April 2, 2012

Investigations into Indiana School Bus Accident Continue

Even as parents of children who were injured in a school bus accident in Indiana last month consider legal action, authorities are waiting for the autopsy results of the truck driver. The results will provide major clues into the cause of the accident that killed the truck driver, as well as a 5-year-old child passenger on the bus.

This has been one of the deadliest school accidents in Indiana in recent years. It also comes as a series of accidents have been reported from Pennsylvania, Missouri and Washington. Several students were critically or severely injured in those crashes too.

In the Indiana accident, the bus which was making its morning rounds, crashed into a support pillar on the Southeast side of Indianapolis. A 5-year-old girl and the truck driver were killed in the accident. Many students on the bus suffered serious injuries that included head and neck injuries and fractures. The children also complained of trauma after the accident.

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April 17, 2011

Indiana Grain Bins Pose Safety Risk

wheat.jpgIn a letter earlier this year to local farmers and grain storage facility operators, the US Department of Labor released a warning. Every year farm workers are trapped in grain bins around the country. A recent study at Purdue University documented 51 entrapments last year alone. This is a concerning trend that is continuing despite education and enforcement.

The letter, written by David Michaels, PhD, MPH, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health outlines several key steps to take to help prevent injury to those who work in and around grain bins.

Dr. Miachaels’ letter outlines that grain entrapments occur as a result of three primary causes: non-compliance with OSHA guidelines, employer negligence or poor safety practices. It is the responsibility of every employer to recognize the possible dangers and establish clear safety guidelines that will help keep workers safe.

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March 23, 2011

Car Seats May Not Protect Toddlers from Injuries in Accidents

Infant_Car_Seat.jpgYour forward-facing car seat may not necessarily protect your two-year-old from serious injuries in an accident. For years now, industry recommendations have held that children above the age of one must be placed in a forward-facing car seat, instead of a rear-facing one. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now revising that recommendation. According to the group, children are safer if they are in a rear-facing seat.

The group has issued a policy statement that it bases on data from a study conducted in 2007 at the University Of Virginia. That study found that children aged two and above are 70% less likely to suffer injuries in an accident when they are in a rear-facing seat. According to the group, the truth is that children's chances of avoiding injuries in accidents declines when you move them from rear-facing seats to front-facing seats.

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March 16, 2011

Notre Dame Sited for Violations Related to Student's Death

sissor%20lift.jpgIndiana regulators fined Notre Dame $77,500 for six safety violations related to the October death of a 20-year-old student. The studend was killed when the school's hydraulic scissor lift fell in high winds while he was filming football practice.

According to the regulators in the Indiana Department of Labor, the university failed to maintain safe working conditions or heed National Weather Service warnings. The lift toppled in windy conditions. At one point in the day, wind speeds in the area reached 53 mph. The scissor lift should not be used if winds exceed 28 mph. The National Weather Service had issued a high wind warning with winds gusts of 45 mph expected. The school was found negligent for allowing the student to be in the lift after the advisory had been issued.

Other violations listed in the findings include a failure to regularly inspect the lifts and have the operator's manual on the equipment. In addition, some warning labels were missing. Other labels were faded and weathered.

February 6, 2011

Indiana Red Light Cameras Could Save More Lives

camera.jpgA new study indicates to Indiana personal injury lawyers that red light cameras could actually save hundreds of lives in Indiana accidents every year, even as a piece of legislation introduced in the Indiana Senate seeks to allow towns and cities in the state to contract with red light camera companies to catch violators.

It's almost perfect timing. This week, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released the findings of a new study that indicates that the use of red light cameras would prevent hundreds of red light violation-related accidents every year. The study looked at 14 American cities that had red light cameras installed between 2004 and 2008. The accident statistics of these American cities during this time period were compared to the period from 1992 to 1990, when these cities did not have red light cameras. Further, for comparison purposes, the researchers at the Insurance Institute looked at 48 other American cities that have never had red light cameras.

