Car Accidents

Preventing Traffic Crashes: NHTSA Unveils Enhanced 5-Star Safety Rating System for New Vehicles

October 5, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In an effort to ensure that automakers are manufacturing safer cars and preventing auto defects, the NHTSA now has an improved 5-Star Safety Ratings System for new motor vehicles. The more stars a vehicle receives, the safer the vehicle. Hopefully, this will decrease the number of Washington DC car accidents.

Under the 5-Star Safety Ratings System:
• Side pole crash testing will be assessed.
• Crash prevention-technologies will be evaluated.
• Female crash test dummies will be used when simulating crash scenes involving women.

• There will be improved crash data.

The new safety rating system assesses the safety of passenger vehicles, such as vans, cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs, in the areas of side crash, frontal crash, and rollover resistance. An Overall Vehicle Score for each auto tested combines test results for all three areas and compares the results with other autos’ average injury risk and rollover potential.

NHTSA is suggesting that buyers look at motor vehicles that come with crash avoidance technologies, such as Lane departure warning (LDW), Electronic stability control, and Forward collision warning (FCW), that satisfy the 5-Star Safety Ratings minimum performance tests.

Under the new rating system, only the Hyundai Sonata and BMW 5 Series have earned 5-star ratings for 2011 models. More vehicles received 5 stars under the old rating system. NHTSA still has to test 22 more 2011 models.

Auto Products Liability

Our Washington DC products liability law firm wants to remind you that you can pursue financial recovery from an auto manufacturer if an auto defect or malfunction causes a DC car crash that results in injury or death.

Examples of auto defects:
• Seat belt defects
• Air bag defects
• Structural defects
• Weak roofs
• Seatback collapse
• Tire defects
• Window defects
• Sudden unintended acceleration

Hopefully this enhanced rating system will compel auto manufacturers to make safer cars.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Rolls Out Upgraded 5-Star Vehicle Safety Ratings System, NHTSA, October 5, 2010
New U.S. crash tests: Only Hyundai Sonata, BMW 5 get 5 stars, USA Today, October 5, 2010
Related Web Resources:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Maryland Accident Law Blog

Maryland Car Accident Attorney

US DOT Holds Second Annual Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC

September 22, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

At this year’s Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC, US Department of Transportation officials, legislators, automakers, researchers, law enforcement workers, and traffic crash victims are once again getting together to figure out how to combat distracted driving and decrease the number of motor vehicle crashes that happen each year. US Transportation RayLaHood has called the problem of distracted driving an “epidemic” and he wants a federal law that will crack down on multitasking motorists.

Distracted driving can consist of a number of different activities that a motorist might engage in that takes his/her attention from driving. Text messaging, talking on a cell phone, dealing with the family dog, reading, surfing the Internet, watching movies on a laptop, scrolling through an iPod, fiddling with the radio dial, shaving, eating, and getting into an argument with someone else in the car are all examples of distracted driving acts that can cause the motorist to lose focus and become involved in a car crash, truck accident, bus collision, or pedestrian accident.

At the summit, Secretary LaHood announced new rules that would restrict hazmat truckers from texting and cell phone use for hazmat truckers. He also said that a final rule barring commercial truckers and bus drivers from texting will soon be published.

2009 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Distracted Driving Data:

• 5,474 deaths
• 448,000 injuries
• Teen drivers make up the largest portion of distracted drivers
• 16% of deadly crashes and 20% of injury accidents involved distracted drivers

It is not uncommon for The District’s busy residents to multitask. Politicians, business persons, students, government officials, and others have too much to do and often in too little time. However, distracted driving can cause Washington DC traffic crashes that can result in serious injuries and deaths for those involved.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces 2009 Distracted Driving Fatality and Injury Numbers Prior to National Distracted Driving Summit, NHTSA, September 20, 2010
Texting rules to toughen for hazmat truckers, Land Line, September 21, 2010
LaHood Pushes Federal Law to Quell ‘Epidemic’ of Distracted Driving, PBS, September 21, 2010
Related Web Resources:

Distracted Driving 2009, Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)

Distraction.gov

Maryland Accident Law Blog

Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Washington DC and Baltimore Motorists Rank at Bottom of Allstate’s List of Best Drivers Report

September 8, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to Allstate Insurance, Baltimore and Washington DC rank second to last respectively among the country’s 200 largest cities when it comes to having the best drivers. While drivers in Fort Collins, Colorado, the city that ranked number one, on average get into car accidents just once every 14.5 years, District drivers get into Washington DC car accidents approximately once every 5.1 years—a 96% higher rate than that of the average US motorist. Meantime, Baltimore motorists are 79% more likely to get into a Maryland car accident than the average US driver. The two cities’ rankings were the same as from the year before.

Our Maryland and Washington DC car accident law firm wants to remind you that we offer free case evaluations to traffic accident victims and their families in both states. It is important that you have an injury team advocating on your behalf to ensure that you receive all the personal injury and wrongful death recovery owed yo you.

Steps that you can take to avoid causing a Washington DC motor vehicle crash:
• Don’t drive drunk
• Make sure that your vehicle is up to date on all maintenance checks
• Don’t text message while driving
• Avoid speeding
• Avoid following too closely behind the car in front of you
• Don’t let your anger get the better of you and turn into an aggressive driver
• Adjust your driving according to the weather, road, and traffic conditions
• Keep both eyes on the road
• Avoid distracted driving
Sixth Annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report™” Reveals New Safest Driving City, Allstate, September 22, 2010

Download the Report (PDF)

Related Web Resources:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

70 Rules of Defensive Driving, Roadtrip America

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

US DOT Cracks Down on Drunk Driving to Decrease Number of Car Accidents

August 31, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Through Labor Day, a nationwide campaign will be in effect to discourage people from driving drunk. The U.S. Department of Transportation launched the yearly campaign on August 25th. Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. is geared towards getting drunken motorists off the road. Thousands of police agencies across the US are taking part. It is important that motorists drive carefully to avoid causing Washington DC car accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that up to 17 million people have driven while inebriated in the last year. The NHTSA surveyed 6,999 people in 2008. Among its findings:

• 20% had driven within two hours of having an alcoholic drink.

