On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 18, 2012
This blog has discussed some heart-wrenching accidents lately, but it's nice to also focus on the positives. Until the proliferation of the cellphone, U.S. drivers were enjoying a relatively smooth ride toward increased automobile safety. The crash-test dummy has played an invaluable role over a relatively short period of time, saving countless lives in its 60-year existence.
Before the first test dummy was created in 1949, scientists used corpses, animals, sandbags and even live humans for crash studies; however, Sierra Engineering created Sierra Sam and the value of the crash-test dummy was immediately recognized. In 1966, physicist Samuel Alderson created the first crash dummy designed exclusively for automobiles; it was known simply as V.I.P.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Distracted Driving on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
On May 3, two teens died when their vehicle crossed into the path of an oncoming semi truck. Investigators think they have found the cause of the fatal accident, as the 17-year-old driver's cellphone record revealed that she texted just 45 seconds before 911 dispatchers received a call regarding the crash.
The revelation is incredibly disheartening; two high school students needlessly lost their lives because of distracted driving. Recent surveys indicate that the driver probably knew that texting while driving was a dangerous practice. Young drivers seem to comprehend that using a cellphone while driving is risky, but anyone with a teenage child has witnessed how difficult it is for a teen to set down his or her phone for more than a few minutes.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Thursday, May 10, 2012
This week, May 7 through 11, is dedicated to raising awareness of the crucial role that bike helmets play in our children's safety. The Ohio chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) is sponsoring Put a Lid on It! Bike Helmet Awareness Week, hoping that it will help parents better understand the importance of a properly fitted helmet and help reduce the number of head injuries resulting from bike accidents.
The Ohio AAP is stressing that a poorly fitted bicycle helmet isn't much better than riding without one. A loose helmet will not absorb the brunt of impact to a child's head, so a snug fit is important to avoid serious brain injuries.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, May 7, 2012
On Saturday, West Manchester was the scene of a horrific crash between a tractor-trailer and a Toyota sedan. The collision left the front half of the Toyota an unrecognizable mess of mangled steel. Miraculously, the trucker, driver and his infant passenger all survived the accident.
The truck crash occurred on U.S. Route 127 in Preble County when the northbound Toyota went left of center. The sedan slammed into a southbound 18-wheeler, leaving the car so badly mangled that it took emergency responders a half-hour to remove the driver from the wreckage.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 4, 2012
According to a new study, the U.S. driving population is unbelievably poor at using turn signals in accordance with traffic laws. When a driver changes lanes, there is a 48 percent chance the turn signal will never be used, or - if it is used - the motorist will forget to turn it off. When vehicles turn right or left, there is an astounding 25 percent chance that the driver will not use a turn signal.
Each day, a total of 2 billion turn-signal infractions occur across the nation. According to new research, this dangerous and senseless habit is deemed responsible for 2 million car accidents each year.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Unintended acceleration is a phenomenon that brings extreme danger to not only the vehicle's occupants, but to nearby motorists and pedestrians as well. The deadly issue has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to create new safety standards that would help avoid car accidents when unintended acceleration occurs.
Although unintended acceleration episodes are relatively rare, the consequences are devastating. In 2009, four people died when the accelerator pedal of a Lexus ES 350 became trapped by a floor mat. The tragic accident brought awareness of the dangers of unintended acceleration; auto manufacturers such as Toyota recalled certain vehicles that had sticky pedals or pedals that were likely to be affected by floor mats.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, April 27, 2012
Military personnel recently returning from deployment are 13 percent more likely to be involved in an auto accident, according to a recent study by USAA Property & Casualty Insurance Group.
Specifically, the study examined men and women who had returned from military assignments in the past six months. Todd Rockwell, a professor of public health at the University of Minnesota, theorized that the post-service crash rate is indicative of the dramatic difference between civilian and military driving.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Pedestrian Accidents on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The spring weather is a source of relief for many Dayton parents and children alike. After months of playing mostly indoors, it's nice for kids to get out and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. But a recent pedestrian accident on Lorenz Avenue shows that children may need to be reminded of a few safety tips.
On Monday, a group of 14-year-olds were playing basketball on Lorenz Avenue when one of the teenagers was struck by a car. The boy ran into the vehicle's path to chase down the ball and the motorist was unable to avoid hitting him.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, April 20, 2012
Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine recently discovered that accident victims who are flown to the hospital by helicopter have a better chance of survival than those transported via ambulance.
The study found that the survival rate of helicopter patients was 1 or 2 percent better than ambulance patients. The difference may seem negligible, but if you or someone you care about suffers serious injuries, you'd definitely want the odds in your favor.
On behalf of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
In 2003, Dayton officials decided to install traffic cams at intersections throughout the city. The move sparked debate on the motives for installing the cameras; supporters said the technology would reduce car crashes and pedestrian accidents, while critics claimed the overriding reason for the cams was to generate income by citing more motorists for infractions.
The Dayton Daily News featured an insightful article about the red light cameras on Saturday and the data is likely to further the contentious debate about them.