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October 25, 2010

Indiana Car Crashes Decrease in 2009

Speeding.jpgThere is good news for Indiana drivers! According to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, Indiana’s fatal traffic accident rate dropped last year, reducing the number of people killed on Indiana highways by more than 12%.

The research center, based in Indiana-Purdue University of Indianapolis, produced the report that revealed the encouraging news. Unfortunately, this reduction still leaves an astounding 46,590 people who were injured or killed last year. In addition to the physical toll placed on Indiana residents, the high number of accidents results in more than $4.3 billion in property loss and medical care in 2009.

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October 15, 2010

Committed to Excellence

The law firm of Montross Miller Muller Mendelson & Kennedy is fully committed to serving the personal injury needs of all Indiana residents. As a team of experienced, dedicated attorneys, we have successfully worked together for nearly three decades, defending the rights of clients and their families. Our experience in medical malpractice and personal injury law has a proven track record and we are committed to providing the individual attention we know your case deserves.

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October 11, 2010

Legislation, Enforcement and Technology Prevent Distracted Indiana Accidents

accident.jpgThe recently concluded Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC has turned up a few key points of special interest to states like Indiana, that still don't have anti-distracted driving policies in place. The points to take home from the summit were:

• Laws do work, and states must implement laws to ban the use of handheld cell phones and text messaging devices for all drivers

• There must be strict enforcement of these laws, and strong penalties for violators.

• There must also be better use of technologies to force motorists to stop using their cell phones while driving

Continue reading "Legislation, Enforcement and Technology Prevent Distracted Indiana Accidents" »

October 4, 2010

Explosion Triggers Questions about Safety of Indiana Gas Pipelines

gas%20explosion.jpgA recent pipeline explosion in faraway California is focusing attention on the safety of Indiana’s very own gas transmission pipelines. Federal agencies believe Indiana's safety record where gas pipelines are concerned is good, but all it takes is a single corroded and disintegrating pipe or excavation on the wrong site, for disaster to strike. Unfortunately, it seems that years of complacency could have placed Indiana's gas pipelines at risk of a disaster.

Earlier this month, a gas pipeline in San Bruno, California exploded, killing 8 people and leaving several injured. The explosion caused millions of dollars worth of property damage, and rendered several people homeless.

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September 27, 2010

Are There Radiation Risks from Airport Scanners?

airport.jpgBody scanners are now in place in more than 50 airports across the US and over the next few months, will be in place in more airports nationwide. There has been much controversy over these scanners, ranging from privacy concerns to the convenience factor. However, there is one issue that Indiana personal injury lawyers believe has not been addressed enough, and that's the health impact of the scanners.

The biggest health concerns about the scanners relate to the amount of radiation that they emit. The problem is that there is very little solid information about the volumes of radiation we are talking about here. That's because it seems to be only the manufacturers who know how much radiation the scanners are programmed to emit during a typical body scan, and the companies inform us that the amount is very low. That doesn't really help assure us.

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September 13, 2010

Coast Guard Report Shows Spike in Boating Accident Fatalities in 2009

boat%20rope.jpgThe Coast Guard's boating safety report for 2009 indicates an increase in deaths and injuries, although the overall number of boating accidents actually declined last year. Overall, there was a 3.81% increase in boating accident fatalities and a .81% increase in boating accident injuries last year. However, the number of boating accidents dropped by 1.23%.

In all, there were 4,730 recreational boating accidents in 2009, and these resulted in 736 deaths and 3,358 injuries. As for the causes of boating accidents, it should come as no surprise to any Indiana boating accident lawyer, that the primary factors continue to be operator attention and inexperience, excessive speeds, boating under the influence and insufficient lookout. The one common thing about these five factors is that all of them are related in some way to human error or inadequacy. Mechanical malfunction plays a very small role in the majority of boating accidents every year.

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September 6, 2010

Stability Control Systems Could Prevent 3,600 Truck Rollover Accidents Annually

truck%20rain.jpgLast year, Indianapolis residents had a close view of the massive destruction that can occur when a tanker truck is involved in a rollover accident. In October 2009, a propane truck flipped over on Interstate 465, and burst into flames. The resulting blaze could be seen for miles around, and even motorists a mile away from the explosion could feel the heat. That accident could likely have been averted if the tanker truck had come equipped with a stability control system of the kind found in millions of passenger vehicles around the country. Unfortunately, federal agencies have failed to make these systems mandatory on all commercial trucks.

This week, representatives of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told a hearing of the National Transportation Safety Board that the federal administration was looking into the benefits of having electronic stability control systems made mandatory on all commercial trucks. The hearing was linked to the Indianapolis crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board was specifically looking into safety systems to prevent tanker truck rollovers, like the one that occurred last year. According to the researchers who presented the findings at the hearing, electronic stability control systems on all 18-wheelers would prevent 3,600 rollover truck accidents every year, save 106 lives and prevent 4,400 injuries every year.

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August 30, 2010

A Firm Dedicated to You

Montross Miller Muller Mendelson & Kennedy is a team of attorneys and staff committed to serving the Indianapolis medical malpractice and personal injury needs. If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligent act of a doctor, hospital or business, please call 888-599-2640 and speak with our staff.

July 26, 2010

Progress in Efforts to Develop Brain Injury Biomarker Test

head%20xray.jpgIf efforts to develop a test that will determine the presence of brain injury through biomarkers are successful, we could soon have a simple blood test that doctors at any kind of facility could use to determine the presence of a brain injury.

Currently, procedures for the diagnosis of brain injury are fairly restricted. Doctors can diagnose injury by taking a patient's blood pressure and other vitals, and administering memory and concentration tests. However, the chances of a missed diagnosis are always too high for Indiana personal injury lawyers to tolerate. A delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, can radically impact a person's chances of completely recovering from the brain injury.

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June 29, 2010

Indiana Fireworks Injuries Are Preventable

fireworks.jpgIndependence Day Celebrations are about to begin in the Indianapolis area. You have probably already heard the pop and sizzle of the beginning celebrations. The 4th of July provides flashes of brilliant lights, booming explosions, and patriotic concerts. It is a grand event. However, Indiana residents must be on the alert for the inherent dangers of firework celebrations.

One of the most popular holiday fireworks is the common sparkler; a hand-held welding rod enjoyed by both adults and children. These glittering, fiery metal sticks can produce temperatures as high as 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. A third-degree burn can be caused by 220-degree temperatures. Safely using sparklers is critical to an enjoyable weekend. Safety is critical when using the bigger consumer fireworks, including assortment packages, aerials, firecrackers, fountains, roman candles, spinners, novelty items, and rockets.

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June 24, 2010

Preventing Indiana Boat Accidents a High Priority

life%20vest.jpgIndiana summer brings warm weather, family gatherings, fun on the beach and open water. Indiana boasts more than 550 square miles of waterways and some of the most beautiful and enjoyable lakes and rivers. Boating, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and swimming are recreational pastimes enjoyed by many Indiana residents. Keeping our state’s waterways safe is of utmost importance and a tremendous responsibility.

The most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics indicate that boating while under the influence is still the leading factor in fatal boating accidents. Nearly 17% of boating fatalities are a direct result of alcohol or drug use. Alcohol and water fun does not mix. Detecting and stopping boaters who operate under the influence of alcohol and drugs is an important step to ensuring the safety to all who enjoy the rivers and lakes.

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June 21, 2010

Concerns about Senior Motorists May Be Unfounded

hood.jpgAt the beginning of the decade, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a review that indicated an explosion of the senior motorist population in the country in the coming years. This, the IIHS believed, would increase the risk of accidents involving these drivers and other motorists. Nine years later, the IIHS has revisited the issue, and conducted a study into senior motorist safety. The results have been a pleasant surprise.

