Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer - Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus)

Tequesta Pedestrian Run Over by Elementary School Bus

Steve Lombardi — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:36:00 GMT

Florida School Bus Hit and Killed a Pedestrian

In Palm Beach County, Tequesta, Florida, a pedestrian was hit by a school bus on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 7:15am, according to online news sources Justice News Flash. The bus was picking up Limestone Creek Elementary students when it made a left turn from Seabrook Road onto Tequesta, when Jerry Licklider, a 69 years old from Jupiter, walked in front of the bus, was hit and then pinned underneath the bus. Tequesta Fire Rescue got Licklider out from under the bus, and then Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crew brought him to St. Mary’s Medical Center. He later died from serious injuries. The bus had on it 20 students at the time of the accident, but were reported to have no injuries, and arrived safely to their school by another bus. I'm not sure that's a safe assumption. Young children seeing a pedestrian run over and then later learning he died could develop some very mixed up emotions and thinking. They could suffer from PTSD. Better check that out.

Tequesta police are investigating the pedestrian collision.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

D.C. Woman Pedestrian killed by Metrobus

Steve Lombardi — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:32:00 GMT

According to the Washington Examiner, Stephanie Richardson, age 47, was killed by a Washington, D.C Metrobus. She was riding the Metrobus on October 5, 2009, when she got off at her stop, began to cross the street in front of the bus, and was struck by a second Metrobus. This second bus was driving in the same direction and came up along the side of the first bus. The D.C police said she was at the Mount Olivet Road stop, between Trinidad and Montello avenues. Richardson was brought to the Washington Hospital Center, and died the next day.

Pedestrian Safety: Stop, look and listen before you walk across traffic.

The case is under investigation, and the bus driver’s blood was tested, and they were placed on a paid leave. This is not the first case of a pedestrian hit by the city’s transit vehicle, though this is the first fatality since September 2008. The Metro’s cause for safety has now been revamped after this incident. They had previously in 2007 put in place “warning strobe lights on 100 buses in the District.”

They need to determine more precautionary methods because this issue is a serious one:

“The District has a higher rate of pedestrian fatalities than cities such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, according to a D.C. Department of Transportation report. More than 600 pedestrians are typically hit by vehicles of all types in the city annually, with more than a dozen killed nearly every year.”

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10. InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | June 2009

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Iowa, Another Freight Train-Car Collision Death

Steve Lombardi — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:01:00 GMT

On August 25^th 2009 66 year old William Mudd of Hamilton Illinois was hit and killed by a freight train near the Keokuk Yacht club. The Keokuk Police Department says that the accident happened at around 4 o’clock but is unsure of the circumstances surrounding the accident. The train, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe, was carrying a black box and officials will be able to determine how fast the train was going at the time of the accident. The investigation remains open and ongoing.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Downtown Des Moines – DART Drivers 7, Pedestrians 0!

Steve Lombardi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:36:31 GMT

When I posted on July 24, 2009 about Des Moines bus drivers hitting pedestrians never did I anticipate that today we’d be once again discussing another bus-pedestrian collision in downtown Des Moines? Well, we are. They did it again, a DART driver struck another pedestrian.

Just another Day in Paradise for Downtown Pedestrians and DART Drivers

I didn’t know it could happen so soon after the last one. But count them, the 7th pedestrian-bus collision in downtown Des Moines since July 2007. A 61-year-old woman was struck by a DART bus and taken to an area hospital. This is the second accident in just 19 days. The third or fourth one back cost the City of Des Moines Transit Authority $2.74 million.

William Holmes was struck in a crosswalk by a DART bus on Oct. 13, 2008 in downtown Des Moines.

Veronica Lima, 54, is still in the hospital after she sustained leg injuries on July 9, 2009.

Just last week, it’s being said that DART settled a lawsuit with Emily Abrahamsen. Ms. Abrahamsen’s pelvis was crushed in August of 2007 when she too was hit by a city bus.

It's going to be a long summer.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Air France Flight AF-447, Just the facts (Updated June 14, 2009)

Steve Lombardi — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:17:00 GMT

Of the 228 people aboard the Air France flight that crashed, it is reported 15 more bodies of passengers have been recovered. Four bodies were men and four women.

Brazil reports 17 bodies have been recovered so far from jet crash

The plane: an Airbus 330.

Flight No: AF-447.

Passenger count was 228 people.

Departure time: Brazilian time, 7:00 p.m.

Contact Lost with plane: 11:00 p.m.

Severe Turbulence: 2:15 a.m. GMT, 12:15 a.m. AEST, severe turbulence and a dozen technical messages

Arrival time (expected): 9:15 a.m. France time or AEST, 5:15 p.m.

Date of crash: May 31, 2009.

Signaled trouble: electrical problems leading to a loss of cabin pressure.

Survivors: None found as of June 7, 2009.

Location of crash: Between Rio De Janerio and Paris, France

Passenger and Crew Recovery: Recovered bodies being taken to the Brazilian islands of Fernando de Noronha.

Recovery Success: Nine bodies aboard a Brazilian ship.

Seven bodies aboard a French ship.

Black Box Recovery: will require submarines or other sub retrieval craft with the ability to dive 5 km deep or the equivalent of around 3 miles.

Possibly related incidents: Bomb threat. AIR France says it received a bomb threat about a flight from Buenos Aires to Paris just days before one of its planes crashed into the Atlantic with 228 people on board.

Previous defects in the A330 – Several incidents leading to sudden

“In October 2008 the Qantas Airbus A330-300 was carrying 303 passengers and 10 crew from Singapore to Perth when it experienced what the airline has described as a sudden change in altitude.

The incident, later blamed on a computer glitch, left 74 passengers with fractures, lacerations and spinal injuries.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) director of aviation safety investigation Julian Walsh said the plane in was travelling at 37,000 feet and 177km north of Carnarvon when it suddenly climbed 300 feet and then abruptly pitched nose down.

A similar incident occurred in 2007 during a test flight for an A330 due to be delivered to Air Mauritius.

European manufacturer Airbus said: "Because of a sudden depressurisation the pilot pulled the plane down quickly, in line with procedure, causing those on board standing or walking about to fall”.

Six people were injured but the plane landed normally at Toulouse-Blagnac airport.

Today Airbus strongly defended the safety record of the A330 saying have never had a fatal crash during a commercial flight. “

Delivery date for plane in question: 2005.

Miles and hours flown: 18,800 flying hours or about 2,500 flights.

Number of A330 online: 600 with more than 11 million flying hours.

Details provided by News.com.au

Update: June 14, 2009

June 11, 2009 video of French nuclear submarine joining the effort for finding the black box. French nuclear sub with listening device. Three week deadline for batter life on black box power to sound blip is running. Date of crash is May 31, 2009. Three-weeks is June 21, 2009.

FRENCH SUBMARINE REPORT - the Emeraude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6l18ODE3ns

Submarines can dive to 300 meters. Research subs can go deeper and are on their way to the crash location. It's obviously a team effort. Why don't planes have GPS devices? Anti-terrorist issue or finance issue? If terrorist issue could GPS be activated with activation of the flight data recorder (black box)?

MESSAGE INFORMATION - Report indicates signal beacon has 30 days till it stops beeping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpEE3LVSHbs

Bodies Recovered as of June 13, 2009 -

"Forty-four bodies have now been recovered from AF447 after it went off radar en route from Brazil to Paris with 228 people, including five Brits were on board."

Nationalities on board this flight - There were 32 nationalities on board the flight.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Nebraska wrester dies in accident on road from meet in Iowa

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:52:39 GMT

A wrestler who died in a van crash while in Iowa has suit filed by his mother. The student was a wrestler for York College and was in a van with ten wrestlers from a Nebraska college. He was from Kansas and was not wearing his seat belt. The wrester is Brock Pigorsch from Herington, Kansas. He was thrown from the van.

There is nothing unusual about a person filing suit after a relative dies in a car, truck or motorcycle crash. The insurance company will settle the claim without having probate court approval and that requires an estate be opened for the dead person. A relative, in this case the mother, would be the likely executor, executrix or administrator of the son’s estate. Simply stated you need to open an estate to settle a wrongful death case following a car, truck or motorcycle accident or wreck.

Brock's brother, a wrester was also in the van. In the van were ten wrestlers and two coaches. A coach was driving. Brock was under the van. When the team couldn't find him they literally picked up the van and took it off of him. The teams loss is beyond our comprehension. Having wrestled I am without the words to know exactly what to say. York's President says it as well as anyone can say it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quRYcgtN_YQ

April 15, 2009

This is so similar to the football tragedy that lead to the movie, We Are Marshall. For the teammates from York Wrestling we offer this video and remind you that out of loss you can find strength. We wish you all the best and the strength to finish what Brock would want you to do. In law school we lost several of our fellow students. We hurt, we cried, but we made our way through the pain an endured. So can you. I hope this helps you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEL8PYu4RR4

Stay safe and wear your seat belts.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Iowa pedestrian struck and killed by moving train in Tama

Steve Lombardi — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:29:50 GMT

An Iowa woman killed by a train has been identified as Kristi Brown of Tama, Iowa. She was struck and killed by a Union Pacific train late Wednesday near a crossing. The train was heading to Illinois from Wyoming with coal. There were 136 cars on the train. KCRG TV 9 identified her as a pedestrian, along with the train being eastbound and the cross street being McClellan.

TAMA - A woman is dead after a train pedestrian-accident in Tama.

Officials say it happened just before 11:15 Wednesday night.

The eastbound train apparently struck Kristi Jan Brown, 35, of Tama, at the McClellan Street Crossing.

No other news was available. KGAN CBS 2 Cedar Rapids. The Des Moines Register. The Chicago Tribune.

DON'T PLAY AROUND OR WITH THE RISKS TRAINS POSE TO PEDESTRIANS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMzwr2rMXbk

HOW MAY A BICYCLE RIDER BE INJURED?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iyKedffJjA

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Vacation Safety: Traveling with baby

Megan Roth — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:01:50 GMT

Six – the number of flights I’ve taken in the last month. Four – the number that have been equipped with screaming children (three times I sat directly next to the parent holding the highly-disruptive child).

Now, I’m generally not a kids person and ordinarily I’d silently curse a screaming child, calling them spoiled, pampered, etc. However, in the case where a parent takes their infant on an airplane, I point the finger at the parent for simply putting a small child in such an uncomfortable position.

In this situation, I’m also going to comment on the fact that taking an infant as your flight ‘carry-on’ isn’t only uncomfortable but also unsafe. Think about it here: federal laws are in place requiring that adults wear seatbelts, similar to the way we’re required to wear seatbelts in cars. Why, then, are infants not required to be strapped in (similar to the way they’re required to be properly fastened in a child safety seat)?

Airline deregulation has saved billions of consumer dollars since 1978; however, its focus continues to be on convenience and it has yet to sweep infant & toddler travel under its wing (yes – pun intended).

There have been numerous proposals suggesting that parents should be required to fly infants and toddlers in paid seats with child restraint systems…and I agree.

Evidently Representative Jim Lightfoot (R – IA) and Senator Kit Bond do as well (in 1991 they proposed legislation mandating the use of safety seats by the 5,000-10,000 infants who fly daily on the nation’s 16,000 flights).

In their proposal, they stated: “To support a safety decision with general statistics in comparison to the competition and the claim of a consumer that can’t think for itself is irresponsible.” Again – agreed.

Yet, the legislation (which was proposed nearly 20 years ago) has yet to take effect. Granted, airplane crashes aren’t as common as automobile accidents; however, the fact several infant lives have been lost should be enough to convince someone that the free flight isn’t worth the risk.

Just a couple of months ago I watched out my office windows as a plane crashed into the Hudson a plane crashed into the Hudson River; granted, no serious injuries were sustained. However, that’s just luck considering there was a “lady with her baby…and she was crawling over the seats.” Thank goodness the plane “glided” into the water rather than “plummeted,” which could have had tragically different results.

In my most humble opinion, a small child should not even be given the opportunity to crawl around an airplane (they’re not allowed to crawl over seats in a mini-van, are they?!).

Any parent should recognize that proper use of a child restraint device enhances child safety – heck, many airlines even recognize this and recommend that children under 40 pounds be adequately secured during flights.

Note that this is a recommendation, not a regulation. Also note this will be more costly than traveling with an infant on one’s lap; however, when it comes to traveling with a child, safety should come first.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

Vacation Safety: Coming 'round the mountain

Megan Roth — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:49:10 GMT

I just returned from a mini-vacation with my college roommates and I’m proud to say, “I survived” (barely, but I did).

Fortunately for us, we had tons of fun and all came back unscathed; however, on my return flight I saw not one, not two, but three individuals in wheelchairs due to accidents that occurred on their own weekend getaways.

No lie, folks: one gentleman broke his ankle skiing, another tore cartilage in his knee while snowboarding and a twenty-something lady broke her femur (in two spots) and mangled her ankle (I chatted with her for a bit and found out she ended up spending three of her four vacation days in the hospital – ick…not my idea of a good time).

Of course, we were in the mountains, so it’s not uncommon for visitors to be active on their weekend getaways.

It’s great, really – there were people jogging, mountain biking and rock climbing everywhere as we drove into the mountains. As we neared the resorts, appearances took a turn and there were skiers and snowboarders everywhere.

Yet, as great as those activities may be, each comes with certain risks in terms of injuries and potential threats.

For example, jogging or mountain biking on rocky terrain obviously increases one’s risks of falling and sustaining injuries; thus, don’t take the road less traveled. You want to stay in an area where you can easily be seen or discovered in the event that you sustain an injury and are unable to move for help.

Also, dress properly for such activities; I was shocked to see numerous bikers without elbow/knee pads (some even went without a helmet). Uh-uh, people – not smart.

Wear protective pads and a properly-fitted helmet; also, dress in bright colors (think road construction orange or fluorescent yellow) so you may be easily spotted by both cars and other bikers alike.

Similarly, you want to dress in bright fashions if you’re running. Mountain getaways provide an excellent opportunity for hiking or jogging on scenic trails; however, the fact that you can see the world for miles from those trails doesn’t necessarily mean the world can see you.

Dress appropriately (as if it’s 10 degrees cooler than it really is), wear bright colors, carry water and a granola bar (or other small snack) and avoid running such trails after dark.

Also, remember that you’re at a higher altitude, which inevitably affects your ability to run as far (the air’s thinner, making it more difficult to breathe). Adjust accordingly.

Five years ago when I was on vacation with my family and went out for my morning jog in the mountains – let’s just say it was not how I wanted to start my day. I was training for a race at the time and had been running almost daily for months. This particular day I was really struggling but couldn’t stop as I had to meet the mileage marked per my training schedule. I pushed and pushed until I eventually could barely stand – let alone run.

I couldn’t figure out why I was struggling: I was well-rested, ate the same breakfast I ate every day, guzzled water and was using the same form. But something wasn’t right: a few miles into my run I was shaking and gasping for breath so badly I couldn’t even stand up. I had to be picked up and taken to a doctor, who explained I overexerted myself as I simply wasn’t taking in enough oxygen.

Darn altitudes. Speaking of altitude, don’t forget the dangers that start at the peak and work their way down. I’m talking ski and snowboarding injuries, which occur frequently and can put a kink in your weekend getaway in more ways than one.

But that’s a whole issue in and of itself. For now, it’s back to reality for me (I’m just thankful I get to walk into my office this morning without a cast…)

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

Vacation Safety: What lies beneath...

Megan Roth — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:34:23 GMT

Dun-uh. Dun-un. Dun-uh. Okay – maybe this isn’t working so well…I’m trying to convey the well-known musical notes from Jaws (I think the fact that I’m musically challenged is coming into play here…) This might work better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCI-gNK_y4

Regardless, the point was to bring to mind the gruesome shark attacks that are central to the Blockbuster. With college students around the country traveling to beach destinations these next couple weeks, we should be wondering: is this really a risk that needs to be considered?

Considering the fact that only 108 shark attacks have been documented along the Pacific Coast in the last century, I’m inclined to say “probably not.” However, reading further I realized that this is the West Coast alone; in addition, (between 1926 and 2007) there were 577 attacks in Florida and 113 in Hawaii.

Wow – adding them all together makes up for a lot more than 108. In fact, the number of shark attacks in the United States comprises approximately two-thirds of the attacks that occur worldwide.

Fortunately such attacks were on a reported decline in 2008 (when they marked a five-year low); however, such attacks are still a factor to be considered – especially around the Florida coast, which is generally highly populated with sharks.

The area is also highly populated with jellyfish and stingrays, which can range from harmless to downright deadly.

As with sharks, these creatures aren’t restricted to just one area; in fact, far from it. There are large jellyfish populations around the globe, so our Spring break beachgoers are bound to see a few (regardless of where they travel).

Seeing them is okay – it’s coming in contact with them that has proven problematic (as they can inflict great pain and even death amongst their victims). Though we can’t necessarily avoid them (as they have free reign of the waters), swimmers should pay close attention when splishin’ and a’splashin’ – especially when you consider the fact swimmers in the Caribbean have a twenty-five percent chance of being stung (between the months of March and September).

However, despite the likelihood of sustaining a sting, Jellyfish generally are not looking to sting someone (nor are stingrays); rather, they do it as a means of protection. Thus, it’s important that you pay attention and try not to get too close.

I know, I know: this isn’t what you want as your focal point when you’re sunning it on the beach (it wouldn’t be mine either); and while I wouldn’t let it consume me, I also wouldn’t push it to the wayside.

In the event that an attack of any sort does occur, act accordingly. Contact the hotel/resort staff to let them know an attack occurred and seek immediate treatment from a hospital or clinic.

Also, keep a detailed account of the incident and records of all personnel dealt with (as you never know what you’ll need later should any sort of legal or insurance issues come into play).

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth