bbryant August 26th, 2010
Jeep Grand Cherokees built from 1993 to 2004 are currently being investigated by US safety officials to determine whether or not the gas tank position could cause fuel to spill if the vehicle is struck from behind. After 2004 the automaker moved the fuel tank. And the company has recently started selling a redesigned model for 2011 which eliminates the concern that is currently being voiced.
Records show that the vehicle has an excellent safety record. However, there have been 44 Grand Cherokee crashes and 55 deaths since 1992 where fire was listed as the most harmful factor. Of those figures, 10 of the crashes and 13 of the deaths occurred in rear end crashes according to the federal safety agency.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the Center for Auto Safety, a safety research group, petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to start an investigation. According to the group, “the vehicle’s plastic fuel tank behind the rear axle and below the rear bumper makes it especially vulnerable to rupturing or leaking and causing fires in rear-impact collisions.” ABC owned station WTVD in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina first brought attention to the alleged problem when they told the story of a 49-year-old mother, Susan Kline, who died in a fiery accident in 2007. Police reports show that the woman was on a New Jersey highway and had slowed down to avoid a car that was backing up after having missed an exit. She was subsequently rear-ended and her 1996 Grand Cherokee burst into flames.
Not that long ago, Toyota was under investigation. So often, the automakers and other big businesses shield their cost cutting practices and less than stellar safety records by creating slick advertisements and marketing programs to tout their products and services. In many cases, once these corporate entities come under scrutiny, evidence surfaces showing monetary reasons that influenced decisions to choose cost cutting over safety. Hopefully, that will not be at the root of this case. But it seems to happen frequently enough to cause the public to question whether or not money was a factor. BP Oil is certainly perpetuating that line of thinking.
A spokesman for Chrysler says that the company is fully cooperating with safety officials and that the Grand Cherokee “meets or exceeds federal safety standards.” Safety officials are still working towards determining whether or not to issue a recall. Some of these recalls help avert potentially dangerous situations that can cause both serious injury and death.
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admin August 19th, 2010
August 19, 2010
Bicycling is certainly a greener way to travel, but it does come with risks. One of those risks is cars with whom bicyclists must share the road.
Unfortunately, a Houston auto accident claimed the life of a bicyclist and led to charges being filed against the driver of the vehicle that struck him, according to the Houston Chronicle.
The Houston auto accident occurred on Southwest Freeway when a 19-year-old, who is being charged with reckless driving, struck a 35-year-old man on a bicycle. The driver crossed multiple lanes of traffic to take an exit when he lost control of his vehicle after hitting a curb, the bicyclist, and a light pole.
The man died as a result of the Houston auto accident.
Read more.
Have you ever been involved in a Houston auto accident? Did you suffer Houston auto accident injuries?
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bbryant August 12th, 2010
Losing a child has got to be one of the very worst tragedies that a family can face and that’s exactly what Dwayne Stidman is facing right now. His son, 23 year old Cpl David Stidman, was killed last week by a drunk driver. Cpl Stidman had survived two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan before losing his life to an irresponsible 33 yr old that had apparently decided that it was acceptable behavior to get behind the wheel of his pickup truck while under the influence. Cpl Stidman had returned home to Rosenberg just four months ago. Ironically, his father had been in a motorcycle crash just three months before where another drunk driver had left him with severe injuries. His son was home to help him recover.
Dwayne Stidman is undoubtedly facing one of the toughest days of his life today as his beloved son is laid to rest. On Tuesday, he purchased the Harley his son had always wanted and plans to have another marine ride it in the funeral procession today. Dwayne will be riding his own Honda Gold Wing where the urn will be carried inside of a velvet-lined trunk. He commented that “we have a place of honor for him to ride, so we’ll go for one last motorcycle ride together.”
Following the eulogies, Dwayne plans to take the urn with him on a last fishing trip, something that he and his son enjoyed together many times over the years. It is there that Dwayne plans to say his last goodbyes to his son.
Much to his credit Dwayne, who is also a former marine, plans to embrace a new mission to help change state law to provide stiffer sentences to drunk drivers. The man that hit his son was released from jail the afternoon of the day of the accident.
Dwayne has asked that everyone wear red today in honor of his son. He thinks it would be a fitting way to say goodbye by honoring him with a sea of red.
We want to express our heartfelt condolences to young David’s family and friends. You will be putting to rest a local hero today and our thoughts and prayers go out to you.
Popularity: 9% [?]
bbryant August 9th, 2010
What is the difference between a civil wrongful death claim and a criminal wrongful death case? That is the topic that was discussed last week on StateLawTV when Gregg Anderson of the Law Offices of Terry Bryant appeared as a guest.
According to Gregg, the big difference is that a civil claim is brought by a private citizen or individual against another person or corporation that has caused the death of a loved one. On the other hand a criminal wrongful death case is what we think of as a murder case where the state tries to put a person in jail for killing someone.
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admin July 22nd, 2010
July 22, 2010
Too often lives are lost or drastically altered by the involvement of alcohol in Houston auto accidents.
Unfortunately, authorities are afraid that may be the case in a Houston auto accident that occurred recently, according to The Houston Chronicle. Three females died as a result of a Houston auto accident in which alcohol may have played a part.
The Houston auto accident occurred when a driver went the wrong way on U.S. 59, hitting another vehicle head-on. Three females died at the scene of the Houston auto accident.
Authorities say alcohol may have played a part in the Houston auto accident.
Read more.
Have you ever suffered Houston auto accident injuries? Was alcohol involved?
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