Car Crashes – Leading Cause of Preventable Death
Most deadly crashes are caused by distractions, speeding and alcohol. All are preventable through the choices we make. Get the #FatalFacts at http://www.nsc.org/fatalfacts
Seat Belts Save Lives!!
Half of those who died in car crashes were not wearing a seatbelt.
Get the #FatalFacts at http://www.nsc.org/fatalfacts 
Distracted Driving – The Fatal Facts
| Last year an estimated 3,000 lives were lost to distracted drivers. No phone call or message is worth a life. Get the #FatalFacts at: |
Car Crash deaths spike in recent years
The estimated spike in deaths from 2014-2016 marks the most dramatic two-year escalation in 53 years. Get the #FatalFacts at http://www.nsc.org/fatalfacts
The estimated spike in car crash deaths from 2014-2016 it the most dramatic 2-year escalation in 53 yrs. #FatalFacts http://www.nsc.org/fatalfacts
Distracted Driving – Pedestrians Pay the Price
According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA), States reported 2,660 pedestrian fatalities for the first six months of 2016, compared to 2,486 deaths during the same time period in the previous year. Using this data and historic trends, GHSA estimates that there were 5,997 pedestrian fatalities in 2016. Potential factors contributing to this spike include a better economy, an increase in walking as a primary mode of transportation, and distraction due to growing use of smartphone technology.
Bottom Line:
Does the police officer have to do an accident report?
Many times I will have folks come in to my office shortly after a wreck to find out what their rights are. Often, they will have with them very little information about the other party in the wreck and just assume that the police report will have all the information they will need to set up a claim for there damaged car and their injuries.
Experience has taught us that sometimes the police officer doesn’t do a formal report, but simply has the parties exchange information at the scene. So, when does the law require the police officer to do a crash report?
Texas Transportation Code Sec. 550.062 states the following:
Sec. 550.062. OFFICER’S ACCIDENT REPORT. (a) A law enforcement officer who in the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle accident shall make a written report of the accident if the accident resulted in injury to or the death of a person or damage to the property of any one person to the apparent extent of $1,000 or more.
(b) The report required by Subsection (a) must be filed with the department not later than the 10th day after the date of the accident.
(c) This section applies without regard to whether the officer investigates the accident at the location of the accident and immediately after the accident or afterwards by interviewing those involved in the accident or witnesses to the accident.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 531, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Upshot: Ask them to do a report, even if you think you are “OK”. It doesn’t take much to have more than $1000 of Property damage of a car in a wreck.
-Gregg O.
Causes of Wrecks in America – Easily Preventable
Results of careless driving, up close and personal………..
According to the National Safety Council, the top 3 causes of collision-related death are easily preventable:
Safety on the Road
- In 2015, more than 38,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes; some of these fatalities involved people who drive for a living. According to Injury Facts 2016, the Council’s annual report on unintentional injuries, the three biggest causes of fatalities on the road include:
- Alcohol (30.8%)
- Speeding (30%)
- Distracted driving (26%)
Bottom Line: Violators of the basic safety rules of driving are a danger to all of us.
Distracted Driving Kills….
According to Distraction.gov, In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
We have all seen drivers texting as we are going down the road. Heck, maybe you have done it yourself. But the consequences are get if there is a collision.
If you have young drivers in your home, talk to them about the dangers of distracted driving and ask them to take the pledge against texting and driving. It saves lives………..
Welcome to our new website!
This is our new, (hopefully improved!) website for Oberg Law Office. We specialize in auto collision cases, including claims against drunk drivers, texting drivers, and others who endanger us all by ignoring the safety rules we all must follow to keep the roads safe. If you have been injured by the carelessness of another driver, please give us a call. We are here to help!
