Archive for category Auto Accident Lawyer
Whiplash is a common term, and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Albuquerque NM
Posted by Lawyer in Auto Accident Lawyer on August 10, 2012
Whiplash is a common term, and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, although whiplash injuries can occur in any kind of crash, car accident whiplash is most common in rear-end collisions.
During the summer, vacationers heading from Albuquerque to Santa Fe or Las Cruces on Highway 25 or to Gallup on Highway 40 are sometimes paying more attention to the beautiful desert views than to the road. One of the most common distracted driver car accidents is a rear-ender wreck. The best Albuquerque personal injury lawyers see plenty of downtown Albuquerque rush hour traffic rear-ender whiplash injuries as well, involving New Mexico residents who may be texting while driving home from work.
In a 2008 report, the NHTSA estimated that between 1988 and 1996, 805,581 whiplash injuries occurred annually in crashes involving passenger cars and LTVs (light trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and vans). Of these whiplash injuries, 272,464 occurred as a result of rear-end impacts. Victims should not hesitate to contact the best car accident lawyers in Albuquerque, NM.
Though whiplash is very common, many people don’t fully understand exactly what happens to the neck, back and shoulders in the car accidents that cause them, whether it’s a drunk driving accident or a driver distracted at the wheel. Whiplash injuries have to do with the motion of the driver and passengers when a vehicle is struck from behind. Several movements occur in quick succession to occupant of a rear-ended car. First, from the occupant’s frame of reference, the back of the seat moves forward into his or her torso, straightening the spine and forcing the head to rise vertically. Second, as the seat pushes the occupant’s body forward, the unrestrained head tends to lag behind. This causes the neck to change shape, first taking on an S-shape and then bending backward. Third, the forces on the neck accelerate the head, which catches up with-and, depending on the seat back stiffness and if the occupant is using a shoulder belt, passes-the restrained torso. This motion of the head and neck is like the lash of a whip, giving the resulting neck injuries this common name.
NHTSA Worst Cars List: Rollovers, Side Impacts and Faulty Seatbelts Could Risk Texas Drivers
Posted by Lawyer in Auto Accident Lawyer on July 31, 2012
Here in Texas, we love our pick-up trucks. We use them for work, personal errands and fun with friends and family. But some Texas pick-up truck accidents involve one of the most popular trucks in the country: the Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up truck. It’s a top selling truck and yet has just been named as one of the most dangerous vehicles in the country, due to very poor safety ratings. That means Texas truck driver injuries could be avoided, if truck buyers take the time to read safety reviews before making their purchase.
According to an article in the New York Daily News, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Consumer Reports, the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration and consumer analyst JD Power put the Dodge Ram at the top of its Worst Cars list. The main truck crash danger is roll-over accidents but the cars and trucks on the list have a hefty roster of low safety ratings, including side-impact collisions and defective seatbelt accident injury concerns. There are many causes of truck accidents in Texas, but it pays to avoid known hazards before buying a truck.
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Fatigued driving compared in study to drunk driving: Get the facts
Posted by Lawyer in Auto Accident Lawyer on July 13, 2012
Many people who would never get behind the wheel after drinking might think nothing of driving while fatigued. A new study, however, finds that sleepy drivers are almost as dangerous as drunk drivers.
The study from France and published as a letter in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that drunk drivers and fatigued drivers were at least twice as likely to be responsible for a car accident compared to drivers who were either sober or well rested.
As a personal injury attorneys in Oklahoma City, Dan Davis has seen how devastating an accident caused by a fatigued driver can be. The study about sleepy drivers and car accidents is not surprising, but interesting. Drivers who have not had enough shut eye have been responsible for Oklahoma City rear end accidents, head on collisions and other types of car crashes in Oklahoma. Truck drivers who spend long hours on the road trying to reach their destination on time also may be responsible for catastrophic asleep-at-the-wheel accidents.
According to the news service Reuters, a scientist who studies sleep disorders said someone driving with just four hours of sleep will be impaired in the same way as a driver who consumed a six pack. Someone who drove after an entire night of sleep loss will be impaired the same way as someone with a blood alcohol content of .19, according to the scientist.
The research was conducted by analyzing information from 679 drivers admitted to a hospital in France for more than 24 hours because of a serious accident between 2007 and 2009, according to Reuters. The patients reported how much sleep they had prior to the accident, along with other factors such as alcohol consumption or what medications they were taking.
One interesting aspect of the study is that taking medications that carry warnings about how the drug will affect a driver’s abilities was tied to a lower risk of causing an accident. Motorists may be more cautious because they are aware of the side effects.
The best way to avoid an Oklahoma City fatigued driver accident is to get some rest before getting behind the wheel. If you’re feeling sleepy while driving, pull over and find some coffee or an energy drink. Don’t hesitate to take a short nap at a rest stop. Too much is at stake to risk your life or an innocent person’s life.
If you or a loved one was injured by a fatigued driver, or a loved one was killed by someone who fell asleep behind the wheel, contact an experienced Oklahoma City personal injury attorney. Talk to Daniel M. Davis, attorney and counselor of law: 1-800-HURTLINE. You can also visit us at http://www.dandavislaw.com.
Daniel M. Davis Personal Injury Lawyer Oklahoma City
525 NW 13th
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
In Massachusetts, Mandatory Motorcycle Helmet Law Saves Lives and Money
Posted by Lawyer in Auto Accident Lawyer on July 12, 2012
Hot off the presses: motorcycle helmets don’t just save lives, they save money as well-a lot of money. When someone is involved in a motorcycle accident, the last thing on the injured biker’s mind is money, and yet in our society, money talks. So the Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study from 2008 to 2010 to find out just how much is saved when motorcycle riders and passengers strap on a helmet before hitting the road.
According to the study, over $3 billion was saved in 2010 alone, with total costs saved due to helmet use ranging from $2.6 million in New Mexico to $394 million in California. Economic costs saved from helmet use per registered motorcycle ranged from $48 in New Mexico to $1,627 in North Carolina, with a median of $286. In Massachusetts, the savings was over $400 per registered motorcycle.
Massachusetts personal injury attorney Mark E. Salomone is always glad to hear of any new research that supports the prevention of motorcyclist injuries and their passengers. See : Boston Ma Motorcycle Accident Attorney Having defended countless victims of motorcycle accident injuries, however, he knows how much helmets do to protect riders. “Every time riders take their bikes to the streets,” he says, “they’re placing themselves at risk of serious injury and death. When a motorcyclist is hit by a distracted driver in a high-speed collision or if their bike has brake defects, helmets are even more crucial, as they can prevent serious head injuries and brain damage. ”
Over 40 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents between 2008 and 2010 did not have a helmet on, says the CDC report. On the other hand, helmets reduced fatalities by 37 percent for motorcycle drivers and 41 percent for passengers, which translated to 1,544 fewer motorcyclist deaths in 2010.
