A $7.5M wrongful death lawsuit has been filed over the death of a 19 year old cyclist in Ohio. The boy was riding his bike in June when he was struck and killed by a 64-year-old driver. The lawsuit contends that the driver was a “dangerous driver who knowingly endangered the community.” According to news sources, the driver has a history of medical problems which impaired his ability to drive. Specifically, eight weeks prior to the fatal collision, the driver’s eye doctor informed him that his poor vision made it unsafe for him to drive.
The Toledo Blade reported that the driver “told the police he was going 45 miles an hour.” However, “the black box recording demonstrates he was going 55 miles an hour both before, after, and while he hit [the cyclist.] He never slowed down a bit.” The Blade reported an eyewitness saw the cyclist get struck, and said the driver never made an attempt to slow down or swerve. The Blade also noted that the driver has received multiple violation citations, including speeding tickets. He was also involved in a crash where he rear-ended a family dropping off children at a day-care facility on the same road where the cyclist was killed.
While alcohol was not a factor in the foregoing fatal collision, it is often a component in accidents. In fact, the majority of traffic-related deaths are caused by drunk drivers. Besides staying off the road when you are under the influence of alcohol and other prescription and non-prescription medications, and any other time a medical professional advises you to, here are a few other dangerous practices to avoid while driving. Driving, after all, is a dangerous business at times.
- Avoid driving tired. Drowsy driving is every bit as dangerous as drunk driving.
- Avoid speeding. Speeding is the second leading cause of traffic fatalities after drunk driving. According to a 2005 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “The relationship between vehicle speed and crash severity is unequivocal and based on the laws of physics.”
- Avoid distracted driving. NHTSA estimates that there are 660,000 distracted drivers on the road most of the time. Put on your make up, eat your bagel, and text your girlfriend before or after your ride.
- Driving too fast for weather conditions. When the weather gets bad, slowing down is the best way to avoid an accident.
- Avoid following tractor trailers too closely. Following closer than 150 feet behind a truck is really dangerous. Even that distance gives a driver less than two seconds to react if the trucker suddenly slams on the brakes.
- Avoid reckless driving. This includes various activities such as swerving, weaving, passing on the right, accelerating and braking suddenly, and driving slowly in the left lane on the freeway. Many states consider driving 20 mph or more over the speed limit reckless driving.
- Do wear your seat belt. NHTSA reported that seat belts saved more than 75,000 lives between 2004 and 2008.
- Make sure you yield the right of way. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that failure to yield the right of way is the top cause of accidents among drivers aged 70 and older, particularly on freeway merge ramps.
Take care out there on the roads! Not all accidents can be avoided, but doing all you can to stay safe helps. In the unfortunate circumstance that you or a loved one is involved in a motor vehicle accident, please contact the Law Offices of Stuart L. Plotnick today for a free consultation.
Sources http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2016/03/28/Bicyclist-s-family-files-wrongful-death-suit.html#UA1xKqxoAPhqM4PV.99; and http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/features/a4418/feature-the-9-most-dangerous-things-drivers-do/