St. Cloud Personal Injury Lawyer - Collisions

Friday: Minnesota Winter Awareness Week - On the Road

Mike Bryant — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:31:00 GMT

Sponsored annually by the Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), last week was Winter Awareness Week. Each day was devoted to a different topic concerning winter safety. To help with the effort, cities across the state are holding forums, providing daily winter safety tips and publicizing the effort in local newspapers and on city websites.

The week is broken down as:

Day 1 Surviving Winter Weather
Day 2 Outdoor Safety
Day 3 Fire Safety
Day 4 Indoor Air Issues
Day 5 On the Road

The Minnesota Safety Council recommends the following tips:

Make sure your car is ready for the season. Throughout the winter, keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze.
Avoid traveling, especially alone, if severe weather is threatening.
Before taking a trip, inform someone at your destination of your expected arrival time and your travel route.
Stock your car with basic winter driving equipment: a scraper and brush, small shovel, jumper cables, tow chain and a bag of sand or cat litter for tire traction. Also include road flares, a blanket, heavy boots, warm clothing, and a flashlight with batteries.
Keep an emergency survival kit in the car, including high-energy food such as a chocolate bar or energy bar.
If your car has been outside during a snowfall, brush all the snow off before starting out. Snow left on the front hood will blow into the front vent and cause defrosting problems, and can also melt and re-freeze on the windshield. Snow on the roof will cover the rear window and snow on the rear deck will blow onto tail lights. Pay particular attention to cleaning off headlights and tail lights so that other motorists can see you.
Adjust your speed to the conditions and increase following distances.
Remember that bridges and overpasses can be more slippery than other parts of the road. If you begin to skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas and turn your wheels in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) apply a steady firm pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump ABS brakes.
If even after following all precautions you find yourself stranded, stay calm and stay put. Staying in your car will decrease your risk of frostbite or hypothermia and increase your chances of being rescued. Run your engine for heat about once an hour, (every half hour in extreme cold.) Make sure your exhaust pipe is clear to prevent the back up of carbon monoxide. Leave one window slightly open. Tie a piece of brightly colored cloth to your antenna to alert others and aid rescuers. Limit your sleep to short naps.
Consider keeping a cellular phone for use during emergencies. For long trips, be sure the batteries are fully charged and consider bringing a spare battery. Keep the phone and batteries warm to avoid quick power drain. Because driving requires your full attention, it is recommended that you find a safe place to pull off the road when you need to make a call.

Identifying the reason behind the week the HSEM press release identified the issues:

Over the last 10 years, more than 50 people drowned after falling through thin ice, and 65 percent of ice drownings were vehicle related. Last winter, 22 people died in snowmobile accidents; half those fatal events involved alcohol or drug use. And during 2005–2007 in Minnesota, officers reported snow or icy road conditions in nearly 41,000 crashes that resulted in 159 deaths and 13,000 injuries. Clearly, people are being “surprised” by weather conditions."

The plan is, no matter how harsh the winter, to make sure everyone is safe and alive at the end of it.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Time To Just Drive

Mike Bryant — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:27:00 GMT

There have been so many posts about distracted drivers here at the Injuryboard. Some are just warnings. Some have included the video of the young girl who is texting and ends up on the windshield. Others have been the real life stories of what happens when people have been distracted while driving. It's likely that many drivers don't tell the truth, with Department of Transportation’s studies indicating that up to 80% of crashes may be caused by distracted drivers, there may be so many more happening that we don't find out about. Throw in that in 2008, 800,000 vehicles on any given day are being driven by somebody using a cell phone, and you have a lot of reasons why there are car crashes.

Do you take this for granted ? Still keep using the cell phone? Make driving the second or third most important thing you are doing? Figure that you are some how different then everyone else? Take a second and watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AHGLGQgAn8&feature=player_embedded

I at one time didn't think seat belts were all that important. Freedom, invulnerable, and young and dumb all came into my head. The day my oldest was born I vowed I would always wear one for him. Watching this video, I think that I personally need to do more than that. Hopefully, many others well do so as well.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

I-35 Collision Kills Two

Mike Bryant — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:50:30 GMT

This morning, I-35 was shutdown in Washington county near Forest Lake. The crash involved two vehicles and happened in the southbound lane of I-35 at Hwy. 8. The state patrol have reported that a 19-year-old driver of a Chevy pickup lost control heading north on Interstate 35 and hit a car head-on. Two passengers, including a child in the southbound vehicle were killed. Everyone else involved was taken to North Memorial Hospital.

The crash happened on a stretch of interstate in Forest Lake that lacks a physical safety barrier in the median that is designed to prevent cross-over crashes. I have written about the value of the cables in preventing these kinds of tragedies. Sorrow for the family of the child and all of those involved goes out.

As with any death in a Minnesota motor vehicle collision, there are many issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a recent article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. I was interviewed last year on the same topic.

This past month many of my fallow writers C. Brooks Schuelke, Mike Bryant, Noble McIntyre, Jeremy Thurman, and Steve Lombardi here at the Injuryboard have been looking at what has been happening on I-35. Here are some blogs worth the time on the topic:

9 Reasons Why People Get Injured on I-35 in Iowa, Steve Lombardi, October 31, 2009 8:05 AM

I-35 Blog Pack - The Importance of Client Communication, Jeremy Thurman, October 29, 2009 3:36 PM

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer for an I-35 Car Accident, Steve Lombardi, October 18, 2009 11:33 PM

Why Hire a Lawyer After an I-35 Collision?, Mike Bryant, October 20, 2009 7:11 AM

Injured in an I-35 Accident? Real Life Reasons You Need an Attorney, Jeremy Thurman, October 22, 2009 2:26 PM

What Does The Department Of Transportation Think Of I-35? , C. Brooks Schuelke, November 6, 2009

I-35 Collision Kills Two, Mike Bryant , November 08, 2009 9:50 PM

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

The Wintry End Of I-35 Is Already Seeing Weather Issues

Mike Bryant — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:24:00 GMT

The I-35 blog pack is already at work providing traffic accident information concerning the areas covered by the highway. C. Brooks Schuelke, Mike Bryant, Noble McIntyre, Jeremy Thurman, and Steve Lombardi are all covering the collisions taking place from end to end. On the Minnesota end, I expected at some point that we might be talking, some, about the winter conditions for us. Sure, each of the other states see their storms, but we keep the Ice Box of America up here for a reason.

What I did not expect was to be talking about these conditions in mid October. Hopefully, we will still be using our outside Twins stadium this time next year. It would be great if my beloved Red Sox were in town. But, that's next year.

This past week we saw accidents across Minnesota caused by snow, ice, and that great excellerent speed. Saturday morning marked 15 collisions in Duluth alone. Most of the accidents happened near the 21st and 27th avenues west exits off of I-35. State Representative, Roger Reinert was in one of the crashes, and in the 40 minutes he waited for the the tow truck to arrive he saw more than six more vehicles get in accidents at that spot.

It is never too early to be safe and review the winter road tips from DPS and MnDOT :

Always use seat belts.
Accelerate and decelerate slowly on icy/snow-covered roads to retain traction and avoid skids.
Do not use cruise control.
Do not “power up” hills, which may cause wheels to spin. Build momentum before reaching a hill and do not stop while traveling uphill. Reduce speed before going downhill.
Know your brakes. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of the foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
Give yourself plenty of travel time. Do not put your schedule before safety.
Clear snow and ice from vehicle windows, hood, headlights, brake lights and directional signals.
Headlights must be turned on when it is snowing or sleeting.

Most police officers say the key is usually to Just Slow Down.

To keep up with the blog pack read some of the great stuff posted so far:

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer for an I-35 Car Accident, Steve Lombardi, October 18, 2009 11:33 PM

Why Hire a Lawyer After an I-35 Collision?, Mike Bryant, October 20, 2009 7:11 AM

Injured in an I-35 Accident? Real Life Reasons You Need an Attorney, Jeremy Thurman, October 22, 2009 2:26 PM

For questions you have about these collisions contact:

Steve Lombardi, 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 Tel: 515-222-1110 Fax: 515-222-0718

Noble McIntyre, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Jeremy Thurman, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Schuelke, C Brooks, 1717 W 6th St # 375, Austin, TX (512) 476-4944

Or me, Mike Bryant, 1505 Division Street | Waite Park, Minnesota 56387 | T: 320.259.5414 | F: 320.259.5438

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Why Hire a Lawyer After an I-35 Collision?

