Auto Accident | HensonFuerst | Injury Law Blog

Archive for the ‘ Auto Accident ’ Category

Aug

Ford Recalls 1.1 Million Pickup Trucks

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[from MSNBC.com

Some Ford pickup trucks are being recalled due to a problem with the way the fuel tanks are attached. Straps that hold the fuel tanks in place can corrode and break, which can cause the fuel lines to separate from the tank, ore for the tank to actually fall to the ground. The most common cause of the corrosion seems to be road de-icing chemicals.

According to an article on MSNBC.com, Ford reports three vehicle fires and one injury related to the fuel tank strap problem.

The recalled vehicles are:

Ford F-150 full-size pickups, model years 1997-2004
Ford F-250 pickups of less than 8,500 pounds, model years 1997-1999
Lincoln Blackwood trucks, model years 2002-2003

Ford will notify owners in mid-September and recommend that the fuel tank straps be replaced with versions that have a greater resistance to corrosion. In addition, dealers may install a cable support under the strap an an interim repair, or a steel reinforcement over the existing straps as a permanent repair.

For more specific information, visit the recall page from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) here: Ford truck recall information

Popularity: 3% [?]

Jul

Three Killed in Tractor Trailer Accident on I-40

July 7, 2011

An accident involving a tractor-trailer and numerous passenger vehicles on Interstate 40 left three people dead and the driver of the tractor-trailer behind bars. According to WRAL News, the Thursday afternoon crash happened at the Durham-Orange County line, on a stretch of the interstate where its three lanes are dropped to two.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident, but currently believe the driver reacted too late to the closure of the left lane, and did not have enough road or time to stop his semi before plowing through three other vehicles. The truck initially hit a man driving a Ford F-250, embedding the smaller truck in the semi’s grill. It then proceeded to hit a woman in a Chevrolet Equinox before crashing into a third vehicle, which burst into flames and was too badly burned to identify. All three passenger vehicle drivers died at the scene of the crash.

The truck driver escaped the accident unscathed, as far as injuries, but authorities have brought numerous charges against him following the crash. He is currently being held in county jail under a $500,000 bond, and is facing charges for two counts of felony death by vehicle and one count of misdemeanor death by vehicle, in addition to charges for possession of marijuana, Methadone, and drug paraphernalia.

North Carolina Truck Accident Lawyers with HensonFuerst know that time is valuable in the aftermath of a truck accident, and that prompt investigations can make all the difference in these cases. Visit their website for essential steps and procedures to take following involvement in a truck accident.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Jun

Raleigh Tour Bus Crash Kills Driver

June 30, 2011

Details are slowly being brought to light by authorities regarding a tour bus accident that killed the driver, a former North Carolina State University standout. The accident report, which was released yesterday, says that the bus was traveling five miles over the speed limit.

According to WRAL News, the accident occurred Monday on Interstate 40 near the Highway 54 exit. The bus veered off of the highway, and traveled more than 380 feet down the shoulder of the highway and crossed the on-ramp from eastbound Chapel Hill Road. It then ran into a wooded area and struck several trees, redirecting the vehicle back towards the highway, where it came to rest. The vehicle sustained heavy damage to the front end and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thankfully, no passengers were aboard the bus at the time of the accident, and no other vehicles were involved. Although the accident report has been released, the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The man who was killed in the accident is best remembered as the NCSU basketball star that made the game winning slam-dunk during the 1983 NCAA basketball tournament finals.

The North Carolina truck accident attorneys with HensonFuerst say that commercial bus drivers must undergo many of the same tests and follow many of the same regulations as drivers of semi trucks and can be held responsible if an accident occurs and is found to be their fault.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Jun

Dunn Couple Killed By Drunk Driver

June 23, 2011

A couple from Dunn, North Carolina, was killed on a Sunday motorcycle ride by what state troopers believe was a drunk driver. According to WRAL News, the accident occurred at 12:20 Am on North Carolina Highway 82, near the Averasboro Civil War Battleground.

The accident occurred when the driver of a white, Chevy pick up truck crossed the centerline on the road while intoxicated and operating an IPod. The truck struck the motorcycle head-on, throwing both the driver and the passenger off the bike. A friend who was riding with the couple at the time of the crash witnessed the accident and said “It was terrible, there was nothing anybody could have done.”

The man who died in the accident leaves behind a 5-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl. He was also a regular volunteer with Dunn Emergency Services.

The drunk driver involved in the accident was arrested and charged with two counts of felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, driving left of center, and careless and reckless driving. He was originally being held on a $100,000 bond, but a magistrate later lowered the bond to $50,000.

The North Carolina Wrongful Death Attorneys with HensonFuerst may be able to help family members who have lost a loved one too early because of someone else’s careless mistake. Their wrongful death lawyers have experience and sensitivity. Fill out a free consultation form now!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Jun

Hit-and-Run Driver Urged to Stop Running

According to a report on WRAL.com, a woman driving a 4-door, light brown Honda Accord crashed into a bicyclist in Fuquay-Varina. She stopped to ask “Are you okay?” but sped off without waiting around for an answer.

The bicyclist, Joe Natale, was thrown into a ditch by the impact. He was banged up and bruised, but lived to tell the story.

“The sound was horrific. I remember sliding and hearing plastic from the bike getting torn up,” he said. “I said, ‘God, don’t let somebody else run over me.’”

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol are actively looking for the driver, and anyone who knows anything about the accident is encouraged to contact the police. One important clue: The crash broke the sideview mirror off the woman’s car.

Sharing the Road

There Mr. Natale is hoping that his pain can serve to remind drivers of the rules of the road. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) has “Share the Road” rules designed to keep cyclists safe.

Motor vehicle drivers are reminded to:

Use signals to make sure cyclists and other drivers can anticipate movements.
Leave a minimum of 2 feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist on the left, and don’t move back to the right until safely past the bicycle.
Not pass on the crest of a hill or at a curve in the road where you cannot see at least 500 feet ahead.
Wait until the cyclist has cleared the intersection before making a turn, and don’t make a right turn in front of a cyclist you have just passed.
Slow down when passing a cyclist, and try not to make any startling sounds or movements.
If there is oncoming traffic, wait until the traffic has gone by before passing the cyclist.
When approaching an oncoming cyclist at night, dim your lights.

Bicyclists are reminded to:

Follow all the same rules of the road as motorists, including riding on the right side of the road.
Use signals to warn motorists of your movements.
Yield to other drivers and pedestrians, as appropriate, at intersections, alleys, and traffic circles.
Move to the right to allow lawfully operated overtaking vehicles to safely pass.
Remain aware of your surroundings, and try not to make any sudden or unexpected movements.

To read the full WRAL.com article about the hit-and-run crash, click here: Wake Bicyclist Urges Driver Who Hit Him to Come Forward

To read the NC-DOT rules of the road for motor vehicle operators and cyclists, click here: Share the Road

HensonFuerst has a particular interest keeping cyclists safe: We’re cyclists ourselves. We even have a HensonFuerst Cycling Team, which rides for fun and participates in fundraising efforts for various organizations, including the American Diabetes Association (the Tour de Cure) and the Brain Injury Association of NC (the Ride for the Rock). Plus, we represent too many cyclists who have been injured as the result of negligent motorists. We urge everyone–cyclists and motorists–to Share the Road for safety.

For more information about HensonFuerst and our cycling team, visit our website at www.lawmed.com. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Jun

Congress Looks at Bus Safety Regulations

(from Reuters)

In May, a bus crash on Interstate 95 resulted in the deaths of four people, with 54 injured. According to the police, the bus ran off the road and overturned, coming to rest upside down on its roof. (Reuters)

In March, a bus also traveling on Interstate 95, this one returning to Manhattan from a Connecticut casino trip crashed in the Bronx, skidding into a highway sign post. The post entered through the front window and sliced the bus from front to back along the window line. Fifteen of the 31 passengers died, seven others were injured. (NBC New York)

Now, in a rare show of solidarity, Republicans and Democrats in Congress are trying to figure out how to crack down on rogue motor coach operators without over-regulating an industry made up predominantly of small businesses. According to an article in The Miami Herald, Anne S. Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates the motor coach industry said that:

… she wants more regulatory authority over passenger bus companies, including in-route inspections and complete safety audits before buses hit the road. Federal officials also want to regulate online brokers, the websites that sell many low-cost, intercity tickets. And they want to increase penalties from $2,000 per violation to $25,000, she said.

However, not everyone is on-board with stronger regulations:

…bus industry representatives and some members of Congress said too much regulation would hurt legitimate, well-run companies. Small companies with fewer than 25 motor coaches made up 95 percent of the industry and accounted for about 40 percent of passenger miles traveled, according to a committee memo.

We believe that strong legislation is needed. Buses don’t provide passenger safety equipment–no seat belts, no air bags. The only way to keep passengers safe is to make sure that the vehicles are road-worthy and that the drivers are trained, licensed, sober, and rested. Unfortunately, high-quality vehicles and drivers are more expensive than cut-rate versions. We know how the free market system works–operators will choose low-cost over high-quality unless standards and mandatory inspections are required by legislation.

To read the full article about bus safety regulations, click here: http://www.miamiherald.com/.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Jun

Young Victim Pushes for Cell Phone Ban

With every year, and every new portable device, the problem of DWD—Driving While Distracted—grows. North Carolina has already enacted a total ban on texting while driving, and on using a cell phone while driving for drivers under age 18.

Should the ban on cell phone use while driving be extended to everyone? It’s one thing to talk about the issue in the abstract, but Krista Slough brings an informed perspective to the discussion. According to an article in the News & Observer, Krista’s reasoning is quite persuasive. You see, she was walking to a bus stop one morning last September when a driver plowed into her from behind. According to the article:

The driver was talking on her cellphone.

“She drove straight into Krista like she didn’t even see her,” said [Joe] Capowski, a retired UNC-Chapel Hill faculty member. “She did not slow down. She did not swerve to avoid her. Her car hit Krista and knocked her 18 feet off the road.”

Miss Slough had just started her senior year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) when the accident occurred. She suffered brain hemorrhages and other injuries that continue to cause headaches, fatigue, memory loss and other cognitive impairment. She was forced to drop out of school.

Now, she and Mr. Capowski are working together to try to enact a town ban on talking-while-driving on the streets of Chapel Hill. They have a great argument. After all, researchers at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center say phone conversations distract drivers’ attention from the road around them, and can impair drivers’ ability as much as a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent—the legal standard for drunken driving.

Yes, a ban on cell phone talking while driving will be inconvenient…but that seems a small price to pay for saving lives. For Miss Slough, even though she lived through her ordeal, she has lost the life she once had. Her memory problems are significant, making it difficult for her remember names of people she has met, and even to put together cohesive sentences. She had one year left of college when her brain was injured, and now it will take her years to complete those last few courses. Her life was thrown off-balance, and we’ll never know how far she could have gotten if not for that fateful morning.

“I never had listened to any of the distracted-driving discussion before,” Slough said. “Now, obviously, I’ve changed my mind. It takes just a split second of not paying attention to hit somebody.”

HensonFuerst Attorneys supports all efforts to reduce the incidence of Driving While Distracted. We know the devastation that can occur from a moment distraction. If you have been injured as the result of a motor vehicle wreck and want to discuss your legal options, give us a call at 1-800-4-LAWMED. We’re here everyday, 24/7. You can also learn more at our website: www.lawmed.com.

If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

Click here to read the full N&O article: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/06/08/1256438/victim-launches-a-crusade.html#ixzz1Oh20o2Qs

Popularity: 6% [?]

May

Man shot after Raleigh auto accident

May 19, 2011

A man has been charged with drunken driving in a Raleigh auto accident after he scared nearby neighbors when his passenger knocked on doors seeking help after being shot, according to The News & Observer.

The driver was travelling at 80 mph in a 45 mph zone when he struck a Hyundai in the Raleigh auto accident. His passenger had a gunshot would that was said to have taken place after the Raleigh auto accident took place.

Teen dies in North Carolina auto accident

May 12, 2011

An 18-year-old involved in a North Carolina auto accident died from his injuries, according to wcnc.com.

According to law enforcement officials, speed played a factor in the North Carolina auto accident.

The SUV the teen was riding in flipped when the driver over-corrected.

Police search for car that took off after Raleigh auto accident

May 5, 2011

Raleigh law enforcement officials need help solving a Raleigh auto accident involving a car that fled the scene after it hit a pedestrian on Litchford Road, according to nbc17.com.

A man was injured in a Raleigh auto accident after he was struck by a car, and police are still searching for the driver.

The vehicle involved in the Raleigh auto accident was a red Pontiac G8, and evidence indicated the car was damaged on its hood.

HensonFuerst | Injury Law Blog

Archive for the ‘ Auto Accident ’ Category

Ford Recalls 1.1 Million Pickup Trucks

Three Killed in Tractor Trailer Accident on I-40

Raleigh Tour Bus Crash Kills Driver

Dunn Couple Killed By Drunk Driver

Congress Looks at Bus Safety Regulations

Young Victim Pushes for Cell Phone Ban

Man shot after Raleigh auto accident

Teen dies in North Carolina auto accident

Police search for car that took off after Raleigh auto accident

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