Archive for February, 2012

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28
Feb

Alcohol Blamed For Crash That Injured Two Oklahoma Teens

February 28, 2012

Two Oklahoma teens are lucky to be alive after a single-vehicle accident this past weekend. According to reports from The Enid News-Eagle, Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers believe that alcohol may be to blame for the crash.

Reports of the incident indicate that the crash happened around 2:00 a.m. Sunday on E 0530 Road, just west of Highway 58. A 17-year-old male was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when he veered into a ditch on the far side of the rural road. The driver over corrected, causing the vehicle to roll twice and eject a passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt.

The driver then backed out of the ditch and attempted to flee the scene just before rolling the vehicle down an embankment on the east side of the road.

The 17-year-old passenger who was ejected was taken to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City in critical condition after suffering injuries to his head, legs, arms, and torso. The driver of the truck was last listed in stable condition with head, arm, and leg injuries.

Troopers who are investigating the accident say that there was an odor of alcohol on the driver when they arrived on the scene, and charges against the driver are pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Oklahoma Auto Accident Attorneys with J. Colbert Injury Lawyers encourage parents to have an open dialogue about the dangers of drunk driving with your teens.

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21
Feb

Workers’ Compensation Lawsuits Filed For Oklahoma Teens Who Lost Legs

February 21, 2012

Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of two Enid, Oklahoma, teens who lost legs while working in a grain elevator last summer. According to the Enid News Eagle, the boys’ parents are seeking damages of $75,000, plus punitive damages, in identical suits against Zaloudek Grain Co.

The two 17-year-old teens were operating an auger on August 4th when the one of the boy’s legs got sucked into the machine. He screamed for help as the other teen called for the emergency stop switch to be thrown. He then attempted to free his co-worker from the machine but was also pulled into it. The teens were trapped for nearly an hour and a half while rescue crews tried to free them. They were eventually pulled from the equipment and transported to a local hospital, where they were treated for critical injuries, including a severed leg, split pelvis, torn bladder, and numerous infections.

The petitions for the lawsuit, filed in October, accused the company of assigning the teens to “work duties in violation of state and federal labor laws”; of being negligent in training and supervising them, and of not having workers’ compensation insurance.

Following an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the company has been fined more than $12,000 for safety violations.

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Attorneys with J. Colbert Injury Lawyers hope that the teens get the compensation they need to continue to live a productive and meaningful life.

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14
Feb

New App Combats Distracted Driving

February 14, 2012

For parents of teen drivers, nothing may worry you more than watching your child pull out of the driveway on their own behind the wheel. With the growing trend of accidents being linked to distractions from texting, your child using the phone while driving should definitely be of top concern.

According to News Channel 4, a new app for smartphones may help alleviate some of this worry for parents. The app, called Cellcontrol, communicates between phone and a car’s computer to deactivate functions such as texting and incoming calls when the vehicle is in motion. The app instead sends a prerecorded busy message to callers and texters. Cellcontrol will also allow parents to set what numbers their children can and cannot call, check their driving speeds, and can send alerts if teens try to uninstall or remove the device.

The cost of the device is $6.95 per month after a $59 installation and is compatible with all vehicles manufactured after 1996. Manufacturers also hope to market the device to companies with large fleets of vehicles.

The hope is that the app and device can decrease the number of distracted driving accidents in the state. In 2010, distracted driving in Oklahoma led to 550 injuries and nine fatality crashes.

The Oklahoma Auto Accident Attorneys with J. Colbert Injury Lawyers suggest having a conversation with your teen about the dangers that texting and driving can pose and also leading by example by not using your phone behind the wheel.

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7
Feb

New Bill Aimed At Cracking Down On Uninsured Motorists

February 7, 2012

Being in a car accident is bad enough, but what happens when the other driver doesn’t have insurance? If they are at fault for the accident and you are left injured, their lack of insurance could make it very difficult for you to collect any compensation for their injuries and damages.

Data shows that on today’s highways, between 25-30 percent of motorists in Oklahoma are uninsured, despite regulations that require it.

According to reports from KOCO News, lawmakers in the state of Oklahoma are looking to crack down on the problem by implementing a new law that would be aimed at taking these uninsured drivers off the road.

The state’s public safety committee will examine the bill on Wednesday that proposes making it a primary offense to drive a vehicle that is uninsured. The bill, if put into law, would be considered a sister act to the law that was passed several years ago that allows officers to run a vehicle’s tags to check if it’s uninsured.

If the bill is approved, the law could take effect as early as November 1 of this year.

The Oklahoma car accident lawyers with J.Colbert Injury Lawyers know what it takes to get a car accident victim the compensation they need in order to move on with their life. If you have been hurt at no fault of your own and have questions regarding your accident, contact an experienced lawyer today.

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