Motorcycles Accidents Attorneys Orange County

This month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced its new truck driver work hour rules. The new rules had been closely anticipated by Indiana truck accident lawyers and trucking safety groups. However, the announcement came as something of a disappointment, because the rules stop short of limiting the number of consecutive hours that a trucker can drive to 10 hours in a 14-hour period. Now, the current 11 hour rule will stand.

The trucking industry had been lobbying ferociously to get the 11-hour rule to stay, and it seems like trucking companies will have their wish. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration did make a few nods to trucking safety. For instance, the agency did limit the maximum number of hours that a trucker can drive in a week to 70, from the proposed 82. Also, truckers now have a required mandatory rest period of 8 hours after an 11 hour workday, in contrast to the 7 hours that was earlier proposed.

One of the most controversial parts of the regulation is the one that dictates that at least 2 times a week, a driver may not begin driving between 1 AM and 5 AM. According to the trucking industry, many truckers do prefer to begin their day early at about 5 in the morning, so they can get a head start and avoid rush-hour traffic. The new rule would require that truckers wait till 5 am to begin driving, and could possibly mean that a large number of trucks end up on congested freeways and highways in the early hours of the morning, possibly increasing the risk of an accident.

Transportation safety agencies in Indiana must review accident fatality statistics for the year 2010, and find out where improvements can be made. Last year, according to data by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there was an increase of 8.8% in traffic accident fatalities in Indiana.

In 2010, 754 people were killed in traffic accidents in Indiana. The previous year, the number was 793. That is an increase of 61 fatalities, and itas disheartening for Indiana car accident lawyers to see that we arenat saving more lives in accidents every year. Indiana accident fatality rates in 2001 are much higher than the national rate. Nationally, traffic accident numbers declined by approximately 2.9% in 2010, compared to the previous year.

The data is new, and it will take some time for Indiana transportation safety agencies to analyze the data to understand why there has been such an increase in 2010. Out of the 693 traffic accident deaths that occurred in 2009, 207 were in alcohol-related car accidents. That made it a total of 30% of all traffic accident deaths caused by intoxicated drivers. In 2010, 195 fatalities, or 26%, were caused by intoxicated drivers. The state seems to have made slight progress in reducing the numbers of persons killed in alcohol-related car crashes. Statistics on the types of accidents, including those caused by distracted driving, are not yet available.

A woman was killed in a Washington pedestrian accident after she was struck by a car while crossing a street in Lynnwood, Washington. According to a news report in the Herald Net, the woman was attempting to cross the 5300 block of 168th Street SW, when a car struck her. The injured victim was transported to a Seattle hospital where she died. Officials say the woman was not in a marked crosswalk. They also say that speed doesn't seem to have been a factor. The car's driver has not been cited or arrested pending an investigation.

Washington State law requires motorists to yield right-of-way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.61.235 (1): "The operator of an approaching vehicle shall stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian or bicycle to cross the roadway within an unmarked or marked crosswalk when the pedestrian or bicycle is upon or within one lane of the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or onto which it is turning. For purposes of this section "half of the roadway" means all traffic lanes carrying traffic in one direction of travel, and includes the entire width of a one-way roadway."

However, when a pedestrian is not in a marked crosswalk or crosses the roadway illegally, then it is very likely the pedestrian's fault. However, in any Seattle pedestrian accident case, it is extremely important for all aspects of the incident to be analyzed thoroughly so the facts can be determined. It is possible that an unsafe and pre-existing condition here, contributed to the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Washington pedestrian accident, please contact a Seattle personal injury lawyer to find out more information about your legal rights and options.

A pedestrian was critically injured in a Spokane car accident in the South Hill area, according to a KXLY news report. The injury collision occurred at the intersection of 10th and Oak where the victim was hit by a car. The driver of the car fled the scene of the crash. The victim was taken to a local hospital. The pedestrian is believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries. The suspectas vehicle has been described as a light brown or blue sedan with a loud muffler.

As a Seattle car accident attorney, Kirk Bernard understands the serious consequences of hit-and-run accidents. Leaving the scene of an auto collision is a serious crime in Washington State and is punishable by jail time. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.52.020: "A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary."

A 25-year-old man died in a Washington auto accident after he drove the wrong way on Interstate 90 and crashed into a truck. According to a news report in the Snoqualmie Valley Record Reporter, the Bremerton man was driving a 2000 Jeep Cherokee east in the westbound lanes near milepost 28. The Jeep narrowly missed a Washington State Patrol trooper's vehicle and crashed into a bakery truck. The Jeep driver died. His 25-year-old female passenger sustained serious injuries as did the driver of the truck. Both injured victims were transported to a Seattle hospital. Police believe that alcohol was a factor in this fatal car accident.

It is against the law in Washington State to drive under the influence of intoxicants such as alcohol or drugs. It is also illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, there were a total of 521 traffic accident fatalities in 2008. Out of those, 225 or 43 percent were alcohol-related collisions. Also, 182 of these DUI collisions (about 35 percent), involved a driver with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.08 percent.

In cases where someone has been struck by a drunk driver, the victim can file a claim against the driver's insurance seeking compensation. Victims in such cases, can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of hospitalization and other related damages. If the drunk driver who caused the accident dies in the crash, then a claim for compensation can be filed against the driver's estate or his liability insurance. These can be complicated claims and are best handled by an experienced Seattle personal injury lawyer who has successfully represented injured car accident victims.

Two people sustained serious injuries in a Washington auto accident after they were struck by a car while walking on Southwest 356th Street in Federal Way. According to a news report in the Seattle Times, the driver who struck and injured the pedestrian tried to leave the scene, but was apprehended by police and arrested on suspicion of hit-and-run. One of the victims was airlifted to a Seattle hospital due to suffering life-threatening injuries. The other victim, a 50-year-old man, was also transported to a local hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be as serious as the other pedestrian. Officials are also looking into whether alcohol or drugs were involved in this major injury collision.

Several motorists and skilled Seattle car accident lawyers know that leaving the scene of an accident is a serious violation of Washington State Law. According to the Revised Code of Washington Section 46.52.020: "A driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury to or death of any person or involving striking the body of a deceased person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to, and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary."