Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog

The National Transportation Safety Board is trying to determine what caused a bus and tractor-trailer to collide on Saturday, killing 15 people in New York. The 56-seat bus then drove through a guardrail, skidded some 480 feet, before turning on its side. A highway sign cut off most of the bus’s roof. Our Washington DC bus accident law firm is continuing to monitor this story and its latest developments.

According to the medical examiner’s office, the victims died from blunt-force trauma as the impact of the crash left passengers bloodied and jumbled over debris, each other, and shattered glass. Most of those who died were of Chinese descent. The latest victim to die is a man in his 70’s. Several others are still in the hospital—six of them in critical condition.

The bus, driving back from the Mohegan Sun casino, is one of a number of buses that travel back and forth between the casinos in Connecticut and New York’s Chinatown. While bus driver Ophadell Williams has said that the tractor-trailer struck the bus, witnesses and survivors says that even prior to the deadly crash, the bus was swerving to the right. Some have speculated that Williams, who has a history of vehicular offenses and served time behind bars for grand larceny and manslaughter, was tired. Meantime, officials are saying that he may have been speeding.

Now, lawmakers are calling on the NTSB to examine the safety regulations for discount tour buses. According to NY Senator Charles Schumer, low-cost tour buses companies have a poor safety record. He believes that numerous traffic crashes that have occurred involving these buses is evidence that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is not doing enough to regulate them.

If, indeed, drowsy driving contributed to causing the deadly semi-bus truck crash, the victims or their families may have grounds for a personal injury case or a wrongful death claim against the bus company and the driver. Commercial drivers owe an extra duty of care to motorists than do other motorists. In the event of a DC bus crash, serious injuries can result for both those in the bus, who likely weren't using seat belts, and those involved that were pedestrians or the occupants of other vehicles.

With so many discount buses operating in and going in and out of Washington DC, it is important that bus companies and their drivers ensure that passengers are transported safely to and from their destination. If you were involved in a Washington DC bus crash, contact our DC injury law firm today.

Sen. Chuck Schumer demands NTSB oversight of discount buses after fatal Bronx crash, New York Daily News, March 14, 2011

Fatal Bus Crash Driver Had Criminal Record, ABC News, March 14, 2011

15th victim dies from injuries in N.Y. bus crash, The Washington Times, March 14, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Washington DC: Discount Buses, Trip Advisor

NTSB

FMCSA

More Blog Posts:
Maryland Car Accident News: Bus Passengers Injured after Baltimore Traffic Collision, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, January 11, 2010

Maryland Family Settles WMATA Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Tragic Valentine’s Day Pedestrian-Bus Accident, Maryland Accident Law Blog, June 30, 2008

Over Two Dozen People Injured In Kensington, Maryland As Two Buses Collide, Maryland Accident Law Blog, March 14, 2007

While New Year’s Eve and Day are definitely occasions to mark with celebration, it is unfortunate that there are people who may end up dying or getting seriously hurt in a Washington DC car accident because another person was driving while drunk. Hopefully, the more aggressive push by lawmakers and law enforcement officials through their "Drunk Driving. Over The Limit. Under Arrest" campaign will help keep more people safe this year. That said, it is still up to motorists to refrain from driving drunk.

According to new analysis from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, at about 80 drunk driver-related deaths on New Year’s Day, the average number of traffic fatalities where alcohol is a factor goes up by almost 150% more than if it were the same day of another week during the holidays. For example, in 2005 when New Year’s fell on a Saturday, there were more alcohol-related deaths at 98 fatalities than if the holiday fell on the season's other Saturday. Last year, there were 73 drunk driving fatalities on New Year’s Day. New Year’s Eve fell on a Thursday night. Unfortunately, although many Americans don’t approve of drunk driving, AAA says that many of them do it anyway.

These fatality figures don’t take into account the number of injuries that can occur on New Year’s Day as a result of alcohol. Per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, among underage drinkers alone, 1,980 of them went to the hospital on January 1. That’s a lot more than the approximately 546 who end up in the hospital on a typical day. Drunk driving, other alcohol-related accidents, and acute intoxication were among the causes. There are, of course, also adults and children who may have sustained injuries in a New Year traffic crash involving alcohol.

Steps motorists can take to drive safely into 2011:
• Appoint a designated driver.
• Don’t let your friends drive while drunk even if they think they can.
• Don’t get in the car with a drunk driver.
• Pack an overnight bag just in case you end up drinking more than you intended.
• Bring cab money just in case.
• Be careful if you choose to walk to or from your destination. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says New Year is the deadliest day of the year for pedestrians.

Beware of heightened drunk driving dangers this New Year’s Eve, Consumer Reports, December 30, 2010

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Holiday Drunk Driving Crackdown, NHTSA, December 13, 2010

Underage drinkers a New Year's hazard, Washington Examiner, December 30, 2010

Related Web Resources:
What to do after a car accident, MSN

Metropolitan Police Department, DC.gov

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Continue reading "Number of Fatal Drunk Driving Crashes Up Almost 150% on New Year’s Day, Says AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety" »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, post-mortem test results from between 2005 and 2009 reveal an increase in the level of drug involvement among drivers killed in US traffic crashes. This, however, the NHTSA is quick to qualify that this does not mean that the motorists tested were impaired at the time of death or that use of a drug caused the fatal collision.

Per NHTSA Data:
• 63% of the 21,798 drivers killed in 2009 were tested for drugs.
• 3,952 of these drivers tested positive for drugs.
• Over the last five years, US states have reported an increase in drug use among fatally injured drivers.

According to NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, this report is a warning that too many motorists in the US are driving with drugs in their system and not realizing that this is causing them to become a danger to themselves and others. The data is part of the traffic safety agency’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Our Washington DC injury lawyers want to remind you that if you or someone you love was injured in a car crash by a motorist who was under the influence of drugs or driving while drunk, you may have grounds for a civil case.

Drugged driving is dangerous driving. It doesn’t matter whether the driver is on medication prescribed by a doctor or taking an illegal drug. Depending on the type of drug used and the corresponding side effects, drugged driving can modify a motorist’s perception, attention, cognition, coordination, balance, and reaction time, which are all faculties that affect a driver’s ability to drive safely.

Unlike with alcohol, there is inadequate current technology for determining drug levels and the impairment that can result. There is also no legal limit to serve as a marker for when someone is considered legally impaired and under the influence of drugs. Different US states, however, have passed their own laws and programs for trying to determine whether someone is engaged in drugged driving.

Report is First Ever Analysis of Drug Involvement Among Deceased Drivers in Fatal Crashes, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, November 30, 2010

Read the Report (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
What is Drugged Driving?, National Institute on Drugged Driving

Stop Drugged Driving

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Maryland Motorcycle Accident Attorney Blog

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports Increase in Drug Use Among Drivers Killed in US Traffic Crashes " »

Four people were transported to the hospital on Saturday following a Washington DC escalator accident at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station stop. Officials are trying to determine what happened.

The escalator injuries sustained by the victims are reportedly non-life threatening. However, according to MyFox.com, one person who was hurt says that 19 people reportedly ended up in a pile after they were thrown off the moving staircase when it suddenly accelerated out-of-control. Wtop.com quotes one witness as describing the incident as a “frightening carnival ride.” Another witness to the Washington DC injury accident noted the smell of “burning brakes.”

Escalator Accidents
Every day, hundreds of millions of people in this country ride escalators. In a 2005 CBS.com article, the news outlet reported that approximately 10,000 people a year end up in hospital emergency rooms because of escalator accidents. Some of these incidents have proven fatal.

Common causes of escalator accidents:
• Design flaws
• Escalator malfunction
• Manufacturing defect
• Missing escalator parts
• Step collapse
• Inadequate maintenance
• Installation errors
• Missing escalator teeth
• Worn escalator belt

Elderly seniors and young children are at higher risk of injury than teens and adults of becoming involved in and getting hurt during an escalator accident. Fall accidents, trip and fall accidents, and hand and foot entrapment accidents are some examples of accidents that can occur on an escalator. Broken bones, head injuries, asphyxiation injuries (from the victim’s clothing getting stuck in the escalator), head injuries, serious hand and foot injuries, and wrongful death can occur.

Questions remain after Metro escalator accident, wtop, November 1, 2010

4 Hurt in Metro Escalator Accident, MyFoxDC, November 1, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Deaths and Injuries Involving Elevators and Escalators, ELCOSH.org

Escalator Injury Articles, Science Daily

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Continue reading "Escalator Malfunction at DC Metro Station Injures Four" »

Five people were taken to the hospital early Monday after a Metro Bus and two other vehicles were involved in a Washington DC car accident. According to police, the traffic crash happened when one of the cars, a Camaro, ran a red light and struck the bus, which caused the commercial vehicle to hit a tree and a parked auto. The Washington DC injury accident occurred at 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Intersections are one of the most common places where a car accident is likely to occur. Drivers who run a red light, fail to stop at a stop sign, fail to yield the right of way, neglect to wait for a pedestrian to finish crossing the street, speed, text or talk on the cell phone are at risk of causing serious injuries to themselves or others. Poor road design and traffic sign defects are another common cause of traffic crashes at intersections.

Our Washington DC car accident lawyers are familiar with the high emotional, physical, and financial toll that becoming a victim of a traffic crash can cost the injured party and his/her family. Recovering from a catastrophic injury can take months or even years. Often, one’s own car insurance policy is not enough to cover the costs of medical bills, recovery expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and other damages.

In Washington DC, you have three years from the time of injury (the Discovery Rule does apply) to file your Washington DC personal injury lawsuit. The sooner you begin exploring your legal options the earlier your Washington DC car accident lawyer can get started pursuing your financial recovery.

Car Runs Red Light, Hits Metro Bus in SE; 5 Hospitalized, NewsChannel8, July 5, 2010

15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, WTOP, July 5, 2010

Related Web Resource:
Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority

According to a new report, the local governments in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia are doing a good job in their efforts to crack down on distracted driving. The report from the Governors Highway Safety Association is called "Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs.”

The report notes that combating distracted driving has become a priority for many states, with many of them enacting tougher laws and coming up with more education programs and media campaigns to educate people about the dangers of driving while distracted. The District (along with Maryland and 42 other state) also now make it a point to collect distracted driving data when Washington DC motor vehicle crashes occur. Also, Washington DC now includes the issue of distracted driving in its driver education classes and driver’s license test, while using social networking sites to make known the dangers of cell phone talking and texting while driving.

The GHSA’s report, however, does note that more effort across the board needs to be made to get teenagers to become more aware that distracted driving is dangerous. Seeing as multi-tasking while driving is dangerous for even the most experienced drivers, it is important that teens, who have the least amount of experience when it comes to operating a motor vehicle, have their full attention on the task at hand so that they don't increase their chance of injury or death.

Distracted driving has fast become a leading cause of US car crashes—especially with the so many people using cell phones to talk and text while driving. According to AAA, distracted driving is a cause of about 3 million auto accidents each years.

Our Washington DC car accident lawyers know how devastating it is to lose someone you love in a motor vehicle crash that could have been prevented were it not for other parties’ negligence.

Region's Distracted Driving Crackdown Gets High Marks, WJLA, June 16, 2010

Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs, GHSA

Related Web Resources:
District Department of Transportation

AAA Exchange

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Continue reading "Washington DC Stays Vigilant in Fight to Prevent Distracted Driving Accidents" »

The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing a federal rule that would ban commercial truck drivers and bus drivers from texting. The proposal comes after an interim ban that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in January. The ban would apply to commercial drivers of vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds and will hopefully decrease the number of truck accidents and bus crashes that happen.

According to research by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers who text have their eyes off the road for 4.5 seconds out of every 6 seconds. During that time, a vehicle moving at a speed of 55 mph while have traveled the length of a football field. Texting motorists also have a 20 times greater chance than drivers that aren't distracted of getting involved in a traffic crash. The FMCSA says that it is working on other regulations related to electronic devices.

It is now no longer mere speculation that while texting while driving is dangerous for all motorists, it is especially so for truck drivers—who, as last year’s Virginia Tech Transportation Institute reports, are 23 time more likely to become involved in a near-accident or an actual truck crash when they text and drive at the same time. When this occurs, it is usually the occupants of the other vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists, or bicyclists involved in the truck collision that suffer.

Fortunately, there is already a law in the District that bans all drivers from texting. However, that doesn’t necessarily stop people from resisting the urge to compose a text or read one while behind the wheel of a vehicle.

If you were injured by a trucker who was texting, speeding, driving drunk, talking on the cell phone, distracted, sleeping, overmedicated, watching TV, surfing the Web, or engaged in any other behavior while driving, do not hesitate to contact our Washington DC tractor-trailer accident lawyers immediately.

DOT proposes truck texting ban, Washington Post, March 31, 2010

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Proposes Rule to Ban Texting for Truck and Bus Drivers, US Department of Transportation, March 31, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

New data from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute provides insight into cell phone use and driving distraction, Virginia Tech, July 29, 2009

Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of US traffic fatalities dropped to 33,963 in 2009. That’s an 8.9% decrease from 2008 when there were 37,261 highway deaths. This is also the lowest that the US traffic fatality figure has dropped down to since 1994, and the 15th quarter in a row that there has been a decrease.

While National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland called the continued decrease in traffic deaths encouraging, he says that the government will keep working hard to keep bringing the death toll down. The NHTSA took aggressive action last year to stop motorists from drinking with its Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest campaign. It's Click It or Ticket campaign cited people for not putting on their seat belt. The federal government also made great strides toward discouraging distracted driving—especially cell phone use and text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.

Our Washington DC personal injury lawyers applaud the government’s effort to lower the number of traffic deaths. We also are in agreement that there is more than can be done to encourage drivers to operate their cars responsibly so that more vehicle occupants and pedestrians don’t get hurt or die unnecessarily.

Just last week, US Senate majority Leader Harry Reid’s wife and daughter were injured in a semi-truck crash near Washington DC. Landra Reid, 69, and Lara Barringer, 49, received medical attention after they were struck by a tractor-trailer.

Landra suffered a broken back, nose, and neck, while Lana, who sustained cuts, was examined by a neurologist because she has been experiencing dizziness. Trucker Alan W. Snader was charged with reckless driving for his role in the tractor-trailer crash.

Traffic Fatalities for 2009 Reach Record Low, NHTSA, March 11, 2010

Reid's wife, daughter recovering from truck crash, Associated Press, March 16, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Early estimate of motor vehicle traffic fatalities in 2009, NHTSA (PDF)

District Department of Transportation

Continue reading "33,963 US Highway Deaths in 2009, Reports US DOT" »

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" »

Amanda Mahnke, Representative Rick Larsen's communications director who was seriously injured when an empty bus struck her on September 3, is suing Metro for Washington DC personal injury. She is seeking $30 million in damages.

According to Mahnke’s DC bus accident lawsuit, she sustained permanent injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a broken clavicle, a fractured skull, fractured ribs, a collapsed long, an epidural hematoma, a pelvis fracture, and other personal injuries when she was struck by the Metro bus while she crossing an intersection on Florida Avenue, NW. She is accusing Metro of negligence for allowing bus driver Carla A. Proctor to keep driving its buses even though she had been sued in the past for causing other collisions.

Proctor was involved in a multi-vehicle crash involving another bus and seven autos in March 2003 when she got out of the bus to examine a faulty door. According to lawsuits against Metro and Proctor, because she allegedly failed to set the brake the bus rolled down a hill. After Proctor struck a parked vehicle in December 2004, an elderly bus passenger filed a Washington DC bus crash lawsuit against Metro.

In another case, two people who were at a Wendy’s sued Proctor for DC personal injury after she drove a car through the restaurant’s window in July 2003. She was not on duty with Metro when this Washington DC car accident happened.

Metro finally fired Proctor after she struck Mahnke. No criminal charges have been filed against her over the bus crash involving Mahnke, but witnesses say the bus driver ran a red light and she may have been speeding. Metro says Proctor neglected to do everything she could to avoid hitting the 30-year-old pedestrian.

Capitol Hill staffer hit by bus sues Metro, Washington Examiner, January 8, 2010

Woman struck by Metrobus suing agency for $30 million, Washington Post, January 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Metro, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2008: Early Release, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

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

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 " »

Shortly after 1am on Saturday, a pedestrian was fatally struck on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Police say that the victim, a man in his 30’s who appears to be Hispanic, was hit by at least two motor vehicles. His death is the fourth pedestrian fatality in the Washington portion of the parkway in the last 14 months and the third one close to the exit ramp going into the District.

According to the D.C. Department of Transportation, The Washington DC pedestrian death rate is even higher than the pedestrian fatality counts of Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. About 600 Washington DC pedestrian accidents occur each year. Another study reports stated that over 80 pedestrian deaths take place in the Washington region every year.

On Tuesday, a woman died in a DC pedestrian accident when a Metrobus struck her. 47-year-old Stephanie Richardson got off a bus and was hit by another bus traveling in the same direction. She was transported to Washington Hospital Center where she was pronounced dead.

Some 14 people have died this year in Metro-related accidents. Just last month, a 30-year-old jogger sustained critical injuries when a Metro bus struck her. There are reports that the bus driver ran a red light and the pedestrian victim, Amanda Mahnke, was crossing the street because she had the walk signal.

Washington DC Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians injured in DC truck accidents, bus crashes, motorcycle collisions, and other traffic accidents may be entitled to Washington DC personal injury recovery. Serious pedestrian injuries can include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries.

Pedestrian Fatally Struck on Baltimore-Washington Parkway, Washington Post, October 11, 2009

D.C. woman, 47, dies after being hit by Metrobus, Washington Examiner, October 7, 2009

Sources: Bus Ran Light, Hit Jogger, My Fox, September 25, 2009

Related Web Resources:
D.C. Department of Transportation

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

Continue reading "Washington DC Pedestrian Fatally Struck by at Least Two Vehicles " »

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

Metro says that it fired the bus driver who struck a female jogger during a Washington DC pedestrian accident on September 3. Carla A. Proctor hit Amanda Mahnke while operating an empty bus on Florida Avenue NW. The 30-year-old jogger is Representative Rick Larsen’s communications director. She fractured her skull and sustained several other fractures during the DC Metro bus accident.

Metro cited “failing to follow standard operating procedures” as the reason for Proctor’s dismissal. The September 3 accident, which occurred close to Dupont Circle, is not the first time that the bus driver was involved in a bus crash.

In March 2003, seven motor vehicles and another bus were damaged after Proctor exited the bus to check on a faulty door. The bus accident lawsuits that were filed against Proctor and Metro accused her of neglecting to set the brake properly. This allegedly caused the empty bus to roll down a hill and into an auto, triggering a chain reaction with the other motor vehicles. A Prince George’s County jury awarded three plaintiffs $27,713 in damages. A settlement was reached in another DC bus accident claim over the multi-vehicle crash.

In December 2004, Proctor drove her Metro bus into a parked auto while turning onto Wisconsin Avenue from O Street. A 72-year-old bus passenger sued Metro for Washington DC personal injury. The case was settled in mediation under confidential terms.

In July 2003, Proctor, who was not working at the time, was involved in a motor vehicle crash that resulted in her vehicle driving through the front window of a Wendy’s in Oxon Hill. Two of the restaurant patrons sued her for Maryland personal injury. The case was settled out of court.

Proctor received five traffic tickets in January for operating an uninsured vehicle, not maintaining insurance, not having current tags, and not displaying a registration card upon demand. Charges are also pending against her for a traffic stop in Prince George’s County in 2008.

Metro fires bus driver for hitting jogger, Washington Examiner, September 25, 2009

Metrobus Crash Not The First For Driver, The Washington Post, September 16, 2009

Related Web Resource:
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

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The family of Cameron Williams, one of the nine people killed in the June 22 Red Line train accident that is being called the worst wreck in the Metro’s history, has filed a Washington DC wrongful death lawsuit for $25 million. Their DC train crash complaint is accusing Metro of negligence and of failing to take the reasonable precautions to prevent the crash from happening.

Williams’s family is also suing Alstom Signaling Company, which is responsible for the circuit that failed to slow or stop the train so that the deadly collision wouldn’t happen. Depending on the National Transportation Safety Board’s findings once it concludes its crash probe, other defendants may be added to the DC train accident lawsuit.

The deadly collision occurred during rush hour close to the Fort Totten stop when one train crashed on top of another train. At least seventy people were transported to local hospitals.

Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that records indicate that the safety system that is supposed to help subway trains avoid becoming involved in collisions had malfunctioned just months before the June accident. On March 2, a train operator activated the emergency brakes to avoid colliding with another train after there was a problem with the Automatic Train Protection system. A failed component system on the train was identified as the issue. The NTSB is investigating the track circuit as part of its efforts to find out what caused the deadly June train accident.

Possible Causes of Washington DC Train Accidents:

• Operator negligence
• Mechanical failure
• Inadequate maintenance
• Conductor error
• Inadequate training
• Collision with another train, a motor vehicle, or a pedestrian
• Obstructions at rail crossings that prevent the operator from seeing
• Defective railroad crossing warning systems
• Defective train parts

Metro Crash Victim's Family Files Suit, My Fox DC, August 25, 2009

Records: DC Metro safety system failed before, AP/Google, August 9, 2009

Washington, DC Metro Crash: 9 Confirmed Dead, Worst Metro Crash Ever, Air America, June 22, 2009

Related Web Resources:
DC Metro

National Transportation Safety Board

Residents of Washington D.C., Maryland and surrounding areas are still reeling from news of a tragic commuter train crash that killed at least seven people and injured dozens more last night. For reasons not completely known, a Metrorail Red Line train collided at what appears to be a high rate of speed with a second, stopped train during Monday’s peak evening commute. The violent crash caused the moving train to jackknife, throwing several of its cars up and onto the top of the other train. According to reports, this “mass casualty event” is the worst train accident in the District of Columbia since 1982.

As a Maryland personal injury and car accident attorney, I have personally traveled on this particular Metro line many times in the past. As commuters, we all expect to travel in relative safety on subway trains and city buses. Ruling out any terrorist connection, this accident could have resulted from driver error or possibly faulty equipment on the tracks, or even the trains themselves.

Whatever the cause, the results are terribly sad for the families of those unexpectedly killed and painful for those hurt or hospitalized. Injuries from accidents like this can range from bumps and bruises to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries or damage to the spinal column.

News reports indicated that seven people have been confirmed killed and that more fatalities may be forthcoming. Initially, six people were confirmed dead, including the operator of the trailing train, Jeanice McMillan of Springfield, Virginia. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin said rescue workers treated 76 people at the scene and sent some of them to local hospitals.

So far, officials have no explanation for the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in charge of the investigation, while DC police and the FBI also have personnel at the scene. Normally, these trains should maintain a safe distance between each other, and it is not yet clear what went wrong.

There was also no official statement regarding how fast the one train was traveling before it hit the other waiting train, although the crash happened in a long stretch between rail stations where trains typically allowed to travel at higher speeds, according to a Metro spokesperson. Meanwhile, investigators are also searching the wreckage for the “black box” recording devices carried onboard these trains, which may hold answers to this horrendous event.

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