US Probing Issues with Tesla’s Autopilot After Series of Crashes
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), several collisions with parked emergency vehicles has prompted the U.S. government to open a formal allegation into Tesla’s autopilot feature. Officials are trying to determine whether the partially automated driving system has trouble spotting parked safety vehicles. The NHTSA posted the action to their website on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021.
Since June of 2016, the NHTSA has investigated 31 collisions that involved partially automated driver assist systems. Out of those crashes, 25 involved the Tesla Autopilot; 10 deaths were reported in these accidents. In 2018 alone, there were 11 crashes where 17 people were injured and one was killed while driving a Tesla on Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control.
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Read MoreRollover Crash Injures 3 People in Ferndale, WA
As reported by nationwidereport.com, three people were injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Saturday, August 14. The accident happened in a Ferndale residential neighborhood near the intersection of Malloy Avenue and Thornton Street. When first responders arrived, they found two people in the vehicle. One person refused medical aid, another was treated and released at the scene and the third person had fled the area before help could arrive.
Rollover Crash Injures 3 People in Ferndale, WA
According to bystanders, the vehicle appeared to be speeding as it traveled northbound on Malloy Avenue. At one point, it crossed the center line and ran off the road on the west side. It then rolled at least once, before ending up right-side up in the front yard of a residence. The residential yard and a car parked in the home’s driveway suffered property damage.
Read MoreHow Do I Get My Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Washington State?
People who suffer serious injuries in an accident often lose wages while they take time to recover. This is why lost wages should and can be recovered as part of a car accident settlement. When people are in pain and feeling overwhelmed with their injuries, they may wonder, how do I get my lost wages after an accident?
How do I Get My Lost Wages After a Car Accident in Washington State?
The only way to recover lost wages after an accident is by filing a personal injury claim and proving that you lost wages as a result of the injuries you sustained in the accident. This is often easier said than done. A car accident attorney will help you place a value on your lost wages and gather all the documents you need to prove your losses. They will also walk you through the injury claim process, negotiate on your behalf and file a lawsuit, if necessary. If you are struggling to make ends meet as you work on a full recovery, call an accident lawyer for help. You will pay no fees up front or anything if you do not recover; injury lawyers are compensated out of a percentage of the settlement.
Read MoreSummer Rain Can Cause Slick Roads that Lead to Accidents
Whatcom County has seen one of the hottest, driest summers on record with warm temperatures starting in mid-June and daytime temperatures only dipping below 70 degrees a few times since then. It’s been almost straight sunshine for the last two months as well. With little to no rain to wash it away, the roads have had plenty of time to build up liquid leaks from vehicles and rubber from tires. This type of buildup isn’t a problem until a significant rainfall arrives, like it did over the weekend.
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Read MoreFatal Car Vs Pole Crash Takes Life of 32-Year-Old Man in Sumas, Washington
As reported by Whatcom News, a fatal car vs pole crash occurred early this morning at S Pass Road and Kendall Road in Sumas. First responders were called to the scene of the accident about 5:45 a.m. According to a Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper, 32-year-old driver, Gerald R Caron, was confirmed dead at the scene.
The press memo issued by the WSP indicated that the driver was speeding while driving northbound on Kendall Road and was unable to navigate the turn at S Pass Road. The vehicle left the roadway, crashing into a power pole. Caron was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred; it is not known if drugs or alcohol were a factor.
Factors affecting the fatal car vs pole crash
While we don’t know if the driver had consumed drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel, there are some factors that we can take a look at in this accident: speed, single-vehicle accident and not wearing a seatbelt.
Speed
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for more than the past two decades, speeding has been a crash factor in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2019, speeding was identified as a contributing factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Speed is generally considered to be an exacerbating factor in crashes. It’s important to understand that even small increases in speed can cause a disproportionately bigger increase in the risk of a crash. For example, a five percent increase in average speed leads to approximately a 20 percent increase in fatal crashes.
Single-vehicle accident
A single-car crash means that only one vehicle is involved in an accident. Just like the accident we’re talking about today, a single-vehicle accident is often a runoff-road (ROR) crash. A ROR accident is when a vehicle leaves the roadway and moves onto the shoulder, median, roadside or parking lane, etc. and then crashes into an unmoving object like a tree, pole, wall or fire hydrant. In this case, the driver ran off the road and collided with a power pole. In a single-car accident, property damage and personal injuries are the typical outcome. You may be surprised to hear that single-car collisions carry a higher fatality rate than head-on or side-impact collisions. More than 8,000 people die in single-vehicle rollover crashes in the United States each year.
Not wearing a seatbelt
It was determined that the driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. According to cdc.gov, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45 percent and cut the risk of serious injury by 50 percent for drivers and front-seat passengers. Most importantly, seat belts prevent drivers and passengers from being ejected from the vehicle through the windshield during a crash. Drivers and front-seat passengers who are not wearing a seat belt at the time of a crash are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
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Read MoreDriver Flees Scene of Head-On-Crash; Probable Cause for Hit-and-Run-With-Injury and Vehicular Assault
A head-on-crash turned into a hit-and-run accident when a driver fled the scene of an accident on foot at the 1700 block of Birch Bay-Lynden Road. When Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies and North Whatcom Fire & Rescue personnel arrived on scene, they found a man trapped in his car with a shattered femur. The “jaws of life” were used to remove the trapped man from inside their vehicle. The man was then transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center by ambulance and flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.
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Read MoreTeen Driver Safety: 10 Best Cars for Teen Drivers 2021
By default, teenage drivers are inexperienced and inexperienced drivers are much more likely to make a mistake or error in judgement that can dramatically increase the chance of being in a car accident. In fact, most fatal teen car crashes happen within six months of obtaining a driver’s license. In 2021, motor vehicle accidents are still the number one cause of death among American teenagers. Teen drivers are 10 times more likely to be in a fatal car accident than adults. Fatal teen accidents can be reduced through proper driving education, parental input about safe driving behaviors and vehicles with high safety ratings.
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Read MoreThree People Injured in Whatcom County T-Bone Crash over Weekend
Sadly, car accidents happen every day and Whatcom County sees its fair share. As reported by kgmi.com, three people were injured in a T-bone crash on Aldrich Road this weekend. According to Washington State Patrol (WSP), the crash occurred when a silver 1997 Acura Integra that was traveling northbound on Aldrich Road crashed into a Buick sedan that was turning left off of King Tut Road on Saturday. Sadly, the driver of the Acura was not wearing a seatbelt and was transported to Harborview because of his injuries. The man and a woman in the Buick were transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for their injuries. While the crash is still under investigation, speed has been identified as a factor in the collision.
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Read MoreTesla’s Autopilot System Faces Scrutiny as Crashes Pile Up
The criticism is mounting for Tesla’s Autopilot system as more crashes are being associated with the Autopilot function. While Tesla maintains that its Autopilot system actually makes driving safer, doubts are growing among safety experts and the public.
As reported by the hill.com, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are about twenty-four active crash investigations involving passengers who were driving with the Autopilot function.
Read MoreNSC: Motor Vehicle Deaths Up for First Three Months of 2021
Motor Vehicle deaths are a tragedy that we deal with every single day. In the U.S., we lose an average of 90 people in car accidents daily. Tragically, most collision-related fatalities are preventable. Public education campaigns and traffic enforcement are important tools to help change dangerous driving behavior. Preliminary numbers for 2021 show that motor vehicle deaths are up for the first three months of 2021.
If you lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident because of the negligent or reckless behavior of another, you may be entitled to compensation through a car accident claim. A personal injury attorney can explain your legal rights and help you recover a full and fair settlement for your losses.