You views on traffic safety impact everyone’s risk for Dallas car accidents

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents

The third annual Traffic Safety Culture Index results are out. This report is done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety to better understand society’s views on traffic safety. The information was gathered during May 11 through June 7, 2010, via telephone, from a nationally representative sample of 2,000 U.S. resident’s ages 16 years and older.

Dallas personal injury lawyers understand the risk unsafe drivers pose to other drivers on the roadways. We urge all motorists to drive safely and to really consider your own views and attitudes on the critical safety issues facing all of us on the roads.
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After all, if you or a loved one dies today, it is probably going to be in a car accident.

Here are the results of various questions regarding traffic safety:

-Half of those surveyed have had a personal experience with a serious crash. They have either been in a serious crash, know someone that has been seriously injured or killed in a crash, or both.

-Over half of the participants don’t feel as safe driving as they did 5 years ago. In fact, 1 year ago only 35% didn’t feel safe. What’s causing their fears? Almost 50% responded that distracted drivers were their concern.

-It is very clear that no one approves of drinking and driving, and 87% felt that it is a very serious concern. Less than 2% admitted to drinking and driving in the past month.
Most participants were in favor of required alcohol-ignition interlocks for drivers convicted of a second DWI, but over 66% felt that alcohol-ignition interlocks should be a requirement after the first DWI conviction.

-Most surveyed drivers, over 33%, admitted to frequently talking on a cell phone while driving. More than 66% said they had talked on a cell phone while driving in the past month. Most felt that using a hands-free cell phone was acceptable.

-An overwhelming 88% felt that texting and emailing while driving is unacceptable and is a very serious threat to their safety. But 24% admitted to reading or sending a text or emailing while driving.

-Half of the participants disagreed with a total ban on cell phone use while driving but most thought restricting hand-held cell phones was a good idea. There was significant support for texting while driving laws.

-It seems those surveyed like to speed, almost half admitted to going 15 mph over the limit on highways in the past month. And 33% felt it is OK to do so. However going 15 mph over the limit in residential areas is totally unacceptable. Though most like to speed on highways, more than 66% wanted more police presence to enforce the speed limit.

-Participants felt strongly that running a red light is unacceptable but 33% drivers have done it during the past month.

-Drowsy driving is a completely unacceptable behavior to most drivers yet over 25% admitted to driving when they could barely keep their eyes open in the past month.

-Over 75% of those surveyed always wear their seat belts and most agreed that not wearing one should be a primary offense for which a driver could be ticketed.

If you or someone you love is hurt in a Dallas car accident contact Dallas Injury Attorney Mike Goolsby for a free consultation to discuss your rights. Call (972) 394-2141.

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Older drivers at increased risk of Dallas car accidents

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Older Drivers

Smart Motorist predicts the number of elderly drivers (age 70 and over) in the United States will triple in the next 20 years.

Americans are living longer but ability to drive longer is often debatable and dependent upon individual health and circumstances. Senior citizens cling to their keys as a sign of independence but how much are they at risk for car accidents in Dallas and elsewhere?
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Texas Department of Public Safety reports about Katie’s Law, passed in 2007, in which anyone 85 years and over faces tougher scrutiny during the driver’s license renewal process.

The law also eliminates the opportunity for anyone over 78 to renew their license by mail, internet, or phone.

Our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Senior driving accidents aren’t often related to alcohol (only 5%).

In 2008, the NHTSA reported that almost 400 drivers age 65 and over were involved in fatal crashes in Texas. Two-thirds of those were age 70 or older. Over 30 fatal crashes involved a driver 85 or older.

As our bodies get older, our eyesight and hearing diminish, along with our mobility and reaction time. These are all likely reasons that senior citizens become victims in car accidents. Katie’s Law implemented the following requirements for senior citizens to continue driving:

-At age 79, Texas drivers are required to renew license with an office visit and pass the standard test for vision.

-Drivers will be issued a 6 year driving privilege to expire at age 84.

-At age 85, Texas drivers are required to renew license every 2 years with an office visit. Senior citizens are required to pass the vision test upon renewal.

-The annual fee is reduced from $21 to $9 at age 85.

If you know an elderly person that is still driving, you can assist them in making sure their driving skills are up to the task of keeping them safe on the road. If you notice the following things occurring frequently you should talk to them about no longer driving.

Issues to look for include: inability to turn head or obtain clear visibility, missing road signs and markings, confusion in making right and left turns, driving at an inappropriate speed, and a noticeable increase in distractions, irritability or drowsiness while driving.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Dallas or the surrounding areas, contact the Goolsby Law Firm to discuss your rights. For a free and confidential appointment call 1-972-394-2141.

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Drunk driving a leading cause of Dallas car accidents

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Drunk Driving Accidents

It’s no secret that Dallas drunk driving accidents occur way too frequently. The state has enough difficulty trying to keep motorists safe on the roadways without adding alcohol to the mix.

The risk remains a primary concern of Dallas personal injury attorneys and accident lawyers throughout the state.
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The AAA Foundation has reported that 1 in 10 drivers admit to having driven drunk in the last 12 months. That’s a pretty alarming statistic considering that 87% of drivers view drinking and driving as a serious and intolerable threat to public safety.

It is common knowledge that driving under the influence happens throughout the year, not just on certain holidays. Notable alcohol and driving facts in the AAA Foundation Safety Culture include the following:

-People ages 1-34 are most at risk of fatality from motor vehicle crashes.

-Over 10,000 people died in drunk driving crashes in 2009, approximately one-third of all traffic deaths.

-From 2000-2009, an average of 80 people were killed on New Year’s Day in alcohol-related crashes.

With St. Patrick’s Day and Spring Break right around the corner, motorists need to be mindful of the dangers of driving under the influence. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationreported that nationally in 2009, the highest percentage of drivers in fatal crashes with BAC levels of .08 or higher were in the 21-24 year-old age group.

Drunk driving accidents are four times more likely to occur at night. Drivers over the legal limit involved in fatal crashes were 8 times more likely to have a prior drunk driving conviction than drivers with no alcohol detected at the time of the crash in 2009.

In 2009, it was also reported that 56% of drivers involved in fatal accidents were driving with a BAC of .15 or higher. The state of Texas reported 27% of drunk driving fatalities (830 deaths) in which at least one driver involved in the crash tested with a .15 BAC level or higher. The state reported over 1,400 fatalities (almost half of total motor vehicle fatalities for the year) in which at least one driver was detected with BAC of .01 or higher in the crash.

Texas has the highest number of drunk driving fatalities each year in the nation; partially due to its size, but mostly because motorists portray irresponsible driving behaviors. Stricter law enforcement and consequences for convictions are helping but it’s not enough.

Don’t rely on the luck of the Irish to get you home safely this St. Patrick’s Day. If you attend parties or events that you plan to drink at, arrange for a driver or friend to get you home safely.

The Goolsby Law Firm is dedicated to helping victims of drunk driving accidents. If you have been involved in a Dallas or Carrollton accident, call 1-972-394-2141 to set up free consultation to discuss your rights.

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Dallas bicycle accidents most likely to involve middle-aged men

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Bicycle Accidents, Car Accidents

Dallas bicycle accidents are deadly, just-released data from the National Traffic Safety Administration show. In North Texas and the Dallas area those most in danger of being seriously injured or killed in a bicycle accident are middle-aged men.

Our 
Dallas personal injury attorneysrecognize that the North Texas area is popular with recreational bike riders. But these new statistics underscore the importance of safety when riding a bike on streets and trails.
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What can you do to make the road safer for bicycle riders? First, as a driver in Texas , you can learn to share the road with bicyclists.

• Give bicyclist plenty of room. Don’t follow them closely and if you have to pass a bicyclist, give make it a wide berth and slow down.

• Be careful when approaching an intersection. Children often use the sidewalks to ride their bikes and will dart across streets without looking.

• Watch when you open the driver’s side door when parked on a street. A bicyclist can easily be knocked off his bike or thrown into traffic by hitting a car door.

• Always use your signals when turning. And before making a right turn, make sure you check the bike lane.

Bike riders too can decrease the chances of a serious accident or illness by doing the following:

– Wear a helmet: Helmets may not be required by law, but wearing one will decrease the chances of a serious brain injury or even death.

-Ride right: Ride as near as you can to the right curb or walkway traveling with the motor traffic.

-Make noise: If you pass a pedestrian or other bicyclist make sure they know you are coming. Hitting a pedestrian with a bicycle can injure or kill both the cyclist and the walker.

-Be seen: Wear white or fluorescent clothing especially if you must ride at night. Your bike should be equipped with reflectors and a headlamp.

If a bicycle accident has caused an injury to you or a loved one, an experienced injury lawyer can help. Contact The Goolsby Law Firm for a free confidential discussion by calling 972-394-2141.

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Data recorders should reduce risk of Dallas tractor-trailer accidents

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Texas Tractor-Trailer Accidents

Installing electronic on-board recorders in large trucks could help reduce Dallas trucking accidents.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)announced a proposal to require installation of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs). The proposal will require installation of EOBRs for interstate commercial bus and truck companies, to monitor the hours-of-service (HOS) rule compliance by their driver’s.
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Our Dallas personal injury lawyers know the tragic results of a tired trucker on the roadways. Too often it is an innocent motorist or an entire family that pays the price.

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 380,000 large truck crashes; 4,066 were fatal crashes. In those crashes 90,000 people were injured and 4,229 were killed (which was 11% of all traffic fatalities). Of truckers involved in fatal crashes, 24% had been convicted of a prior speeding ticket.

In Texas there were 4,619 fatal motor vehicle crashes, 421 involved a large truck. Texas lead the nation with the most fatal truck crashes. California finished a distant second with 304.

The EOBRs will replace the system commercial vehicle drivers currently use, pen and paper, to keep track of their hours. Documenting their own hours is often inaccurate and drivers have been caught keeping multiple log books. The tamper proof electronic on-board recorders will keep all drivers honest regarding their hours-of-service.

“We cannot protect our roadways when commercial truck and bus companies exceed hours-of-service rules,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This proposal would make our roads safer by ensuring that carriers traveling across state lines are using EOBRs to track the hours their drivers spend behind the wheel.”

The proposed rule will affect about 500,000 carriers, though several carriers have already welcomed this new technology. Truckers that track their time with a timecard won’t be affected by the proposal. Carriers violating the EOBR requirement could face stiff fines.

“This proposal is an important step in our efforts to raise the safety bar for commercial carriers and drivers,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “We believe broader use of EOBRs would give carriers and drivers an effective tool to strengthen their HOS compliance.”

This is a step in the right direction to increase large truck safety. Commercial trucks fatally crashing into passenger vehicles is happening at a rate equivalent to a monthly crash of two commercial airliners, with no survivors.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Dallas car or trucking accident contact Dallas Injury Attorney Mike Goolsby for a free consultation to discuss your rights. Call (972) 394-2141.

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St. Patrick’s Day drunk drivers face zero tolerance in Dallas

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Drunk Driving Accidents

The Dallas Police Department will be out in full force enforcing a zero-tolerance DWI patrol starting Friday, March 11th in effort to reduce drunk driving related Dallas car accidents through the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Dallas personal injury lawyers recognize the increased number of drunk driver on the roads during the St. Patrick’s Day extended weekend poses a threat to all motorists on the road.
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Police officers will be securing a search warrant for blood samples from all persons in violation who refuse to give a voluntary breath/blood sample. Police would also like to remind you of other ordinances.

“The Dallas Police Department will have an increased presence and will be enforcing city ordinance 6-6.0, which outlaws Open Container and Public Consumption of Alcohol outside the designated areas for this event,” according to the Dallas Observer.

The Observer also offers a copy of the Dallas Police Department’s memorandum regarding St. Paddy’s Day celebrations.

NBC-5 offers Dallas citizens and visitors a how-to list for a safe and fun St. Patrick’s Day:

-Re-route your trip. Know which roads are closed for parades and when they reopen.

-Forget the car. If you live near the area, try using the DART system. This will eliminate parking problems and drunk driving accidents.

-Plan you parking. Try carpooling. Pay attention to posted signs indicating where you can and cannot park to avoid a costly mishap.

-Watch your drinks. Cops can now charge up to $250 for not having a top on your adult beverage. Beware of all open-container ordinances.

-Stay hydrated. And no, not necessarily with green beer. Authorities would like to remind you that you don’t need heat to be dehydrated. Remember to drink plenty of water.

The NHTSA offers everyone a Impaired Driving Toolkit on their website to help reduce the risk of serious and fatal car accidents caused by drunk drivers.

If you or a loved one has been injury by a drunk driver, contact Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer Mike Goolsby at The Goolsby Law Firm to set up a free confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call (972) 492-8758.

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Distracted teens cause increased risk for Dallas car accidents

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Teen Drivers

“Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America’s roads, and teens are especially vulnerable because of their inexperience behind the wheel,” says Transportation Secretary Ray Hood.

Dallas car accident attorney know this all too well.
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As schools winds down, more teens will be hitting the roadways, increasing the risk of Dallas car accidents.


Consumer Reports Nation Research Centersurveyed nearly 1,100 teens to show just how often drivers engage in distracted behavior behind the wheel:

-94 percent of teens surveyed have witnessed other drivers talking on the phone while driving.

-63 percent of the teens admitted to using a hand-held device behind the wheel.

-30 percent of teen drivers confessed to texting while driving.

In attempt to fight this epidemic, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Consumer Reports are joining forces to help educate parents and teens about the consequences of distracted diving. A free guide, put out by the Department of Transportation, called “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives” was released to help educate the public about their message.

The DOT and Consumer Reports also share five additional steps for parents to take to prevent distracted teen driving:

-Talk to your teen about the dangers of distracted driving and the risks and consequences it could have.

-Create boundaries. Set rules to regulate texting and cell phone use in the car.

-Practice what you preach. Set an example by not using your cell phone while driving.

-Make sure to get family and friends involved in the agreement

-Create a driving contract between you and your teen and have both parties sign it.

In 2009, nearly 500,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents — more than 5,500 were killed. One in five of the incidents were directly related to cell phone use at the wheel.

In you or a loved one have been involved in a distracted driving accident, contact the Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer Mike Goolsby of The Goolsby Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation. Call (972) 492-8758.

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New Car Seat Recommendations to Help Decrease Child Injury in Dallas Car Accidents

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Injuries to Children

Car accidents are the number one cause of death for children 4 years old and older in the United States. Approximately 1,500 children die in car accidents every year. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated their requirement for the first time in years, according to ABC 12.

The move made national news; these new regulations are the result of countless studies that examined the best ways to keep our children safer in the event of a car accident in Dallas or elsewhere.
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Dallas personal injury lawyers urge you to take the time to review the new recommendations offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics in an effort to keep your child as safe as possible when traveling.

Where in previous years children were to graduate from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat on their second birthday, it is now advised that parents keep their children in rear-facing car seats until they’re 2-years-old or until they’ve outgrown the weight and height limits on their current car seat. The new recommendations also advise parents to keep their children in a belt positioning booster seat until they’re 12-years-old or have reached 4 feet nine inches tall.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. An average of four children, under the age of 14, were killed and roughly 490 were injured everyday in the United States in car accidents in 2009, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In Texas alone, 147 children died in car accidents that year.

“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” said Dennis Durbin said, MD, FAAP, lead author of the policy statement and accompanying technical report. “For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.”

New research concluded children are in fact safer in these rear-facing car seats. A study in the journal Injury Prevent revealed that children under the age of 2 are 75 percent less likely to be seriously injured or killed in a crash if they are properly placed in a rear-facing car seat.

Healthy Children provides this car seat safety guide for parents to help ensure they’re effectively protecting their child in a car seat.

In you or a your child has been involved in a car accident, contact Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer Mike Goolsby of The Goolsby Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call (972) 492-8758.

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Underride Guards Proven Faulty in Preventing Fatal Dallas Car Accidents

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Texas Tractor-Trailer Accidents

“Cars’ front-end structures are designed to manage a tremendous amount of crash energy in a way that minimizes injuries for their occupants,” says Adrian Lund, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety president.

But the type of car you drive, no matter how glorious the safety ratings, may not be able to save you in a rear-end Dallas car accident with a tractor-trailer. A study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) proves underride guards meeting U.S. standards are prone to buckle in low-speed rear-end accidents — with results that are often lethal for the occupants of passenger vehicles.

Dallas personal injury lawyers know the rate of rear-end collisions involving tractor trailers is higher than for any other type of vehicle — trailer height makes it difficult for following vehicles to judge speed and distance. The IIHS is currently petitioning the federal government to establish stricter and more thorough requirements for tractor-trailer underride guards.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration(NHTSA), approximately 423 people in passenger vehicles die when their vehicles strike the backs of commercial trucks each year. An additional 5,000 passenger-vehicle occupants are injured.

The study, conducted by the IIHS, analyzed the result for roughly 1,000 real-world crashes over a two-year period to pinpoint which crash patterns led to rear underride of large trucks with and without guards. Underride was a common outcome of 115 of the crashes involving the car colliding with the back end of a tractor-trailer. Only 22 percent of the crashes didn’t involve underride, or only suffered slight underride. In 23 of the 28 crashes in which someone in the passenger vehicle died, there was a severe amount of underride damage — the entire from end, or more, of the vehicle ended up underneath the truck.

“Damage to the cars in some of these tests was so devastating that it’s hard to watch the footage without wincing. If these had been real-world crashes there would be no survivors,” said Lund.

The study also determined that Canadian trucks, with stricter guard regulations, were proven to be much safer for those in passenger vehicles than the trucks meeting U.S. regulations.

The IIHS has been studying the underride crash problems for 30 years, and has repeatedly demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the current guards. While the institute and safety advocates continue to push the matter with the federal government, it is important for drivers to practice cautious driving habits when sharing the roads with these tractor-trailers.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Dallas car or trucking accident contact Dallas Injury Attorney Mike Goolsby for a free and confident consultation to discuss your rights. Call (972) 394-2141.

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Monster Truck Runs Over Woman in Dallas Pedestrian Accident at Local Strip Club

by admin on December 15, 2011

in Car Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents

A monster truck rolled over a young woman in a Dallas strip club parking lot earlier this month. The 27-year-old male driver claims the truck was lifted so high, he wasn’t able to see the 23-year-old female pedestrian, according to a report by Fox 4.

The Dallas car accident illustrates the dangers of backover accidents and is the primary reason for the rearview camera proposal from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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Dallas personal injury lawyers urge you to practice extra caution as a pedestrian. Remember to use sidewalks when available, make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road, obey traffic signals when present and be extra alert for cars that are backing up

According to Fox, the tires of the monster truck, appearing to be at least three feet tall, rolled over the pedestrian at approximately 2:15 a.m. The driver told police he had no idea anything happened until other people in the parking lot stopped him.

The National Highway Traffics Safety Administration(NHTSA) proposed a new rule in attempt to eliminate blind spots for drivers by establishing requirements for rear-view cameras. The rear-visibility rule was required by Congress as a part of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, according to the NHTSA. The Act is named after two-year-old Cameron Gulbransen, who was accidentally ran over and killed over by his father’s car in their driveway.

The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act would expand the required field of view for all vehicles with a gross weight rating of up 10,000 pounds so that drivers would be able to see directly behind them when their vehicle’s transmission it in reverse, according to the NHTSA.

The government is also pushing car manufacturers to install cameras and in-vehicle displays in all cars. To meet the requirements of the proposed rule, all car manufacturers are to install cameras in 10 percent of their new vehicles by September of 2012, 40 percent by September of 2013 and 100 percent of their new cars by 2014.

“The steps we are taking today will help reduce back-over fatalities and injuries not only to children, but to the elderly, and other pedestrians,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “And while these changes will make a difference, drivers must remember that no technology can, or should, replace full attention and vigilance when backing up. Always know where your children are before you start your car and make sure you check that there is no one behind you before you back up.”

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 4,000 pedestrians were killed
in traffic accidents last year. Another 59,000 pedestrians were injured in car accidents. With these statistics, a pedestrian is killed every two hours in the United States.

In Texas alone, nearly 400 pedestrian were killed in pedestrian-vehicle accidents. Texas ranks as one of the highest for pedestrian fatalities.

We urge you to be safe on the road, whether traveling as a pedestrian or as a driver. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially your blind spots.

In you or a loved one have been involved in a car driving accident, contact the Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer Mike Goolsby of The Goolsby Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation. Call (972) 492-8758.

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