Halloween safety tips for pedestrians and drivers, Consumer Reports, October 28, 2009

Safe Kids USA

Educating Child Pedestrians, WalkingInfo.org

Continue reading "Halloween Can Be Scary for Washington DC Pedestrians " »

Single-vehicle crashes make up nearly 62% of Washington DC traffic deaths. According to 2004-2008 statistics, 58.9% of the 7,945 traffic fatalities on highways in the District, Virginia, and Maryland were single-vehicle collisions.

AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson John B. Townsend II attributes single-vehicle accidents to driver error, poor road conditions, speeding, drunk driving, negligent driving, and night driving. Townsend says that based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s traffic death data over the last five years, single-vehicle accidents also accounted for nearly 64% of traffic deaths in Virginia and 53% of Maryland motor vehicle fatalities.

Yesterday morning, US soccer team member Charlie Davies sustained serious injuries in a single-car crash on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Davies sustained leg fractures, facial fractures, an elbow fracture, and a lacerated bladder. He underwent surgery yesterday afternoon and his career may be over.

According to police, the SUV Davies was a passenger in appears to have hit the metal railing of a bridge. 22-year-old Ashley J. Roberts, who was also involved in the car accident, was pronounced dead at the traffic crash site.

Single vehicle accidents can be caused by a negligent driver, defective or poor road conditions, or because of an auto system failure or defect. Rollover accidents and tire blowout crashes are two common kinds of single-rollover accidents.

An experienced Washington DC injury attorney can help you determine whether you have grounds for filing a DC car accident claim. A second driver doesn’t have to have been involved for you to be entitled to receive DC wrongful death or injury recovery.

In Highway Fatalities, It's Usually Not the Other Guy, Washington Post, October 14, 2009

Fatal Crash on GW Parkway Breaks Car in Half, NBC Washington, October 14, 2009

Related Web Resources:
AAA Mid-Atlantic

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

President Barack Obama has signed an executive order banning federal employees from texting while driving a vehicle when on official business even if the vehicle being driven is not owned by the government. The order, issued last week, is an attempt to lead the charge encouraging people to stop texting while driving.

Lawmakers, ordinary citizens, safety advocates, and police attended a two-day Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC that the US Department of Transportation organized. Already, the District of Columbia has a ban on texting or talking on a hand-held device while driving. Unfortunately, there are District of Columbia motorists who still engage in this dangerous habit that can lead to catastrophic Washington DC car accidents. Not only is texting while driving against the law but, like drunk driving, this popular form of distracted driving can kill people and lead to DC injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits.

The Obama administration has given each of the federal agencies 90 days to figure out how to enforce his order. He also wants the agencies to ban subcontractors and contractors from texting while driving. Federal employees working in national security or law enforcement are exempt from the ban.

For purposes of his order, President Obama defines “driving” as operating a motor vehicle. Drivers that are stopped at a traffic stop or traffic light or for any other reason that requires them to engage with the flow of traffic even if they are in "pause" mode with the engine running are still "driving." However, Mr. Obama says it is acceptable for a federal worker to text message if he or she has pulled over to the side of the road.

Distracted Driving Facts from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

• Driver distraction is the cause of 1 million North American traffic accidents each year.
• Although, per the 2009 Index, 95% of drivers think that texting while driving is unacceptable behavior, 18% of them still do it.
• More than 50% of the time a motorist is driving, he or she is engaged in at least one other task.

Obama enacts texting ban on federal employees, The Washington Times, October 2, 2009

The Facts about Distracted Driving – Know the Dangers/Avoid the Risks, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Related Web Resources:
The White House

US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "President Obama Bans Federal Employees from Texting While Driving" »

At the opening of the Distracted Driving Summit, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that texting while driving has become an “an endemic” and a “menace to society.” Over 300 people are taking part in the conference, including law enforcement officials, lawmakers, and safety experts.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,780 people died (16% of all deadly traffic collisions) and 515,000 people sustained injuries in distracted driving accidents last year. Many of these auto crashes are a result of people using cell phones and PDAs.

Distracted driving is reportedly a big problem among young drivers, especially those under age 21. Distracted driving was a factor in 16% of deadly crashes involving drivers in this age group.

Young motorists, however, aren’t the only ones who text and drive. CTIA-The Wireless Association reports that while 10 billion text messages a month were sent in December 2005, more than 110 billion texts were transmitted in December 2008.

Texting while driving is now illegal in Washington DC and 18 US states. Seven states have made it illegal to talk on a handheld cell phone while driving. Safety groups are calling on a nationwide ban making it illegal for drivers to text and have cell phone conversations. Meantime, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety wants the government to restrict the texting and cell phone talk of the operators of tractor-trailers, large vans, and motor coaches, while the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers (members include Ford, General Motors, and Toyota) support a ban on handheld phones and texting while driving.

Too many catastrophic car accidents are happening because drivers were distracted. Texting usually requires the use of both hands and eyes. This means that the texting driver will spend at least a few seconds not holding the steering wheel, not watching the road, and not paying attention. These few seconds can end someone’s life.

Bus accidents, train accidents, truck accidents, and car accidents have happened because motorists were distracted. Our Washington DC injury lawyers are cognizant of how distracted driving can destroy lives and we are here to help.

Distracted Driving Summit Emphasizing Danger of Texting Opens Today in Washington DC, ABC News, September 29, 2009

Govt: Nearly 6,000 deaths from driver distraction, AP, September 29, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving Summit, US Department of Transportation

Distracted Driving, National Safety Council

CTIA-The Wireless Association

A powerful video excerpt (see below) showing the worst consequences that can arise when someone is texting while driving has become a viral hit on the Internet. The four-minute footage, shot in Wales, is intended to show teens why they shouldn’t text and drive at the same.

The footage has caught the attention of more than Welsh school kids and has been viewed online more than six million times. The video shows a teen driver texting while riding in a vehicle with two friends. Because she is engaging in distracted driving, her car moves into oncoming traffic.

What happens next is extremely disturbing to see. The footage shows harsh, close-up details, including one girl’s head crashing into a car window and a lifeless baby with eyes wide open sitting in one of the vehicles involved in the deadly multi-vehicle car accident.

Just how effective will this video prove at discouraging teenagers and adults from texting while driving? This remains to be seen. Some experts, however, believe that scary footage is not enough to promote real change.

Teens Who Text While Driving
By this time, most people are aware of the dangers that texting while driving can create—yet many people still engage in this type of distracted driving and most states have yet to enact laws banning texting while operating a motor vehicle. Fortunately, Washington DC does have a law banning texting while driving. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone abides by it. This can lead to deadly DC auto collisions.

Teenagers, easily distracted to begin with and lacking the experience of older drivers, do not need the additional distraction of texting while driving. Yet according to an AAA study published in 2007, 46% of teens say they text message while driving.

When you consider that commercial truckers, who are professional drivers, increase their crash risk by 23 times, why wouldn’t the crash risk increase significantly for inexperienced teen drivers?

Texting while driving, updating Facebook, Twittering, and surfing the Internet while driving are distracted forms of driving that can be grounds for a Washington DC injury lawsuit if people are injured or killed because a driver was distracted.

Doubts About Scare Tactics on Drivers Who Text, The New York Times, August 31, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Watch the Video Excerpt

Teen Driver Menace: Text-Messaging, Suite 101, October 22, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Teens Admit Text Messaging Most Distracting While Driving

In Washington DC, a group of US Senators have introduced a bill that would mandate that all states develop laws that ban text messaging while driving—or face losing 25% of the federal highway funding doled out each year. The legislation gives states two years to write their own laws and establish deadlines.

The District of Columbia already has a ban on texting and using handheld cell phones while driving. At least 13 US states also have a texting while driving ban in place.

For some time now, people in DC and the rest of the United States have known that texting while driving is dangerous and increases the chances that a motorist will become involved in a District of Columbia motor vehicle crash. Drivers who are texting are not looking at the road. They are distracted because they are busy reading/sending/composing text messages. Also, in order to text while driving, a motorist must usually take at least one hand off the steering wheel.

The need to ban motorists from texting on the road became even more apparent last month, however, after findings from a study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reported that texting increased a truck driver’s chances of becoming involved in a truck accident by 23 times. The study also noted that right before near collisions or truck collisions involving texting drivers did happen, the trucker had spent almost 5 seconds glancing at the phone or PDA device. In that length of time, a motor vehicle traveling at highway speed can travel the entire length of a football field, passing a myriad of cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles along the way.

The federal government plans to hold a “distracted driving summit” in September so that academics, safety experts, police, elected officials, and others can discuss the bad habit that distracted driving has become.

There are far too many US traffic accidents occurring because a driver was texting or talking on a cell phone. People are dying, sustaining spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other catastrophic injuries because a motorist couldn’t wait to make that call or check an incoming message.

Federal Agency Plans Distracted Driving Forum, NY Times, August 4, 2009

Bill Seeks to Ban Texting By Drivers, The Washington Post, July 30, 2009

In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin, NY Times, July 27, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Cell Phone Driving Laws, Governors Highway Safety Association, August 2009

S.1536 - Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act of 2009, Open Congress, July 29, 2009

Continue reading "Lawmakers in Washington DC Push to Ban Text Messaging While Driving" »

Duke University researchers, along with the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, say that there are older adults who binge drink. While binge drinking is commonly associated with young adults and college students who drink too much to the point of inebriation, this latest research says that 9% of females and 22% of males between the ages of 50 and 64 have engaged in binging drink. The research, published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry, comes from a survey conducted in 2005 and 2006 of 11,000 women and men.

13% of the woman and 19% of the men also reportedly had at least two drinks a day—a quantity that the American Geriatric Society considers “at risk” drinking for older adults, who don’t metabolize alcohol as fast as younger people and may be taking medication or be more prone to health problems that alcohol consumption can exacerbate.

Regardless of a person’s age, binge drinking—especially when done regularly, can lead to neurological injuries, alcohol poisoning, liver disease, and other injuries. It also can lead to Washington DC car accidents, truck collisions, motorcycle injuries, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian deaths if the person gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after binge drinking.

Beginning Friday, law enforcement officials in Washington DC will take part in a nearly 3-week long, nationwide, drunk driving crackdown. The campaign, called Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. will run through Labor Day.

In 2007, almost 13,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in the US because a driver or motorcyclist had a blood alcohol concentration of at least .08%. In 2008, there were nearly 12,000 DUI deaths.

Driving while drunk impairs a driver’s balance, eyesight, reaction time, and hearing. A drunken motorist whose judgment, self-control, and ability to sense danger are affected may not be able to realize that he or she is about to collide with another vehicle or pedestrian or is driving too fast or at a dangerously slow speed.

Drunk driving is negligent driving and can be grounds for a Washington DC wrongful death lawsuit or personal injury case.

Older people, too, knock back 5 drinks at a time, USA Today, August 17, 2009

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Kicks Off Nationwide Enforcement Crackdown on Impaired Driving, NHTSA, August 19, 2009

Related Web Resources:
American Journal of Psychiatry

How Alcohol Can Affect Safe Driving Skills (PDF)

National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Continue reading "Some Washington DC Injury Accidents Are Caused by Older Drivers Who Binge Drink " »

Witnesses in Southwest Washington DC ran to the crash site at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Alabama Avenue on August 5 after a car collided with an SUV.

The SUV flipped over to land on its roof. At least two of the Washington DC car accident victims were trapped inside the vehicles. One of the vehicles burst into flames and some of the people who were trying to help used fire extinguishers. Rescuers also used the Jaws of Life to get the trapped victims out. One of the car crash victims sustained life-threatening injuries.

There were so many “rescuers” on hand because DC Mayor Adrian Fenty was about to arrive for a news conference to talk about new HIV initiatives. Camera crews who were waiting for the presser were able to capture the DC crash site on camera.

Mayor Fenty says the intersection where the DC car accident happened is a busy one. According to Ward 7 Councilwoman Yvette Alexander, about one traffic crash a month occurs near or at the intersection. She and other community leaders are discussing installing speed bumps, traffic lights, red light cameras, or stop signs on Pennsylvania Avenue because there is a six block radius where way too many DC car crashes happen.

Washington DC Car Accidents
If you were injured in a DC car accident, there may be a negligent motorist that you can hold liable for your personal injury. If the District could have or should have done more to prevent the traffic collision from happening, you also may be able to pursue personal injury recovery from the city or any other parties that are responsible for making sure that roads are safely designed and free from any defects that could increase the chances of a DC car accident occurring.

Southwest Washington DC Car Cash Injures Five People When SUV Flips Over the Other Vehicle, My Fox DC, August 13, 2009

Officials Join Passersby In Response to Crash, Washington Post, August 6, 2009

Related Web Resources:
District Department of Transportation

Car Accidents: Proving Fault, Nolo

Continue reading "Southwest Washington DC Car Cash Injures Five People When SUV Flips Over the Other Vehicle" »

A 30-year-old woman has been preliminarily charged by Washington D.C. police with aggravated assault while armed, after the vehicle she was driving barreled through the Unifest church-sponsored festival last night. The term “armed” refers to the 1991 Volvo that she was driving. At least 40 people were injured in the car collision, and seven of the injured persons were children. Fortunately, there are no fatalities and nearly all of the injured persons have been released from hospitals.

As she was plowing her vehicle through the festival, people tried stopping her by throwing strollers and other debris in her path. The vehicle had been moving at about 70mph, and adults had to push children aside in attempt to keep them out of harm’s way.

The driver, Tonya Bell of Maryland, is in police custody and has been treated for an ankle injury. Many have wondered why she wasn’t apprehended after she was noticed driving erratically earlier. She had even collided with an unmarked police car just 20 minutes before the street festival accident occurred.

According to police, they had followed Bell’s car but were ordered to stop because her traffic violation did not pose a threat to the policemen’s safety. Toxicology reports are pending, and witnesses have reported seeing Bell laughing and smoking as she drove through the festival.

A 7-year-old girl who had been riding with Bell at the time of the incident has been taken into Child Protective Services. She was not injured during the accident.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty is calling the incident one of the “worst serious traffic accidents…in the District of Columbia” history.

More charges against Bell, who struck two police officers (who where thrown off their motorcycles) when they drove in front of her, are pending. The two officers sustained minor injuries from the collision.

Continue reading "At Least 40 People are Injured in Washington D.C. After Female Driver Plows Her Car Through the Unifest Street Festival in Anacostia on Saturday" »

Kadri Atalay, a 42-year-old man from Gaithersburg, Maryland, was charged with committing second-degree murder, after driving his Mercedes SUV on the wrong side of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, in Washington D.C. and hitting a Chrysler Sebring that was being driven by a 29-year-old DC man. The 29-year-old man was later declared dead at the Medstar trauma unit of the Washington Hospital Center.

Atalay is also being treated at the Washington Hospital Center for injuries that are non-life threatening. Preliminary reports say that speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol may have caused the collision. The speed limit on Wisconsin Avenue is 25 miles/hour.

Damages From Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Accidents
If you have a loved one who has been killed in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Washington D.C., you have one year from the time of the accident to file a wrongful death claim. Unlike many states, the District of Columbia does not have a wrongful death cap for the amount of reward damages that may be brought.

Fatalities In Car Collisions
Every year, thousands of people in the United States are killed in car accidents. In 2003 alone, over 38,000 fatalities involving car accidents occurred on U.S. roads, killing 42,643 people. Fatal car crashes are a major cause of death for people 5-27 years of age. When these fatalities occur because someone else on the road was acting negligently or carelessly, the surviving family members of the person who has been killed have a right to be financially compensated for their suffering and loss. Over 5,000 pedestrians are also killed every year because of fatal car crashes.

Main Causes of Fatalities Occurring During Car Crashes:

· Speeding
· Driving under the influence
· Tiredness
· Recklessness
· Aggressive driving
· Not paying attention to roads or driving conditions
· Not wearing a safety belt or helmet
· Not stopping at red lights
· Faulty design of the vehicle
· Vehicle malfunction

Continue reading "One Man Dies In Deadly Washington D.C. Car Crash, While A Maryland Driver Is Charged With Second-Degree Murder" »

Metro Networks, the largest traffic gathering and reporting operation in America, recently released its list “The Top Ten Worst Traffic Incidents of 2006.” An accident involving two tractor-trailers colliding on I-95 North in Massaponax, VA put the Washington D.C. area in the number 10 spot. The trucks ended up catching fire and damaging the roads so that they had to be repaved. There were major delays on the highway because of the collision.

Other traffic incidents on the list:
1) New York City, New York: A Tomahawk test missile fell onto I-95SB in the Bronx after a tractor trailer overturned last July.

2) San Francisco, California: A meatpacking truck traveling on 101N in San Mateo spilled cow body parts across the freeway.

3) Houston, Texas: A truck fell off the ramp that goes from 610N loop to the US59. The truck dumped frozen chickens onto the freeway.

4) Boston, Massachusetts: A 12-ton concrete ceiling panel from a “Big Dug” tunnel connecting the Massachusetts Turnpike to the Ted Williams Tunnel dropped onto a passing car.

5) Dallas, Texas: A big rig carrying oil refinery equipment smacked into an overhead bridge on northbound Loop 12 at the Highway 183 interchange next to Texas Stadium.

6) Detroit, Michigan: Two semis crashed into each other in Monroe on Northbound I-75. The semis caught on fire, and the flames spread across the freeway involving approximately six cars and four more semis.

7) Chicago, Illinois: Construction on Chicago Skyway, I-80/94, and the Dan Ryan Expressway created traffic delays for commuters.

8) Atlanta, Georgia: A collision involving a tractor-trailer and two cars during the morning commute resulted in the death of two people.

9) Los Angeles, California: A big rig truck flipped over, caught fire, and burnt to the ground.

Injuries that result because of vehicle-related truck accidents can be severe and life altering. You may have suffered whiplash or burns to your head or neck, have nerve damage or spinal chord paralysis, limb amputation, have broken or dislocated a bone or limb, or even lost the use of a limb. A personal injury to you can ocur on the road even if your vehicle was not directly involved in a collision. If you have been in an automobile accident due to the carelessness or negligence of another driver, you should obtain the advice of a lawyer with experience handling automobile accident cases.

Continue reading "Tractor-Trailer Accident In D.C. Named Among The 10 Worst U.S. Traffic Incidents In 2006 By Metro Networks" »

With all the holiday parties that take place at the end of the year, drunk driving incidents tend to occur more frequently—which can be especially dangerous if you live in one of the 15 U.S. states where at least 41% of all traffic fatalities can be attributed to drunk driving.

The End Needless Deaths on Our Roadways (END) group, an advocacy organization led by doctors, has just released its list of 15 U.S. states where the most traffic-related deaths occurred due to drinking. Washington D.C. topped this list, where drunk driving was a cause of 54.17% of vehicle-related deaths.

Who Else Made the List:
· Connecticut
· Hawaii
· Illinois
· Montana
· Rhode Island
· South Carolina
· South Dakota
· Texas
· Washington, D.C.
· Wisconsin
· Alaska
· Arizona
· Delaware
· North Dakota
· Washington

END says that in 2005, close to 17,000 motorists were killed in drunk driving accidents in the US with more than 4,000 of those fatalities taking place in these 15 states. Rankings were determined by data taken from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s reporting system.

The CDC offers the following suggestions to prevent injuries due to impaired driving:

· Sobriety checkpoints. Fatal crashes thought to involve alcohol dropped a median of 22% (with random breath testing) and 23% (with selective breath testing) following implementation of sobriety checkpoints.

· 0.08% BAC laws. Fatal alcohol-related crashes showed a median decrease of 7% following the implementation of 0.08% BAC laws in 16 states.

· Minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws. Raising the MLDA, such as from 18 to 21, decreases crash-related outcomes a median of 16% for the targeted age groups.

· "Zero tolerance" laws for young drivers. One study found that fatal crash outcomes decreased 24% after implementation of “zero tolerance” laws (Elder et al. 2002, Howat et al. 2004, Shults et al. 2001, Shults et al. 2002).

END is recommending that medical workers and physicians work harder to identify whether patients have drinking problems. The group also suggested that states increase fines and prison times for DUI offenders, while also penalizing motorists who refuse to be tested for sobriety.

Utah, which has the strictest drinking laws in the U.S., has the lowest alcohol-related deaths rate at 13.12%.

Continue reading "On "Deadliest Drunk Driving States" List, Washington D.C. Ranks #1" »