Multiple DUI Offender Kills Virginia Nun in Head-on Crash
At its peak in the early 1980s, drunk driving in Virginia killed around 600 people a year, accounting for half of all traffic deaths. Thanks to harsher fines, state-sponsored traffic and driving schools, and alcohol awareness programs, Virginia has seen a decrease in drunk driving deaths since the 80s, but they continue to cause a lot of damage and suffering. A Virginia personal injury lawyer can help you hold drunk drivers responsible if drunk driving has harmed you or a loved one.
A multiple DUI offender killed a Catholic nun and injured two other nuns in a head-on car accident in Prince William County on a Sunday morning a few weekends ago. The 66-year-old victim and the two others were traveling northbound from Richmond towards Bristow for an annual spiritual retreat. Traveling in the southbound lane, the drunk driver first swerved into a guardrail on his right, then crossed into the northbound lane, struck a barrier, and slammed head-on into the nuns’ vehicle. Police charged the suspect with his third DUI in five years, involuntary manslaughter and driving with a revoked license.
If you plan on drinking, always have an alternate way home in mind such as calling a taxi or bringing a designated driver. The consequences of a DUI conviction are severe and never worth risking. You can lose your ability to drive and thus your ability to get to work or school or go grocery shopping for several months. You can have a criminal record that can affect your ability to get jobs years later. Worst of all, you can cause serious injury to yourself or others.
If drunk driving has harmed you or a loved one, contact Thomas McWeeny, a Virginia personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to learn more about obtaining compensation.
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Washington DC Construction Worker Falls from Bucket Lift
Falls are the leading cause of fatalities for construction workers, with 400 to 500 deaths resulting from falls each year in the United States. They account for nearly one-third of all deaths in the construction industry. Some of the most common falls are those that occur from roofs, which can result from unprotected holes, improper use of safety equipment or defective equipment. A Washington DC personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for your injuries and suffering if you have been hurt in a construction accident.
Washington DC Fire and EMS reported that a construction worker fell 2-3 stories last week from a bucket lift. The man was working near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW near the Old Executive Office building when the accident occurred. Emergency responders took the man to the hospital. Unfortunately, such falls occur all too often at construction sites. A Minnesota worker died a few days ago in a construction fall. Around the same time, a Nebraska man suffered life-threatening injuries in a construction fall when the steel beam to which his safety line attached gave way.
Construction falls and injures have been steadily declining for years now. 2009 saw a record low in construction fatalities. Though increased safety programs and awareness from employers and the government’s efforts to improve safety oversight play a role in improving construction safety, experts urge caution in being too optimistic about the improved numbers. Construction work remains extremely dangerous, and a large reason for the decline is that, with the economy suffering and unemployment at high levels, construction workers are simply working a lot less.
For more information on what rights you have if unsafe work conditions have led to a construction accident that injured you, contact Roger C. Johnson, a Washington DC personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P.
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Maryland Construction Worker Dies after Excavator Strikes Him in the Head
A 34-year-old Maryland construction worker died in a construction accident a few weeks ago. An employee of W.F. Wilson & Sons Inc., the man was working at a residential construction site when an excavator hit him in the head. These large machines range in size from several tons to several hundred tons of metal and moving parts and can be extremely dangerous when used alongside unprotected workers. If you or a family member has suffered an injury because of a construction accident, a Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you hold the responsible parties accountable.
Safety is paramount anytime construction workers use an excavator. Before use, trained workers should inspect the excavator’s body and tread components for wear and damage. The machine should have proper hydraulic fluid levels, and all safety lights should be functioning correctly. Workers should also check the components that attach the bucket of the excavator (often called the boom and the stick) to the excavator’s body. As operators of the excavator enter and exit the machine, they should do so safely, always using two hands while they step in and out of the excavator.
While the machine is in use, the excavator’s operator and nearby workers should continue to observe safe working conditions. Workers should always perform work only while facing the excavator. They should never assume that the operator could see them. Workers should never be working in the ditch or hole from which the excavator is removing material. This is a common circumstance in which people are injured or killed.
If unsafe conditions at a construction site have led to injury for you or a loved one, contact Justin M. Beall, a Maryland personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to learn about how you can obtain compensation.
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Washington DC Pedestrian or Cyclist Accidents Occur 8-10 Times a Day, Several Websites Report
Several websites and blogs have been reporting on the frequency of pedestrian or cyclist accidents in the DC metro area. Some sites have created interactive maps that show the locations of the accidents. Washington DC Fire and EMS maintain a twitter site where they recently reported that there are 8-10 pedestrian accidents every single day. If unsafe driving has led to a pedestrian or cyclist accident that injured you or a loved one, a Washington DC personal injury lawyer is available to assist you in obtaining compensation for your suffering.
Pedestrian and cyclist accidents are an increasing cause for concern in the DC metro area for good reason. Earlier in the month, a woman suffered severe injuries when a large dump truck hit her between 1st and 3rd Streets. Back in April, at the nearby intersection of First Street and M Street SE, a collision with an automobile killed a female DC resident.
As long as they are within a marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, pedestrians have the right of way according to DC law. Drivers who fail to stop and yield to pedestrians who have begun crossing risk a $250 fine and 3 points on their driver’s license. For hitting a pedestrian, the penalties double to $500, 6 points and possible criminal charges. Unfortunately, the fines and criminal penalties do not seem to deter everyone. Drivers should always use extra caution and drive more slowly in urban areas where many people are close to the streets.
If a Washington DC pedestrian or cyclist accident has hurt you, contact Marc Fiedler, a Washington DC personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to learn what rights you have.
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Arlington Construction Worker Dies after Falling 7 Stories While Installing Balcony Railing
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that falls from heights are responsible for one-third of construction fatalities. Employers could have prevented many of these. Safety precautions that save lives are no mystery. Such things as personal fall arrest systems, guardrails, harnesses, and safety nets make construction work safer. Too often, however, workers fail to use them. If a construction or industrial accident has harmed you or a loved one, a Virginia personal injury lawyer can help you obtain compensation for your injuries and protect other workers from similar accidents.
A 35-year-old construction worker died last month as he was installing balcony railing at the Arlington Court Suites hotel. The man fell five stories before crashing through a two-story Plexiglas atrium. Co-workers said that, although he was wearing a harness, he had not tied it down while working on the balcony. He had been a long-time employee of Hallmark Iron Works, a Virginia company that produces metal railings and stairways. Arlington police and members of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry will be carrying out an investigation into the accident.
Unfortunately, accidents involving construction workers at high heights occur every year, and improper safety precautions or no safety precautions at all are usually to blame. Workers may forgo the proper use of harnesses in order to work more efficient without the encumbrances that harnesses entail. Employers should make it clear that the safety rules are not optional. They should enforce them and have repercussions for those who violate the rules.
If poor safety at a construction or industrial site has hurt you or a loved one, contact Peter DePaolis, a Virginia personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to learn about obtaining compensation for those injuries.
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Federal Safety Board Blasts DC Metro for Negligent Safety Attitude and Defective Machinery
The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) recently completed its investigation of the DC Metro accident that killed nine people in June of 2009. The accident occurred just after 5 p.m. during the busy rush hour commute home. A red line Metro train slammed into the back of another one outside of Fort Totten Station. All of the fatalities – the driver and eight passengers – were in the rear train.
The NTSB investigation concluded that failed track circuit modules were one of the main reasons for the fatal crash. The Metro uses a computerized automatic train control system, and this system failed to detect the rear train. The failed circuit is part of the crash avoidance system on the red line. After the Metro replaced it earlier, the circuit gradually began losing its ability to detect trains on the tracks, but investigators did not discover the problem until after the accident.
Nevertheless, safety officials could have prevented the accident, the NTSB determined. The Metro failed to use a verification test across the entire Metro system, which would have uncovered the circuit failure. Without the verification test, controllers in the Metro operations center could not see the problem, because the malfunctions happened so quickly. The NTSB described safety at the DC Metro as a systemic breakdown of safety management at all levels. The Board also recommended that the Metro replace its aging Metro trains, which perform poorly in crashes. A Washington DC personal injury lawyer can provide you with legal guidance if a public transportation accident has injured you or a loved one.
If a public transportation accident involving the Washington DC Metro or other system has caused you injury, contact Paulette Chapman, a Washington DC personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to find out how you can obtain compensation for your injuries.
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3 Kids Hurt at Popular Maryland Amusement Park, State Safety Officials to Investigate
For the most part, amusement parks and roller coasters are a safe way for a family to get outside and have fun. Government agencies and park management regularly inspect rides to ensure that park visitors are not at risk. Despite these safety efforts, however, injuries frequently occur at amusement parks and on roller coaster rides. Between a 1000 and 2000 injuries occur every year on rides, with nearly 100 of those described as serious (requiring an overnight stay at a hospital). If negligent ride operation or a mechanical malfunction has harmed you or a loved one, a Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you obtain compensation for your pain and suffering.
A roller coaster accident at Maryland’s Trimper’s Rides amusement park recently injured three children. The accident sent the children to the hospital, and it occurred on the most popular ride at the park – Tidal Wave, a double-loop, boomerang roller coaster. A cable broke on the ride, creating sparks and smoke. The ride’s safety mechanisms worked properly, bringing the ride to a complete and abrupt stop as soon as computers recognized the malfunction. Police as well as inspectors from Maryland Occupational Safety and Health and the Department of Labor are carrying out an investigation of the accident.
While some accidents are out of an amusement park visitor’s hands, there are steps visitors can take to enjoy the day out as safely as possible. Always comply with ride age, height, weight, and health limits. It is better to err on the side of safety than risk someone’s life for a minute or two of thrills. Never undo restraints such as seat belts and lap bars while on rides. Keep body parts inside the ride at all times.
If an amusement park accident has hurt you or a loved one, contact Joshua A. Davenport, a Maryland personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to hold negligent operators responsible.
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DC-Based Chemical Safety Board Sent to Pennsylvania to Investigate 2 Deaths in Explosion at Zinc Plant
Representatives from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, a Washington DC-based federal agency, recently visited a zinc plant in Pennsylvania after an explosion killed two workers and injured two more. The two killed were members of the United Steelworkers Local 8183 union and died as a result of suffocation from smoke inhalation. If unsafe work conditions have led to injury for you or a loved one, a Washington DC personal injury lawyer can help you take steps to ensure that an accident does not happen again.
Steelworkers’ unions from across the country have reached out to the Pennsylvania plant and the families of those killed in the accident. The Steelworkers’ international union sent six people to help with the investigation and to help the families. In the meantime, the zinc plant will be shut down while authorities investigate the accident, and the plant’s other operations will go forward at a reduced capacity.
Unfortunately, government records suggest that the company has not heeded safety recommendations in the past. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued the plant 44 citations for safety violations in the past, 27 of which were serious. The citations involve such things as failure to use an approved safety platform, failure to provide guardrails, and failure to provide protection barriers. As the investigation into the explosion continues, it would be a shame to learn that two men lost their lives due to the company’s refusal to adhere to safety standards.
If unsafe workplace conditions have led to your or a loved one’s injury, contact Andrew W. Cohen, a Washington DC personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to learn how you can obtain compensation for your injuries.
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Police Suspect Alcohol Played Role in Weekend, High-Speed Boating Accident That Killed One, Injured Nine
Emergency responders described a boating accident in Virginia a few weekends ago as one of the worst they have ever seen. The crash scene included shattered glass and fiberglass, severely injured people treading water holding onto steel marker beams to keep from floating away, and beer cans strewn about. One person died in the crash, a woman who was the sole person not wearing a life jacket on the boat. A Virginia personal injury lawyer can help your family obtain compensation for injuries suffered in a boating or other transportation accident.
Investigators determined that the boat’s occupants had eaten dinner earlier in the evening and consumed little alcohol at the restaurant. When responders arrived on the crash scene, however, they found beer cans throughout the boat and in the water, leading them to believe that alcohol played a role in the crash. Authorities said that a 12-foot high tripod of steel beams that serves as a fixed channel marker decimated the boat, which was likely traveling at 35 miles per hour at impact.
The fatal boating accident was the second one in Virginia in the past several weeks. Drivers should never operate a boat, car, or any vehicle, while under the influence of alcohol. Additionally, authorities stated that the boat was traveling too fast under any conditions, but, in particular, during the dark of night, as the accident just before 10 p.m. Boat occupants should always wear a life jacket, and there should always be one person serving as a lookout in addition to the driver.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a transportation accident, contact William P. Lightfoot, a Virginia personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to hold negligent operators responsible.
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Two-Year Anniversary of DC Cyclist Death Prompts Bicycling Safety Reminders for Drivers
Bicycling advocates in Washington DC recently marked the two-year anniversary of the death of a 22-year-old woman on R and 20th Streets in downtown DC. The young woman died in a crash that safety advocates call a “right hook”. She was wearing a helmet and bicycling in the bicycle lane with the green light when a trash truck turned right, pulling her under the right front tire. Safety advocates have put up “ghost bikes” around downtown DC to remind passers-by where vehicles have struck cyclists. A Washington DC personal injury lawyer can help you obtain compensation if negligent driving has hurt you or a loved one in a bicycling accident.
The driver of the truck claimed that he did not see her. Authorities never charged him in the crash, as Metro police investigators concluded that the woman struck the trash truck on its passenger side door. Nevertheless, the family pursued a civil lawsuit, and, at the trial, eyewitnesses said and experts concluded that the truck had hit the woman. The civil case settled earlier in the year.
The right hook is a dangerous situation for drivers and bicyclists. Drivers need to be particularly vigilant about their blind spots when turning right when there are bike lanes present. A representative of the Washington Area Bicyclists Association says that in a right hook situation, cars should actually merge into the bike lane. Normally, authorities warn cars to stay out of the bike lanes. A slower merge into the bike lane for a right turn can prevent vehicles’ turning directly into bicyclists who are continuing straight.
If a transportation accident has injured you or a loved one, contact David M. Schloss, a Washington DC personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis, & Lightfoot L.L.P to hold those responsible for the accident accountable.
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