A somewhat novel idea in Minnesota is saving lives by keeping cars from crossing the median during accidents. A little over 15 miles of cable fencing has been strung up on highways around the Twin Cities area this year. The state has been installing the cable fencing since 2004, and covers a total of 116 miles of highway and road medians. Minnesota plans to add another 50 miles next year.

The role of the cable fencing is simple: When a vehicle loses control and leaves the highway, the 42-inch-tall fencing keeps the vehicle from crossing the median or flying off the highway. It slows a vehicle enough so that the driver can walk away. The fencing is strung along steel posts that are designed to snap off at the base and slide into a sleeve. They are easily replaced after an accident, and highway workers replace them as quickly as possible.

The cables are safer than concrete medians that can total vehicles and injure the passengers. One pickup truck driver who hit a patch of black ice at 50 miles per hour says that when she hit the cable it bounced her back onto the highway. She was able to stop and pull over. While the truck was damaged, it was minor compared to what a concrete median would have done.

The sections of highway where the fencing is placed have seen fatalities caused by vehicle accidents drop nearly to zero.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

An icy patch on a rural road in Indiana is being blamed for an accident involving a car and a school bus packed full of junior high and high school students on Wednesday morning. According to students on the bus, a car slid into the path of the school bus, and the vehicles hit head on. The bus then rolled onto its side.

One of the students on the bus said that several students were injured. One was bleeding badly and one appeared to have a broken arm. The student who told the Herald Bulletin newspaper this also said he was being taken to the hospital because of pain in his legs. It's unknown how many students were injured, but there were 50 on the bus at the time of the accident.

On a somewhat related note, the school district had delayed classes two hours because of the icy roads.

If you have a student who has been injured in an auto accident or bus accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

According to a report detailed by National Public Radio, the number one cause of accidental death of children worldwide is traffic accidents. While almost one million children are killed every year in various kinds of accidents, traffic accidents kill almost 830,000. According to Dr. Etienne Krug, director of the Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention at the World Health Organization, "It is like wiping out the entire child and adolescent population of Chicago every year."

These fatalities are mostly found in developing countries, especially in Africa, where road traffic education is still in its infancy. A new road being built in a village may be a good thing for the community as a whole, but the villagers may not understand the dangers that come with motorized traffic on that road. In Asia, Dr. Krug notes the main danger is two-wheeled traffic, such as motorcycles. He says it is not uncommon to see as many as four or five people on one motorcycle. When there is an accident, there are often severe injuries or fatalities.

Even in the US where injury and death is reduced by safety features like seatbelts, child car seats and helmets, traffic accidents remain the main cause of adolescent fatalities.

The CDC and WHO recommend that adolescent injury prevention should be included with child health and child survival programs already in place.

Other leading causes of death for children include drowning, burns, falls, and poisoning.

If your child has been seriously injured or killed as the result of a traffic accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

While the military is currently looking for ways to reduce the number of soldiers killed on motorcycles across the country, an 18-year-old Fort Carson soldier was involved in a street race on Sunday that killed a couple riding a motorcycle.

Colorado Springs police say the soldier was driving a Pontiac Grand Prix and racing another vehicle on northbound South Academy Boulevard shortly after 3:00 pm. The Pontiac swerved into the southbound lane and slammed into a Harley Davidson, killing both riders. Neither rider was wearing a helmet.

The soldier has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and engaging in a speed contest. "Engaging in a speed contest" is defined as racing on a road or highway at high rates of speed, and changing lanes to gain advantage.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident or motorcycle accident, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area.

Icy conditions, the result of cold weather blasting through Indiana, caused literally dozens of auto accidents on Monday. Police reported almost 75 accidents throughout the Wabash Valley that resulted in four deaths.

In Vermillion County, icy conditions on State Road 63 resulted in emergency crews responding to 20 separate calls of vehicles sliding off the roads. In Vigo County, a flipped SUV shut down Highway 40 for a short time.

Terre Haute police shut down roadways, closed off the overpass, and got sand and ice trucks to help. However, two of the accidents in Terre Haute were deadly.

People in many parts of the country need to expect that ice on the roads will be part of their lives for the next several months. The best way to avoid accidents on icy roads is to slow down.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced auto accident attorney in your area.

