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Recent Updates
June 21, 2010
Death Resulting from Work Injury
June 14, 2010
Tippecanoe County Jail Inmate Receives Incorrect Medical Treatment
June 11, 2010
Bus Accident Leaves One Dead and Several Injured
May 18, 2010
Indiana Medical Malpractice & Wrongful Death ? Rights to My Loved One?s Patient Medical Records
May 07, 2010
Hamilton County Indiana Jail Death
May 03, 2010
One Worker Dead Following Indiana Construction Accident
April 27, 2010
Car Accident Indianapolis Results in Serious Injuries
April 19, 2010
Trucking Accident Northern Indiana
March 29, 2010
Press Release from NTSA
March 24, 2010
Pallet Falls, Kills Kroger Employee
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents include single vehicle accidents, accidents involving semi-trucks and motorcycles, and accidents in which a pedestrian or bicyclist are struck. In 2005 there were nearly 6,420,000 automobile accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 42,642 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2006. This equates to approximately 117 people a day -- one death every 12 ?? minutes. In fact, car accidents are listed as the number one killer of teenagers in the United States. The financial cost for these automobile accidents is more than 230 Billion Dollars per year. In Indiana, if you are in an automobile accident, it is important to file a report with the appropriate police authority before leaving the scene of the accident. Doing this will document the accident for insurance purposes and result in a police accident report that will include statements from the drivers and witnesses. The report will also confirm the presence or absence of injuries, any traffic or road conditions which contributed to the accident, and document the weather. The investigating officer will also list what he or she believes to be the primary cause for the accident. Although not usually admissible in a court of law, police accident reports are extremely important to insurance companies who often make liability decisions based on the report. If you are injured in the accident, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. It is also important to take photographs of the vehicles involved and all of the injuries sustained as soon as possible and continue photographic documentation of the injuries throughout the duration of the treatment. For more information, call or email the attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen.
Distracted Drivers
Posted by: Steve Wagner
March 24, 2009
In Indiana, it appears that distracted drivers are to blame for a high percentage of highway fatalities. In two recent accidents, distracted drivers are to blame for the deaths of two people. While swatting at a spider, a driver in Spencer County hit the back of an SUV causing the SUV to swerve and hit a semi truck head on. The driver of the SUV died as a result of the crash. A teenager also died in Perry County after being rear-ended by a tractor trailer. Inattention is also to blame in that accident as well.
In February, 2009, it was reported that 465 accidents were caused by distracted drivers. However, that figure is not completely accurate. In reality, 465 drivers admitted to being distracted while driving which led to a crash, and in some cases, a fatal crash. What is the leading culprit? Cell phone usage. In Indiana, police crash reports now have a special section devoted to whether or not the driver was on a cell phone at the time of the accident. With the proliferation of text messaging and emailing using smart phones, accidents caused by distracted drivers will only increase.
If you have been injured by a distracted driver, the personal injury law offices of Wagner Reese & Crossen today for a free consultation at (800) 792-0332. http://www.inuryattorneys.com/.
US 31 and SR 38 Hamilton County Crash
Posted by: Trevor Crossen
March 20, 2009
A crash in Hamilton County has closed US 31 in both directions at 196th Street. It appears as though three vehicles are involved in this serious accident. A semi tractor-trailer collided with a car at US 31 and State Road 38 in Westfield, Indiana. The collision caused damage to the power lines and traffic lights. While the police report that several people were injured, it is currently unclear the extent of the injuries. Two people were taken to Methodist Hospital via LifeLine.
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, visit us at www.injuryattorneys.com to find out more about your rights.
Lanesville Man Hit by Tractor-Trailer
Posted by: Steve Wagner
March 02, 2009
A man was hit by a semi tractor-trailer while changing his battery on the side of the road. Ronald Stewart, Lanesville, had parked his green Chrysler Caravan directly in front of a Hyundai Sonata in the emergency lane of Interstate 64, near the Georgetown exit. A Mack truck heading westbound crossed into the emergency lane striking the Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata was pushed into the Caravan, dragging Stewart almost 200 feet. The truck was driven by Garland S. Cope, Scottsburg. While Cope and a passenger in the Sonata refused medical treatment, Stewart was rushed by Yellow Ambulance to University Hospital in Louisville with life-threatening injuries.
Anyone of us could find ourselves stranded on a highway with a flat tire, overheated engine, or a dead battery. In this circumstance, certainly you should pull off the road as much as possible and turn on your vehicle's emergency blinkers. Another vehicle with activated blinkers should also be positioned behind the disabled vehicle if at all possible. Despite these precautions, roadside repairs are still a risky business, especially if drivers fail to slow and use caution in passing the disabled vehicle. For information regarding the rights of accident victims, visit http://www.injuryattorneys.com/.
