Traffic Accident News

The Swedish car maker best known for its high commitment to safety engineering has taken its features a step further to protect those outside the vehicle as well as inside it. Volvo's 2013 V40, currently on sale in Australia, has incorporated pedestrian airbags to protect anyone hit by the car while walking, according to recent industry reports.

Why Are Pedestrian Airbags Necessary?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that of all the auto-related fatalities in 2012, 16 percent involved people not inside the car such as pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrian injury is a very real problem for Americans, but it is also a large problem abroad where more people walk or ride a bicycle to their destinations. The European Union passed laws about ten years ago to address this problem and provide for pedestrian safety. Due to these laws, auto makers in Europe began examining ways to manufacture cars that could prevent a pedestrian accident or at least lessen the severity if one did occur.

What Do Pedestrian Airbags Do?

Jaguar began making vehicles that utilized a pedestrian contact "sensing system" that opens the car's hood if it senses a pedestrian impact. A Dutch car company, TNO, also designed a prototype airbag that would prevent bikers from being injured in a collision.

Volvo has taken these ideas and combined them. The pedestrian detection system on Volvo's new model uses sensors to determine if a collision is imminent and automatically slows the car down. These sensors operate from the grille of the car and the back of the rearview mirror. The sensor also alerts the driver with a warning signal and light if a pedestrian appears to be in danger. The car can brake itself completely at speeds less than 21 miles per hour and can slow down significantly at speeds over that level. The automatic braking system also works to prevent collisions with other vehicles, buildings, poles or any other obstruction.

If a human leg comes into contact with the bumper of the car, the hood of the car raises and an airbag deploys in less than one second. The resulting configuration shields the windshield and front area of the car, and the raised hood dents more easily to cushion impact.

Since most fatal pedestrian accidents are related to speed, the most significant factor of this system is actually the automatic braking feature. However, if there is an impact, the airbag is designed to deploy in the areas where most pedestrian injuries occur--the windshield and hood of the car.

What Can I Do If I Suffer Injuries In A Pedestrian Accident?

If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, it is very important that you protect your rights by consulting a pedestrian accident attorney. A pedestrian accident lawyer can explain your options and work with you to recover damages for your medical bills, your pain and suffering, and the other costs associated with your accident. It is crucial that you and your family protect yourselves from the long-term financial effects of an accident.

This Valentine's Day was special for a Georgia couple, Jennifer and Darren Ford. Jennifer, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car crash in November, was home and learning to walk. According to a Fox 5 news report, the brain injury put Jennifer in a coma. Her husband has remained by her side, learning to assist her and helping her recover. Jennifer, a mother of two, is now learning to walk and talk again.

Although she received a graduation certificate from her rehabilitation facility, she will continue her outpatient therapy, which her family hopes, will put her on the road to recovery and help her brain heal. The community has rallied around the family by helping to pay mounting medical bills and organizing a motorcycle ride to benefit the family. He husband, Darren, says that it has been a "very emotional ride" for him and his family.

Brain Injury Facts and Statistics

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. Brain injuries are a contributing factor in one-third or 30.5 percent of all injury-related deaths in the United States. About 35.2 percent of brain injuries are caused by falls while car crashes cause about 17.3 percent of all traumatic brain injuries. Among all age groups, car accidents were the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (17.3 percent) and resulted in the largest percentage of TBI-related deaths.

A Long Road to Recovery

Brain injury victims and their families, much like the Ford family, go through an emotional rollercoaster ride. They face daunting financial challenges. Often, when a loved one suffers a brain injury, his or her spouse may have to take time off work and still figure out a way to pay everyday expenses and mounting medical and rehabilitation bills. Health insurance may not cover rehabilitation costs, which puts additional financial pressure on victims and their families. Like Jennifer Ford, many victims have to relearn a number of basic skills including walking and talking.

Compensation for Brain Injury Victims

When a brain injury is caused by someone else's negligence or wrongdoing, injured victims and their families can seek compensation for their losses from the at-fault parties. Victims may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, loss of wages, lost future income, hospitalization, rehabilitation and pain and suffering. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to better advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.

Crystal Crawford-McClure, 28, was critically injured and lost her unborn child in a rear-end collision after the vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper's car.

According to a news report in The News-Press, the rear-end accident occurred the night of February 15, 2013 on the southbound Interstate 75 near mile marker 134. Officials say Crawford-McClure was a passenger in a Jeep traveling south on the I-75. The officer's vehicle struck the Jeep's rear bumper, causing the Jeep to veer onto the grass shoulder and overturn.

The driver, Christopher McClure, suffered minor injuries. But Crawford-McClure was ejected and suffered critical injuries. Her unborn child was killed as well. A 1-year-old child also escaped with minor injuries. It is not clear if Crawford-McClure was wearing a seatbelt at the time. The News-Press reports that the trooper was not responding to a call when the crash occurred and that the lights and sirens on the patrol vehicle were not on.

What Caused the Rear-End Crash?

Rear-end crashes often result in major injury if not fatal accidents nationwide. In any rear-end accident, a number of questions must be asked. The report states that the officer was not responding to an emergency at the time. Was the driver of the striking vehicle inebriated or fatigued at the time? Was the driver distracted in some way?

In this case, was the officer talking to someone on the radio, checking his computer screen or using a cell phone? Did excessive speed play a part in this tragic crash? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Fault and Liability

If the FHP officer is determined to have been at fault, both he and his employer can be held liable for the injuries and damages caused. Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation and other related damages.

Injured victims or families of deceased victims would also be well advised to contact an experienced car accident attorney who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that the negligent parties are held liable. In cases involving government employees or public agencies, it is important to remember that the statute of limitations may require victims to file claims much sooner.

Hanel Lozano, 18, of Bellflower, was killed in a Buena Park crash the night of Feb. 17, 2013. The Orange County Register reports that the fatal car crash occurred on southbound Valley View Street north of La Palma Avenue. Police say the driver of a black Jeep Cherokee lost control of the vehicle and struck at least two other vehicles and then hit a tree in the median near the intersection of Valley View and La Palma. The Jeep Cherokee then overturned. Lozano was a passenger in the Jeep. Other passengers, who were between 18 and 20 years of age, had to be extricated from the vehicle. None of the other passengers in other vehicles were seriously injured. It is not known if alcohol or drugs played a part in the crash.

Continue reading "Teen Killed in Orange County Car Accident" »

Tiffany A. Beene and her passenger Samuel Jonathan Hampton, both 24, were killed in a car crash in Florida after the Lamborghini in which they were traveling crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed into a Nissan. According to a Fox 35 news report, Beene is the daughter of Michael and Roxanne Beene, who founded Faith In Action, a missionary group based in Kissimmee. The driver of the other vehicle, Linh C. Luu, 38, is said to be in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Tan P. Phan, a passenger in the Nissan, was treated and released.

Investigators say Beene and Hampton were traveling west in a green 2008 Lamborghini when it crossed over the center median on University Boulevard and collided with a 2013 Nissan. All victims were buckled up at the time of the collision. Family members said Beene was driving Hampton's Lamborghini at the time. The investigation is still ongoing.

What Caused This Crash?

Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what caused this fatal car crash. There are still several unanswered questions here. What caused this crash? Who was at fault? What caused Beene to cross over the center median? Was speed a factor in this collision? Did a vehicle defect or mechanical malfunction cause Beene to lose control of the Lamborghini? Did driver distraction or inattention cause this crash? I trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

Liability Issues

If Beene is determined to have been at fault, then, the injured victims can seek compensation from her liability insurance. If a dangerous or defective auto caused the accident, then, the vehicle manufacturer can be held liable. In such cases, injured victims can seek compensation from the at-fault party for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation as well. An experienced car accident attorney will be able to advise victims or their families in such cases regarding their legal rights and options.

