New Bus and Truck Safety Report Sheds Light on Unsafe Conditions

This summer Federal motor carrier safety administration (FMCSA) conducted a surprise inspection sweep of many motor coaches, large trucks and tour buses. The sweep will cut across 13 states including most of the Eastern seaboard and the District of Columbia. The reason, and need, for these inspections is because of the rash of fatal accidents that have steadily risen in number over the past year.

We all assume buses and motor coach greyhound bus style travel is safe. Suddenly the lack of government regulation, difficult to bring tort/negligence claims and almost no oversight, is causing people to get hurt or even die unnecessarily. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) has also taken note. They are proposing additional requirements to include anti-rollover equipment on all motor coaches and big trucks. This coincides with the release of a 1,600 page report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that details the reasons for the deaths of passengers for bus accidents over the last year in New York City. That report spotlights many safety issues for buses. The new equipment has been effective at stopping roll overs on cars and light trucks. Engineering this computer assisted braking and vehicle movement stabilizers to fit buses and large trucks will certainly save lives.

Summer travel brings on a a glut of motor coach, large truck and bus travel. Certainly accidents will increase. Travel on buses throughout our national parks, and around the major cities, is the norm for many tourists. Hopefully with new regulations, better equipment, and increased inspections we will all have safe summer vacations.

LaBovick Law Group concentrates their national injury practice into three divisions: the large truck/motor coach/bus accident division; the catastrophic accidents division and the Florida maritime lawyer division. Don't trust your bus accident case to a firm that handles car accidents. Hire a firm that is familiar with the national standards and regulations of the large truck and motor coach industry. We offer a free consultation and can handle cases in all 50 states.

Auto Accident App

Auto Accident App

The new auto accident app launched by LaBovick Law Group is the easiest way to record details at the scene of an automobile accident. The auto accident app, named Crash Detective, is the best mobile app on the market, available for both the iPhone and the Android. It directs victims through compiling the necessary evidence immediately after a car accident has occurred. Easy to use, this app has many features and benefits.

Features of Auto Accident App

The auto accident app is a great mobile tool for accident victims. If you have been involved in a car collision, you now have a free app that guides you through a logical checklist of action items. The auto accident app has a comprehensive list of features including:

  • A one touch button to call 911 or instantly contact our Palm Beach personal injury lawyers.
  • A Camera, video recorder and text notepad to record all of the important information about the auto accident.
  • Concise instructions of what needs to be accomplished before and after an accident.
  • Efficient forms to quickly gather accident information from the other parties (drivers, witnesses, passengers).
  • Automatic GPS locator which helps in recording critical accident facts like traffic patterns and driving conditions.

Emergency Services Features of Auto Accident App

The auto accident app aids victims by allowing them to quickly search and locate the closest emergency services. So, apart from being an easy to use accident reporting tool, the app doubles up as an emergency services locator. With a single click, users can:

  • Find the nearest police station.
  • Find a tow truck service.
  • Locate auto repair shops.
  • Discover nearest taxi services.
  • Obtain a map of closest hospitals.

The Crash Detective utilizes the quickest growing way for information gathering. The best part is that it's absolutely free. Easy to use, comprehensive in design, this auto accident app provides all of the resources one will need when faced with the unfortunate circumstance of being a victim in a car collision.

Florida leads nation in Pedestrian Deaths

The automobile has brought many positive changes to the modern world, but it's also given rise to a serious epidemic in the United States: pedestrian deaths. In a recent study, Dangerous by Design 2011, published by the Transportation for America, Florida led the nation in the number of automobile accidents that resulted in pedestrian accidents and fatalities.

According to statistics, from 2000 to 2009, 47,700 pedestrians were killed, equivalent to a jumbo jet full of passengers crashing roughly every month. Despite the magnitude of these avoidable tragedies, little public attention or resources have been committed to reducing pedestrian deaths and injuries.  Over 688,000 pedestrians were injured over the decade, a number equivalent to a pedestrian being struck by a car or truck every 7 minutes.

Between 2000 and 2009 5,163 people were killed while walking in Florida, which cost the state $22.20 billion. 11.1 percent of pedestrians and 17.4 percent of bicyclists killed in the United States died in the Sunshine State.

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Tour Bus Accidents Lead to Scrutiny of Tour Bus Industry

Bus Accidents caused By Tour BusThe March 2011, deadly Bronx tour bus crash, and other recent crashes are sparking an investigation into tour bus industry.  The casino bus, allegedly speeding over 20 miles per hour, toppled onto its side, and finally skidded into the support for an overhanging highway sign. The highway sign support sliced open the top of the bus, like a knife slicing a piece of fruit.

Several grieving family members and the National Transportation Safety Board, are looking into who's to blame for this tragic bus accident.  As for the driver, he insists that he was wide awake and completely sober at the time of the crash. However, many of the survivors share another version of the tragic bus accident. He claims that he was forced to swerve the bus because a truck was drifting into his lane. The truck driver in question, denies the accident was his fault. He claims to have witnessed the bus accident happen, and denies any involvement.


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Broward Bus Crash sends 8 people to Hospital with Injuries

Eight people were sent to the hospital after they were injured in a Florida Bus Accident involving a Broward County Transit bus and a vehicle on Monday morning. One person is reported to have serious injuries, and the others only minor injuries per reports.  Authorities are investigating the cause of the Broward County Transit Bus Accident to determine the cause of the accident.

There are approximately 360 million bus passengers each year. These passengers travel a combined  28 billion combined passenger miles. There are approximately 450,000 school buses transporting  elementary and secondary school children to and from school every day. Most of these buses do not have restraint systems or seatbelts. Due to this alarming fact, several children are injured each year in school bus accidents.

A personal injury accident occurs every minute in the United States.  Millions of vehicle accidents occur each year in the United States. In 2009, there were over 30,800 traffic fatalities related to motor vehicle accidents. In Florida, there were 2,558 traffic fatalities related to motor vehicle accidents, According to the NHTSA data on traffic safety facts.  In general, public transportation such as buses, trains, and airlines have much lower death rates than automobiles and auto accidents when looking at the amount pf passenger miles traveled. 

An injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident is a serious issue.  We encourage you to exercise caution while on the highway. If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, seek the proper attention of a medical provider immediately. This can help with your injuries and preserving critical evidence in your injury accident. If you are injured as a result of another person's negligence, seek the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your rights.  Insurance companies have adjusters and legal counsel on their side. An injured person should have someone on their side to protect their rights in a personal injury case.

Bus Injury Statistics  - Fatal Crashes by Type

Year       School      Cross-Country Intercity      Transit     Unknown    Other    Total
2007        109                        35                                 113              16             8           281 

2008         115                       19                                  91                11           11          247
 

8 hospitalized after car, Broward bus crash - Palm Beach Post

Bus Injury Crash Statistics - US D.O.T. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration