Car Accidents

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

November 25, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

Elderly Man Dies from Injuries Sustained during Washington DC Pedestrian Accident on the Mall

November 17, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

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

November 3, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

Halloween Can Be Scary for Washington DC Pedestrians

October 28, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

58.9% Of Traffic Deaths in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia Between 2004-2008 were Single-Vehicle Accidents

October 14, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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.

President Obama Bans Federal Employees from Texting While Driving

October 7, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

Distracted Driving Summit Focusing on Dangers of Texting Opens Today in Washington DC

September 30, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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.

Powerful YouTube Video Showing How Texting Teen Drivers Can Cause Deadly Car Crashes is Internet Sensation

September 15, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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.

Lawmakers in Washington DC Push to Ban Text Messaging While Driving

August 21, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

Some Washington DC Injury Accidents Are Caused by Older Drivers Who Binge Drink

August 18, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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