A 25-year-old nanny pushing a baby stroller sustained fatal injuries in a San Diego car accident after she and the baby were struck by a vehicle as they were crossing a roadway in a marked crosswalk. According to a report in U-T San Diego, the fatal pedestrian collision occurred the morning of February 1, 2013 at the intersection of Camino del Sur and Via Verrazano in Torrey Highlands. A blue Toyota 4Runner struck the nanny and the stroller carrying the 13-month-old boy.

Continue reading "Nanny Killed, Baby Injured in San Diego Crash" »

New York Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan was involved in a car crash in Pennsylvania, which he caused by running a red light, The Associated Press reports. Officials say Ryan was issued a warning and no citation after the collision in Bethlehem, which is located 45 minutes from the team's facility in Florham Park, New Jersey. No one was reportedly injured in the collision. Police say Ryan was driving a Ford Mustang when he collided with another vehicle on West Third Street.

One witness told officials that he saw Ryan pass through at red light at the intersection of West Third and Wyandotte streets. The impact caused a second car to hit a third. The investigation is still ongoing. Ryan has recently garnered media attention recently for being retained by Jets owner Woody Johnson despite missing the playoffs for the second straight season.

Red-Light Running Crashes

Red light violations are among the most common causes of street intersection accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were 2.3 million intersection crashes in 2008 that involved 7,770 deaths and 733,000 injuries. The report states that red-light running crashes alone caused 762 fatalities in 2008 and injured 165,000 people. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that 50 percent of the people killed in red-light running crashes are not the signal violators.

What To Do After a Crash

If you have been injured in a street intersection crash, here are a few important steps you can take to ensure that your rights are protected.

• Make sure that you file a police report. Do not admit fault for the crash. Instead, simply state the facts and make sure that your account of the incident gets into the report.
• Collect pertinent information from all parties involved. Information that you require includes driver's license, insurance, license plate and contact information. If you can locate other witnesses who saw the incident, obtain their contact information as well.
• If you have a cell phone camera, take photos of the accident scene, the position of the vehicle and your injuries.
• Make sure you get thoroughly examined by a doctor. Although you may "feel fine" after a car accident, it is important that you get a check-up to make sure you have not suffered any internal injuries. Not all injuries may become immediately apparent.
• Finally contact an experienced personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that your legal rights and best interests are protected.

Merle Moen, 68, was killed in a car crash in San Clemente after the vehicle he was driving was rear-ended by a pickup truck at a street intersection. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal collision occurred at the intersection of El Camino Real and Camino San Clemente the afternoon of January 15, 2013. Police say the 17-year-old driver of a Toyota pickup had broadsided a Toyota Solara that Moen was driving. Moen suffered fatal injuries while his wife, who was a passenger in the Solara, was transported to an area hospital with injuries. The young driver of the pickup was not cited or arrested, pending an official investigation. Officials are still trying to determine who had the right-of-way at the time.

The Danger of Broadside Collisions

A number of deadly street intersection collisions we see in our communities involve side-impact collisions where one vehicle strikes another on the side. This fatal accident is yet another example how devastating a side-impact crash can be. Consider these statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In the year 2005, for example, most deadly side-impact collisions - about 62.5 percent -- were broadside collisions.

The reason side impact crashes are so severe is that the sides of vehicles usually offer far less protection from the impact of a collision than the front or back of a vehicle. There is very little barrier or cushion between oncoming traffic and the person occupying the vehicle. If the striking vehicle hits the other squarely in its side doors, occupants of the vehicle that is struck risk severe injuries, often fatal as it happened in this crash, because the side of the vehicle completely crumples and deforms pushing broken glass and sharp metal toward them. There is a high risk of death, head and neck injuries, internal injuries and broken bones as a result of these types of crashes.

Who is Liable?

In such cases where a collision results in death, the family of a deceased victim can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of love and companionship. In some cases, a dangerous roadway or intersection may also contribute to a deadly crash. In such cases, the city or governmental agencies responsible for maintaining the roadway can be held liable as well. Please remember that any personal injury or wrongful death claim against a governmental agency must be filed within six months of the incident, under California Government Code Section 911.2.

A car slammed into a bus bench at a Riverside stop, killing two people, according to officials. The car accident occurred at Tyler Street and Magnolia Avenue when a driver lost control of his car and swerved across three lanes before striking a light pole and hitting the bench on which four passengers were seated.

Killed in the accident were 28-year-old Melissa Bernal and seven-year-old Aniya Mitchell. The other two passengers were taken to area hospitals with serious injuries. There is no word on their condition at this time. The 45-year-old driver did not appear to be drinking or using drugs at the time of the crash. Witnesses told police the man was not speeding at the time of the crash. Police are asking anyone with information on the accident to come forward.

Pedestrian Accidents in Orange County

There were 32 pedestrian deaths and 770 pedestrian injuries in Orange County in 2010, according to the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System. The present case could be considered a pedestrian accident even though the victims were not walking at the time.

Although statistics are not kept specifically on accidents involving cars hitting bus stops, this type of accident is not uncommon. In recent months, at least five major accidents with deaths or injuries have occurred in California or surrounding states in which a driver plowed into a bus stop. In many cases, the drivers were speeding or under the influence.

Why This Accident May Have Happened

The usually explanations for these types of accidents do not seem to apply in this case. The driver was apparently not drunk, not using drugs, and was not speeding. There are a few possible explanations for the driver's behavior, but police will have to finish their investigation in order to determine the exact cause of the accident.

First, the driver could have suffered a temporary medical condition such as a seizure. Every year, thousands of people are hurt or killed when they or another driver suffer a stroke or heart attack while driving. Epileptic and other types of seizures can render victims temporarily helpless behind the wheel. If a driver suffers from some suddenly health crisis, it can cause injury to that driver or to others.

Another possibility is that the driver was distracted. Cell phones and other electronic device are causing more accidents every year as drivers take their eyes off the road for "only a few seconds" before losing control and crashing.

Finally, the driver could have suffered some type of mechanical failure in his vehicle that led to the wreck.

Liability Issues

The injured victims and the families of the two females who were killed should talk to a personal injury attorney in order to find out the facts about how much they may be entitled to collect in damages.

A police officer was injured in a collision with a driver suspected of being under the influence, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The officer was driving his marked patrol car when he was struck by a pickup truck at the driver's door. The accident occurred early in the morning at the intersection of Mission Gorge Road and Route 125 in Santee.

The officer was said to be seriously injured in the collision. Witnesses stated that the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed, and rescue workers from the fire department were forced to cut the car door open to extract the officer. The driver of the pickup was not seriously hurt in the accident and was booked on a charge of suspected felony drunk driving.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured officer for his speedy recovery.

High-Speed Collisions A Common Feature of DUI Accidents

According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System of the California Highway Patrol, there were 1,072 fatalities and 24,343 injuries caused by drunk driving in the state in 2011. At least 7,800 of these accidents involved drivers simply traveling in a straight line with no immediate obstructions or impairments to cause a collision. A great number of these drivers are speeding at the time of an accident. Even more drivers who speed run off the road or commit some other error that leads to serious consequences for themselves and others on the road.

Criminal Issues in Drunk Driving Accidents

Drivers who operate vehicles under the influence are breaking the law. In California, drivers who operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content measured at more than .08 percent are considered to be driving drunk. Drivers with BACs of more than .15 percent are considered to be exceptionally drunk, and different charges may be entered against these drivers.

