Motor vehicle
crashes are by far the leading killer among children, teens, and young adults
ages 5-34. Motor vehicle
crashes are also among the top 10 causes of death for all age groups in the
United States.
Car crashes
result in over $41 billion annually in medical and work loss costs.
It’s important
that crashes be prevented, and the use of effective programs can reduce the
number of injuries and deaths.
In Arizona,
there was a total loss of over $1 billion dollars in one year.
More than one thousand Arizonans are killed each year in preventablemotor vehicle crashes. Arizona can consider the following evidence-based
strategies that are proven to save lives and money:
Primary
enforcement seat belt law that covers all seating positions.
Strong
child passenger safety policies that require age- and size-appropriate
child safety and booster seats.
Comprehensive
graduated drivers licensing (GDL) system to help young drivers gain
experience under lower-risk conditions.
Universal
motorcycle helmet law that requires all riders to wear helmets.
How
can costs due to motor vehicle crashes be reduced?
The best way to reduce costs due to crash-related deaths is to prevent
crashes. Effective strategies for preventing crashes include graduated drivers
licensing laws, sobriety checkpoints, and ignition interlocks for those
convicted of driving while intoxicated.
The next best way to reduce costs is to prevent injuries when crashes do
happen. Among the proven ways to prevent injuries during a crash are
increasing child safety seat and booster seat use through distribution and
education programs, increasing seat belt use through enacting and enforcing
primary seat belt laws, and increasing helmet use through comprehensive
motorcycle helmet laws.
Working
together, we can help keep people safe on the road—every day.
Some of the most common injuries that are sustained by many
are slip and fall accidents. Many don’t think about a slip and fall accident as
being dangerous, but nearly 1 million emergency room visits are because of a
slip and fall injury.
When someone suffers a slip and fall accident, an attorney
will usually evaluate the situation to determine causation and establish
liability.
Since premises liability and slip and fall claims involve
complicated laws and legal issues, the first and most important step is to
contact an experienced premises liability attorney. A thorough and quick
investigation must be conducted and eyewitnesses must be contacted prior to any
alteration or modification of the dangerous area. It is imperative that the
owner be placed on notice to preserve
all evidence. You should contact a lawyer as soon
as is possible.
Also, there may be deadlines and statutes of limitations
that may significantly affect your slip and fall case. You should not wait
until the statute of limitations period is running out because your attorney
may not have enough time to complete his investigation.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a
slip-and-fall accident, you need to contact and experienced slip and fall lawyer
in Arizona—as soon as possible. Evidence of the cause of the incident can be
lost forever if it is not investigated soon after an accident. Whether its a defect on the floor or a liquid
spill, an experienced slip and fall lawyer in Arizona can obtain the evidence
of such condition. This is critical to proving that a landowner or occupier was
negligent in preventing the injuries suffered.
Slip-and-fall
accidents often result in serious injuries. The probability of
having a slip-and-fall accident in a public place is far greater than at home.
For one, a person is more likely to be distracted, and, more importantly, he or
she may not be aware of the existing floor defects or surface liquid spills.
The duty of businesses to exercise reasonable care to prevent exposing their
customers to an unreasonable risk of injury is critical to reducing the number
of slip-and-fall
accidents.
Whether an owner or occupier of a land owes visitors a duty
to protect them against dangers found on the land depends on the status of the
visitor at the time. Generally speaking there are three (3) categories of
visitors: 1) trespasser, 2) licensee or 3) invitee.
A trespasser is a person who enters a premises without
permission.
A licensee is a person that enters on the land, with the
landowners permission, for his or her own purpose or business. (A social guest
is considered a licensee).
An invitee is someone that enters onto the premises in
response to an invitation of the landowner.
There are two types of invitees:
(i) those who enter as members of the public for a purpose for which the land
is held open to the public (e.g., museums, airports), and (ii) those who enter
for a purpose connected with the business or other interests of the landowner
or occupier (e.g., store customers and people accompanying them, employees,
persons making deliveries). It is always important to know your rights and options if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident.
A teenager survived the
Asiana Airlines crash in San Francisco only to be struck and killed by a fire
vehicle rushing to fight a blaze that broke out on the plane, authorities said.
As the wreckage of Asiana Flight 214 burned, Ye Meng
Yuan was lying on the ground just 30 feet (9 meters) away, buried by the
firefighting foam rescue workers were spraying to douse the flames
No one knows exactly how the 16-year-old Chinese
student got to that spot, but officials say one thing is clear now: She somehow
survived the crash.
And in the chaotic moments that followed — flames
devouring the fuselage, those aboard escaping by emergency slides, flight
attendants frantically cutting away seat belts to free passengers — a fire
truck ran over Yuan, killing her.
The new details — released Friday by the coroner’s
office — compounded the tragedy for her family and confirmed the growing
suspicions that emergency workers have had since soon after the July 6 crash:
One of the three who died did so by rescuers’ actions.
“There’s not a lot of words to describe how badly we
feel, how sorry we feel,” said San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.
Yuan’s family was upset after learning the details
of their daughter’s death and wants her body returned to China, County Coroner
Robert Foucrault said.
“It was a difficult conversation,” he said.
Hayes-White said she was trying to arrange a meeting
with them and that the “tragic accident” would prompt a review of how the fire
department uses the foam and responds to emergencies at the airport.
“There’s always room for us to evaluate and improve
our response,” she said. “(There’s) very unfortunate news today. However, many,
many lives were saved and we made a valiant effort to do so on July 6.”
In a statement, the Chinese Consulate called on
authorities to determine responsibility for Yuan’s death. Hayes-White said she
did not immediately foresee any disciplinary action. San Francisco police and
the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
In all, 304 of the 307 people aboard the Boeing 777
survived the crash at San Francisco International Airport.
Yuan and her close friend, 16-year-old Wang Linjia,
who also died, were students at Jiangshan Middle School in Zhejiang, an
affluent coastal province in eastern China, Chinese state media has reported.
They were part of a group of students and teachers
from the school who were heading to summer camp in Southern California.
Yuan and Linjia were seated at the back of the
plane. Authorities say the jetliner came in too low and too slow, clipping its
landing gear and then its tail on a rocky seawall just short of the runway.
Linjia’s body was found near the seawall at the edge
of the runway.
It was unclear how Yuan got from the airplane to the
spot where she died. Investigators believe she was down on the ground and not
standing up during the “volatile” and “dangerous” aftermath of the plane crash,
the fire chief said.
Foucrault declined to go into detail on how he
determined the teenager was alive before she was struck, but said there was
internal hemorrhaging that indicated her heart was still beating at the time.
Authorities confirmed last week that Yuan was hit by
a vehicle racing to extinguish the flames in the plane. Police said she was on
the ground and covered in the foam that rescuers had sprayed on the wreckage.
The other victim, 15-year-old Liu Yipeng, died at a
hospital on July 12.
Who is responsible?
More likely than not, Asiana is 100% responsible for this
young girl's death. From all reports,
the crash appears to have been pilot error.
Sad. In causing the crash, Asiana
is responsible for all injuries and damages that result.
Now, as a result of the crash, it is foreseeable that
emergency response vehicles will rush to the scene at the same time that
passengers are fleeing from the plane.
Through the smoke, chaos and foam---not a shock that this could
happen. Sad, but not a shock.
This week, I returned from a vacation in Hawaii. The weather was great, and the time I spent
with my family will be remembered forever.
The nice thing about being on vacation is that you
detach. You forget about your job and
reality for a short while. We know the
time will goes quickly and we will be back in the real world before we know it,
but the getaway and memories can be priceless.
This morning, in reading the news, one thought occurred
to me: I hope God is on vacation.
I hope God is on vacation because if He/She is not, then
I fear we are in trouble. In reading the
news this morning, there seems to be enough bad going on that if I were
Him/Her, I might think it's time to order up another ark, and start the rain.
Just a small sampling:
Over 250 killed and many more injured in car bombs
following Ramadan services in Iraq in the last month: man accused of burning girlfriend's infant
son; teens in California convicted of high school gang rape; Colombian rebels
hold ex-soldier hostage; man in Texas found buried in yard, wife arrested: nun
in NY convicted of stealing $130k from church for gambling addiction; parents
arrested for allowing 2 year olds to wander at will, resulting in drowning
death of one; teens in Ohio beat elderly man because they were bored.
OMG.
For the sake of humankind and all living life forms, I
hope God is on vacation---surfing in Hawaii, fishing in Alaska, sightseeing in
Europe, eating sushi in Japan, or having a hot dog and a beer at a baseball
game anywhere, I hope He/She is getting
some well-deserved rest, detached from the news and enjoying a few days off,
because upon return, He/She is NOT going to be happy.
After reading the news this morning, it dawns on me that i
need to do some preparation, and as such, my plans are set: I am going to Home Depot to buy some
wood.
The federal government thinks long-haul truckers like Bryan Spoon need more
rest.
But with the Department of Transportation's new rules forcing drivers to
take longer breaks and cut back on hours behind the wheel, Spoon thinks the
government has created a solution looking for a problem.
"I wish the government would just quit trying to fix something that's
not broken," he said on a recent rest stop in Columbia, Mo., after hauling
a load of construction materials on the 48-foot Great Dane flatbed behind his
2009 Volvo 780.
"If I get any more breaks out here I won't be able to make a
living," he said.
As of July 1st, drivers like Spooner will have to stick to a schedule that
requires taking a 30-minute break in the first eight hours of driving, cut the
maximum workweek to 70 hours from 82, and "restart" those 70 hours
with a 34-hour break once a week.
The rules are part of a program by the Obama administration to make U.S.
highways safer by reducing the number of truck accidents and fatalities. The
program also includes a safety rating system that shippers can review when they
chose a new carrier, with the goal of prodding the trucking industry to further
improve the safety of its drivers and equipment.
"The updated hours of service rule makes three common sense,
data-driven changes to increase safety on our roadways and reduce driver
fatigue, a leading factor in large truck crashes," said Anne Ferro
administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which issued
the rules, in a statement.
FMCSA counters that 4,000 truck crashes a year is this number is still too
many. The new rules, it maintains, will prevent some 1,400 crashes and 560
injuries, and saving 19 lives each year, according to its analysis.
"There has been progress on reducing the number of fatal truck
crashes," said Marissa Padilla, an FMCSA spokeswoman. "But we know
that fatigue is still a serious challenge. The bottom line is that our analysis
shows that these new rules will save lives, prevent crashes and prevent
injuries."
The latest example surfaced last week after a federal probe into the March
28 crash that killed an Illinois State Police trooper found the driver of the
semi-truck that slammed into his cruiser had been working more than 14 hours
and fell asleep at the wheel.
The new regulations may have the unintended consequence of putting more
traffic on the nation's already congested highways, according to some truckers.
The new rules require drivers to "restart" their week with two
consecutive rest periods between 1 and 5 a.m. The goal is to encourage drivers
to get a full night's rest, according to the DOT.
But that new mandatory start time coincides with the start of the morning
commute. This has been a problem for a long time, and will continue to
be. Unfortunately, the violators never come to light until something bad
happens.
Truckers are required to maintain "logbooks", to detail their
driving hours, for review by law enforcement in case stopped. I can't
even guess how many times I have seen accident investigations reveal TWO sets
of logbooks--one real, one fake (to show law enforcement).
The efforts by Congress are admirable, but no real way to enforce, until
stopped by law enforcement for some reason.
Once again, our President has shown that he has very
little regard for the United States Constitution and the laws of the United
States. At a time when justice has been
served, Pres. Obama simply cannot keep his mouth shut. Why this is, is baffling, especially given
his background in the law.
