Highway fatalities in South Carolina have risen drastically this year as compared to last. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there has been a 49% increase in fatal traffic deaths in January 2012 compared to January of 2011. In total, 61 people died in January of this year compared to 41 in January of 2011.

Although an explanation for the rise is not known, officials are warning the public to not be alarmed. Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins with the SC Highway Patrol said that January 2011’s number were unusually low and increase is to be expected.

His colleague, Lance Cpl. Bill Rhyne stated, “It would really be taking a shot in the dark to say why there are so many people involved in these collisions at this point of time.” Of the 61 fatalities this year, 14 were either pedestrians or cyclists.

Of the 47 who died inside the vehicle, 27 or about 57% of people were not wearing a seat belt. In 2011, 47% of traffic fatalities involved those who weren’t wearing a seatbelt.  Yet another reason, to buckle up.  WIth your safety in mind, we offer the following driving tips:

• Drive with care;
• Beware of other drivers around you;
• Take care of your car and make sure that it is properly maintained;
• Never drink and drive, or ride with someone who has been drinking;
• Never text and drive; and
• carry a cell phone in the event of an emergency.

Questions about this blog or need assistance? Feel free to contact the Strom Law Firm, LLC accident attorneys at 803.252.4800.

Developing trends in airbag litigation reveal that airbag defects can come in many forms. Consumers and attorneys looking to evaluate the potential that an airbag defect played a role in their injuries should consider the possibility that the airbag failed to perform as intended.

Inadvertent deployments of airbags

Sometimes an airbag will deploy or “fire” when it is not intended. An airbag deploying in the absence of an accident is a classic example of an inadvertent deployment, and can be the basis of a claim when significant injuries occur.

Late deployments of airbags

Airbags are intended to deploy within milliseconds of the airbag computer sensing that a crash of significant magnitude is occurring. However, sometimes due to sensor placement issues, faulty components, or airbag algorithm problems the airbag can deploy after it should. The result is that the occupant does not receive the protection intended until after the forces of the impact have already caused injuries that could have been prevented.

Failure of an airbag to deploy

Most manufactures design airbags to deploy in moderate to severe accidents. Airbags are neither needed nor desired in low speed accidents, as the forces required to deploy an airbag in time may do more harm than good when they are introduced in minor crashes. However, as airbags become more complex more and more fail to deploy situations are being seen. In these cases, consumers can sustain injuries that could have been prevented if the airbag would have fired as intended and designed.

As Airbag Defect attorneys we can help

If you suspect an airbag defect to be the cause of a serious injury or death, contact us for a free evaluation of your case. As airbag defect lawyers we have experience in litigating accidents involving airbags, and stand ready to bring our knowledge and expertise to bear for consumers injured by defective airbags.

Injuries sustain in these types of accidents can be disabling. Accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles can cause:

• Hospitalization
• Rehabilitation
• Loss of a job
• Extended leave of absences
• Family issues

These are just a few of many problems that can result from receiving a serious injury involving an accident with a commercial vehicle.

Our attorneys can help you gain the compensation you deserve. With knowledge of how to analyze the employment, corporate, and contractual relationships, we may be able to reveal many more defendants who are responsible for compensating you for your damages.

Whether you were injured in a bus accident, tractor trailer accident, or any other commercial vehicle accident, we can help.

With careful analysis and investigation we will look at critical factors including:

• Commericial vehicle crash cases
• Maintenance and equipment records for the vehicle
• Oversize and overweight loads
• Weather, road, and grade conditions
• Drivers’ conditions

And the many layers of insurance coverage for corporate defendants.

Do not hesitate to contact us concerning injuries you may have received as a result of a commercial trucking accident. Trucking companies are aggressive in their representation. Protect your rights by hiring an experienced attorney.

Contact the Strom Law Firm at 803-252-4800.

Cracks have been found in three Airbus A380 airplanes, according to Australian aircraft engineers. Cracks were found in the wings of Singapore Airlines and Qantas airlines super-jumbos. As a result, Australian airline engineers are ordering the planes to be grounded for inspection.

“We can’t continue to game with people’s lives and allow those aircraft to fly around and hope that they make it until their four-yearly inspection,” Steve Purvinas, secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association, said.

Both airlines and Airbus have admitted to the cracks but insist they pose no threat.

“We confirm that cracks were found on non-critical wing attachments on a limited number of A380s,” an Airbus spokesperson said.

“We’ve traced the origin of these hairline cracks, and developed an inspection and repair procedure which can be done during routine
maintenance,” the Airbus spokesperson continued.

Click here for pictures.

Nicholas Ionides, spokesman from Singapore Airlines said in an email, “Cracks were found on a small number wing rib feet on an Airbus A380
during inspections in the second half of last year. These pose no safety issue and repairs were carried out on the aircraft.”

Qantas discovered the cracks after an engine failure. The carrier said the engine failure was not the result of the cracks and both have now been repaired.

Some Brief Facts about Airbus A380’s

-Currently there are 67 Airbus A380s in use worldwide by seven airlines. These airlines include: Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Airlines, and China Southern.

-Singapore Airlines is the worlds’ second-biggest carrier. They currently operate 14 A380s and have five on order.

-Qantas currently operates 10 and has 20 A380s on order.

-Both Singapore Airlines and Qantas use Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.

-The A380 has been in service for five years and seats 525 passengers in three classes.

-In total 238 aircraft have been ordered by 17 different airlines.

-The A380 can carry 525 passengers in a three class configuration; it can carry up to 853 passengers in economy class.

The driver, who police say stole the car from a nearby house, was speeding in foggy conditions, hit the curb and some rocks, launching the vehicle 20 feet into the air.

Click here for more pictures.

After going airbourne, the car somehow landed on the sloped roof of the apartment building, where it came to a standstill.

“I thought it was an earthquake. I heard the house moving,” Jeanell Ricks, who was inside the apartment, reported to CBS news.

Police said the 25-year-old suspect, Benjamin Tucker, jumped from the roof and broke his leg. CBS news is reporting he was found and arrested at his ex-girlfriend’s house a quarter of a mile away.  He apparently stole the car from the woman’s house just minutes earlier.

Mr. Tucker was then taken to hospital for treatment.

The suspect already has two outstanding warrants for his arrest, faces charges including hit-and-run and running away from an officer.   Police say they are investigating whether drugs or alcohol are involved.

By: South Carolina Accident Attorney Pete Strom

BMW produces some of the best cars in the world, but some individuals have a certain belief about their drivers.  Many jokes exist about BMW drivers which show them to be pushy or unreasonable, but they themselves admit to using their horn more than any other drivers.

Over 2,000 drivers were surveyed and asked how often they use their horn on an average journey.  The study found that 53% of  BMW drivers admitted to using their horn at least once every time they go out, which was three times the average of 18%.

On the other side of the spectrum, only 5% of Nissan drivers said they use their horns on a regular basis. Other car brands whose drivers tend to be louder than usual are Jaguar (45 %), Fiat (43 %), Audi (39 %) and the recently bankrupt Saab (29%).

The top two reasons for sounding a horn were: when a fellow driver cuts you off, or when someone does not notice a green light.

When asked what is the horn actually for, some interesting answers were given.

Around 10 % of individuals didn’t know what it was for.  52 % said it was there to warn pedestrians and other drivers of a dangerous situation, 6% said it was there to express anger, while another 6% said it was for alerting people of their arrival or that they were waiting outside.

By: South Carolina Accident Lawyer Pete Strom

“I already had offers on it. I’m going to sell it,” David Dopp said in an interview Wednesday. “I have bills more important than a Lamborghini. I’ve got a family to support.”

Dopp is a 34-year-old truck driver for Frito-Lay spun out of control just a few hours after winning the contest in a “Joe Schmo to Lambo” contest sponsored by Maverik convenience stores.

The lime green convertible was being at a Utah towing yard held by his insurance company.  The insurance company said the lambo will be sent to an authorized Las Vegas dealer for repairs next week.

Dopp told the Associated Press the damage “isn’t super bad” — a punctured oil pan and tire, and a few dents and scratches on the front and rear ends.  The father of six said he couldn’t afford the $7,000 a year insurance payment or to pay taxes on the car.

“That’s why rich people own them,” he said. “The poor people like me don’t.”

Dopp was taking family members and friends on joy rides the first night he had the car. He said he took a curve at about 45 mph and “hit some black ice and spun out.”  The lime green sports car jumped a curb and went through a fence before coming to a rest about 75 feet off the road. Thankfully, neither Dopp nor his passenger was injured.

Authorities said the Lamborghini’s high-performance summer tires weren’t suited for icy conditions and the car is simply too powerful — and exceptionally light with carbon fiber body parts. Police did not issue Dopp a ticket.

Dopp said Maverik listed the Lamborghini’s value at $358,000, but because it’s a 2008 model that had 1,500 miles on the odometer, he believes the value is closer to $300,000.  If you are interested, he said he is willing to sell it for less after the body shop fixes it.

By: Pete Strom, South Carolina Accident Lawyer

With its recommendation that all states should ban drivers’ use of cell phones, including hands-free devices, the National Transportation Safety Board has established the gold standard for highway safety in the digital age.

It’s a move that no state wants to be the first to make, mostly because of its slightly unrealistic regulation of the technology we rely on daily.

Are we too hooked on our smart phones to care about our safety on the road?

For many drivers, a cell phone is a vital car necessity that is used as a GPS, radio, or map. Spend a few seconds sitting at a red light and you will see many fellow drivers talking, texting, tweeting or catching up with friends on Facebook, all before the light turns green again.

The NTSB is saying enough to this technology based culture we have created on the road. In the most sweeping proposal yet, they have put forth a plan that would ban all non-emergency cell phone use that would include hands-free devices as well as handheld ones to prevent texting and driving accidents.

Admittedly, there are safety concerns about people using their hands to text, or scroll through news updates on their phone while driving instead of watching the road. But after a ban on texting, things get more complicated. What about other activities that require attention like choosing a song on an iPod or eating fast food?

Some critics say that laws targeting cell phone use in cars is a few years too late. Virtually everyone who is old enough to drive a car owns a cell phone and uses it for all of their communication needs. Many argue that no law will be able to stop people from communicating while behind the wheel.

At any given daylight moment, some 13.5 million U.S. drivers are on handheld phones, according to a study released last week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some 3,092 roadway fatalities last year involved distracted drivers, although the actual number may be far higher, the NHTSA said. Federal officials have taken to calling phone use behind the wheel “the new DUI.”

What do you think?

By:  Pete Strom, South Carolina Accident Attorney

For the first time since 1949, accident related deaths in the U.S have hit an all time low of 32,855 highway deaths that occurred in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The 2010 numbers reflect a 2.9 percent drop from 2009, even though the number of miles being driven each year has increased to three trillion miles.

Although accident related fatalities have declined, distracted driving, namely texting while driving, has increased by 50 percent over the last year.  To combat the increase in distracted driving, many states have enacted laws restricting the use of cell phones.

Even considering the increase in texting while driving,  Department of Transportation (“DOT”) secretary Ray LaHood considers the decrease in road crash deaths a great start for safer roads.

“While we have more work to do to continue to protect American motorists, these numbers show we’re making historic progress when it comes to improving safety on our nation’s roadways,” said LaHood.

The decrease comes after implementing graduated license programs for new and young drivers, hands-free cell phone laws and harsher penalties for drinking and driving violations, among other contributing factors.

“Safer vehicles, safer roads and safer drivers as a result of traffic-safety policies that have been implemented over the last few years are certainly contributors,” said Jake Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy and research at AAA. Nelson added that a combination of all efforts toward road safety has been the greatest factor to the decrease in road crash deaths.

Though Nelson agrees that distracted driving has now become one of the bigger issues over the past few years and that from now on “the measure they’ll now report will be a better indicator of the true impact distractions have on traffic crashes.” Under Secretary LaHood, the NHTS is currently working to revise the way the department collects data for distracted driving to capture a better picture of the problem at hand.

Drunk driving related accidents dropped 4.9 percent in 2010 with 10,228 deaths that occurred compared to the 10,759 deaths in 2009. Over the last five years there has been almost a 40 percent decrease in young drivers aged 16 to 20 and accidents, compared to the 23 percent drop that occurred among the general population.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration administrator David Strickland acknowledged the progress in reducing traffic accidents but also recognized the “responsibility to improve our understanding of the dangers that continue to threaten drivers and passengers.”

The ban is being implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration after research revealed drivers distracted by hand-held phones pose a safety risk to themselves and other drivers.

Specifically, the rule forbids drivers from reaching for, holding, or dialing a cell phone while driving, and applies to commercial motor vehicle truck and bus drivers who operate in Missouri as well as interstate drivers.

The ban on cell phone use applies when the vehicle is on the highway, temporarily stopped on the highway for traffic, or when waiting at a stoplight, stop sign or other traffic device.

The new rule affects all commercial drivers involved in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more or a vehicle transporting any amount of hazardous materials.

Now, the National Transportation Safety Board has called a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices for all drivers.

The recommendation is the most far-reaching yet and if adopted by states, would outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting by operators of every vehicle on the road.

NTSB members say the action is necessary to combat a growing threat posed by distracted drivers.

Regulations like these follow a fatal 2010 crash on Interstate 44 in Gray Summit, Mo. last year involving a tractor trailer, two school buses and a pickup driven by a texting 19-year-old.

Distracted driving has resulted in many crashed including a semi/train collision, collision with highway workers, multi-car pile-ups, and bus drivers who read while driving passengers.

Distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.

The likelihood of crashing a vehicle increase by 4 times when driving under the influence, when texting and driving increases that same risk by 8 times.

Texting drivers need 6 times as much stopping distance – a drunk driver travels 4 additional feet before stopping when a distracted driver travels 25 more feet before stopping.

Distracted drivers gaze at their phones for 5 seconds while texting, while allows for enough time to travel 29 car lengths at highway speeds.

By:  South Carolina Distracted Driving Attorney Pete Strom