Highway-Rail Crossing Program
Summary A highway-railroad grade crossing is an intersection where a roadway crosses railroad tracks at the same level (referred to by civil engineers as the same “grade”). America’s landscape is currently dotted with more than 250,000 public and private highway-rail grade crossings. In recent years, roughly 300-400 deaths have occurred annually at the Nation’s grade…
“Train Accidents Blamed on Maintenance Cutbacks, Crew Fatigue”
Article Author: Paul E. Godlewski Serious train accidents are caused by a variety of mechanical and/or human factors. A spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration in Washington and others have suggested that many mechanical failures are actually a result of deferred maintenance. The railroad companies, he said, in an effort to eke out greater profits…
Railroad Accidents – History
NOTE: Very few passengers were killed in a single U.S. train wreck up until 1853. These early trains ran slowly and made short trips, night travel was rare, and there were not many of them in operation. 1831 June 17, nr. Charleston, S.C.: boiler exploded on America’s first passenger locomotive, The Best Friend of…
Types of compensation recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit
A wrongful death lawsuit maintains that a decedent was killed as a result of the negligence (or other liability) on the part of the defendant. It also states that the surviving dependents or beneficiaries are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the defendant’s conduct. The following types of damages are considered in a…
U.S. proposes road tests to measure vehicle rollover
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Regulators proposed road test standards Tuesday for measuring rollover risk in new vehicles, a cornerstone of landmark congressional requirements to improve auto safety after the Firestone tire debacle. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration plans to put as many as 100 makes and models through two turning maneuvers at different speeds to…
Rollover Accidents responsible for 10,000 deaths per year in U.S.
Rollover vehicle accidents account for more than 10,000 deaths in the United States in a given year, more than side and rear crashes combined. Rollovers also result in thousands of serious injuries each year. Most of these rollovers and related injuries may have been prevented by drivers and/or manufacturers of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs….
HIGHWAY-RAIL SAFETY: LOOK, LISTEN…LIVE!
Operation Lifesaver urges everyday motorists and professional drivers to remember these tips: Never drive around lowered gates – it’s illegal and deadly. If you suspect a signal is malfunctioning, call the 1-800 number posted on or near the crossing signal or your local law enforcement agency. Never race a train to the crossing – even…
Minnesota Wrongful Death Law
573.02 Action for death by wrongful act; survival of actions. Subdivision 1. Death action. When death is caused by the wrongful act or omission of any person or corporation, the trustee appointed as provided in subdivision 3 may maintain an action there for if the decedent might have maintained an action, had the decedent lived,…
A Winning Strategy in Defective Products Cases
INTRODUCTION A product case is won or lost in the early days following the accident, when the preliminary investigation must be initiated. This article will offer some suggestions on how to proceed in order to increase the client’s chance of success. IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION The first priority is to call an experienced products liability attorney who…
Automobile Safety
Each year thousands of children are killed or seriously injured in automobile accidents. Many could be saved by practicing simple safety precautions such as using a seatbelt. New, young drivers cause a great many of these kinds of accidents because they have not yet learned to properly handle a motor vehicle and they drive at…
Make No Mistake: Medical Errors Can Be Deadly Serious
Two months after a double bypass heart operation that was supposed to save his life, comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member Dana Carvey got some disheartening news: the cardiac surgeon had bypassed the wrong artery. It took another emergency operation to clear the blockage that was threatening to kill the 45-year-old funnyman and…
Avoiding Medication Errors
Be an Informed Consumer Unfortunately, medication errors happen. They happen in hospitals, in pharmacies, or even at home. And sometimes people get hurt because of these errors. The more information you have, the better able you are to prevent errors and to take care of yourself. You have to ask your pharmacists, doctors and nurses…
How Motorcycle Helmets Work – Protecting your Noggin
Ahhh – the sun’s out. There’s a gentle breeze. The road is calling you. The perfect day for a ride on your motorcycle. Your bike is all shined up. Your gas tank is full. You’re ready. Call up your riding partner ( either a fellow rider or a passenger) and away you go. But wait…
Pedestrian Safety
We live in a motorized society where being a pedestrian can be risky. According to Crash Facts, published by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, nearly four percent of pedestrian crashes resulted in death in 2002, compared to about one-half percent of all other crashes. The leading identified contributing factor cited in pedestrian crashes is…
Pedestrian Safety—–Common Questions, Quick Answers
Why are children at greatest risk of pedestrian accidents? Children are at risk because they do not yet have the ability to make good decisions about traffic. It is hard for them to judge how fast a car is going and how far away it is. It is hard for them to tell how much…
Minnesota Wrongful Death Law : State of Minnesota
573.02 Action for death by wrongful act; survival of actions. Subdivision 1. Death action. When death is caused by the wrongful act or omission of any person or corporation, the trustee appointed as provided in subdivision 3 may maintain an action there for if the decedent might have maintained an action, had the decedent lived,…
Why Kids Are at Risk
“I can do it by myself.” Asserting independence is a natural part of children’s development, and parents often want to support their growing self-reliance. Yet when it comes to crossing the street, you might want to think twice before letting your children go solo. Very few children under age 10 can deal safely with traffic….
The Most Common Types of Accidents- General Aviation
General Aviation, is a class of airplane often referred to as "little planes," or "puddle jumpers.” The historical pattern of GA accidents has changed little in the modern era. While the number of accidents continues to decline to record low levels, the most common types of accidents keep showing up in the same relative proportions….
Causes of Airline Crashes (1950-2001)
Notable Causes by Category Air Traffic Control Error 06/13/1947 Leesburg, Virginia Pen Central Air 11/11/1949 Arlington, Virginia Eastern / U.S. AF 04/14/1958 Castel de Fels, Spain Aviaco 07/21/1961 Shemya, Alaska Alaska AL 02/08/1965 New York, New York Eastern AL 03/05/1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico Prinair 01/14/1970 Mt. Pumacona, Peru Faucett 02/06/1970 Samarkand, USSR Aeroflot…
Proving Fault for Defective Product Injuries
Injuries directly caused by dangerous or defective products are sometimes easier to recover compensation than other injury cases. Why? "Product liability" or the legal rules concerning those responsible for defective or dangerous products is different from ordinary injury liability law. And, this set of rules sometimes makes it easier for an injured person to recover…