There are definitely more senior citizens driving today than in the past, but they are not contributing to more accidents, nor are they being fatally injured in accidents at a greater rate. If anything, accident and fatality rates for senior citizens are actually showing a downward trend. Fatal accident rates involving elderly drivers have dropped by as much as 37% over the past decade. In the case of drivers above the age of 80 - those you would think would have the most diminished driving abilities - fatal accident rates have dropped by as much as 47%.

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June 10, 2010

New Law Reduces Speed of Indiana Drivers

road%20work%20sign.jpgUtility crews, emergency responders, police, fire personnel, and construction workers risk their lives every day in an effort to assist the residents of Indiana. With each road construction site, traffic stop and roadside response, these men and women place their own personal safety on the line.

In recent years, Indiana and Federal legislators have added safeguards designed to reduce that risk. These safety measures include a requirement for drivers to reduce their speed, change lanes whenever possible, and always yield the right-of-way to personnel responding to an emergency and requiring personnel at the roadside to wear reflective gear.

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May 31, 2010

Calls for Warning Labels on Foods Get Louder

food.jpgIt is a well-known fact that children are just as much at risk from choking on pieces of food, as on toys. Earlier this year, a study confirmed that 60% of children below the age of four, who had to be rushed to hospital emergency rooms after a choking incident, had choked on food, and not toys.

In spite of this, there are few or no restrictions on the kind of foods that you can allow a three or four-year-old child to have. In contrast, there are a number of barriers between a child and a small toy, or a toy with detachable parts. This is in spite of the fact that many of the small toys that are believed to be a choking hazard, like small balls, are shaped and sized exactly like foods that can cause serious harm to a child, like gumdrops.

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May 23, 2010

FMCSA Working on Safety Technologies to Prevent Accidents

truck1.jpgThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is in the process of developing/rolling out new technologies to help enhance trucking safety and keep Americans safer. As expected, these technological developments are the kind that make Indiana truck accident attorneys very happy.

First, the agency is in the process of finalizing technological devices that can help prevent rear-ender tractor-trailer accidents. These accidents kill 165 people in the country every year, and injure more than 1,600 more. The agency is considering lighting systems that will alert approaching motorists to the tractor-trailer.

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May 17, 2010

Truck Driver Shortfall Looms, Raises Safety Issues

line%20of%20trucks.jpgTwo trucking safety questions are on the horizon for the trucking industry, safety groups and Indiana truck accident lawyers.

The first question - how does the industry plan to deal with a looming truck driver shortage that threatens as the recession ends?

The second question is linked to the first - will a driver shortfall mean that there will be more older, and thus less safe, truckers, on the highways?

Last week, several trucking groups and Reuters reported that as the recession loosens its grip on the trucking industry, there will be more opportunities in other areas for young men who would otherwise have turned to trucking. Historically, a good economy means more opportunities for potential trucking candidates.

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May 3, 2010

Indiana Marks Bicycle Safety Month in May

bike2.jpgIt is the right time to embrace the cause of bicycle safety in Indiana. There are more Hoosiers biking to work and for leisure than ever before. In fact, according to Bicycle Indiana, since 2007 alone, there has been an increase of 40% in the numbers of people biking to work in Indiana.

And why not? There are far too many incentives for Hoosiers not to take to bicycling. Biking helps save precious dollars on gas, and reduces your carbon footprint. With a massive oil blob the size of Delaware inching towards the Louisiana coastline, the need for promoting eco-friendly means of transportation is clearer than ever. Besides, with health experts warning of an obesity epidemic continuing into future generations of Americans, biking is a healthy lifestyle choice more Hoosiers should be encouraged to make.

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April 29, 2010

Indianapolis Bicyclists Avoid Serious Injuries by Following Simple Steps (III of III)

old%20bike.jpgBicycle riders in Indiana share the road with many passenger cars, delivery vans, and large trucks. This traffic increases the risk of serious personal injury to the rider. To ensure a fun afternoon on a bicycle continues in safety, all riders should take a few simple precautions when they hit the road.

As Indiana personal injury attorneys, we believe visibility is of utmost importance for any bicycle rider. The ability to see potential dangers and to be seen by automobile and truck drivers can prevent serious injuries for the bike rider.

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April 26, 2010

Fewer People Died in Motorcycle Accidents in Indiana in 2009

motorcycle%206.jpg Just in time for Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May comes an announcement by the Governors’ Highway Safety Association that there has been a substantial drop in the number of motorcycle fatalities nationwide.

According to data from the first nine months of 2009, there is expected to be a decline of more than 10% in fatality rates, the first time a decline like this has been recorded in the past 11 years. Indiana also recorded a drop in motorcycle accident fatalities last year. There were 108 motorcycle crash deaths here in 2009, a drop of four deaths from 2008.

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April 22, 2010

Simple Steps Can Reduce Indiana Bicycle Injuries (Part II of III)

parked%20bikes.jpgIndiana bicycle riders have enjoyed many sunny days of wonderful two-wheeled riding this spring. But for every hour spent on the bike, the rider runs an increased risk of injury.

Perhaps the biggest risk for any bicycle rider is falling off the bike. A rider’s head has no protection from a fall except the bicycle helmet. This complex device made of foam and plastic is designed to absorb much of the impact that a rider would experience if a fall were to occur. Worn correctly, a helmet can help prevent life-threatening head injuries.

Continue reading "Simple Steps Can Reduce Indiana Bicycle Injuries (Part II of III)" »

April 12, 2010

New Federal Rule Will Require Electronic On-Board Recorders for Certain Carriers

clock.jpgThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking at the problem of driver fatigue very seriously. In the latest move designed to reduce the number of tired, drowsy and simply fatigued truckers plying our highways, the agency has passed a rule that requires electronic on-board recorders (EOBR's) to be installed on trucks of carriers that frequently violate the Hours of Service rule.

The new rule will take effect from June 1, 2012. It will require a carrier found to be in violation of the work hour rules more than 10% of the time in a single compliance review, to have the EOBRs installed in all its trucks. The recorders must be synchronized with the truck’s engine to record precise and accurate data. The device must record the truck driver name, location, duty status, date and time. After an accident, the data can be accessed through the device, helping rule out or confirm the role of driver fatigue as a role in the accident.

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March 22, 2010

Jason’s Law Will Help Pay for Parking Facilities for Indiana Truckers

truck%20moving.jpgAs truck accident lawyers in Indiana, we have been very concerned at our state’s decision to close truck stops in an effort to deal with budgetary deficits. Last year, the Indiana Department of Transportation closed seven truck stops in the state. Other states around the country have followed suit, shutting down rest areas in an effort to meet budgetary shortfalls, and in the process, placing truckers and motorists at risk from fatigue-related accidents, violence, robberies and other adverse incidents.

A new piece of federal legislation called Jason’s Law could change all that. The bill, if passed, will provide for financing of new truck stops across the country, enhancing existing parking areas for 18-wheelers, and improving access to truck stops and parking facilities on our highways.

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March 15, 2010

Highway Accident Fatalities Lowest in More Than Five Decades

road.jpgTransportation Sec. Ray LaHood deserved to be proud this week, when he announced that according to preliminary data, highway fatalities across the country had dropped to their lowest levels in 54 years. Fatality numbers for 2009 were 9% lower than they were in 2008. The DOT estimates that there were 33,960 accident fatalities in 2009. Compare that to just four years ago in 2005, when there were 37,261 fatalities.

Obviously that's good news, although 33,000+ deaths in 365 days are still far too many to stomach for Indiana injury lawyers.

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March 4, 2010

Toyota Crisis Just One Example of Why Indiana Needs Trial Lawyers

speedometer.jpgIn all the attention that the Toyota acceleration crisis has received, one fact has become clear – the role of trial lawyers in protecting consumers when companies fail to respond to safety concerns, and federal agencies entrusted with protecting the consumer, dither in their duty to keep defective products off the market.

In Toyota’s case, reports of unintended acceleration in its vehicles began surfacing as far back as 2002, when the company first introduced its bestselling electronic throttle control systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration however, failed to find the issue serious enough to warrant a recall. It took the deaths of four people in a San Diego accident involving a Lexus for the NHTSA and Toyota to admit that there was a problem.

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January 31, 2010

Indianapolis Furnace Blamed for Devastating Fire

Flame.jpgIndianapolis resident, Alice Helterbrand woke to a shock early Sunday morning when her furnace exploded, causing the total destruction of her home and the loss of several exotic birds. The explosion was so destructive that Ms. Helterbrand had to be rescued by neighbors through a hole in her wall. The home was determined to be a total loss, estimated at a value of $140,000. A neighboring home suffered about $20,000 in damage due to the flames and heat.

Helterbrand’s daughter informed officials that the furnace had been making a funny sound for several days.

Miraculously, no one suffered serious personal injured, as all other family members were staying with friends for the night.

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January 27, 2010

Indiana Tractor-Trailer Accident Takes Two Lives

shattered%20glass.jpgIndiana residents were again reminded of the devastation caused by semi tractor-trailer accidents when they awoke last Sunday to the news of a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a passenger van.

According to early reports, a passenger van traveling north on Interstate 65 near Edinburgh was struck from behind by a semitrailer. The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on the darkened interstate.

The full-sized passenger van, filled with family members, was returning from a kite flying competition in Atlanta, Georgia. The van carried 18 people. All the passengers in the van were from one Chicago area family.

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January 21, 2010

More Highway Highway Safety Laws Needed to Minimize Indiana Accidents

Stop%20Sign.jpgLast week, a safety group handed out its annual report card for highway safety. Indiana received a mediocre rating for the strength and effectiveness of its highway safety laws. Coming as it does during the first month of a brand new year, Indiana personal injury lawyers hope that the government takes seriously the issues brought up by the report card and its recommendations.

The report by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety called Road Map to State Highway Safety Laws, rated all states based on the kind of highway safety laws they have in place to minimize accidents, prevent fatalities and reduce injuries. Fifteen basic and essential highway safety laws relating to teen driving, drunk driving, adult occupant protection and other aspects of highway safety were taken as bench marks.

Continue reading "More Highway Highway Safety Laws Needed to Minimize Indiana Accidents " »

January 19, 2010

Indianapolis Tow Truck Driver Injured

skid%20mark.jpgIndiana State Police responded to a call concerning a near fatal accident on the Indianapolis east side this past Tuesday morning. The accident occurred around 9:00 am when the driver of a van hit a tow-truck driver on westbound I-70.

Indianapolis Police report that the tow truck driver, Mark Daily was outside his vehicle, helping a broken-down car on the side of the highway. While he was working, a van ran over him. Police say that the driver of the car, 40-year old Ronald Stevens, failed to obey the law that requires a driver to move to another lane when service vehicles and emergency personnel are present. He was cited for unsafe lane movement and following too close.

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January 8, 2010

Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers Look Forward to Texting While Driving Ban in 2010

cell%20phone.jpgThe New Year promises to usher in new state and federal laws of the kind that Indiana personal injury lawyers would really like to see. Our state continues to lag behind many in its approach to the safety issues arising from motorists texting and using cell phones while driving. We currently have a ban on all cell phone use by motorists below the age of 18. However, there is no law yet that bans texting while driving for all.

