Pedestrian struck while crossing street; Road design to blame?

A woman was struck by a car while crossing the street this morning in Toms River, New Jersey. (see story at APP.com). Nearly ten years ago, a young girl was struck and killed in the same intersection. Residents report an unusually high number of auto accidents at this particular intersection, and blame the "People making lefts into and out of Highland Parkway" for the high number of auto, pedestrian and bicycle accidents at this intersection.

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air Vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the IIHS (Insurance Institute of Highway Safety), the IIHS crashed a 1959 Bel Air into a 09 Malibu. According to the scientists at the IIHS, the driver of the Malibu would have suffered a slight knee injury. The Driver of the Bel Air would have likely died instantly.

Commenters Blame Illegal Immigrant for Crash Killing 1 in NJ

Commenters on New Jerseys local news website, App.com, have taken the opportunity to turn a sad story of a man's death into a rallying cry for immigration reform. The story reports that the driver, a Mr. Rasgado, had been taken into custody and reported to ICE.

Mr. Rasgado apparently ran a red light and struck and killed the victim in his Jeep. Commenters on the story report that the victims son was killed in a similar accident in the recent past.

Comments on the story take every opportunity to voice their political views including these comments;

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY WAKE UP PEOPLE BEFORE YOUR CONVERTED TO MUSILIM !!!!!!!

What is unclear to me is what exactly religon has to do with an auto accident by an alleged illegal immigrant - Considering our current political situation, i find it borders on being racist!

...It is really time to start cracking down on all of this garbage in the area.

I hope the commenter is referring to criminals in general, here. Not assuming all immigrants are garbage, seeing as how we've all come here as immigrants ourselves.

Greyhound Bus Hits Tractor Trailer in New Jersey

This morning a greyhound bus crashed into a tractor trailer carrying shampoo in Cranbury, NJ, injuring eight people. The bus driver, trapped in the wreckage, was later transported via helicopter to the hospital. None of the victims in the crash had life-threatening injuries, however, further details of the victims injures are not yet available.

Victims may experience ongoing possible medical complications from whiplash, neck or back injuries, or head and brain injury. The Victims should keep in touch with their doctors both short term and long -term; those who have medical bills, lost wages, or are enduring physical or emotional pain and suffering from the accident may want to contact an attorney to discuss any claims against greyhound.

On a lighter note, one commenter jokes;

The bus driver was fine, but the shampoo truck was in poor conditioner.

Bad taste, i know.

Phelps NOT to Blame in Head on Collision in MD

A report today reported that famed swimmer & Olympic gold winner Michael Phelps was not to blame in a head on collision with an oncoming car. The oncoming car had run a red light, causing Phelps to unwillingly plow his Escalade into the offending Accord. While Phelps complained of pain in his right ankle, he did not seek medical attention. The other driver suffered back and neck pain and sought treatment at the hospital. M. Phelps was however, cited for driving without a license and failure to establish residency in Maryland, (after moving home from Michigan in 2008).

Who is to blame in this case? It appear from the facts provided in the news report that the driver ran a red light. Although the driver was cited for failure to obey a red light and causing an accident, an attorney may be in order to determine if there were any circumstances that caused her to run the red light. Such causes may include brake failure, traffic light outage, or other manufacturer defect. In this case, the driver may have just cause to sue the manufacturer of the defective product for damages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

About Car Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are the principle cause of death and injury in the United States, and Americans drive an astounding 3 trillion miles annually. Negligent drivers injure innocent people and cause property damage every day, and if you have been seriously injured in a car accident, you might be able to recover compensation for medical bills and other related expenses.

Under New Jersey law, anyone who operates a motor vehicle must have adequate insurance, but some drivers try to circumvent the law, and anyone who has an accident involving one of them may suffer both physical and financial hardship. (When purchasing a policy, include coverage for the “underinsured” and “uninsured” motorist as a precaution.) Fortunately, state law also protects those who become involved in an auto accident and are not at fault.

Your attorney will also discuss your legal rights at a free consultation and will probably take your case on a contingency basis, meaning that you will only have to pay a small amount if your case is won. Damages generally include pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of work and future losses. To win your case, you must prove:

Negligence – Meaning that the other driver did not exercise due care.
Causation – Meaning that the other driver was the source of the accident, and
Damages – meaning that you were harmed in some manner because of the other driver’s action.

Often, the lawsuits resulting from an auto accident in the state are related to an insurance company that refuses to pay part (or all of) the amount that is claimed. As a rule, an insurance company will respond more quickly when a lawyer informs them that legal action is pending. Your accident attorney can also assist with bicycle and pedestrian accidents, car collisions, multi-car pile-ups, drunk driving and trucking accidents, wrongful death suits, hit-and-run cases, seat-belt failure and related events. Above all, you will receive professional advocacy, guidance, and support.

Liability in Auto Accidents : Who's to Blame?

An auto accident can change a person's life in the blink of an eye. Increasing traffic has led to higher car accident rates. A wise driver should trust in a professional attorney to protect his health, finances and well-being.

If involved in a car accident, be careful about statements you make. Collect evidence supporting your case. Go to the hospital to see if you are injured.

Car accidents place many challenging demands on a driver - loss of income, emotional trauma and high medical expenses. An injured driver needs to receive money quickly to forestall bankruptcy while ensuring that future chronic ailments will be covered. Estimating necessary medical expenses can be very difficult, since some aches won't emerge until later in life.

Some states laws allows motorists to drive without insurance if they pay a "uninsured motor vehicle fee". Insurance coverage for "uninsured motorists" helps pay your medical and car repair bills when the other driver has no insurance.

If the other driver was criminally negligent, an experienced lawyer will help you receive adequate compensation for your injuries. Assemble written documentation from the guilty driver to determine liability limits and insurance company responsibility. Even when the guilty driver promises to assume responsibility for the accident, you might still need a lawyer to ensure that he and his insurance company keep their promises.

Some states have "add-on no-fault insurance" [personal injury protection (PIP)] coverage, which attempts to speed up insurance bill payment, before "fault" is assessed in a court of law. A good lawyer can help you navigate this process.

If you were involved in a car accident that resulted in death, trust in a professional lawyer to defend you. He can help you accumulate evidence, interview witnesses and represent you during a trial.