Archive for the ‘ Auto Accident ’ Category

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2
May

Single-Vehicle Crash In Indianapolis Construction Zone Kills One

May 2, 2012

The importance of driver vigilance in construction zones was highlighted by a crash early Wednesday that claimed the life of a young driver. According to WISHTV-8 News, the accident happened at around 3:00 a.m. near the 6600 block of Grandview Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana, which was closed for roadwork.

Reports from officers with the Indianapolis Metro Police Department who responded to crash scene stated that it appeared as if the driver of a white Chevrolet pickup truck was heading southbound along the road when he collided with a piece of construction machinery. The impact of the collision sent the pickup truck flying off the road and into a stand of trees near the highway. The vehicle then burst into flame with the driver still inside the wreckage. By the time rescue crews responded, there was nothing they could do to save the man.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, 667 fatal crashes were reported in highway construction zones in 2009. More than half of these accidents can be attributed to a vehicle colliding with construction equipment of some kind.

Indiana Auto Accidents in construction zones are also responsible for killing dozens of highway workers each year. That’s why the Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers ask that motorists work to keep Indiana’s highways safe by paying extra close attention to the road when passing through a construction zone.

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11
Apr

Drivers Who Run Red Lights Responsible For High Number Of Accidents

April 11, 2012

Drivers depend on traffic lights to allow their cars to safely pass through intersections of major roads; however, when a driver becomes impatient or distracted and attempts to pass through an intersection before his turn, it can quickly spell disaster.

FOX 34 News reports that two women were injured in a collision when the driver of a Chevy Suburban SUV ran through a red light Monday and struck a Nissan Pathfinder. While the driver of the Suburban only suffered minor injuries, the driver of the Pathfinder was seriously injured and taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Detectives say that no citations have been issued in connection with the crash, but someone could be charged pending the outcome of a full investigation.

Research shows that each year in the U.S., drivers running red lights are the top reason for car accidents, resulting in nearly 1,000 motorists losing their lives and about 90,000 people being injured each year.

That’s why the Indianapolis Auto Accident Lawyers with Stewart & Stewart Car Accident Attorneys ask that motorists always begin to slow down and expect to stop when a light begins to turn yellow rather than trying to pass through the intersection. Waiting through the extra light cycle doesn’t add much time to your commute and will greatly decrease your chance of being in an accident.

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21
Mar

Noblesville Man Killed In Two-Vehicle Crash At Intersection

March 21, 2012

A Noblesville, Indiana, man was killed and another injured in a two-vehicle accident on Friday. According to WISHTV 8 News, the crash happened just before 4:00 p.m. at the intersection of 196th St. and Cyntheanne Road.

Deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department told reporters that the 40-year-old driver of a Honda Civic was driving south along Cyntheanne Road when he pulled up to the stop sign at the intersection with 196th. While driving through the intersection, he ended up directly in the path of a Dodge Dakota pickup truck.

The 24-year-old driver of the pickup, who had the right of way through the intersection, slammed on the brakes and attempted to swerve out of the path of the other vehicle, but he was unable to get out of the way in time, causing the two vehicles to collide.

The driver of the Civic suffered massive trauma and died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the pickup complained of leg pain to paramedics and was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent’s Hospital Northeast to receive treatment.

The Indiana Auto Accident Lawyers with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers would like to send their deepest sympathies to the family of the man who tragically died in this accident. The firm would also encourage drivers to take a second glance both ways before pulling into traffic. The extra precaution could save someone’s life.

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14
Mar

Brownsburg Man Killed When Train Collides With His Pickup Truck

March 14, 2012

A 25-year-old Brownsburg, Indiana, man tragically died Tuesday after his pickup truck collided with a train at a rarely used railroad crossing. An article released by WISH-TV 8 News says the accident happened around 7:00 a.m. where train tracks intersect with the road at 800 E. Main St.

Co-workers said the man had taken a short break to go to the gas station to pick something up in his Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck. Moments later, the truck would be pushed roughly 40-50 feet down the train tracks after it collided with a train. Investigators said the young man was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision and was thrown from the vehicle. He died at the scene a short time later.

Police believe fog that had settled over the area may have played a role in the collision. Witnesses stated that they heard the train’s whistle blowing just before the accident.

The man was also a volunteer coach for a local high school’s rugby club. Both staff members and players were still in shock when interviewed earlier this morning.

The Federal Railroad Administration found that there are 2,547 train accidents annually, and that 75 percent of those involve the train hitting another vehicle.

The Indianapolis Auto Accident Lawyers with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers would like to send their thoughts to the family and friends of the young man who was tragically killed.

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7
Mar

Indianapolis Man Sentenced For His Part In 2009 Car Crash

March 7, 2012

After a plea agreement was reached with prosecutors in the Henry County Court, a 27-year-old Indianapolis, Indiana, man received a three-year sentence in connection with a DWI crash he caused that injured a woman and killed her unborn child. According to reports from the Courier-Times, as part of the agreement, the man will only serve two-years of home detention, one year of which was suspended, followed by another year of probation.

The accident occurred on November 23, 2009, along Interstate-70. It was there that the man was driving a rental truck east when he accidentally swerved across the median and struck a westbound Honda CRV. The 32-year-old woman driving the small SUV was taken to Methodist Hospital to undergo surgery to repair a broken leg. The woman was also seven-months pregnant at the time of the crash and eventually lost the child due to complications caused by the accident.

The man was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were reduced to causing serious bodily injury while under the influence of a Schedule I controlled substance.

In addition to his house arrest and probation, the man was also ordered by the judge to pay all court costs and to attend a victim impact panel.

The Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers hope that this conviction will help bring peace and closure to the woman who was injured and lost her child in this tragic accident.

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22
Feb

New Blood Tests Ordered In Metro Officer’s Drunk Driving Case

February 22, 2012

Prosecutors in the highly publicized vehicular homicide and drunk driving case against an Indianapolis Metro Police officer said Friday that they want a second vial of the officer’s blood tested. According to reports from WTHR 13 News, the testing is being done in hopes of solidifying a case against the officer accused of hitting a group of motorcyclists, killing one and critically injuring two others.

The accident happened on August 6, 2010, when the on-duty officer was driving his squad car with a blood alcohol level of more than double the legal limit. The officer was arrested on drunk driving and vehicular homicide charges. Two weeks later, the drunken driving charges were dropped because an unlicensed lab technician took his blood samples.

In January of last year, a new prosecutor brought the charges against the officer again, only to have them dismissed by a judge a few months later. In October, a judge ruled that the tests could be used as evidence in the vehicular homicide and criminal recklessness cases against the officer.

That same month, the two surviving accident victims filed a personal injury lawsuit against the city, the Indianapolis Metro Police Department, and the officer for permanent injuries they suffered in the accident.

The Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Attorneys with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers may be able to help you if you’ve been injured in an accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence.

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11
Jan

New Guidelines Regulate Children’s Safety Seat Use

January 11, 2012

In an effort to educate parents and caregivers on how to select a child safety seat and when the appropriate time is to transition your child to the next type of safety seat, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a press release discussing new guidelines the agency has set for children’s safety seats.

The new guidelines are categorized by age, rather than by type of safety seat. This is in an effort to stay relevant to data showing that this is what new child restraint system development is based on.

Recommendations for children’s car seat positions were:

  • Birth-12 Months- Child should always ride in rear-facing car seat
  • 1-3 Years- Keep your child in rear-facing car seat as long as possible based on height and weight limits set by the seats manufacturer. When your child has outgrown the rear-facing position, then move them to a front facing car seat
  • 4-7 Years- Keep your child in the forward-facing car seat until they have reached height and/or weight limits established by the seat’s manufacturer
  • 8-12 Years- Keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit into a seat belt properly

Indiana state law says that children under the age of seven are required to be buckled into a child safety restraint system when riding in a car.

