Car Wreck Newsletter

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reports that each year in the United States, 10,839 people die in drunk-driving accidents, or one every 50 minutes. Furthermore, according to MADD, one in three people will be involved in an alcohol-related car crash during their lifetime. According to MADD, the average drunk driver has driven drunk 87 times before his or her first arrest and 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive with a suspended license. Considering these statistics, the number of drunk-driving deaths in this country, while significant, does not seem all that surprising. In Texas alone, there were 1,437 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in 2009, representing 47 percent of all Texas traffic fatalities that year. The August 18, 2011, issue of Status Report, a newsletter published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), recommends that sobriety checkpoints be used more widely to prevent drunk driving. While checkpoints…
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Car accidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists can occur as a result of either party. A California pedestrian is in serious condition after a car hit him while he was attempting to run across a road. The victim suffered a fractured leg and head trauma. Police say he was attempting to cross a road 130 feet from the crosswalk and in a low-lit area. Due to the pedestrian’s actions in this case, police do not expect to file criminal charges against the driver. In Colorado, a court sentenced a driver for striking a bicyclist who was riding along the shoulder of a road with a friend. The bicyclist flew over the hood of the man’s vehicle and landed 40 feet away on his face. The victim suffered severe injuries, including damage to his spine, a herniated disc, bleeding from his brain and scars on his face and body. The driver sped…
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Tech International recalled one model of tire valves on May 13, 2008 because of defective rubber. In June, the manufacturer expanded the recall of tire valves that includes five additional models. The model numbers affected by the recall are: TR413 TR413CH TR414 TR415 TR418 TR423 The recall was initiated because of defective rubber around the tire valve, which can crack and allow the gradual loss of air during use. Vehicles that are being driven on underinflated tires can put the occupants at risk for catastrophic tire failure, which may result in a serious car wreck. The defective tire valve will be replaced by Tech International free of charge. The manufacturer will replace the entire tire if it has been damaged due to the defective tire valve. Tire Safety to Prevent Car Wrecks Maintaining proper air pressure in tires is essential to help prevent car wrecks. Vehicle tires that are not…
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Keeping your child safe inside a vehicle is paramount. In Texas, children younger than eight and less than 4’9” tall must ride in an appropriate child restraint system. Once the child reaches the age of eight, the government no longer requires a restraint system. Parents depend on child safety seats and their manufacturers to keep their children safe. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sets safety standards for child restraint systems, but improper manufacturing or misuse can lead to serious child injuries. Child Safety Seat Dangers and Preventive Measures Car seats that are not ergonomically safe can cause respiratory problems in infants and toddlers. In the car, younger children sit upright and may have trouble breathing. This is due in part to blood oxygen levels decreasing in young children who sit rather than lie down. If a car seat’s straps are loose, they will not keep a child secure…
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