Drivers who injure someone else while driving drunk are usually charged with felony DUI. Those who damage property are usually charged with misdemeanor DUI. However, depending on the circumstances of the accident, a driver who is driving with a very high BAC may still incur a felony charge despite the fact that only property damage occurred.

Liability Issues in Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk drivers not only commit a crime, they also show disregard for the safety of others. Because drunk driving is completely preventable, judges and juries show little sympathy when faced with a driver who chose to drink alcohol and get behind the wheel, doing damages to property and causing injuries to innocent parties. In these cases, victims often file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to pay for the damages they have sustained.

A victim in a drunk driving accident is entitled to damages that may include special damages awarded as the result of the driver's negligence in driving while under the influence. A personal injury attorney can explain these damages to the victim and help him or her recover the proper amount.

Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who they say struck and seriously injured a wheelchair-bound woman in Laguna Hills. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred the afternoon of December 17, 2012 near Calle de la Plata and Calle de la Louisa, about a block away from Saddleback Memorial Hospital. The 56-year-old woman suffered broken bones in her legs and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Witnesses told police that they saw the driver stop briefly after the crash and then drive away from the area. The driver was only described as an elderly man. The investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this car accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and full recovery.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

There were no fatalities, but five injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in Laguna Hills, according to California Highway Patrol's 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). Countywide, 32 people died and 770 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Leaving the Scene of a Crash

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the car struck a woman who was in a wheelchair and then left her lying on the roadway without even stopping to help. Appalling! What kind of a person would leave an injured, disabled woman lying on the street without care or medical attention? Leaving the scene of a crash is not only inhumane and irresponsible, but also illegal.

California Vehicle Code 20001 (a) states: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Holding Wrongdoers Accountable

I certainly hope the driver in this case is apprehended and brought to justice. If you have any information, please visit our website at www.hitandrunreward.com to offer an anonymous tip and to become eligible to receive a $1,000 reward. This site is a part of our effort to partner with the community and law enforcement to help catch hit-and-run drivers and hold them accountable.

Injured victims of hit-and-run crashes are often left without too many options. Victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. A knowledgeable lawyer will also be able to advise victims about how their own auto insurance policies will apply to a hit-and-run accident.

Ghorbanali Norouzian, 71, of Corona del Mar, was fatally injured in a car accident in Newport Beach after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing a street. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the pedestrian accident occurred on San Joaquin Hills Road between MacArthur Boulevard and San Miguel Drive, the night of November 27, 2012. Police say the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene. Norouzian died from his injuries. No citations or arrests were reported. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact the Newport Beach Police Department at 949-644-3711.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family members and friends of Ghorbanali Norouzian for their immense loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Pedestrian Killed in Newport Beach Car Accident" »

A new California survey shows that one in seven drivers who volunteered as study subjects had drugs (legal or illegal) in their system. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the 2012 California Roadside Survey of Nighttime Weekend Drivers' Alcohol and Drug Use points to the fact that more drivers tested positive for drugs, especially marijuana, than for alcohol. This is apparently the first roadside survey of its kind, which law enforcement officials say, points to a serious and growing threat. Among the 1,314 California drivers included in the survey, 2.7 percent were under the influence of an illegal drug, about 3.3 percent were under the influence of medications only and 5.5 percent had marijuana in their systems.

Continue reading "Drugged Driving Bigger Problem than Drunk Driving in California, Survey Shows" »

November 18, 2012--Los Angeles, California--Two back-to-back deadly accidents on State Highway 134 kept California Highway Patrol officers rushing to try to save victims on Monday, according to the Contra Costa Times. The first crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. and involved the death of one man. CHP has not released the man's name or any information about what led up to the crash. As officers worked the first accident scene, another car slammed into the back of another vehicle, veered off the highway, and burst into flames. Although CHP officers tried to save the driver, he died at the scene.

Authorities continue to investigate both accidents.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims in both of these accidents.

Continue reading "Two Deadly Los Angeles Crashes Happen Close To Each Other" »