A 15-year-old boy, driving without a license or permit, took four other people on a joyride near Long Grove, Illinois, lost control of the vehicle, launched across the road, and crashed into some trees. Both the driver and a 14-year-old girl were killed. She was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected. The three others, 15, 13, and 8-year-old brothers, were airlifted in critical condition to area hospitals.

The girl's family said she was supposed to be going to the store and didn't know she was in the car with the driver. The owner of the car said she loaned it to her friend because she thought he was 18. Charges may be filed against her.

The underage driver was reportedly speeding down a road known for several fatal crashes in the past. The road has hills people will try to catch air on, so they drive as fast as they can. People in the area would like something done about the design of the road, even if it means taking out the hills.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident with an underage driver, please contact an experienced auto accident attorney in your area.

A driver lost control of his car and hit a bridge in York County, Pennsylvania on Sunday night. The 60 foot long bridge that connects Routes 74 and 194 in Washington Township then collapsed. The driver was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

The bridge that collapsed was slated for replacement in 2011. It was built in the 1930s. Over two hundred cars cross the bridge everyday and there is no word on how long it will take or how much it will cost to repair the bridge.

It is possible that the number of injuries, deaths, and destruction in these types of accidents will increase due to the amount of aging bridges and overpasses in this country. It has been estimated that nearly two-thirds of the bridges and overpasses need some kind of update to keep them standing in the near future.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

For the second time this week, a Philadelphia police officer was rammed by a suspected drunk driver. Just before 2:00 am Thursday, an officer responding to a report of a robbery was crossing an intersection when his cruiser was hit. The car then hit several other parked vehicles. He was treated for neck and back injuries at the hospital and released. The driver of the car that hit the officer is being held for suspicion of DUI.

Another officer in a patrol car was hit earlier this week by a drunk driver and died of his injuries. The driver who hit the officer has been charged with third degree murder, homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by someone's negligence, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

Say goodbye to summer. Freezing rain is being blamed on several accidents around the La Crosse, Wisconsin area on Monday and Tuesday. The first accident involved a semi that lost control on a bridge, hit two cars then rolled onto its side. The truck driver was uninjured and one of the drivers of the automobiles had minor injuries. Another accident involving a semi and a pickup truck partially blocked the I-90.

There were between 25 and 30 accidents reported in the La Crosse area on Tuesday morning alone, and La Crosse County Dispatch Center officials said they received another hundred calls reporting accidents and icy road conditions.

It seems to take everyone a little while to get used to driving in conditions involving ice or snow. The best thing you can do is slow down and be aware of other vehicles around you, and be prepared for driving in conditions like this for the next several months. Still, sometimes accidents are unavoidable.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident or truck accident due to another party's reckless driving in icy conditions, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

A speeding car lost control and slammed into a house in Flint, Michigan on Wednesday night killing two of the three occupants in the vehicle. The survivor was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses said the car was traveling around 100 mph when the driver lost control. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to a stop inside the living room of the unoccupied house. Police say the 25-year-old driver, who died at the scene, was unlicensed. The three men in the vehicle were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, and police are still investigating to see if alcohol was a factor.

The house was rocked off its foundation in the crash due to the force the car hit it with.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced auto accident attorney in your area.

An auto accident killed five people, including four cheerleaders late Friday night in Tennessee. The four cheerleaders had just left a high school football game where they had been cheering.

According to police, the SUV in which the four girls were traveling hydroplaned on a wet, foggy road and then flipped on its side. The SUV then collided with another car before bursting into flames. None of the four girls were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident, and at least one of them was ejected. One person in the other vehicle was killed, and another passenger reportedly lost her unborn child due to injuries sustained.

Due to their high center of gravity, SUVs are more likely to roll over than are other vehicles. Add driver inexperience, a wet highway, and not wearing seatbelts, and this tragedy had all the hallmarks for what experts, adults, and the media tell the population every year are some of the biggest driving risks.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident or SUV rollover, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney in your area.

A five-year-old boy was killed and his grandmother is in critical condition after the car they were in crashed into a house in a Sacramento County, California suburb on Tuesday. The boy was allegedly sitting on his grandmother's lap at the time of the accident. She was driving the 1996 Toyota Camry at a low speed when it hit the house 40 feet from the street. The boy's other grandmother says the boy should have been in the back seat. "As far as I am concerned, she killed him."

Airbags deployed during the automobile accident, but there was no car seat for the boy found in the Camry, and his grandmother was not wearing her seatbelt. While the grandmother is being tested for drugs and alcohol, the police do not think that was a factor in the crash. However, she was driving on a suspended license.

The police have once again had to state the obvious: that it is unsafe to drive with a small child in the front seat or on your lap.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

An 85-year-old driving her vehicle the wrong way on I-44 near Joplin, Missouri hit another vehicle head-on killing both drivers. The 70-year-old driver of the other vehicle is reported to have pulled out to try and pass a tractor trailer when she was hit.

The accident occurred ten minutes after police first received a report of a driver heading the wrong way in the westbound lands. Just before the accident, another driver was forced off the road by the wrong-way vehicle. That driver suffered minor injuries.

While many accidents have been caused by wrong-way drivers, this particular accident may raise the question of when are people too old to be driving. Should an 85-year-old woman still be allowed to get behind the wheel? What about a 70-year-old? Or is this simply a matter of both vehicles being in the wrong place at the wrong time? After forcing a vehicle off the road just before the accident, one might think the elderly driver would have pulled over. Or maybe this is just wishful thinking.

Research done on age-related driving and accidents has shown that there is an increased risk of accidents when people hit 65. Though age and the way one feels is certainly subjective (an 80-year-old may be in better shape to drive than a 60-year-old), senior citizens are required to go through more driving tests than younger drivers are – at least in some states. Other states mandatory driving tests have been shot down by senior citizen lobbying groups, such as AARP, who find the tests discriminatory.

Though different state and government agencies can try different things to try and screen out older drivers who may be more likely to cause an accident due to their age, the nation needs to come to terms with the fact that the aging Baby Boomers will still have their licenses and their cars for many more years. More elderly drivers may mean more age-related auto accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced auto accident attorney in your area.

Emilio Navaira, the Tejano singer who was critically injured in a bus accident earlier this year, was injured in another accident this week in San Antonio, Texas.

Navaira and his wife were going to the doctor on Wednesday when a pickup truck turned in front of them. After the auto accident, both were taken to the hospital and kept overnight for observation. Navaira's brother said both were fined, but shaken up.

Navaira and his bandmates were involved in a crash on Easter Sunday when their tour bus hit traffic barrels on the highway near Houston. Navaira, who was driving under the influence, was thrown through the windshield.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, this was a really bad weekend to be on the roads. Beginning early Saturday morning, the weekend saw the deaths of eight people involved in auto accidents in parts of Northern Arizona.

The DPS reports:

• At 1:30am, a two vehicle crash killed the driver of a Chevrolet pickup
  
• At 10:30am, a single vehicle accident killed the driver of a Buick who swerved to avoid another car
  
• At 7:14pm, a hit-and-run accident killed the passenger in a vehicle after he was partially ejected
  
• Shortly after, a driver was killed when his vehicle went off the road, hit a guard rail and overturned
  
• At 9:10pm, a single-vehicle accident killed an occupant of a vehicle that lost control and rolled several times
  
• At 9:30pm, another single-vehicle accident involving a Pontiac GTO killed the driver when the vehicle lost control after hitting a drainage ditch and traffic control sign
  
• Early Sunday, an accident involving a tractor trailer and several other vehicles killed two
  

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an auto accident, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

A teenager riding as a passenger in an SUV and a motorcyclist were killed in an accident on Monday in Zanesville, Ohio, which may have been the result of a hit and run just before the collision.

Authorities say that a driver involved in an accident just before 2:00 pm left the scene and was chased by motorcyclist, David Bailey, who had witnessed the accident. Though Bailey was not involved in that accident, he gave chase in an attempt to get the driver's license plate number. He was allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed when an SUV driven by Susan Jones attempted to make a left turn. Bailey then struck the passenger side of the SUV.

Bailey died at the scene, and the passenger of the SUV, Megan Custer, died later that night at the hospital.

The driver who allegedly left the scene of the first accident was identified as Randall William Heaghen. Heaghen has been interviewed, but has not been charged with anything.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

Three people were killed in an accident on Route 8 in Massachusetts on Friday afternoon near the Connecticut border. Four cars total were involved in the accident. Three of them were from Connecticut, and one from New York. The road was closed at the border between Massachusetts and Connecticut.

According to Massachusetts State Trooper John Zielinski, a man in a 1999 Chevy Blazer traveling southbound crossed the double yellow line and entered the northbound lane, where he sideswiped a 2006 Jaguar. The Blazer then completely entered the lane and hit a 1993 Chevy pickup truck. A 2007 BMW then rear ended the pickup truck. The driver of the Blazer and two men in the pickup truck were killed at the scene.

Authorities from both Massachusetts and Connecticut have been investigating the scene of the accident. It is still unclear what caused it.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

An SUV carrying six people crashed with a septic tank truck before both vehicles plunged into the Delta-Mendota Canal outside Westley, California on Tuesday. Five people are confirmed dead, and two are presumed to have died, though their bodies haven't been found. Police believe the missing bodies may have floated down the canal, have called off the search, and are waiting for them to float up.

According to witnesses, the SUV, carrying migrant workers, failed to stop at a stop sign and the septic truck was speeding. Both vehicles then smashed through a guardrail and plunged into the 20-foot deep canal.

Families of the deceased believe the police took too long to try to save those involved in the accident. However, police say it took 45 minutes for the dive team to get to the accident scene and the canal is known for its depth and the speed of the water, and any mistake could have ended in death for the dive team members.

According to Francis Mizuno of the San Luis Delta-Mendota Water Authority, there is an average of one accident a year at the canal.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

A new Maine statute went into effect on June 30^th that could punish those involved in fatal auto accidents if there is evidence that finds a driver acted "negligently" or "recklessly." Rep. Walter Wheeler, who sponsored the bill, says this will hold those involved in fatal accident more accountable if they caused someone's death. One of the reasons Wheeler sponsored the bill is because he believes current vehicular manslaughter laws are not as tough as they should be.

The new statute will allow the Secretary of State to suspend a person's license for at least three years. While it may be easier for drivers to be punished if they are found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the new statute may punish those who fall asleep at the wheel or weren't paying attention at the time of the accident.

However, this bill may have no effect on those accidents that occurred before 2008. This is cold comfort to the family of Berwick, Maine resident Deborah Archer, who was struck and killed in a hit and run. The driver of the van that hit Archer, Jason Brooks, was caught almost a month later. The charges filed against Brooks were $2000 bail and a class C charge of leaving the scene of an accident. Archer's family calls this a "mockery" and hopes the new law will have some effect on this case. However, Hancock County District Attorney Mike Povich says the charge is appropriate because the class C charge can land Brooks in prison for five years. Povich wonders at what point the act that causes the death should be criminalized. For example, does someone talking on the cell phone while they're driving constitute a criminal act if they are involved in an accident?

Povich also states that there used to be a law where a person was guilty of manslaughter if the driver "knowingly, negligently, or recklessly killed someone while they were committing a traffic infraction." The ten year prison penalty for this was repealed in 1997. The problem was that every driving infraction was a crime in cases where someone was killed, but the drivers were not necessarily being negligent, reckless, or otherwise trying to endanger when the accident took place. Povich admits that prosecutors had a difficult time due to lack of evidence, and that everything was labeled a crime.

If you have lost a loved one in an auto accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Twenty-one-year old Teresa Gonzalez has been awarded $5.64 million in a personal injury lawsuit stemming from an accident that occurred in 2001 in California. Teresa was only 15 when the family van she was riding in was hit by a commercial truck. The Dresick Farms truck allegedly ran a stop sign, hit the Gonzalez family van, which rolled several times. Teresa was literally struck in the face by the impact.

As a result of the accident, Teresa has endured over 20 facial surgeries to repair the damage done. She suffered several fractures to her skull and face, as well as a mild traumatic brain injury. Dresick Farms fought liability, but admitted responsibility shortly before the case was to go to trial. The trial lasted one month and was held solely to determine the amount Teresa was to receive.

The $5.62 million is thought to be the largest personal injury verdict in the history of Imperial County, California.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in an accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

Another tool to help determine what exactly occurred during an accident has been developed. An event data recorder, often referred to as a black box, in a car or truck provides what engineer Jim Graham, senior engineer at Graham Ryan Consulting, says is, "an electronic fingerprint of what happened" during a crash. This creates "an unbiased source of data" which can be used in court or by insurance agencies to determine who was at fault, or how the accident transpired.

Technology like this is especially useful for forensic engineers when trying to piece together why a pickup truck rolls off a road (using something called an inclinometer), or who caused an accident when both drivers claim to have been stopped. The event data recorder can also be used in construction equipment, such as in cranes that collapse or heavy machinery that catches fire.

Imagine how much guess work can be eliminated during investigation and resulting lawsuits with technology. While this has yet to make it into every vehicle on the road, or every piece of construction equipment, using event data recorders can help victims of accidents by showing the truth, and eliminate any ambiguity.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Daimler AG's 2008 Smart fortwo micro car received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) highest rating for front-end and side-impact testing. In rear-end crashes, the Smart received the second highest rating. This is the smallest car for sale in the US at eight feet, eight inches in length. The testing may address some of the concerns consumers have had about a two-seater car this size.

While the Smart received the rating of "good," the institute stated the front-end score cannot be compared across all weight classes. A larger car that didn't earn a good rating may in fact be safer than a small car like the Smart. However, institute president, Adrian Lund said that high-density urban areas where high speed impacts are less likely are more practical for the Smart. In cases like this, the Smart is a very safe car.

The tests simulate a frontal end crash at 40 miles per hour with a similar vehicle. A side impact simulation shows a crash at 31 miles per hour if the car is hit by a sports utility vehicle.

Earlier tests of Smart by the government gave it a five star rating, but in side impact tests the driver side door came unlatched. This required the government to note their concern for vehicle safety which will appear on the window stickers at dealerships. The concern is that occupants of the Smart will be ejected in accidents. The IIHS noted the driver side door also came unlatched, but said injury measurements on the dummy were low.

Smart Stats

Just over 6,000 Smart units were sold through the end of April, and the vehicle's automaker has stated there are over 30,000 reservations. It gets 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. It is three feet shorter and 700 pounds lighter than the Cooper Mini, weighing 1,800 pounds. It comes with a steel safety cage, four standard air bags, and has standard electronic stability to keep it from swerving off the road.

Dave Schembri, president of Smart USA, notes that the first question in people's minds isn't about fuel economy, but safety, when it comes to choosing a vehicle.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, even one involving the Smart, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Two families of those killed and injured in an Oconomowoc, Wisconsin accident have filed a wrongful death suit against former doctor Mark Benson. Jennifer Bukosky, her daughter Courtney Bella, and her unborn child, Sophia, were killed, and 10-year-old Deborah Gibbs was injured when Benson slammed into them. Twelve-year-old Zachary Bella sustained minor injuries.

Bukosky, a high school assistant principal, was stopped at a stoplight when Benson's Cadillac Escalade rammed into the back of the car. Bukosky was killed instantly. Courtney Bella was taken off life support the next day. Deborah Gibbs spent a week in the hospital before being released. Benson was allegedly intoxicated on prescription medication when he hit Bukosky's vehicle.

Benson was charged with three counts of homicide by the intoxicated use of a vehicle, and two counts of causing injury by operating while intoxicated and operating after revocation. Benson had received his third OWI and was driving two days after his license was revoked. He was held on one million dollars cash bail. There will be a hearing on freezing his assets today.

If you have been injured or suffered the loss of a loved one in an auto accident due to another party's negligence, you may be able to file a claim. Please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Dakota County (Minnesota) Sheriff's deputy, 29-year-old Joshua Williams, was found guilty of careless driving in an accident that killed a motorcyclist last August. He will be sentenced in May and may face 90 days in jail and a fine of $1000.

The accident occurred as Williams, who was in the final phase of a field training program, made a U-turn in front of 58-year-old Bill Wallace. Williams and his partner were on their way to a domestic disturbance call, but were having difficulty finding the address. Video from Williams' patrol car shows him making one U-turn heading south, and then another one in the bypass lane to head north again.

Wallace was on the way to his sister's house to watch a Minnesota Vikings pre-season game. He was taken by helicopter to the hospital with multiple injuries where he later died. His sister, Bonnie Pitsenburger, believes the punishment Williams received is too light and believes he should be held accountable for his actions. There is no word on what she'll do next.

If you have suffered the loss of a loved one in an auto or motorcycle accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an injury lawyer in your area.

Two teenagers were injured on Saturday trying to film a car stunt to post on YouTube.com. John Hock, 16, of Peoria, Arizona, planned to have his friends record him with their cell phone camera as he tried to send his car airborne at an intersection.

Hock was driving his 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse at speeds of 70 to 85 mph when he lost control of the car. The eclipse went off the road, and rolled over after hitting several trees. Hock was ejected from the car and has been hospitalized in life-threatening condition. His 17-year-old passenger, Laura Melton, was helped out of the totaled vehicle by friends who were following in another car.

Hock will have to forego seeing his attempted stunt on YouTube because his friends told investigators they did not film it. They were afraid of his high speeds.

It has been estimated that 16-year-olds, like John Hock, are three times more likely to be killed in an accident than any other age group. In 2006, only 30 percent of 16-year-olds had their driver's license. Graduated driver's licenses appear to have been one of the causes of the low number of licensed 16-year-olds, as well as the fact that fatalities among 15- to 20-year-olds has declined by 6.5 percent since their implementation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to the negligence of another driver, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an injury lawyer in your area.

Rebecca Livingston, a Uniontown, West Virginia teenager, was killed when the car she was riding in crashed into a sewer drain while rounding a curve. The driver of the car suffered "major injuries" and was taken to the hospital. Neither Livingston, nor the unidentified male driver, were wearing seatbelts. Both were ejected when the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier flipped after impact.

Seatbelt Laws

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seatbelt use stood at 82% of vehicle occupants. This is a slight increase from 81% in 2006. It is believed that part of the reason so many people are wearing their seatbelts is due to stricter law enforcement. While many states have primary, or standard, safety belt laws where a driver can be pulled over if they or their passengers are not wearing seatbelts, many more, such as West Virginia, only have secondary safety belt laws. This means that a driver can only be cited if they were pulled over for another traffic infraction.

While it may be a personal choice to wear a seatbelt, just as it is with motorcyclists and helmets, it is proven that they save lives. It's obviously unknown if a seatbelt would have saved Rebecca Livingston's life, or lessened the injuries of the male driver, but the chances of serious injury or death would have gone down had this been the case.

If you have been injured, or lost a loved one, in an auto accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

A four car accident in Chesterfield Township, Michigan killed three 17-year-olds, and injured three other people in what may have been a road rage incident.

The accident involved a school bus, a red sedan, a dark sedan, and a pickup truck with four teens inside it. Police allege the driver of the red sedan cut off the pickup truck because he was angry at how the teens were driving. The pickup and two other cars are reported to have been speeding down the road, playing chicken or racing just before the pickup was cut off. The pickup went after the red sedan, crossed the center line and hit the school bus almost head-on. Two of the 17-year-olds died at the scene and a third at the hospital. The driver of the pickup survived.

Students at L'Anse Creuse High School in Macomb, Michigan, where the four teens attended, found out just hours after the crash which happened midday.

If you have been injured, or have lost a loved one, in a car accident, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

An accident on Vail Pass near Vail, Colorado on Monday, killed one person and injured 22. As many as 75 cars were involved in the accident, the result of near whiteout conditions and probable speeding.

39-year-old Lance Melting had just left his home in Longmont hours earlier with his wife and four children. They were on their way to Disneyland when a tractor-trailer jackknifed and slid down the highway sideways. Melting's minivan hit the trailer, killing him instantly. His wife is in serious condition, and one of the children had minor injuries.

Chain Law Effective?

Colorado's chain law was in effect for Vail Pass when the accident occurred. However, one truck driver said that the chain law was in effect for only the eastbound lanes. He also said that the area, known as "the Narrows" is "notoriously bad" but that only one plow was visible, adding that he has never seen as poor quality of snow removal as it has been the last three years on the pass.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured in an auto accident, truck accident, or believe a loved one's death was the result of negligence, please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Former major league baseball player, Jim Leyritz, has been sued for wrongful death. This stems from an accident in December that left a 30-year-old woman dead, and Leyritz charged with DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage. Leyritz allegedly ran a red light and plowed his Ford Expedition into a Mitsubishi Montero, driven by Fredia Ann Veitch. Veitch was ejected and died at Broward General Medical Center. She was leaving her job as a bartender to return to her family. Leyritz bonded out of jail after being held for nine hours and has pleaded not guilty to all charges, but had a BAC of .14 above the legal limit of .08. He has also admitted that he was driving the car.

The suit, filed by the family of Veitch, seeks at least $15,000 in damages. The Veitch family attorney, Howard L. Pomerantz, stated, "Leyritz is personally guilty of intentional misconduct and/or gross negligence." Veitch was allegedly driving over the limit as well, but Pomerantz said her condition will have "no bearing" in the wrongful death suit.