I won't pretend that I know all of the facts of the
Zimmerman case. At the same time, I am virtually certain that neither does
Pres. Obama. Regardless, I know enough to understand that this case likely
should have never even been charged. Generally, in deciding whether to file
criminal charges, prosecutors have to ascertain whether they can obtain a
guilty verdict. Given the standards in this country of "proof beyond a
reasonable doubt", this is a very high burden. What I do know about the
Zimmerman case, it seems to me that this standard could never have been
satisfied.
You see, in the United States, liberty is one of our most
prized if not our most prized right.
Understanding this, our forefathers, in writing the U.S. Constitution,
placed a heavy burden on the government in the event they sought to take away
one rights of liberty. It is the burden on our government to prove,
"beyond a reasonable doubt", the guilt of anyone charged with a
crime, whose liberty interests are at stake. Some believe this burden is too
high. I do not. It is the appropriate burden to place upon a government in a
country which places such importance on the concepts of liberty and freedom.
The justice system of the United States is the best
system in the world. In our system, the two sides are entitled to come into the
courtroom, presided over by an impartial judge, to present their positions to a
jury of citizens. Citizens ultimately make the determination on the evidence,
decide whether to convict or acquit. We may not always agree with the decision,
but we always respect the process. In voicing his displeasure with the result,
Pres. Obama has interfered with this process, and insulted the group of
citizens who so graciously gave their time to listen to all the evidence, and
make the decision. As a former lawyer, he should well know better.
Whether you agree or disagree with the verdict in the
Zimmerman trial, you should respect the process. As with the lawyers on both sides of the case
in post verdict press conferences, all expressed great respect for the role of
the jury and the justice system. Too bad that our President, who certainly
knows far less about the facts of the case then the legal teams, could not do
the same.
Choosing
the right Arizona car accident attorney is essential when you or a loved one
has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident.
Riding
a motorcycle is a fun and exciting means of transportation. Unfortunately,
motorcyclists face a far higher risk of being involved in an accident resulting
in injuries. A motorcycle crash is a complex event involving the interaction of
drivers, vehicles, and environmental factors.
While there is no
"typical" motorcycle accident, what is "typical" is that a
motorcycle crash almost always results in serious injuries to the motorcyclist.
The lack of any protective barriers between a motorcycle and the opposing
object (roadway, other vehicle, etc...) as well as the difficulty that other
drivers may experience in anticipating and seeing a motorcycle, leave
motorcyclists especially susceptible to injuries in the event of an accident.
These injuries are usually severe.
It is important to contact an experienced
Arizona car accident attorney immediately after you or a loved one is involved
in a motorcycle accident. An Arizona car accident attorney will be able to
assist you in recovering compensation for medical bills and other related
expenses incurred as a result of your injuries.
The
National Highway Traffic and Safety Association (NHTSA) and the Insurance
Information Institute, have compiled the most recent statistics with regard to
injuries in motorcycle accidents:
5,290
motorcyclists are killed every year in the U.S.
More
than 88,000 motorcyclists are injured in accidents in each year.
Motorcyclists
were 32 times more likely to be killed in an accident than car passengers per
vehicle mile driven.
More
than half of motorcycle accidents result from collisions with other vehicles.
Speeding
is one of the major contributing factors in motorcycle crashes especially among
motorcycle riders under the age of 30.
More
than half of all motorcyclists killed in accidents were not wearing helmets.
Riders
who wear helmets reduce their chances of being fatally injured by nearly 30%
When
determining who is at fault in a motorcycle accident, the same factors that are
used in determining auto accidents are used. These include weather and road
conditions, how fast the vehicles were traveling and whether the drivers were
impaired by fatigue or alcohol. Since motorcycle usually result in more serious
injuries and increased possibility of death, it is imperative that if you or a
loved one is injured in a motorcycle accident, you contact an Arizona car
accident attorney today.
An experienced Arizona car accident attorney can
determine the best course of action to take in your case and determine whether
you are entitled to bring or maintain a legal claim for your injuries and
damages.
Monsoon and Duststorm season is upon us. Not only can conditions be dangerous, but they can be catastrophic at time. Below are tips to help you get through these storms if you are ever caught in one while driving:
1. First and foremost SLOW DOWN. The posted speed limit may not be a safe speed to travel in bad weather. On wet roads your vehicle will have less traction than on a dry road. Slower travel speeds allow for safer braking and stopping distances.
2. Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you and be aware of the vehicles around you in other travel lanes. This normal distance should be increased by at least 50% in bad weather. Braking and shorter stopping distances will be affected by wet roads and slippery roadway surfaces.
3. Watch carefully for water pooling on the roadway surface as this could cause your vehicle to slide or hydroplane.
4. Do not enter an area where the roadway has been closed by barricades due to flooding. You don’t know how deep the water is or how fast it is running. Besides, it is against the law and very dangerous to drive into a flooded area. Indeed, the fines could very very significant under Arizona's "Stupid Motorist Law".
5. Drive with your headlights on. This increases your visibility to other vehicles.
6. At night, slow down and pay close attention to changing road and weather conditions.
7. Strong winds can be associated with a monsoon storm. Watch for blowing dust and if at all possible, avoid driving into a dust storm.
8. If you cannot avoid the dust storm drive with your headlights on and slow down. Do not stop on the roadway or on the emergency shoulder area. Pull completely off the roadway surface, stop, and turn off all vehicle lights and take your foot off of the brake.
9. Make sure your vehicle is in good condition. Ensure your head and tail lamps along with your turn signals are working properly. Replace worn out tires for better traction and maintain proper tire air pressure, replace worn out windshield wiper blades, keep windshield washer fluid topped off, and see that the brakes are in good condition.
10. Be prepared for unforeseen delays, such as flooded roads, construction or other traffic delays. Carry extra food and water in your vehicle.
11. If you suffer a mechanical breakdown or tire failure, remain calm, slow down, keep the steering wheel straight, and drive the vehicle to a safe area as far from traffic as possible.
12. ALWAYS wear your safety restraints.
13. Be patient and courteous. Remember other motorists are facing the same weather conditions as you.
Remember, Haboobs and Monsoons are very dangerous and should never be taken lightly. There are countless examples of folks not paying attention or who simply don't understand the intensity of either of these storms until it's too late. Be sure to always stay safe. It's the main priority.
When someone thinks of the most dangerous parts of the year
for teen drivers. Many would think it’s the winter months. The ice and snow can cause slick roads. But really,
summer time is the worst for teen drivers.
AAA says seven of the top 10 deadliest days for teen driving happen during the
summer months, when kids are out of school and spending time hanging out with
friends. "Summer can be a fun
season for teens, but it can also have the highest fatality rates," said
Michelle Chaka, a safety researcher with Ford. The automaker's research shows many more teens died in the summer months of 2011
compared with the winter months.
Ford released a survey showing that teens often mimic their parents'
behavior behind the wheel. So if you text and drive or chat on the phone and
drive, you pretty much should assume Junior is doing the same thing when he's
out of your eyesight.
Several non-profit groups which focus on
teen driving safety have issued press releases in the past month, alerting the public that the dangerous months
are coming. Some groups try to scare
teens into being more responsible behind the wheel by hosting gruesome role
playing events that show the aftermath of a fatal accident. Some businesses want parents to buy their
gadget – an app that blocks texting, for example, or a GPS unit that tracks
where your teen is driving.
While there is no silver bullet that can guarantee your teen will stay safe
behind the wheel, parental involvement makes a huge difference. This is what
AAA suggests:
Restrict driving and
eliminate joy rides: For the first year of driving, parents
should limit their teen's solo drives to essential trips only, and only with parental
permission. No matter how much they protest, the first year after the get their
license should still be considered a training period.
Limit the number of
passengers: The number of crashes that happen with a large
posse of kids in the car is staggering. And when there's a large group of kids
in a car and something goes wrong, a bad situation can turn exponentially more
tragic. Fatal crashes for teens increase five-fold when there are two or more
teen passengers in the car. (The
nation was shocked earlier this year when a car full of teens from Ohio died in
a crash. The same sad situation happened just weeks ago in California. It is
likely to happen again this summer.)
Restrict night
driving: The risk of a fatal teen crash doubles at night. More
than half of night time crashes occur between 9 p.m. and midnight. Just because
your teen has his or her license doesn't mean you should abdicate your role as
chauffer. Either plan on continuing to pick up and drop off when your teen is
out, or plan for more sleepovers.
Establish a driving
agreement: Set clear consequences when your teen violates the
rules, and stick to the plan. AAA offers a sample teen driving agreement at www.TeenDriving.AAA.com.
Whatever
you do, don't assume that because the state has issued your child a driver's
license that he or she is now a safe driver. There is no such thing as a safe
teen driver – they are inexperienced behind the wheel and need years of
practice before they can truly be considered safe. The best thing parents can
do is monitor their children and educate them as they use their teen years to
practice essential driving skills.
Motorcycle accidents in Arizona is an epidemic. And all drivers have a duty while they are on the road. To respect other drivers and make sure they are cautious and aware while driving. Regardless if they are driving a car, truck, suv, or big rig. Using the excuse that they did not see the motorcyclist is unacceptable to say the least.
Motorcyclists ride for many reasons: From wanting to be on the open road, to simply wanting to save gas because of the rising prices. Regardless, all motorcyclists take precautions to know they are always in the safest possible place they could be while on the road.
What Can People Do to Start Seeing Motorcycles?
Many people are aware of the Start Seeing Motorcycles bumper sticker. Sadly, many people who display that bumper sticker have lost loved ones or have been impacted by a motorcycle accident. Motor vehicle operators need to take the following steps to ensure motorcyclists are safe on the road.
Share the road with motorcycles.
Obey traffic rules. One negligent action can harm someone.
Allow enough cushion between cars and motorcycles. Cars take longer to stop and a slow reaction time could cause injury to a motorcyclist.
Watch for motorcycles.
There are many action groups dedicated to inform the public about the important steps people can take to afford motorcyclists the same road rights as other vehicles.
Motorcycle accidents happen more often than many think. Many times, when a car or truck is involved with the motorcycle, the excuse is always, "they didn't see you" which is horrible. Take these precautions below to help you stay safe while out riding and enjoying the open road.
-
Wearing a helmet is a lifesaver: The leading cause of death in
motorcycle accidents is head injury. A motorcyclist who isn’t wearing
one is 40% more likely to die of a head injury if involved in an
accident.
- Take a safety course: Brushing up on your cycling skills
though you’ve likely been riding for awhile is always good. Not only can
it help prevent accidents, but it can reduce your risk of getting
seriously injured.
- Always check your T-CLOCS: What is T-CLOCS? It means to
check your Tires, Wheels, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, and Stand
before you get on your bike.
- Always be aware of your surroundings and your environment:
Stay alert of other vehicles around you at all times, keep a look out
for hazards on the roads such as oil spills or grease spots, and always
check in on how the weather is going to be before you head out to ride.
- See more at:
http://www.zacharlawblog.com/2012/05/stay-safe-while-riding-your-motorcycle-safety-tips.html#sthash.pLQWGoyU.dpuf
-Wearing a helmet is a lifesaver: The leading cause of death in motorcycle accidents is head injury.
A motorcyclist who isn’t wearing one is 40% more likely to die of a head injury if involved in an accident.
- Take a safety course: Brushing up on your cycling skills though you’ve likely been riding for awhile is always good. Not only can it help prevent accidents, but it can reduce your risk of getting seriously injured.
- Always check your T-CLOCS: What is T-CLOCS? It means to check your Tires, Wheels, Controls, Lights, Oil, Chassis, and Stand before you get on your bike.
- Always be aware of your surroundings and your environment: Stay alert of other vehicles around you at all times, keep a look out for hazards on the roads such as oil spills or grease spots, and always check in on how the weather is going to be before you head out to ride.