Mike Bryant — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:11:00 GMT

The Blog Pack with C. Brooks Schuelke, Mike Bryant, Noble McIntyre, Jeremy Thurman, and Steve Lombardi started another series this week. This one will center around collisions in and around Highway 35. The highway that splits into 35W and and 35E though Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Twin Cities here in Minnesota, but cuts across the country as I-35. The series will get the perspective from each of the states that are intersected:

Steve Lombardi kicked things off yesterday with :

Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer for an I-35 Car Accident , October 18, 2009 , 11:33 PM EST

Today I will look at that issue a little more with the question: why to hire a lawyer:

There are collisions each day along I 35. If you are in an accident, we encourage you to see an attorney. As an example, we assisted a client in a situation where months after an accident, his family was facing bankruptcy, only to find he had an actionable claim. Valuable evidence is often lost when there is a delay.

Insurance companies have teams of defense lawyers to help them minimize your compensation. You need an experienced and effective advocate on your side, dedicated solely to protecting your interests.

Immediately after a personal injury, it’s critical to see a doctor and to file a police report.

Experienced personal injury lawyers regularly represent clients suffering from serious and catastrophic injuries. They have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and litigating personal injury and wrongful death claims. Whether you were injured in an auto or truck accident, in a collision with an insured or underinsured driver, or in a car accident involving alcohol, you need someone that will go to work for you immediately to seek the financial compensation you need and deserve.

For questions contact:

Steve Lombardi, 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 Tel: 515-222-1110 Fax: 515-222-0718

Noble McIntyre, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Jeremy Thurman, 1300 S. Meridian Ave. Suite 501, Oklahoma city, OK. 73108 | ph: 405-917-5200

Schuelke, C Brooks, 1717 W 6th St # 375, Austin, TX (512) 476-4944

Or me, Mike Bryant, 1505 Division Street | Waite Park, Minnesota 56387 | T: 320.259.5414 | F: 320.259.5438

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Why No Seatbelt On Rural Roads?

Mike Bryant — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

There have been a number of blog posts about the national increased use of seat belts. Minnesota just reported the best numbers we have seen ever. This is great news and means more people making it home alive after saver crashes. Statewide from 2006 to 2008, 1,097 vehicle occupants died in crashes, and 539 were not buckled up.

At the same time, there was recently a report abut the high percentage of deaths on rural roads. Speculation has involved the usual suspects of speeding, drinking, and inexperience drivers. A deeper look into the seat belt report, may have the best answer.

Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd, Faribault, Cass, Wright, and Beltrami counties had the highest percentage of non seatbelt users in the State. Hopefully, with increased education these numbers can be improved.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Rural Roads: More Dangerous?

Mike Bryant — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:35:00 GMT

The Center for Excellence in Rural Safety at the University of Minnesota has released a report that more people die each year in rural roadway accidents than in urban settings. Looking at the number of collisions that our office has, it seems clear that many of these deaths are due to the classic reasons:

Speed
Drinking
No Seat belts

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 56 percent of the 37,261 traffic deaths in the United States last year occurred on rural roads, though only about 23 percent of the population lives in rural areas. The University also looked into what could be done to reduce these deaths. The suggestions they came up with were:

Examine more rural roadway crash factors and combinations of factors for additional clarification.

Improve the metrics used to describe or define rural roadways in the United States.

Use the primary characteristics of rural roadway crashes as the basis for safety improvement measures and programs implemented in rural areas.

Include measures and strategies that improve driver decision-making as one of the focus or emphasis areas of a comprehensive safety program.

Fund projects that continue to help upgrade and apply GIS tools to plot and evaluate safety data with respect to driver behavior and roadway conditions.

Scientifically evaluate the impacts of the safety improvement programs described in this report.

With any death in a Minnesota motor vehicle collision, there are many issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a recent article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. I was interviewed last year on the same topic. Hopefully, the study and the resulting suggested changes the future numbers for these deaths will go down.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Rain, Rain Go Away- Does It Make For Even More Collisions?

Mike Bryant — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:06:00 GMT

This past week has seen torrents of rain here in Minnesota. I've always wondered if people actually drive worse with rain or just don't take it seriously. Reading the local paper, you will see a number of collisions caused by hydroplaning, poor sight conditions and people just going to fast.

Heavy rain is nothing to take lightly. Edmond.com put together a great set of tips to keep in mind:

Exercise extreme caution after a long dry spell. During a dry period, engine oil and grease build up on the road over time. When mixed with water from a new rainfall, the road becomes extremely slick. Continued rainfall will eventually wash away the oil, but the first few hours can be the most dangerous.

Allow for more travel time. You should plan to drive at a slower pace than normal when the roads are wet. Keep in mind that traffic is likely to be moving slower as well. There's also the possibility that your preplanned route may be flooded or jammed. Whatever the case, rushing equals higher risk.

Brake earlier and with less force than you would normally. Not only does this increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you're slowing down. Also, be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions.

Most of America's roads are crowned in the middle, which means that the water will run off to the sides. If possible, stay toward the middle of the road to avoid deep standing puddles.

Don't use cruise control. If you hydroplane, there's the chance your car could actually accelerate. Cruise control also allows drivers to be less vigilant and to take their foot away from the pedals — not a great idea when reaction time is so important.

If you see a large puddle up ahead, drive around it or choose a different route. It could be that it's covering a huge gaping maw into the front door of hell. Well, maybe not, but water splashing up into your car's engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems. Also, a pothole may be hiding under the water, just waiting in ambush to damage a wheel or knock your suspension out of alignment. If you can't gauge the depth, or if it's covering up the side curb, try to avoid it.

Don't attempt to cross running water. This ain't an SUV commercial, and you'll probably get into a heckuva lot of trouble if the force of the water is greater than the weight of your vehicle. All-wheel drive isn't going to be much help if your vehicle is being pushed sideways. Don't end up like those folks on the nightly news who had to abandon their cars to Mother Nature.

After you cross a puddle, tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off some of the water on your rotors.

Turn on your headlights, even when there's a light sprinkle. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don't blast your high beams in the rain or fog — it'll obscure your view further, as the light will reflect back at you off the water droplets in the air. If your car is equipped with foglights, you may find it helpful to turn these on, as they throw a little extra light on the road while making your car easier to see.

Watch out for pedestrians. An ordinarily observant pedestrian may become distracted by fiddling with an umbrella or a rain slicker. Plus, raindrops deaden sound, so the usual audio clues for measuring car distances become obscured. Keep a sharp lookout for people in the road.

If it's raining so hard that you can't see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out.

Track the car ahead of you. Let the car ahead pave a clear path, so to speak, through the water.

Give a truck or bus extra distance. Their extra-large tires can create enough spray to block your vision completely. Avoid passing one, but if you must pass, do it as quickly as safety allows.

Defog your windows. Rain will quickly cause your windshield to fog up. Switch on both front and rear defrosters and make sure the air conditioning is turned on. Most cars' climate control systems will automatically engage the A/C when the windshield defrost function is selected.

If you start to hydroplane, don't brake suddenly or turn the wheel, or you might spin into a skid. Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).

Now that you know how to drive in the rain, take some precautionary measures to ensure that your vehicle is prepared to get you through a downpour.

Stay on top of your car's condition. Its brakes, tire pressures, tire tread depth and defroster operation should be checked regularly so that you'll be ready to deal with a deluge when the time comes.

Most vehicles are available with antilock brakes these days, and safety features like traction control, stability control and all-wheel drive are becoming increasingly popular as well. Although all-wheel drive is really only necessary if you frequently drive in snow and ice, traction and stability control can be very handy on rain-soaked roads. Traction control helps you maintain grip by putting the brakes on the tire(s) that don't have traction, while a stability control system monitors your steering input, intervening with the brakes and/or reducing engine power as needed to keep you on your intended path.

Although several tire manufacturers design tires specifically for wet roads, a good set of all-season tires will do the job for most drivers. Trouble is, some tire models are better than others in the rain. If you aren't happy with the wet-weather performance of your car's original equipment tires, we suggest you check out the Tire Decision Guide at Tire Rack. Along with helping you identify tires that fit your car and your driving habits, Tire Rack allows you to see how other consumers rate the tire in a variety of categories, including wet-weather traction. An experienced tire store manager can also be a good source of recommendations.

Make sure that your wipers are in good condition and functioning properly. If the blades are brittle or damaged, replace them before you're caught in a downpour. Some wipers are definitely better than others, so ask your retailer for recommendations.

If there's a chance of freezing rain, double your precautions. Carry snow chains, as well as a supply of salt, sand or kitty litter (the non-clumping kind). If you're stuck and uselessly spinning your tires on a patch of ice, stop what you're doing and place some of said material around the drive wheels to gain traction. Then give it another go, giving the car as little gas as possible. If your car has a manual transmission, it also helps to start out in second gear rather than first. If you live in a particularly harsh climate, consider keeping a small shovel in the trunk to remove excess ice and snow from around the tires in the event that you get stuck.

Every car should have a good emergency kit — and not the $10 jobs you buy at the car wash. Sites like Brookstone, RightTrak and Emergency Preparedness Center offer pre-assembled kits that come in handy carrying cases. The contents of these kits vary, but when driving in rough weather, a tow rope is always a good idea — just in case. For ideas on how to create your own more complete kit, check out our article, "Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit."

As with any weather related collision, it is important that investigation be done early. Insurance companies will blame the conditions and work to relieve defendants of their role in causing the problem. Issues such as what lights were on and what was the reason the driver was there all come into play. If you or a love one is injured, it's important that you talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer who will know what to do and how to protect you.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

St Cloud Child Hit By Car Is Recovering Well

Mike Bryant — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:56:00 GMT

I've written a number of times about children being hit by cars. Yesterday there was the story about the 4 year old from Duluth that was hit and killed. Injurybaord member, Steve Lombardi has covered the pedestrian's being hit topic a number of different ways. Many of those cases also end in tragedy.

It was heartening to read about the recovery of a St Cloud 7 year old. He still has some very sever injuries and a long ways to go, but it truly is great to see this kind of improvement. According to the St Cloud Times:

Therapy and school fill his days. He works with physical and speech therapists.

Knowing that with more progress he’ll be able to go home, Ian constantly wants to walk and push the recovery faster. He moves in slow motion, walking the halls carefully, taking in scenery as he moves about the hospital.

When asked a question, his face shows his mind working through the information and it takes a minute for him to answer. He’s found that a simple thumbs up is a faster and easier way to affirm a statement than a verbal “yes.”

Children are amazing at the way they can heal. Hopefully, the family will continue to gain strength with these advances.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Duluth 4 Year Old Killed After Being Hit By SUV

Mike Bryant — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:40:00 GMT

This morning, a Duluth 4 year old that was hit Saturday night by a SUV, died in St Mary's hospital. A sad case which the police are still trying to find the cause. The tragedy happened on Grand Avenue near 92nd Avenue W. Sympathy goes out for all of those involved.

It is important that we teach our kids to be safe in and around the roads. But as drivers we really need to watch out. Everyone has had a child run out from time to time, but by being alert and not speeding through residential areas, we save each case from being a tragedy.

Chrissy Cianflone, spokeswoman for Safe Kids USA in Washington, D.C. reports that 600 children die in pedestrian accidents annually and in addition 38,500 children are injured, suffering everything from bumps and bruises to traumatic brain injuries.

City of Madison Department of Transportation Traffic Engineering Division gives us this great list:

1. Give your child only as much independence and responsibility as s/he can handle safely. Throughout childhood, children slowly develop the cognitive, perceptual and sensory skills necessary to be safe in traffic.
2. Remember that each child is unique. Do not base rules for one child on those for siblings, cousins or neighbors. Children of the same age may require different levels of supervision in traffic.
3. Evaluate your child's behavior out of traffic. Is s/he impulsive? Does s/he stop to think before acting? Destructible? Can s/he sustain attention on something important? Is s/he a risk-taker? It is likely that your child's behavior in traffic will resemble behavior out of traffic.
4. Consider any limitations your child has and how these might influence his or her behavior in traffic. For example, does your child have vision problems? Hearing impairment? Cognitive or judgment limitations? Physical handicaps?
5. Give your child practice in traffic. Frequent supervised experiences can help children develop good traffic safety habits.
6. Teach your child the rules of walking and bicycling safety as you encounter traffic situations. Ask your children to repeat rules back to you.
7. Do not assume your child will follow the rules just because s/he can verbalize them. Let your child lead you in traffic to help you assess how well s/he follows the rules. Set up situations with your child in which you shadow him/her (walk 10-15 feet behind) to allow semi-independence.
8. Grant independence in small steps to see how your child handles it. For example, let your child progress from playing in front of the house to playing on the block, to walking around the block, to crossing one street, etc.
9. Always model appropriate traffic safety practices yourself, whether you are walking, bicycling or driving! Children learn from important people around them.
10. Be a careful driver, watch for children who may not yet have developed good traffic safety habits. Their safety is in your hands.

Hopefully everyone that reads about th story will be careful out there and SLOW DOWN.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant