Lincoln Personal Injury Lawyer - Motor Vehicle Accidents

I35W Minneapolis Bridge Collapses; 30 Missing

Courtney Mills — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:15:11 GMT

The I-35W Interstate highway bridge in downtown Minneapolis plummeted over 60 feet into the Mississippi River, killing at least 7. Nearly thirty people remained missing as the search continued into the next day for cars that fell from the bridge into the river.

The bridge was full to capacity of rush hour traffic when the accident occurred, which may have caused it to break up into sections before falling into the river. Drivers were then immediately thrown down onto the underlying truss structure.

Minneapolis Police were estimating the catastrophe as a structural collapse above all. The bridge had been under construction during rush hour with bumper-to-bumper traffic before the accident occurred. Search/recovery operations continued up until 1am Thursday morning, whereupon searchers determined to call off further recovery activities until the next morning.

Authorities are certain to discover dozens of cars in the water and possibly more fatalities during salvage operations Thursday and Friday. The reasons rescuers called off all searches Wednesday night was due to the inherent danger of working around the fallen bridge structure in the dark.

Dr. Joseph Clinton, Chief of Emergency Medicine, stated that the trauma center had seen so far 30 patients, six of whom were critical. There had been at least one drowning victim thus far, but authorities expect to find far more in the detritus around the fallen bridge.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto of Teen Driving

Christina Cole — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:33:36 GMT

Nebraska Lawmakers listened to the many pleas to save teenagers' lives by voting to override the Governor's veto of a bill that would set new restrictions on teenage drivers.

Votes were 33-7 to reinstate Legislative Bill 415. 30 votes are needed for a bill to become law over a governor's veto. The bill sets the limits on passengers and cell phone use by teenagers that are yet to have full driving allowances. January 1st the measure will go into effect.

The Governor vetoed the bill on Wednesday, saying the state government should not have to substitute for parental responsibility.

State Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff, sponsor of LB 415, said he was inundated with calls from parents urging an override.

"We have a responsibility here to protect the very future and that's our teenagers," Harms said. "It's all about safety. It's about teenagers' lives."

Lincoln Senator Avery said, the bill would support parents in setting limits but not substitute them. While other lawmakers say parents and government have a responsibility to guide teens while they are still learning.

Under LB 415, a teen driver holding a provisional operator's license will be limited to one passenger under age 19, except for family members.

Teens with provisional, learner's and school permits will be prohibited from talking on cell phones, sending text messages or using other interactive electronic devices while driving.

Under the bill, the cell phone and passenger provisions will be secondary offenses, meaning that police officers could not stop young drivers unless they had committed some other traffic violation.

According to the Nebraska Highway Safety Office, teen drivers were involved in 181 fatal car crash from 2002-2005. In these crashes 168 teens were killed along with 40 other people.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Bill Proposes Restricting Teen Drivers

Christina Cole — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 11:23:25 GMT

Nebraska could help save more teenagers' lives with a law to keep them from driving at night, using a cell phone and having a crowd of passengers along while operating a vehicle, state lawmakers were told.

Chealander, testifying in front of Legislature's Transportation Committee, supports a bill proposed by State Senator John Harms of Gering to tighten state teen driving laws in Nebraska. He further states it's a "deadly mixture of immaturity, inattention and inexperience."

Teenagers are five times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash if two or more teenagers are in the vehicle as passengers.

Since passing a graduated licensing law in 1999, Nebraska has seen a reduction in teen traffic accidents. The law eases young drivers into full driving privileges. Accidents involving 16 to 20-year-old drivers have declined 23 percent.

In January a report made by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety said Nebraska still has room to improve upon their safety.

The bill Harm's is proposing is backed by the Safety board, which would tighten teen driving laws in six main ways:

â€¢ Teens holding a provisional operator's license - an interim step between a learner's permit and a full-fledged license - could not drive with more than one passenger under age 21 and not a family member.
â€¢ Teen drivers could not use devices such as cell phones, text-messaging devices, laptop computers or personal digital assistants.
â€¢ Teens could not drive without an adult after 10 p.m. The current driving curfew is midnight.
â€¢ To obtain a full-fledged license, a teen driver would have to drive one year without traffic offenses on a provisional license.
â€¢ Before getting a provisional license, a teen driver would have to drive six months without traffic offenses on a learner's permit.
â€¢ Teens who do not take a driver's education course would have to practice driving at least 60 hours, including 10 hours at night, with a parent or other qualified adult to obtain a learner's permit.

While no one testified in opposition, some members questioned whether it could be suggested that requiring the teaching of driver's education in the schools might be effective for reducing teen accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Woman in Critical Condition after Car Accident

Christina Cole — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:10:11 GMT

A Nebraska woman is in critical condition after a car accident in which she was struck by a vehicle on Sunday while outside her car helping care for an injured dog on the highway.

According to Officials - the woman, 36, of Linocln, Nebraska was driving when she came upon another vehicle which was stopped in the roadway. The driver had hit a dog on the road and stopped to make sure the injured animal was okay.

The woman and her daughter stopped and got out of their vehicle to help the woman with the dog that was lying between both vehicles. A third car was traveling along when he noticed the vehicles were stopped.

Unable to make a safe stop due to the snow-covered road, he attempted to go into the westbound lane to avoid the vehicles. When the three on the roadway saw he would not be able to stop, they ran for the roadside. Marquis was struck in the westbound lane of the highway by the Lamping vehicle as she ran toward the north shoulder of the highway. The accident happened just before 9 p.m.
Marquis was transported to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa by the Garner Ambulance Service, then flown to Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., by an emergency helicopter. A spokesperson said she was in critical condition.

There were no other injuries in the accident which is still under investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Trooper, 2 Others Injured in Car Crash

Christina Cole — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:17:24 GMT

A Nebraska State Trooper and two women, passengers in seperate vehicles, were involved in a three-vehicle-accident on Interstate 80.

The Trooper was checking water levels of Platte River with his vehicle facing east on the shoulder of the road. His Dodge Durango was hit by a car a going eastbound. When he went to check on the car that crashed into his SUV, that car was struck by another car.

Both drivers of the cars were arrested on suspicion of drinking under the influence, say County Sheriff's Office. The crash is still under investigation.

One passenger was airlifted to Creighton University Medical Center in critical condition.

The passenger of the other car was listed in serious condition at BryanLGH Medical Center in Lincoln. Another passenger of the car was flown to Lincoln Hospital after it took 30 minutes to free her from the car. The passenger in the backseat was uninjured.

The Trooper was transported to Midlands Community Hospital with a leg injury and bumps and bruises. He was treated and released.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Man Killed in Car Wreck

Christina Cole — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:47:11 GMT

A Bismarck man was killed in a car wreck on the icy roads of Nebraska.

State Patrol says, a 35-year-old man died on Monday in a crash that closed the highway for approximately nine hours.

Police said the driver was in a semi-trailer that crashed into the back of the car, spiraling both vehicles into the highway median.

The semi-trailer continued down the road into the eastbound lanes, crashing into another semi trailer.

Nine vehicles total were included in the series of chain reactions that were caused by the accident:: five semi-trailers and four cars.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Accident fatalities down on Nebraska's roads

Staff Writer — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 09:31:47 GMT

A report News 5 KHAS-TV say that fatal motor vehicle accidents on Nebraska's roadways during 2006 were down three percent from the previous year.

Nebraska State Patrol says that there were 10 fewer accidents last year, giving credit to new programs encouraging drivers to wear their seatbelts. "Click It Or Ticket" is one such program that has more than half of central Nebraska's drivers buckling up.

Sadly, car crashes continue to be the leading cause of death in children ages 3 to 14, according to the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. But the issue of seatbelt safety can help save lives, they say.

"Seatbelt use is important issue. Well over half the fatalities the occupants were not in restraints," said Nebraska State Patrol Lieutenant Bill Keeling.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Super Bowl party hosts liable for driving guests

Staff Writer — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:22:18 GMT

If you are planning to host a Super Bowl party this weekend, be sure your guests who are driving home haven't had too much to drink. According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), many states hold party hosts liable for motor vehicle accidents involving their guests who are driving under the influence.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) point to Super Bowl Sunday as one of the most dangerous days on the roadways due to more drivers under the influence of alcohol. The NHTSA says that 51 percent of all traffic fatalities that occurred during the 2004 Super Bowl weekend were due to drunk drivers.

Thirty-five states have enacted laws or have case law that hold social hosts liable if they serve liquor to people who subsequently are involved in crashes that result in injury or death, according to the I.I.I.

The I.I.I. suggests that hosts be responsible by limiting their own alcohol consumption, encourage guests to have designated drivers or call taxis, stop serving liquor one hour before the party ends, provide plenty of food, and do not serve drinks to visibly drunk guests.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Winter Weather Blamed for Car Accident

Shannon Weidemann — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 14:39:12 GMT

A fatal accident happened on Interstate 80 near Kearney on Saturday. JoDee Hasting, age 28, of North Platte was driving her Toyota westbound on I-80, when she lost control of the vehicle, went across the median, and was hit in the side by a semi-trailer truck going eastbound.

Hastings, as well as two of her children LynDee Hastings, age 5, and Paiton Hastings, age 3, were killed. A third child Jonathan Hastings, age 8, is in critical condtion at Good Samritan Hospital. The driver of the semi-truck Boris Pavlov, age 45, was treated at the hospital and released. The winter weather condtions, combined with speed are believed to be the cause of the accident. Car seats and seat belts were being used.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Four injured in December I-80 accident

Staff Writer — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 13:24:24 GMT

A motor vehicle accident in Omaha injured four people, including a Nebraska State Trooper, last month.

The trooper was investigating a one-car accident on I-80. Both the driver of the car involved in the accident and the trooper were in the patrol car on the shoulder of the Interstate when another car rear-ended them. The two people in the other car, along withe the trooper and driver of the first car, were all injured and taken to the hospital.

Fortunately, their injuries were minor, but this accident raises the issue of safety when pulling to the side of the road. Some states, such as Colorado, have "Move Over Laws" to protect law enforcement officers who have pulled over to do their jobs. These laws require motorists to move over a lane when passing law enforcement officials or emergency personnel pulled over on the side of the road.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer