On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 24, 2013
The national media has devoted a great deal of attention to new recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board that could lower the legal drinking limit from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. The recommendations were issued on a historically significant date, designed to recognize the dangers of drunk driving. On May 14, 1988, a wrong-way drunk driver in Kentucky caused one of the nation's worst-ever accidents when he struck a school bus. Twenty-four children were killed in that accident, along with three adults.
NTSB spokespeople report alarming statistics about drunk driving in this nation. A whopping 31 percent of American highway fatalities are caused by drunk driving, amounting to roughly 10,000 deaths each year. Even though we may think we have made great strides in fighting drunk driving, it remains a nationwide epidemic, according to researchers.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 17, 2013
A school bus overturned in Smithland, Kentucky, on May 10, injuring 25 high school students in a terrifying car accident. The bus was carrying members of the Union County High School girls' softball team, according to official reports. All 25 victims were sent to area hospitals after the crash.
Authorities report the accident happened in the late afternoon as the bus was traveling to a game at Livingston Central. The bus, which was carrying 28 people, slipped off the right-hand shoulder of the road, swerved to the other side of the road and eventually rolled onto its side in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 60. Four people onboard were adults, and the remainder were students.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 10, 2013
Even though cell phone bans while driving are nearly ubiquitous in this nation, few drivers are actually cited for their bad habits. Newly released research shows that Kentucky cited just 976 drivers for texting and driving in 2011; at least 26 counties report not issuing any citations since the law went into effect. These distracted-driving laws were designed to prevent severe car accidents that have been plaguing Americans nationwide, even on Kentucky roads.
Police say it is difficult to cite drivers because they could be using their cell phones for permitted activities, including using a digital map or dialing a phone number. The anti-texting laws do not take into account the other functions available on today's smartphones, a serious shortcoming in their ability to catch distracted drivers. Furthermore, it is difficult to tell the difference between a 17-year-old driver and one that is 18; younger teens are prohibited from using their cellphones altogether.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 3, 2013
The driver who killed a 5-year-old Kentucky boy and injured five other people in a crash on April 19 has been charged in connection with the child’s death. The 26-year-old man has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, first-degree wanton endangerment and DUI, according to officers investigating the car accident.
Authorities report the boy’s family was returning to Lexington after a trip to visit family in Indiana when the collision occurred. The boy was sitting in the front seat of the vehicle with his parents, while the other children and an uncle were sitting in the rear of the vehicle. All victims were properly restrained with seat belts, according to investigators. The at-fault driver was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 60 at about 10 p.m., when the two vehicles crashed.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Relatives of four Wisconsin residents who perished in a tractor-trailer crash on Interstate 65 near Glendale, Kentucky, in March have filed a wrongful death suit in the case. We discussed this matter when the accident occurred on March 2. The collision claimed the lives of four people traveling in a vehicle together, but two minor children were able to escape.
The civil litigation seeks to recover damages from Highway Star, the company that owns and operates the truck that caused the rear-end accident. Relatives are also suing the driver of the vehicle, alleging that he was negligent and unsafe in the way he operated the truck. Three adults and several foster and adopted children were involved in the crash; the only survivors were two minors who were able to escape from the burning vehicle.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
A Lexington bar is the subject of a wrongful death suit from the parents of an underage woman who was allowed to consume alcohol on the premises. The woman, age 20, was a promising singer-songwriter. She died in April 2012 when her car flipped as she exited New Circle Road. The wreck was not discovered until a passing motorist notified police about 30 minutes after the collision occurred.
The woman was thrown from the vehicle as it rolled, according to investigators. She was pronounced dead after being transported to medical facilities at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital. Relatives told media outlets that the victim had already recorded one album in Nashville and was slated to complete another in the near future. She was pursuing a career in dental hygiene, as well.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, April 12, 2013
A tragic car accident along the Kentucky state line killed three people on March 29. The collision was caused by a car that crossed the center median of Interstate 64, colliding with another vehicle at high speeds. The three victims included a 38-year-old man, along with his daughters, ages 11 and 16. Three other female victims were also transported to the hospital; they were listed in stable but critical condition.
Authorities and eyewitnesses report that the two vehicles, a Camry and a Rav 4, collided at full speed when the Camry drifted across the median. It is not clear why the driver of that vehicle lost control of his car. The driver first struck a U-haul truck that was traveling in front of the Rav 4. The impact sent the vehicle ricocheting into the Rav 4, which was obliterated in the crash.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Drivers who choose to transport passengers in a motor vehicle are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of those passengers. In cases where fatal car accidents occur in which passengers are injured or killed, the driver may be deemed negligent in contributing to such injuries or deaths.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, March 22, 2013
Motor vehicle accidents in which motorcycles are involved are among the most serious and deadly accidents. When a car or truck collides with a motorcycle, the motorcyclist is often the first direct point of contact. Without the protection of airbags, side-impact steel bars and protective plastics and metal; individuals injured in motorcycle accidents often sustain multiple and severe injuries which either result in death or require immediate and ongoing medical attention and care.
On behalf of The Lohman Law Office, P.S.C. posted in Truck Accidents on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Kentucky police and highway safety advocates are speaking out in opposition to a proposed bill that aims to set limits on when state police can inspect some commercial trucks. Currently state law allows police to pull over and inspect any truck being used for commercial purposes over 10,000 lbs. In accordance with Kentucky law, the drivers of these vehicles must keep updated logs detailing loads carried, hours driven and vehicle maintenance record. Drivers found in violation of commercial trucking laws are subject to fines and potential driver's license suspension.
