Kokomo Personal Injury Law Blog

What types of damages are available after a car accident?

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in car accidents on Thursday, December 12, 2019.

Car accident victims can be harmed in many ways including physically, financially and emotionally. Personal injury legal protections can help victims recover compensation for the physical, financial and emotional damages they have suffered because of a negligent car or truck driver.

Victims of car accidents may wonder what types of damages a claim for damages can help with. Car accident damages can help with the everyday challenges car accident victims may unexpectedly find themselves facing following the incident. Car accident damages can first help victims with their medical expenses as they seek the treatment and medical care they need following a car accident. It can also help with their future medical care costs if needed. Victims may also face disability or disfigurement, which is why damages for those types of injuries are also available.

Bicycle-motor vehicle accident fatalities have varied causes

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in car accidents on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

The inherent dangers for bicyclists who share the road with automobiles in Indiana and across the United States is known. However, there has been a worrisome increase in serious injuries and fatalities in a bicycle-motor vehicle accident in recent years. It is important to understand the factors that are contributing to the rise. As with any accident, driving safety is a consideration and those who have been hurt or lost a loved one should know how to pursue compensation in a legal filing.

A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that there were 857 bicycle fatalities in 2018. Another report from the National Transportation Safety Board analyzed bicycle accidents. Accidents involving bicyclists began increasing in frequency in 2011. In the last nine years, there has been a 37% increase in these fatalities. Researchers cite the following factors in causing the significant rise in bicycle fatalities: bigger vehicles; the rising use of smartphones; more drivers on the road; more people riding bicycles; and the slow progress of safety initiatives.

Latest NHTSA statistics show rise in truck accidents

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in trucking accidents on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

Indiana's central location in the U.S. means large trucks will frequently drive through the state to get from one place to the other. This, in addition to the trucks making deliveries in and to the state, can lead to many of these big and intimidating vehicles being on the road. Drivers of passenger vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians should be cognizant of trucks as a collision can cause serious injuries and fatalities. Recent statistics indicate that while there was a general improvement in road safety, truck accidents and wrongful death incidents have been on the rise.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there was a slight increase in truck fatalities from 2017 to 2018 with 46 more deaths. Large trucks accounted for 4,951 deaths in 2018. In 2017, there were 4,905 such deaths. While that is an increase of less than 1%, it is still problematic. 885 of those killed were in the trucks. The remainder were outside the trucks.

School bus accidents often due to drivers ignoring "stop arm"

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in car accidents on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Indiana parents place their children on a school bus every day during the school year. They do so with the belief they are putting their children in a safe environment to get them back and forth to their destinations. While this is understandable, there are growing concerns about whether those who share the road with school buses are adhering to the law.

A growing worry is the number of drivers who pass school buses despite the "stop arm" being activated. When there is an accident because of this violation, victims should know how to pursue compensation. State law enforcement began a campaign to assess how many drivers commit this violation. It found that nearly 2,600 drivers passed school buses in one day even when the stop arm was out.

3 ways to improve safety when traveling near semitrailers

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center on Sunday, October 27, 2019.

Any type of vehicle crash can be dangerous, but crashes between semitrailers and smaller vehicles can be particularly devastating, especially for the occupants of the passenger vehicle. While this is partially because of the size difference between semitrailers and passenger vehicles, the ground clearance of both vehicles also contributes to the severity of this type of crash.

Some universal road safety tips can help you avoid being in a trucking crash. For example, being sober, alert and attentive gives you the best control of your vehicle and can help you best react to unexpected hazards. However, trucks do not operate in the same way passenger vehicles do, so there are a few additional tips to keep in mind to specifically avoid truck collisions.

Vehicle detection systems for driving safety might be ineffective

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in car accidents on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

While there are many dangers on the road in Indiana and across the nation, carmakers are avidly seeking methods to improve driving safety for drivers and those who share the road with them. That includes pedestrians and others who are not in a passenger vehicle. Features such as warnings and automatic braking are increasingly being added to new vehicles. This is viewed as an advancement, but like most advancements when they are in their infancy, it takes some time to perfect. People who have suffered serious injuries or lost a loved one in a pedestrian-motor vehicle accident should understand recent research into these innovations.

According to AAA, detection systems created to avoid pedestrian accidents do not perform well in many circumstances and are totally useless at night. With these advancements, there is a camera that is designed to identify when there is a pedestrian in front of the vehicle. If the driver does not stop, the vehicle will initiate its brakes. With the number of pedestrian deaths nearly 6,000 for 2017, this is a necessary option to improve driving safety. Still, it is not working as well as it needs to for there to be a dramatic improvement.

Parents concerned about teens riding with distracted drivers

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in car accidents on Thursday, October 3, 2019.

Indiana parents always want their children to be safe when they reach their teen years and are given the responsibilities inherent with getting a driver's license. Part of that is riding with other teens who are also new drivers. It is natural to be concerned about the dangers on the road. Many of these are due to teen behaviors behind the wheel including being distracted drivers. New research shows how concerned parents are with distraction and other possible risks. If there is a motor vehicle accident with injuries and fatalities, thinking about legal help is important.

In a new poll, more than 50 percent of parents across the nation admit they believe their teen has been a passenger in a vehicle with another teen who was distracted behind the wheel. While cellphones are considered the most prevalent source for distraction and was mentioned by 42 percent, there are others. That includes 46 percent who were fearful of loud music and 39 percent who believed other teens served as a distraction. Going beyond distraction, speeding was cited by 45 percent; drowsy driving by 14 percent; and impairment by 5 percent.

Can your child pass a school bus safety test?

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center on Sunday, September 22, 2019.

With early work and school start times, parents and students rush through fall mornings. For many busy families, the school bus makes these mornings go much more smoothly, and your child is 70% more likely to arrive safely on the bus than if you were to drive them yourself.

But does your child know the rules of school bus safety?

Driving safety negatively affected by drivers running red lights

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in car accidents on Friday, September 20, 2019.

One of the most dangerous things a driver can do is running a red light. This is a rising problem in Indiana and across the nation. Since drivers are functioning under the reasonable assumption that other drivers will adhere to the basic rules of the road, going through a red light can cause a collision with injuries and fatalities. Research is assessing this problem and people who have been affected by this kind of auto accident should be aware of the steps necessary to pursue a legal filing.

A new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety indicates that red light violations and accompanying fatal auto accidents are on the rise. The latest statistics available are from 2017. In that year, there were 939 deaths after drivers ran through a red light. This is the most in 10 years.

Motor vehicle accident involving police car injures 4

On behalf of Scott Law Office and Mediation Center posted in car accidents on Friday, September 6, 2019.

When Indiana residents first get their driver licenses, there are certain safety procedures that are repeated over and over to make certain they are fully grasped and integrated. The basics, like stopping at red lights and stop signs, yielding to pedestrians, using turn indicators and more, are simple enough. Adhering to them will exponentially improve safety. Others should also be obvious, but when failing to follow them, it can cause a motor vehicle accident.

When there is a law enforcement vehicle or other emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens activated, failure to be aware of the surroundings and not moving to the side to give these vehicles the room to get by can cause a crash. Since these vehicles will need to go through red lights and make other risky maneuvers, it is essential to watch for them. When there is an accident with an emergency vehicle, it can result in serious injuries and death. This type of accident happened recently, and four people were hurt because of it.

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