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Coalition Created to Counter Growing Traffic Deaths

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
blue car smashed frontTraffic fatalities are on the rise in the U.S. To counter this escalating crisis, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is partnering with the National Safety Council (NSC) to initiate the ‘Road to Zero Coalition’ in order to eliminate automobile-related deaths within a 30-year period. In 2015, there was a total of 32,744 traffic related deaths, the highest number in almost 50 years. For the first half of 2016, the number of deaths has increased by 10.4 percent compared to the first half of last year. Through the Road to Zero Coalition program, the DOT plans to educate drivers so that they are aware of the dangers that surround them on the road and can plan accordingly to avoid them. The coalition plans to achieve this result by emphasizing common, but critical, practices. Some of these include: seat belt use, appropriate behavior while operating a motor vehicle, rumble strips to alert drivers veering off the road, semi-trailer truck safety and awareness, and using statistical data to educate drivers. The Road to Zero Coalition is based on Sweden’s ‘Vision Zero’ model, which emphasizes safety over speed when designing roadways. To fund this project, the DOT plans to spend $1 million per year over the next three years. The money will go toward organizations promoting roadway safety initiatives. The DOT is also counting on the technological advances of automobiles and roadway safety devices to prevent drivers from entering a situation that would cause an accident. With the introduction of self-driving cars, sensor modules that warn of possible collisions, increasing camera installations and other advances car manufacturers are making, Road to Zero Coalition’s initiative seems possible. While reaching a goal of zero traffic-related deaths is difficult, the DOT believes that this coalition will be the most effective approach to ending fatal human errors on the road. Until the time when there are no traffic-related deaths, it is vital that accident victims and their families have an experienced lawyer on their side after a crash. Those who have lost a loved one in an accident caused by a negligent driver may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Contact the Arnold Law Firm today to learn more about your legal options.

Contact a personal injury lawyer at the Arnold Law Firm today by calling (916) 777-7777 today.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.