A new bill introduced by Senator Travis Holman (R-Markle) will ban texting and sending emails behind the wheel for all drivers. The bill was filed in the legislature last year, and a non budget session of the legislature which begins on January 5th, has the bill on its agenda. The momentum against cell phone use while driving is gaining momentum in Indiana, and the bill has received support from legislators, Indiana personal injury attorneys and the public.

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January 1, 2010

Increased Indiana Highway Construction Could Mean More Accidents in the New Year

barricade.jpgIndiana is in the midst of a massive 10-year highway construction development blitz, but given a poor nationwide record of enforcing work zone safety standards, personal injury lawyers here will be concerned about the increased risk of accidents and injuries from these development efforts.

In 2006, the Indiana Department of Transportation introduced Major Moves, a highway development plan that includes at least 200 new highway construction projects and 200 preservation projects across Indiana. The plan was initiated as part of efforts to boost development, facilitate easier transportation and generate jobs. All that has been great, but the plan has also meant dozens of highway projects active across the state, at any given time.

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December 24, 2009

Indiana Children at Risk of Strangulation from Defective Roll Up Blinds, Roman Shades

blinds.jpgThanks to relentless efforts by consumer safety groups and product liability attorneys in Indiana and around the country, there are stricter safety standards in place for children’s products. However, it is important for parents and caregivers to know that their children may also be at danger from other consumer products in the home. Last week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of up to 50 million rollup blinds and window shades, after a series of strangulation deaths involving little children.

The CPSC has confirmed eight reports of deaths in which children were strangulated by the blind and shade cords since 2001. It has also received reports of at least 16 incidents in which children wrapped the cord around themselves but were rescued in time. This recall is believed to be the second largest American product recall, and the latest in a series of recalls of window coverings. The last massive recall was nine years ago when 85 million blinds had to be recalled for similar hazards.

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December 10, 2009

Indiana DOT Launches New Website to Prevent Accidents

Road%20Conditions.jpgAs Indiana personal injury lawyers, we are constantly monitoring efforts by our state to prevent automobile accidents, especially those that result in fatalities and catastrophic injuries. With winter here, the chances of accidents increase because of the challenges of driving in adverse weather conditions. That is why we are encouraged to see the Indiana Department of Transportation (DOT) using technology and the Internet to keep motorists in informed about road and traffic conditions that affects their safety.

The DOT has set up a new website at www.trafficwise.in.gov to keep motorists informed of road conditions. The website launched just before the Thanksgiving holiday, which kicks off a high-risk season for accidents in Indiana.

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December 3, 2009

Indiana Truck Accident Lawyers’ Wish List for New FMCSA Chief

semi%20mirror.jpgAs Indiana truck accident lawyers, we have our reservations about the confirmation of Anne Ferro as chief of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Ferro’s confirmation has been controversial, and truck accident attorneys, safety groups and accident survivor groups have their doubts about the good judgment in having a former trucking industry lobbyist leading the country’s premier commercial motor vehicle agency.

Ferro served six years as president of the Maryland Motor Truck Association.
It’s not just the lobbyist past that concerns Indiana truck accident attorneys. Ferro has also been a strong supporter of the 11-hour trucking rule that the Bush administration passed just before he vacated office. Trucking safety advocates and truck accident lawyers in Indiana and around the country have been strongly critical of the rule, which extended the number of consecutive hours a trucker can drive to 11, from the earlier 10.

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November 22, 2009

Indianapolis Woman Dies in Apartment Fire

smoke%20alarm.jpgIndianapolis officials are investigating an accidental fire that resulted in the death of 94-year-old, Willa Mae Fossett.

Firefighters responded to a report of smoke coming from a third floor window at the Indiana Avenue Senior Apartments this Sunday morning. When they arrived just after 4:30 a.m., they found a small fire in the bathroom. They quickly extinguished the fire. Unfortunately, they also discovered Ms. Fossett unconscious in the bedroom. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

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November 6, 2009

Four Indiana Firms Cited in June Death

construction%20image.jpgFour Indiana companies face fines and citations related to the construction death of an Indiana steelworker earlier this summer. Stanley Roberts of Indianapolis, died in the June accident. He was working on the new expansion project for the Indianapolis Convention Center. Roberts was working in a lift that drove into a hole, throwing him from the basket and to his death. The hole, two-foot square was nearly a foot deep.

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October 26, 2009

FFA National Conference Marred by Youth’s Fall

escelator.jpgThe National FFA Convention has returned to Indianapolis, much to the city leaders’ approval. But difficult questions are being raised concerning the critically injured young man who fell at Circle Center Mall. Unfortunately, the tragic event last Thursday has turned the spotlight away from the program’s purpose.

During a break in the program’s activities, FFA Member and Texas native, Phillip Caler, fell from the mall’s third-floor, landing 41 feet below. Officials transferred Caler to Methodist Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

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October 16, 2009

Indianapolis Truck Accident Kills One, Injures Four Others

car%20crash.jpgInterstate I-65 in downtown Indianapolis was another scene of a horrific accident involving three semi-trucks and two cars. While details are still coming in, it appears that one of the tractor-trailers slammed into the rear of the first passenger car, pushing the vehicle into another semi, causing a chain reaction.

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June 9, 2009

Indiana Weight Loss Option Questioned

pills.jpgIndianapolis residents hoping to lose weight may be in danger because of common diet supplements sold in health food and vitamin stores. The Food and Drug Administration reports that weight-loss capsules called StarCaps could be hazardous to the health of many in Indiana and around the country. Made primarily of papaya, the capsules also contained a potent pharmaceutical drug called bumetanide and can have serious side effects.

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April 13, 2009

Another Indiana Construction Death Reported

rusty%20pipes%203.jpgAnother Indiana construction fatality has occurred near Indianapolis. Randy Gardner, a pipe line worker from Tennessee, was killed when construction equipment fell on him late last week. The accident occurred in Decatur County near St. Omer.

Mr. Gardner was working on the Rockies Express Pipeline, which will carry natural gas from Colorado to Ohio. He was an employee of Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company, based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma and had worked with the firm for two years.

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March 19, 2009

Indianapolis Bicycles Hit the Streets

The recent warm Indianapolis weather has offered wonderful opportunities for outdoor exercise and activity. Running, basketball, soccer and especially bicycle riding fill the warm spring days. The increased number of cyclists on the streets can result in tragic accidents for those who do not put safety first. In fact, Indiana bike accidents are a serious matter. In 2007, there were 15 bicycle-related fatalities in Indiana.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, nationwide, 43,000 people were injured in bicycle-related accidents in 2007. They also report that 700 people died that same year from injuries that occurred in bike mishaps.

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January 30, 2009

Indiana Construction Fatality Occurs in Tragic Accident

backhoe2.jpgAn Indiana construction worker drowned under a Wabash, Indiana street on January 27, 2009. Stephen A. Walls, an employee of Environmental Construction, Inc., was working in a water main access pit when he was pinned by equipment and water from a nearby leak filled the space.

Despite attempts by Mr. Walls, he was unable to free himself from the pit. Workers at the scene were unable to rescue him from the water main access trench. The pit was drained and he was rushed to a local hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The final cause of death is pending autopsy.

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January 15, 2009

Indiana Pool Safety Gets Attention

Today's front page for CNN's website draws attention to an issue highlighted here last December (Indiana Residents Risk Personal Injury in Local Pools). Indiana pools must have new safety drains in place before they open for business or risk being shut down. This is according to the The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007.

December 23, 2008

Indiana Residents Risk Personal Injury in Local Pools

Pool%20filter.jpgWith the arrival of winter chill, Indiana residents’ thoughts turn to pool-side vacations in warm climates. But people living in Indiana should think twice before diving into the deep-end or dipping your toes into the wading pool. Tens of thousands of swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas are at risk for being closed because of a deadly hidden danger: Pool Filter Systems.

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