Ford, Chrysler, and Toyota Announce Auto Recalls

July 9, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

More recalls announced by big auto manufacturers. Ford says it is recalling 33,700 Transit Connect small commercial vans because an interior liner does not meet all safety requirements for head protection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that this auto defect increases an occupant’s risk of injury during a car accident.

Ford is telling its dealers to stop delivering the vehicles, manufactured between December 2008 and May 2010, until a revised head protection can be installed.

In other recall news, Chrysler is recalling up to 22,000 autos, including certain 2010 Jeep Liberty and Wrangler, Ram 1500 trucks, and Dodge Nitro, that were made in April and May 2010. The vehicles may have an improper fluid tube that can cause break fluid leaks.

Washington DC Car Accident Involving Metro Bus Causes Injuries

July 6, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

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

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

With Summer Here There Are Steps Teen Drivers Can Take to Avoid Causing Washington DC Car Accidents

June 23, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the most dangerous time for drivers in the 15 – 20 age group—not to mention that car crashes are the number one cause of all teen fatalities. Traffic safety experts say that one reason for the increase in teen traffic deaths during this time of the year is that with school out many teenagers have more free time on their hands without parental supervision and later curfews. All of these factors can lead to more hours spent on the road at night, a period of day where teens are at higher risk of crashing their motor vehicles.

Summer parties and more social outings can also turn underage drinking into a greater concern now than during the regular school year. According to the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, which combats underage drinking and drunk driving in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia, there is a 50% increase in teen drunk driving fatalities during the summertime.

Steps that teens can take to prevent injury to themselves or others in a Washington DC traffic crash:

• Don’t drink and drive
• Don’t talk on the cell phone or text message while driving
• Avoid driving late at night or when you are tried
• Obey the speed limit
• Wear your seat belt

It is important that parents supervise their teens’ driving habits, while making sure that they are educated about the dangers of careless and reckless driving. Motorists can be held liable for Washington DC personal injury or wrongful death in the event that their negligence hurts or kills another person.

Teen driver risks in high gear over summer, USA Today, June 21, 2010

Summer Months Deadliest for Teen Drivers, Washington Regional Alcohol Program, May 25, 2010 (PDF)

Related Web Resources:

Teen Driving

Teen Drivers, CDC
Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Washington DC Stays Vigilant in Fight to Prevent Distracted Driving Accidents

June 19, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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

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

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

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

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

Region’s Distracted Driving Crackdown Gets High Marks, WJLA, June 16, 2010
Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs, GHSA
Related Web Resources:

District Department of Transportation

AAA Exchange

Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog

Washington DC Motor Vehicle Crash Leaves One Person Dead and Six Others Injured

April 22, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A Washington DC traffic crash involving a van and a Toyota Camry has resulted in six injuries and one death. The auto accident occurred at around 7pm on Monday in Southeast DC.

According to witnesses, a speeding van drove over the center median on Alabama Avenue and into the path of an oncoming Toyota. The van rolled over a number of times before catching fire. Some 50 fire workers arrived at the crash scene where utility wires had been knocked down and there was a fuel spill.

The Camry’s driver, 37-year-old Mary Elizabeth Wimbush, died at the crash site. Four children who were riding in the car sustained serious injuries. One of the child victims, a 2-year-old girl, was ejected from the vehicle. All of them were taken to Children’s National Medical Center and admitted in critical condition.

68-Year-old Mount Pleasant Woman Killed in Bicycle Accident with DC Guard Truck

April 20, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Constance Holden, 68, died on April 12 after she was in a Washington DC bicycle collision with a five-ton truck. The Washington DC truck crash occurred at the intersection of 12th Street and New York Avenue, NW.

The truck involved in the catastrophic traffic accident was a DC National Guard truck. The vehicle was doing motorcade security work for the Nuclear Security Summit.

The cause of the Washington DC truck accident has yet to be determined. The National Guard vehicle was accompanied by a human escort as it made its way through crowds.

Washington DC Bicycle Accidents

Without air bags, seat belts, and the body of a motor vehicle to protect a cyclist from the impact of collision, he or she is at risk of serious injury in the event of a traffic crash. Wearing a bicycle helmet and protective clothing is not enough to prevent serious injuries and deaths.

While bicyclist negligence is a common cause of bicycle crashes, many bicycle injuries and deaths happen because the driver of the vehicle involved was negligent, reckless, distracted, or careless. Unfortunately, many motorists forget that they share the roads with pedalcyclists, and they may not watch out for them or notice when they are there.

Common causes of bicycle crashes involving negligent drivers:

• Pulling out onto street in front of a pedalcyclist
• Attempting to turn in front of the bicyclist
• Driver inattention
• Distracted driving
• Failure to yield at an intersection
• Failure to stop at a red light
• Running a stop sign
• Neglecting to look both ways before proceeding
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Following too closely
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Texting while driving
• Talking on a cell phone
Bicyclist Dies in Collision With DC Guard Truck, NBC Washington, April 13, 2010
Cyclist killed in collision with nuclear summit motorcade, CNN, April 13, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Bicycle Map, District Department of Transportation
Bicycles, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration