Car Accidents

Published on: February 11, 2013

NHTSA Statistics Reveal Downward Trend in Traffic Fatalities

The most recent report from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed astounding statistics. The bad news is that there were 32,367 highway fatalities nationwide in 2011. The good news is that these figures are the lowest they have been for over six decades. The last time they were at that level was in 1949. These numbers continue to dictate a downward trend in the most recent years and a 26% decline in traffic deaths since 2005.

Unfortunately, these glowing statistics are of little comfort to Texas families who have lost loved ones in accidents. As our San Antonio wrongful death lawyers have known, the data confirms that our state accounts for almost 10% of all highway fatalities and 40% of those are alcohol related.

State and national agencies continue with their efforts to educate the public about ways to save lives. Some examples of successful campaigns have been “Buckle Up,” “Click It or Ticket,” “Move Over,” “Don’t Drink & Drive” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

Nationwide, alcohol impaired fatalities declined in 2011 by 2.5%, claiming 9,878 lives compared to 10,136 in 2010. These fatalities involved the operator of a vehicle or motorcycle who had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. The 9,878 drunk-driving deaths reported in 2011 represented 31% of the overall total.

Texas, New York, South Carolina and Tennessee led the group of 27 states that experienced a decline of 30 or more alcohol-related highway deaths. Colorado, Florida and New Jersey all had increases of 30 or more alcohol-related traffic deaths. Connecticut, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan led the group of 36 states that marked reductions in the number of overall fatalities.

Some other findings reported were:

• Fatalities declined by 4.6% for occupants of cars, pickups, SUVs and minivans.

• Fatalities increased for occupants of 18-wheelers (20%), cyclists (8.7%), pedestrians (3%) and motorcycle riders (2.1%).

Compared to all the other states, Texas clearly led the pack accounting for nearly 10% of all traffic fatalities reported nationwide. In 2010, Texas reported 3,023 total fatalities. There were 42% (1,270) related to alcohol. In 2011, Texas had a total of 3,016 fatalities, with 40% (1,213) being alcohol-related. Only Hawaii (44%) and North Dakota (44%) had more traffic fatalities related to alcohol than Texas.

These statistics are frightening for every mother and father who fears the worst when their teenagers are out at night and every husband or wife who sees their loved one leave on a road trip.

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Published on: January 22, 2013

Study Says Obese Are 80% More Likely To Die In A Car Crash

By Carabin Shaw

According to a study of data accumulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), obese drivers have a higher probability of dying in a car crash than those who are of normal weight. In fact, their chances of death in an accident are 80% higher than those who weigh less.

Transport safety researchers Thomas Rice and Motao Zhu related their findings in an online publication of the Emergency Medicine Journal.

Since one out of every three American adults is considered to be obese, this new study is alarming. Interestingly, the study revealed that obese females were at an even higher risk of being a car crash fatality than their male counterparts.

Time will only tell whether this study will invoke changes by automobile manufacturers to make vehicles safer for obese drivers.

The study that covered a 12 year period from 1996 to 2008, examined 57,500 car crashes. The data included all of the deaths that occurred within 30 days of the accidents.

One finding illustrated the fact that obese vehicle occupants in general had a host of other health problems that reduced the probability of surviving a serious injury. The other finding was that seat belts do not properly interact with the human body when one is obese. Simply put, the lower body of an obese driver continues to go forward in a crash while the upper body is held back. This is because the excess padding and abdominal fat cause a delay in the time it takes to tighten against the pelvis.

Obesity was determined by body mass index (BMI). A BMI of 30 and over is considered to be obese. A BMI of 18.5 is considered to be normal.

Some conclusions reached were:

• A driver with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 was 21% more likely to die in a crash than a driver with a normal BMI.

• A driver with a BMI of 35 to 39.9 was 51% more likely to die in a crash than a driver with a normal BMI.

• A driver with a BMI of 40 or higher was 80% more likely to die in a crash than a driver with a normal BMI.

Another finding in the study was that underweight men were more likely to die in a crash than those with a normal BMI. Underweight men were those with a BMI of less than 18.5.

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Published on: January 16, 2013

Texas Department of Transportation Blames Distracted Driving For Fatal Crashes

By Carabin Shaw

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the East Texas rural roads are deadlier than traveling on other major thoroughfares and interstates. This news is released as new crosses are being erected at the scene of yet another fatality near Longview.

Even though the number of fatal crashes has gone down in recent years, over 50% of the fatalities in the surrounding five counties around Longview since 2007 have been one vehicle accidents. This has led the Department of Transportation to conclude that distracted driving is the culprit in these collisions.

Further evidence in support of this conclusion is the fact that only one death occurred in more than 90% of the fatal accidents. In the five county area including Gregg, Rusk, Harrison, Panola and Upshur, there has not been any single accident since 2007 that resulted in more than three fatalities.

Jean Dark, with the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS), stated that the reason is simply because most accidents occur on farm-to-market (FM) roads and involve only one car or pickup striking a tree, after leaving the road. This contrasts with multi-vehicle crashes on interstates. She explains that the difference is the tremendous impact that occurs when a vehicle strikes a stationary object such as a tree. It just “doesn’t give like another car would.”

The Department’s data indicated that 54% of all the accidents in the five county Longview area involved a single vehicle leaving the road, striking an object or flipping over. Only 38% of the wrecks involved two vehicles.

Dark said drivers just have to “pay attention to driving,” because if someone isn’t, it “can change your life.” For example, on two-lane FM roads, the oncoming traffic is separated from you by nothing more than a center stripe. You trust the other driver is paying attention and will stay on their side of the road. Unfortunately, sometimes they are distracted and they cross over into your lane.

Accidents resulting in fatalities have been around long before all of the gadgets we now have to distract us, such as cellphones, smartphones, iPads, iPods, headphones and GPS, just to name a few. Nationwide statistics show that distracted driving is one of the major causes of traffic fatalities. The TDPS data indicates that there were over 100,000 vehicles involved in accidents caused by distracted drivers in 2009 and new data is expected to confirm that those figures are continuing to rise.

Many of the crashes are the result of drivers trying to text message while driving. In 2009, the Texas Legislature passed a law which prohibits the use of any type of wireless device in a school zone. Another attempt to get a law passed to ban texting while driving is going to be on the table again during the 2013 legislative session. In 2011, Governor Perry vetoed a texting ban proposal.

Studies have shown that the use of a cellphone and texting while driving are equally, if not more dangerous, than driving while intoxicated.

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Published on: December 3, 2012

Thanksgiving Day Pileup: Deadly Evidence of Accidents At Interstate Speeds

By Carabin Shaw

It was about 8:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, the most traveled day of the year, when one of the most horrific accidents in Texas occurred on Interstate 10 outside of Beaumont. The weather conditions were extremely foggy and cars were apparently slowing down due to the lack of visibility. Deborah Leggio, 60, and her husband Vincent, 64, were killed when their Chevrolet Suburban traveling eastbound was struck from the rear and crushed by an 18 wheeler, which ended up on top of their vehicle. Ultimately, some 140 to 150 vehicles were involved in the pileup.

A veteran police officer for more than 25 years, Jefferson County Sheriff Deputy Rod Carroll, 46, heard an emergency call about the multi-vehicle accident and he responded. Even though Deputy Carroll is a paramedic, he was not prepared for what he was about to witness.

When he arrived at the scene, he stated that the area was so foggy that it was impossible to see more than ten feet in any direction. He reported that there were cars on top of cars, 18 wheelers with massive damage, vehicles in the median and on the side of the interstate with damage and personal articles spread along the roadway.

Deputy Carroll related that the collision scene was over a mile long, with twisted metal making it difficult to determine what type of vehicles were involved. The scene was filled with officers and rescuers, including people who had been involved in the massive pileup, trying to pull victims from their vehicles and give them aid. He said “it was like a Third World Scene”, not knowing what to expect as he walked through the wreckage.

Initially, it is believed that the first collision occurred on the eastbound side of the interstate and westbound collisions followed. Every ambulance in the area was busy transporting some 80 t0 90 individuals to local hospitals. There were 10 to 12 victims who were listed as serious to critical.

The westbound lanes of Interstate 10 were closed for approximately five hours and the eastbound lanes were shut down for over eight hours, while the investigation and cleanup continued.

With most highways in the United States now allowing speeds of 70 to 75 miles per hour, Texas has gone to even a different level. A 41 mile toll road from Austin to San Antonio is going to have an 85 mile per hour speed limit. There is an 80 mile per hour speed limit for some highways in West Texas. The problem is that the higher the posted speed limit, the faster people think that they can drive over the limit without being ticketed. People are now testing their radar detectors and driving at speeds ranging from 85 to 100 miles per hour on interstates.

Unfortunately at speeds like this when something goes badly wrong, such as rain, fog, another accident, a blowout or a distracted driver, the result is going to be massive and more lives will be lost.

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Published on: November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving Traffic Safety

By Carabin Shaw

  Thanksgiving weekend is the most traveled holiday period of the year with almost 90% of those traveling doing so by car.  To lessen your chances of becoming one of the statistic this year, here are a few things to keep in mind:  

• Seat Belts: Keep yourself safe and ticket free by wearing a seat belt.

 • Speed: Speeding is a common cause of accidents and you run the risk of a speeding ticket.

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Published on: November 15, 2012

Houston Innovation Reduces Fatality Rate In Wrong Way Crashes

By Carabin Shaw

There always seems to be a series of fatalities across the country on New Year’s Eve, caused by someone driving on a freeway traveling in the wrong direction. During 2012, Houston had several wrong way crashes that occurred back to back on I-45 near the Woodlands. In August 2012 alone, Atlanta had five fatalities that were linked to wrong way crashes. Over a five year span, Georgia has had over 100 people killed in similar accidents.

Notwithstanding increased signage to warn drivers that they are going the wrong way and other improved markings, people still get on the freeways headed in the wrong direction. Without a doubt, most of these collisions are caused by drunk drivers.

Following a wrong way triple fatality that happened in Houston, Texas on New Year’s Eve in 2008, the Harris County Toll Road Authority began to search for some way to solve the problem.

Its toll technology company, TransCore, had to start from scratch, since there was no model to follow. Whitt Hall, Vice President of TransCore, said that the company built a system to detect when cars were traveling the wrong way on exit ramps. The system uses speed radars to detect the location of someone entering the freeway on an exit ramp. This sends a warning to the toll authority’s command center, programmed cameras activate at the location and a dispatcher alerts an officer to respond immediately. Simultaneously, message boards are activated to warn drivers in the area of a wrong way driver and to move over and stop.

Assistant Chief Randy Johnson, who is with the Harris County Toll Road Authority, said that “we have told all of our officers not to chase a wrong way driver, but to get yourself in a position to deploy a spike strip.”

Costing $335,000 for an installation in 19 locations, the system is not cheap. However, the results are extremely impressive. Since it was installed four years ago, the 17 mile span has had 100 wrong way drivers without a single accident.

In order to resolve false alarms when it is raining hard or gusty winds blow objects the wrong way the toll authority is going to spend another $500,000 to install sensors in the pavement.

In addition to winning various awards, there has been much interest from Mexico, Columbia and China. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) has spent $500,000 in San Antonio to utilize the same system by installing radar devices, message boards and flashing signs on the most dangerous freeway stretches.

For Atlanta, the cost to recreate Houston’s system on I-285 would be roughly $3 million. For now, they rely on drivers calling 911 to report a wrong way driver. Unfortunately, the time difference is deadly between a sensor advising of a wrong way driver and getting a 911 call.

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Published on: November 5, 2012

Fatal Accidents Increase In Eagle Ford Shale Region

By Carabin Shaw

Since the Eagle Ford Shale exploration started in 2008, the region has experienced huge economic growth. With that growth there has been an influx of workers moving into the area for the oil and gas exploration boom. Along with that came an increase in 18-wheeler rigs hauling heavy equipment and supplies, which the narrow, two lane county roads and state highways simply cannot handle. Under the heavy traffic, the roadways are deteriorating and the numbers of fatal accidents are continuing to rise.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS), the region has experienced a dramatic increase in fatal accidents. Karnes County, which is in the middle of the exploration area, has seen a whopping 1,440% increase in accidents involving commercial vehicles from 2008 to 2012. McMullen County saw its commercial vehicle accidents shoot up 1,050% and La Salle County had a 418% increase. Frio County had six fatal accidents in 2011, compared to only one in 2010. Most counties have seen fatal accidents rise ten times.

The heavy traffic to which the two lane county and state highways are being exposed is taking its toll. The roadways have been torn up by the massive 80,000 plus pound 18-wheelers, leaving potholes, uneven pavement and deplorable road conditions. A spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Trooper Richard Standifer, said that the increased numbers in highway deaths was definitely attributable to the situations existing in the Eagle Ford Shale Region.

Combined with the deteriorating roadways, there is concern that other contributing factors are involved in both the number of accidents and fatalities. For example, the drivers of the 18-wheelers are working 16 hour shifts for weeks at a time causing sleep deprivation, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, exhaustion, inability to concentrate, driving too fast and bouts of road rage. The combination of a fatigued driver and a big rig traveling down an uneven road filled with potholes at 65 or 75 miles per hour next to an unprepared driver of a 3,000 pound passenger vehicle is lethal. Any swerve due to inattention, texting, talking on the phone or trying to avoid a pothole can prove to be fatal. Make no mistake about it, when there is an accident between any type of passenger vehicle and an 18-wheeler, the resulting damages and injuries are usually catastrophic and often fatal.

For now, the combination of increased traffic, damaged roadways, fatigued drivers and the constant pressure of deadlines has made travel in the Eagle Ford Shale Region one of the deadliest in the country. While locals are enjoying seeing their local economy boom, they must face the downside as well.

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