If you have been injured, or lost a loved one, due to the negligence of someone driving under the influence, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

An accident that occurred in February 2004 has ushered in the creation of a new law in Washington. Called "Maria's Law," it increased the penalty for causing injury or death as a result of failing to secure a load. Instead of being a minor traffic citation with a maximum $250 fine it is now a gross misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Maria's Accident

The accident was caused by a piece of particleboard from an entertainment system that had fallen from a U-Haul trailer onto I-405. The piece of wood became airborne and crashed through the windshield of 24-year-old Maria Federici's Jeep Liberty. It glanced off the steering wheel and hit her in the face. As a result of the accident, Ferderici suffered brain damage, the loss of both eyes, and her sense of taste and smell. She requires a service dog and looks little like she did before the accident due to multiple surgeries.

The entertainment system was secured to the U-Haul by improvising ratchet strips to the outside. This was done because there was a lack of internal tie-down points inside the trailer. The driver, James Hefley, rented the U-Haul and did not stop when the entertainment system fell out. He was eventually found through a thumbprint on the particleboard and arrested.

Verdict

A jury eventually found that both Hefley and U-Haul were to blame for the accident and awarded Federici and her mother $15.51 million. Hefley has filed for bankruptcy, and U-Haul is appealing the verdict. Federici's lawyer stated, "We believe this result is appropriate because U-Haul manufactured the unsafe open trailer and rented it to Hefley without any guidance on load securement."

Maria's Law has already been used in the prosecution of two men who caused a fatal accident as the result of an unsecured load.

If you, or a loved one, have been involved in an auto accident due to someone's unsecured load, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released another round of SUV safety ratings, and while the news is better, it isn't good for all SUVs. The tests involved nine 4-door midsized models and how the vehicles responded to front, rear, and side crashes. The good news is that SUV safety is improving.

Test Results

Testing in 2001 showed only half of the SUVs tested earned good ratings in frontal crashes. This latest round showed all midsized models, except the Hummer H3, earning good ratings. The worst performers in side tests were the Kia Sorento, Jeep Liberty, and Jeep Wrangler 4-door. The best side crash performers were the Mazda CX-7 and CX-9, as well as the Mitsubishi Endeavor. However, the Mazdas and the Endeavor didn't fare as well with rear-end crash testing.

People often believe they will be safer in an SUV if they are involved in an accident. The IIHS looked at what injuries can occur when the SUV is struck from different positions. Head, neck, and chest protection were evaluated and the vehicles were given a rating. Those models that earned poor side crash ratings are SUVs that lack side airbags, which protect the torso.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

IIHS added ESC to their crash test research in 2007. ESC is a control system made up of sensors that continuously monitors how the vehicle responds to steering input. ESC then applies brakes and modulates an engine's power to keep the SUV traveling on the path the driver has indicated. IIHS research has shown that ESC reduces the risk of single-vehicle accidents ending in a fatality by 56% and multiple-vehicle accidents ending in a fatality by 32%. This feature also reduces single-vehicle rollovers by 80%. ECS is still an option in most SUVs, but the Nissan Murano has made it standard. This helped the Murano win the "Top Safety Pick" by the IIHS.

The Good News

Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan states that there is good news, even for the models that earned poor ratings in one or more category. Safety on these vehicles is improving, especially because more SUVs are equipped with ESC. And manufacturers of SUVs have moved quickly to add safety features, including side airbags.

If you, or a loved one, are in an auto accident involving an SUV, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area.

Thirty-eight year old Dawn Renae Diaz was awarded $22.5 million for injuries sustained in a 2006 auto accident in Ventura County, California. Prior to her injuries, Diaz was the head emergency-room nurse at Community Memorial Hospital.

Diaz was travelling south on Highway 101 when a collision occurred between a speeding Peterbilt box truck and a pickup truck travelling in the opposite direction. The collision caused the pickup to cross the center divider where it landed on top of Diaz's car. Diaz suffered severe brain injuries, was in a coma for two and a half months, and now has difficulty walking and speaking, and suffers double vision. She also requires around the clock care.

Defendants    

The defendants in the case are Jose Gerardo Carcamo, who drove the Peterbilt truck, and piockup truck driver, Karen Tagliaferri. The jury found that the two shared responsibility for the accident. Also at fault is Carcamo's employer, Sugar Transport of the Northwest. Sugar Transport has admitted that they did not give safety training to any of their drivers. Furthermore, Carcamo's previous employer had told Sugar Transport that he was fired for being an unsafe driver. Sugar Transport testified they hired Caracamo because they "needed to put bodies behind the wheel."

Dawn Renae Diaz

Over the course of the five-week trial, Diaz's former co-workers, including doctors and nurses, testified Diaz was a dedicated and hardworking caregiver. She started working in the hospital as a clerk, but when her potential was seen, she was encouraged to go to nursing school. Diaz had been working as a nurse for the last 12 years. She now lives with her mother in a mobile home. And she has lost custody of her daughter, Mikeala, because she is a single mother and can no longer care for her due to her injuries.

Of the $22.5 million award, $16 million will cover past and future medical and nursing care, and will help to cover the cost of a nanny for Mikeala. The rest of the award was given for physical pain, mental suffering, past medical expenses and lost wages.

If you, or a loved one, have suffered injuries sustained in an auto accident due to driver negligence, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area.

Every week, newspapers and newscasts across the country report on pedestrians who are injured and killed as a result of being struck by a vehicle. In rural and urban areas, on suburban streets, and even highways, lives are changed in an instant. Though the percentage of pedestrian fatalities and injuries is down from those ten years earlier, the numbers are still in the thousands.

2006 Statistics (from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration)

• 42,642 pedestrians injured
  
• 4,748 pedestrians killed
  
• Every nine minutes, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic accident
  
• Every 110 minutes, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident
  

The NHTSA statistics also show that a majority of pedestrian fatalities (74%) occurred in urban areas; 79% at non-intersect areas; 90% in normal weather conditions; and 69% at night.

While there are many occasions in which the pedestrians are at fault, drivers are taught to be especially careful when people who are walking or riding bikes are around. However, pedestrians must be aware of traffic around them, and act safely.

Safety Reminders

• Drivers must yield right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the street in marked or unmarked crosswalks. Drivers must be extra cautious when turning at intersections, and where yielding right-of-way usually occurs.
  

  
   

  Pedestrians:
  

• Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible. If you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.
  
• Cross at designated crosswalks and look both ways before crossing.
  
• Increase visibility at night by carrying a flashlight or wearing retro-reflective clothing, which will highlight body movement.
  

Auto/pedestrian accidents happen for a variety of reasons, and at a variety of locations and times of day. However, determining the level of driver negligence also determines who might be at fault.

Driver Negligence

• Driver fails to pay attention
  
• Driver is speeding
  
• Driver fails to stop at crosswalks and give pedestrians right-of-way
  
• Driver has been drinking alcohol or taking drugs
  

And those pedestrians harmed by a vehicle can suffer a number of debilitating injuries, such as broken bones, brain or back injuries, and mental distress – as well being killed.

If you, or a loved one, has been struck by a vehicle and injured through driver negligence, please contact an experienced injury lawyer
in your area.

A new AAA report shows that auto accidents cost U.S. motorists $160 billion a year. This includes costs to property damage, lost earnings, medical costs, emergency services, delays in travel, and legal fees. The report states works out to $1,051 per person, nearly double the losses from the common gripe of highway congestion, which costs $430 per person.

While the AAA report shows the average cost per person, it also shows residents of smaller cities face a larger burden of per-person costs. Accidents in the Little Rock-North Little Rock, Arkansas region cost $1.4 billion, or $2,258 per person, while New York City's region costs $18 billion, or $962 per person.

Because so many auto accidents happen a year, killing and injuring thousands of people, most do not consider them a major problem unless personally involved. However, AAA president, Robert L. Darbelnet, says, "It's time for motor vehicle crashes to be viewed as the public health threat they are." AAA is pushing lawmakers to make safety a higher priority in their transportation planning, as well as impose stiffer penalties on drunken and impaired driving. AAA also hopes more states pass seat belt laws to save more lives.

When you are involved in an auto accident, it will cost you something, even if it's only time out of your day. However, when you are involved in more serious accidents, those costs can turn into real financial strains. If you feel that you were involved in an auto accident where the other party's neglect was to blame, you have the right to compensation, especially if your injuries caused you to lose wages, or more. Please contact the Accident Lawyers Network to find an experienced lawyer in your area.