Car Accidents

US News & World Report Ranks Washington DC as Safest Place for Teen Drivers

March 20, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

US News & World Report has just put out its first Best States for Teen Drivers ranking and the District of Columbia tops the list. One reason for this is that Washington DC has some of the strictest laws governing teen drivers and their driving requirements. The state of Maryland placed 4th. This is good news for Washington DC and Maryland teen drivers, considering that car accidents are considered the number one cause of fatalities to teens in the 16-19 age group. Over 4,000 teenagers die every year.

That said, there is always more that can be done to prevent the number of Washington DC car accidents involving teen drivers.

Per a recent study about teen drivers by Allstate Foundation:

• 61% of teens are concerned they might get involved in a car accident
• 82% of teen drivers say that they use a cell phone when operating a motor vehicle
• 42% say that they text message and instant message when driving
• 65% of teenaged drivers think that they are good motorists that pay attention when driving
• Parents are the #1 influence when it comes to teenage drivers

It is so important that teens aren’t distracted when driving. Learning how to drive safely and correctly is challenging enough without the dangers posed by cell phone conversations, text messages, alcohol, or drugs.

Washington DC has a graduated licensing program (Gradual Rearing of Adult Drivers) that imposes certain temporary restrictions on young drivers so that they can gradually gain experience. Also, DC drivers with a learner’s permit are banned from using any kind of cell phone while driving and all Washington DC drivers are prohibited from texting and talking on a handheld cell phone.

D.C. Tops New Ranking of Safest Places for Teen Drivers, US News & World Report, March 18, 2010
U.S. News Media Group and Allstate Insurance Company Release 2010 Best States for Teen Drivers, PR Newswire, March 18, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Teen Drivers, CDC
The Graduated Licensing Program, District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles
Allstate Foundation

33,963 US Highway Deaths in 2009, Reports US DOT

March 17, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of US traffic fatalities dropped to 33,963 in 2009. That’s an 8.9% decrease from 2008 when there were 37,261 highway deaths. This is also the lowest that the US traffic fatality figure has dropped down to since 1994, and the 15th quarter in a row that there has been a decrease.

While National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland called the continued decrease in traffic deaths encouraging, he says that the government will keep working hard to keep bringing the death toll down. The NHTSA took aggressive action last year to stop motorists from drinking with its Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest campaign. It’s Click It or Ticket campaign cited people for not putting on their seat belt. The federal government also made great strides toward discouraging distracted driving—especially cell phone use and text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.

Our Washington DC personal injury lawyers applaud the government’s effort to lower the number of traffic deaths. We also are in agreement that there is more than can be done to encourage drivers to operate their cars responsibly so that more vehicle occupants and pedestrians don’t get hurt or die unnecessarily.

Just last week, US Senate majority Leader Harry Reid’s wife and daughter were injured in a semi-truck crash near Washington DC. Landra Reid, 69, and Lara Barringer, 49, received medical attention after they were struck by a tractor-trailer.

Landra suffered a broken back, nose, and neck, while Lana, who sustained cuts, was examined by a neurologist because she has been experiencing dizziness. Trucker Alan W. Snader was charged with reckless driving for his role in the tractor-trailer crash.

Traffic Fatalities for 2009 Reach Record Low, NHTSA, March 11, 2010
Reid’s wife, daughter recovering from truck crash, Associated Press, March 16, 2010
Related Web Resources:

Early estimate of motor vehicle traffic fatalities in 2009, NHTSA (PDF)

District Department of Transportation

Preventing Washington DC Auto Products Liability: Latest Toyota Recalls Over Floor Mat and Gas Pedal Defects Have Consumers Worried

January 31, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In less than two weeks, Toyota has recalled 3.4 million vehicles in the US over accelerator-related auto defects. The first recall, involving 2.3 million vehicles, was announced because of a sticky gas pedal problem. Toyota has recalled 1.9 million vehicles over the same problem in Europe and China.

That recall was followed by the announcement this week that an earlier recall, involving floor mats that a gas pedal can get stuck on while the car is running, had been expanded. 1.1 million autos are joining the list of 4.3 million vehicles that were recalled last November—adding up to a grand total of 5.4 million Toyota vehicles that may possess this possible vehicle defect.

On Saturday, Toyota told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it had come up with a fix to the sticking gas pedal problem. Details would be announced on Monday. The auto manufacturer’s reputation has been seriously tarnished in the wake of so many safety issues and auto defects.

The floor mat-gas pedal defect was responsible for the August deaths of four family members who were riding a Lexus that not only accelerated to speeds of over 100 mph but also could not be stopped. It turns out the floor mat had jammed the gas pedal. In December, another four people died during a single-vehicle Toyota car crash involved what appears to by a runaway Toyota. This time, the floor mat had been removed from the driver’s side. ABC News reports that there have been over 60 Toyota runaway car accidents in the last few months.

Accelerator-related defects can cause serious Washington DC personal injuries and may be grounds for an auto products liability lawsuit. While recalls are positive in the sense that an auto defect can be fixed, in many instances, the car manufacturer may have waited until after serious injuries or fatalities had occurred before announcing the recall.

