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Archive for the ‘Driver Distraction’ Category

It’s horrible to hear about a school bus wreck

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Car Accident. You hear those words and a lot of images come to mind.

But what about when you hear the words “bus accident?”

  • Was it a school bus or chartered bus?
  • How did this happen?
  • Are the children and others okay?
  • Was there something wrong with this bus?
  • Why are there no seat belts on some buses, especially school buses?

Since 2000, there have been over 1,200 motor vehicle traffic accidents involving school transportation vehicles according to the U.S. Department of Transportation National Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts, 2009 Data.

Bus accident, especially those involving young school children, are horrible to hear about. When word of the recent school bus wreck just outside Temple, Texas involving the Academy ISD school district children, some people were reminded of the 2003 chartered bus incident. In that accident, members of a local Temple church were traveling on IH-35 in Waco when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle, the bus crashed and then landed on its side.

Board certified attorney, John O. Roark, who has recently joined our law firm, was one of the attorneys who represented some of the individuals in the 2003 bus wreck. That case involved a team of attorneys and which resulted in a very favorable verdict for those injured in that accident.

When you or a loved one is involved in a bus accident, there will be many questions and you may not know what all of your options are under current Texas law. Dealing with the automobile insurance companies, your health insurance company, and possibly bill collectors can be quite overwhelming. Our staff, which includes three board certified attorneys, has experience in bus accident litigation and serious injury cases.

If you or a loved one has any questions, please feel free to contact our offices and we would be glad to assist you.

 

32 Children Sent to Hospital in School Bus Crash

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

On January 17th, a school bus from Academy, TX, which was carrying 38 children from all grade levels, was clipped by a hardware truck.  The school bus flipped onto its side after the hardware truck ran a stop sign.

The accident occurred in the early morning at the intersection of FM 93 and FM 95, which is near the outskirts of Temple, Texas.

32 people (29 of them were children) were sent to the hospital.  A 9 year old was ejected during the wreck and the school bus driver was knocked unconscious.  Three of the children were admitted to the hospital and one was listed in critical condition.

Academy school Superintendent, Kevin Sprinkles, stated that all the children were expected to recover, but that “they all face a long road” to recovery.

A passerby, Christina Mendoza, told the Temple Daily Telegram:  “There was a bunch of little ones all scraped up, and they were all alone.”

If you or a loved one was involved in this or another collision, please contact s for professional insight.

Tough, dependable and trustworthy, Cappolino | Dodd | Krebs LLP are the injury lawyers.

 

 

Do Automakers Contribute to Distracted Drivers?

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

In these days, it seems that automobile manufacturers play a huge role in distracted drivers.  The distracted driver has become just as much of a problem as the drunk driver.

Distracted driving seems to be a new battlefield.  Among the common problems such as drivers texting while driving are now automobile manufacturers including too much technology in their automobile builds.

One such an example is Ford’s MyFord Touch system.  This system is available to the driver in the cockpit.  This summer, Ford added an 8 inch LCD touch screen in the center of the dash that coordinates entertainment functions such as the radio, satellite radio and mp3 playback.  The center also manages phone calls, the navigation system, climate control, and settings for the traction and cruise controls.

Consumer Reports, who has no ties to lobbyists or manufacturers and is privately funded, no longer recommends the Ford Edge Sport.  Consumer Reports states:  “While the screen has some benefits, like a crystal-clear view from the rear facing camera, it lacks tactile feedback.  So when you reach down to tap on a music selection you must take your eyes off the road or you’ll touch the incorrect tiny button….the screen is about four or five inches too low, forcing the driver to look down and to the right when assessing the screen.”

By including so many technologies which cause a driver to lose focus, Ford could be opening many avenues for car accident lawsuits.