The Indiana auto accident attorneys with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers ask that parents check their children’s safety seat limits to ensure they are in compliance with the new regulations.

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28
Dec

Black Ice Presents Serious Danger To Indiana Motorists

December 28, 2011

The dangers of black ice are becoming prevalent as the temperature plummets in the winter months. According to WISHTV 8 News, a 54-year-old woman learned just how dangerous the ice patches can be Tuesday morning in Morgan County after spinning out in her car and ending up upside down in a creek.

The woman told officers that she was driving along Indiana 142 when she hit a patch of ice. The loss of traction sent her vehicle into a spin before catching on dirt and gravel near the edge of the road. The sudden grip on the tires caused the vehicle to roll down an embankment and land on its roof in a creek. The woman was rescued a short time later by firefighters. She was treated for hypothermia and released.

Black ice is prevalent on Indiana roads in the winter. It is clear water that has frozen on dark roadways, presenting a hidden trap for motorists who cannot see the slick pavement. Black ice is particularly prevalent on bridges, below overpasses, and in areas surrounded by trees.

    The Indiana auto accident attorneys with Stewart and Stewart urge motorists to use caution and follow these simple safety tips when driving in winter conditions:

    • Make sure your tires have good traction.
    • Engage four-wheel drive, if you have it.
    • Slow down.
    • Keep your windshield clean.
    • Give yourself more space on the road.

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    21
    Dec

    Indiana Man Wins Lengthy Dispute With Medicaid

    December 21, 2011

    A 38-year-old Pike County, Indiana, man who was paralyzed form the chest down in a car accident earlier this year won a long and tedious battle against Medicaid this week. According to Tristate 25 News, Medicaid will now assist with getting the man moved to a hospital facility where he can better recover from his injuries.

    It all started in August, when the man fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his vehicle. The accident severed the man’s spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed. Since then, he has been receiving treatment at Deaconess Hospital. The man now faces a problem–the facility can no longer offer him any rehabilitation, as they do not specialize in spinal cord injuries.

    The other problem standing in the man’s way was that Medicaid, refused to pay for a transfer to an out of state specialist. After lengthy debate, both sides agreed to a compromise and Medicaid said they would pay for a transfer to a rehabilitation facility in Centerville, Indiana.

    The story points out the growing number of Medicaid claim denials that are being handed down to those truly in need because of funding cuts.

    The Indiana Insurance Dispute Attorneys with Stewart & Stewart Injury Lawyers have decades of experience handling cases just like these for victims when insurance companies don’t want to pay victims what they need and deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case if your insurance provider has denied a legitimate claim you have made for no good reason.

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    30
    Nov

    Indiana Worker Injured In Snowplow-Train Collision

    November 30, 2011

    The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) says that train accidents occur more often at intersections with no cross arms in front of the tracks. That was the case Wednesday morning when a Hendricks County employee was injured in a collision between his snowplow and a train. According to Channel 13 News, the incident occurred at a crossing with County Road 151 West.

    The train’s conductor told sheriff’s deputies that he was heading west at around 45 MPH as he approached the intersection where the accident occurred. He said that the driver of the snowplow slowed his vehicle, but did not completely stop. The conductor attempted to stop the train as the snowplow crawled onto the tracks, but did not have enough time or distance to bring the train to a halt. The two collided and the snowplow rolled–trapping the driver inside.

    He was freed by firefighters and paramedics a short time later and was taken to St. Vincent Hospital to be treated for injuries to his legs and arms.

    Deputies confirmed that the crossing is marked with a stop sign and railroad crossing warnings, but no cross arm mechanism. According to the FRA, 171 people have died this year in highway-rail accidents.

    The Indiana Personal Injury Lawyers with Stewart & Stewart would like to encourage motorists to always stop at railroad intersections regardless of if warning lights are blinking or not. You should also turn down your radio and roll down a window so you can hear if a train is coming.

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