Toyota gas pedal fix blessed by government; parts could be at dealers next week, Los Angeles TImes, Los Angeles Times, January 30, 2010
Toyota recall list: What to do if your gas pedal sticks, Christian Science Monitor, January 27, 2010
Toyota recall: 2.3 million cars, CNN, January 22, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Toyota Motor Corp.

US Department on Transportation and National Safety Council Step Up Fight Against Distracted Driving with FocusDriven Advocacy Group

January 16, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The US Department of Transportation and the National Safety Council have created FocusDriven. This is the first national advocacy group focused on supporting distracted driving victims and raising awareness about the dangers this very bad driving habit presents to motorists and pedestrians. The group was developed as a result last year’s Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC. On its Web site, FocusDriven states that its vision is to save lives and prevent injuries by eliminating the use of cell phones while driving.

For awhile, motorists and lawmakers thought that using a cell phone wasn’t too dangerous as long a driver kept both hands on the wheel and used an earpiece or Bluetooth device. While there are accident statistics that indicate a higher crash risk when a driver uses a handheld cellular phone, rather than a hands-free device, the mounting data which proves that talking on any type of cellular device while operating a motor vehicle is just plain dangerous can no longer be ignored. Like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), FocusDriven wants everyone to fully comprehend that there is no doubt whatsoever that talking on a phone while driving can injure and kill people.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the NSC chose to announce creation of the advocacy group on Tuesday, exactly one year after the NSC called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. The US government also recently launched a federal Web site called Distraction.gov, which focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. LaHood says the Obama Administration is committed to “putting an end” to distracted driving.

Washington DC Car Accidents

In a busy city like Washington DC, it is not uncommon for motorists and pedestrians to multi-task while trying to manage busy careers, social calendars, and personal lives. Many people are wedded to their cell phones and PDAs, so it is not uncommon to make calls and send messages while commuting to and from work. Unfortunately, multi-tasking while operating a motor vehicle is a bad idea and can be considered negligent driving if someone is killed or hurt in a Washington DC motor vehicle collision as a result.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the National Safety Council Announce FocusDriven, January 12, 2010, (PDF)

Related Web Resources:

FocusDriven

Distraction.gov

National Safety Council

Driver of Vehicle Charlie Davies was Riding in During George Washington Parkway Car Crash Drank Alcohol, Say Police

December 31, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to police, the driver of the vehicle that US national soccer player Charlie Davies was riding when he was critically injured during a Washington DC car accident last October told them she consumed alcohol before the fatal collision.

Davis, 23, sustained serious bladder injuries and two fractures during the single-vehicle collision on October 13. 22-year-old Maryland resident Ashley Roberta, who was also a passenger, died from her injuries.

The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries. She also reportedly told police that she was adjusting her GPS unit when Roberta called out to her to “Watch out.” The vehicle then struck a guard rail close to Boundary Channel. The impact of the crash cut the vehicle in half.

With 77.7 Million People Expected to Hit the Road for the Holidays, Our Washington DC Car Accident Attorneys Would Like to Remind Motorists to Drive Safely

December 19, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to AAA, about 87.7 million people in the US are expected to travel at least 50 miles away from home this holiday season—77.7 million travelers by motor vehicle. In Washington DC, approximately 2.5 million people are expected to leave town and most of them plan on doing so by car. That’s 4 out of 10 Washingtonians, says AAA.

With many roads and freeways undoubtedly more crowded than usual, our Washington DC car crash lawyers would like to remind motorists to drive safely so that you aren’t involved in an auto collision. Common bad driving behaviors that cause Washington DC motor vehicle accidents and can be cause for personal injury claims or wrongful death lawsuits include:

• Drunk driving

Auto Products Liability: In Washington DC, US Supreme Court Rejects Ford Motor Corp’s Appeal Over $82.6 Million SUV Rollover Accident Verdict

December 2, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In Washington DC, the US Supreme Court has rejected Ford Motor Co’s appeal to reverse an $82.6 million auto products liability decision against the auto manufacturer. A jury initially award Benetta Buell-Wilson and her husband $356 million after a 2002 car crash caused her to become a paraplegic. A metal piece had fallen off the vehicle in front of Buell-Wilson’s 1997 Ford Explorer, which rolled over as she swerved the vehicle to avoid striking the object.

Ford has spent the last five years seeking to overturn the auto products liability verdict, which an appellate court later reduced to $82.6 million: $55 million for punitive damages, $5 million for loss of consortium, $18 million for noneconomic damages, and $4.6 million for economic damages.

The Supreme Court already returned the auto products liability lawsuit to the lower courts in 2007 following its Philip Morris USA v. Williams decision, which found that juries can’t make defendants pay punitive damages for harm suffered by people not connected to the case. An appeals court, however, determined that no modification of the previous ruling was necessary.

110,000 Toyota Pickup Trucks Recalled in Washington DC, Maryland, and 19 Other States Because of Worries that Excessive Rust Can Lead to Brake Failure and the Dislodging of Spare Tires

November 25, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is recalling 11,000 Toyota Tundra pickup trucks in the District of Columbia and 20 US states, including Maryland. The recall was announced due to concern that road salt can cause the vehicle’s frame to corrode excessively. The recall only affects Toyota Tundras, model years 2000 – 2003, registered in US states where chemical-de-icers are used on roads during winter weather.

The NHTSA says Toyota will replaced any damage to a vehicle’s frame or place a rust-resistant compound on the affected area. There is concern that corrosion may cause the vehicle’s spare tire, which is stored in the motor vehicle, to dislodge and fall onto the road (posing a potential road hazard) or on another vehicle. The development of rust on the vehicle can also lead to brake failure if the rear brake lines become damaged.

Considering that drivers need their brakes to work properly so that they can stop their vehicles, having brakes that don’t work properly can prove catastrophic. Brake failure can cause a vehicle to collide into another auto/solid, nonmoving object, strike a pedestrian, or drive into oncoming traffic.

The federal government has received at least 20 complaints that the corrosion has caused causing brake problems or spare tire separation.

Motor vehicle defects can cause serious injuries, as evidenced by the tragic accident that compelled Toyota to recall 3.8 million motor vehicles last September because of concerns that the floor mat on the driver’s side can jam the accelerator. A family died last August because of this very defect.

Auto defects can be grounds for a Washington DC auto products liability lawsuit by the victim or surviving family members.

Recall Alert: Toyota Tundra, US News, November 25, 2009
Toyota Safety Recall Involves Record 3.8 Million Cars, Wired, October 1, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Toyota

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

November 17, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A 76-year-old man has died from his injuries after he and his wife were struck by a motor vehicle on the Mall in Washington DC this Sunday. According to police, Richard Greenstein and his wife were in a marked crosswalk on Madison Drive NW at 12th street when a vehicle that was backing up struck the two of them.

Greenstein’s wife was treated for minor injuries before being released. Police are investigating the Washington DC pedestrian accident.

In another pedestrian accident, this one on the DC-Maryland border, a 54-year-old man died from injuries he sustained in Temple Hills when he was struck by two Secret Service autos on their way back from Andrews Air Force base. The vehicles are used by Vice President Joseph Biden, who was not in either auto when the pedestrian crash happened at around 3am EST.

Larry D. Moore was crossing the parkway at Naylor Road when he sustained “multiple critical injuries.” He was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating the deadly traffic crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, of the 34 Washington DC traffic deaths that occurred in 2008, 9 of them were pedestrian fatalities. Nationally, 4,378 pedestrians were killed and 69,000 others were injured.

More NHTSA 2008 Pedestrian Facts:

• 72% of US pedestrian deaths took place in urban areas.

• 70% of the pedestrians that died were males.

Because they have nothing to protect them during the impact of colliding with a truck, bus, car, or motorcycle, pedestrians nearly always get the short end of the stick when involved in a Washington DC traffic accident. The injuries are often fatal or incredibly serious, requiring extensive medical procedures and rehabilitation care.

Man struck by car on Mall dies, Washington Post, November 17, 2009
Man killed in Secret Service crash identified, Gazette.net, November 12, 2009
Biden’s Secret Service motorcade involved in fatal accident, The Raw Story, November 11, 2009

Pedestrians, NHTSA (PDF)

Related Web Resources:

United States Secret Service

US Department of Transportation

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

November 3, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to the 2009 Sleep in America poll by the National Sleep Foundation, about 1.9 Million Drivers are involved in drowsy driving car crashes or near miss accidents each year. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the power sleepiness can have in causing Washington DC car accidents.

Per the poll, 105 million US drivers have driven while sleepy in the last year. 54 million drivers drive while drowsy at least once a month.

National Sleep Foundation chairman Thomas Balkin says that while motorists are good at recognizing when they are tired, this doesn’t stop them from getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and driving. Balkin says that people mistakenly think that they can will themselves to stay awake but they often don’t even realize that they are falling asleep. Balkin notes that just one moment of “reduced awareness” can cause a motor vehicle crash.

Drowsy driving slows reflexes, reduces alertness, and impairs one’s ability to think clearly and rapidly respond to an emergency situation. A person who is sleepy or very tired while driving might inadvertently lane change, let go of the steering wheel, fail to notice traffic signs, not see other vehicles or pedestrians, drive off the road, or drive into oncoming traffic.

Drowsy driving can be grounds for a Washington DC injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit if another person is injured as a result.

In an attempt to decrease the number of drowsy driving accidents, the National Sleep Foundation has declared November 2 – 8 Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

Ways to Avoid Drowsy Driving:

• Get a good night’s driving.
• Take periodic brakes (every 2 hours or every 100 miles).
• Don’t drink alcohol or take medications that cause drowsiness before driving.
• If necessary, stop and take a nap.

• Take caffeine if necessary.

.9 Million Drivers Have Fatigue-Related Car Crashes or Near Misses Each Year, Reuters, October 29, 2009
Drowsy Driving: Reduce Your Risk of Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel, Associated Content, June 27, 2006
Related Web Resources:

National Sleep Foundation

NHTSA