Articles Posted in Highway & Traffic Safety

Everyone knows that driving involves a certain level of risk for the driver and their passengers. However, many Indiana car accidents are preventable and drivers are able to reduce many of the risks that can lead to an accident. When these avoidable accidents occur because of a lack of compliance with Indiana laws, the parties responsible can be held accountable through an Indiana personal injury lawsuit.

In a recent news report, a local construction worker was tragically killed in northwest Indiana. Evidently, at around 2:00 am, the individual’s construction vehicle was pulled over onto the right shoulder of the road when a semi-truck hit the worker’s vehicle, killing him. The construction worker was in his vehicle and responsible for collecting barrels on the shoulder of the road when the semi struck his car. According to the ongoing investigation by state police, authorities are still examining how the construction truck was struck by the semi when it was pulled off the road and on the shoulder, especially as road conditions appeared dry at the time of the incident. Because the investigation is ongoing, it is still unclear if any charges will be filed as a result of this incident.

Tragedies like this are a somber reminder of the risks that motorists can be exposed to when driving or involved in an accident. While car accidents can occur anywhere and often happen on a regular basis, many Indiana construction and highway workers, emergency responders, and individuals who work for law enforcement are more likely to be in roadside accidents because of the nature of their work. However, many of these incidents would be avoidable if Indiana motorists simply exercised a more proactive, vigilant approach while driving on a daily basis.

Earlier this month, a volunteer poll worker was struck and killed by a passing motorist as he was attempting to collect some items that had fallen out from the back of his van. According to one local news source covering the accident, the tragedy occurred near the intersection of Banta Trail and South Meridian Street in Indianapolis.

Evidently, the man was on his way to volunteer at the polls when he stopped on Meridian Street to retrieve some items that had fallen out of the back of his van. The van, which was a rental, was pulled over on the side of the road while the man tried to collect the items, which authorities believe were bags of trash. As he was collecting the bags, another motorist came down Meridian Street and struck him. That motorist remained on the scene and cooperated with police.

After the fatal accident, police began an investigation into what could have caused the accident. It is not known why the van’s rear door opened. Police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident. It was dark at the time of the accident, and it is a possibility that the driver of the car failed to see the man as he was collecting the trash bags.

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Earlier this week, an Indiana State Trooper was injured when he was struck by a passing vehicle as he was responding to the scene of an accident. According to one local news source, the original accident occurred around 6:00 in the evening on Interstate 80 eastbound, near the Interstate 65 exit.

Evidently, the Trooper was on the scene of the accident, parked in the left-most lane of travel. His vehicle, while it was blocking the lane, had on its emergency lights indicating that drivers should not occupy the lane. The Trooper was the first on the scene and was waiting for back-up as well as a tow-truck operator.

At some point, a few minutes after the initial crash, a 2009 Hummer crashed into the rear of the Trooper’s patrol car. Both the Trooper as well as one of the men involved in the original accident were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Both men are expected to make full recoveries. Reports indicate that there were wet road conditions at the time of the accident.

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We extend our condolences to the families of two Indianapolis medics who died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in the early morning of February 16, 2013. These were reportedly the first fatalities in an on-the-job vehicle collision in the history of Indianapolis EMS.

The accident happened at approximately 3:37 a.m., according to local news station WTHR, at the intersection of Senate Avenue and St. Clair. The ambulance, heading south on Senate, had the right of way, as the traffic light at the intersection was flashing yellow for vehicles on Senate. The lights on St. Clair were flashing red. The ambulance was not responding to a call at the time, so its lights and sirens were not activated. A black Honda headed west on St. Clair allegedly did not stop at the flashing red light and struck the ambulance as it was crossing the intersection. The ambulance’s driver and the other medic were taken to a nearby hospital. The driver, a 24 year-old private, died at the hospital shortly after the collision. The passenger, a 22 year-old paramedic, spent about twenty-four hours on life support and died early Sunday morning.

The Honda’s 21 year-old driver was taken to the hospital for blood testing after the accident and was listed in good condition. An officer claimed to smell alcohol on her breath, and she reportedly admitted to having one-and-a-half drinks before the accident. Police stated on the afternoon of February 17 that preliminary blood alcohol tests on the driver, based on samples drawn about two hours after the collision, were “borderline.” The driver was released while police continued their investigation and awaited results of further blood alcohol testing.
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