New Safety Barriers Hope To Minimize Storefront Crashes

At least 60 times per day, cars crash into storefronts, restaurants, and businesses, sending vehicles into windows and front doors at road speeds. In fact, the Storefront Safety Council says over 4,000 people are injured and 500 people are killed each year from storefront car crashes. While many stores have safety barriers in front of them to prevent vehicles from hitting buildings, the regulations on these barriers are virtually nonexistent. Additionally, TODAY reports that there are no federal requirements for stores to have protective barriers in front of their businesses. This makes it even easier for careless drivers to run down roadblocks or to bypass sidewalks, endangering pedestrians and store workers alike. 

Luckily, new technology is being developed that hopes to minimize storefront crashes. Traditionally, safety barriers in parking lots and in front of stores look like short yellow poles, but are basically steels pipe filled with concrete. Tests at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute show these barriers being knocked down like a bowling pin when hit by a car traveling at 20 mph, the speed of most parking lots. 

Therefore, the latest design of storefront safety barriers use stainless steel in place of concrete. These improved car crash barriers last longer, don’t rust in extreme weather conditions, and require less maintenance and upkeep. When tested by the same car on the same track as the yellow concrete barriers, the stainless steel barriers completely stopped the vehicle, traveling at 20 mph. Even when tested at 30 mph, the stainless steel barrier barely flinched, not only preventing a car from hitting people inside a nearby store, but also keeping the vehicle from running over pedestrians walking near the barriers. 

28% of storefront incidents are caused by operator error, with another 28% caused by pedal errors. Simple vehicle malfunctions often set drivers up for disaster, forcing them to lose control and crash into nearby stores. Speeding through the parking lot also may cause storefront crashes. Because these crashes can happen so easily, safety barriers are encouraged to help save lives. As new technologies develop, it is up to business owners to install preventative barriers to keep employees and customers on their feet.

Speeding and careless driving may lead to serious motor vehicle accidents. Storefront crashes are not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about an automobile accident, but happen more often than people think. It is important to pay attention at all times when driving, even if only driving in parking lots, and to slow down and watch out for pedestrians. People involved in storefront crashes are never expecting to be in danger while shopping for groceries or waiting for a dentist appointment. Modern safety barriers can help prevent car crashes from happening and may protect innocent bystanders from being injured or killed in a storefront car accident.  

Speeding and careless driving frequently contribute to storefront car crashes. If you or someone you know has been injured in a automobile accident caused by a speeding driver, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. We fight for victims of speeding car crashes.

Man Dies In Flint Area After Crashing Stolen Police Car

A 24-year old Michigan man has passed away after stealing a Michigan State Police car early on the morning on July 9, 2017, and crashing it 20 miles away. 

MLive reports that police officials were called to the area of M-55 and Plank Road in Tawas shortly after 4 AM, to look for a man driving a golf cart along the road without headlights. 

Phillip Everett, of Greenbush, Michigan in Alcona County, was stopped by troopers and arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. As troopers worked to secure the golf cart, Everett was able to move into the driver’s seat of the police car and drive away at high speeds. 

Law enforcement discovered a short time later that Everett had crashed the patrol car at southbound US-23 near East Bessinger Road in Arenac County. He died as a result of his injuries sustained in the crash. 

Drunk driving crashes kill 1 person every 51 minutes in the United States, despite all 50 states making it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. As in Everett's case, driving while impaired may lead to arrest, serious injury, and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends the following safety tips to help prevent drunk driving:

  • If you will be drinking, plan on not driving. Plan a safe ride home before you start the party. Designate a sober driver ahead of time or plan to use a ride-sharing business like Uber or Lyft.
  • If you become unexpectedly intoxicated, do not drive for any reason. Once again, call and Uber or call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation. The NHTSA also has a SaferRide mobile app available, allowing users to call a taxi or friend and identify their location so they can be picked up. 
  • If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys, take them home, or help them arrange a sober ride. 
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone’s life. 

Drunk driving can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Reckless driving and speeding may also lead to accidents, endangering drivers, passengers, and people in other motor vehicles and on the roads. If you or someone you know has been involved in a severe car crash, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Truck Accident Recorded On Facebook Live

According to CBS News a man in Rhode Island was involved in a car accident while recording a Facebook Live video. The driver was Onasi Olio-Rojas, 20 of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Olio-Rojas was recording himself going 114 miles per hour and was seen weaving in and out of traffic on Route 6, when he lost control of the vehicle, hit a garbage truck as it entered the highway, and then crossed three lanes to crash into a concrete barrier. 

“He has his camera in his right hand, videotaping himself as he’s driving, has no seatbelt on, he starts to hit speeds of 90 miles an hour, which increases to 100 miles an hour, then you see several erratic lane changes where he goes from the high-speed lane to the low-speed lane, into the breakdown lane, in and out of traffic,” Capt. John Allen of Rhode Island State Police told CBS affiliate WPRI.

The video was posted to Olio-Rojas’ Facebook page and authorities have verified its authenticity. The Rhode Island State Police has even asked Facebook for an official copy so that it could be used as evidence in court.

“I mean, the video makes the case. The independent witnesses certainly help, but nothing beats actually watching it on the video.” Capt. Allen said.

Rescue crews extracted Olio-Rojas from the vehicle and rushed him to the hospital Fortunately, Olio-Rojas was diagnosed to be in fair condition. Once he is conscious and alert, Mr. Olio- Rojas will be arraigned from his hospital bed. Police told Olio-Rojas that he was charged with reckless driving and operating a vehicle while having a suspended license. In fact, Olio-Rojas' license was suspended due to 5 previous traffic violations including texting while driving. He was also involved in 3 vehicle car crashes in 2016 alone. 

“Mr. Rojas just has a blatant disregard for anyone else on the road,” said Allen. Mr. Olio-Rojas will be arraigned from his hospital bed.

Distracted driving accidents have increased by 28% since 2005, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Accidents caused by distracted drivers are becoming a growing problem in America with drivers using their cell phones to not only make phone calls and text, but to record video and watch movies, all while they are behind the wheel. These actions not only put the driver but other drivers and pedestrians in danger. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) list drivers in their 20s to be responsible for 27% of distracted driving accidents. 38% of drivers in their 20s were using their cellphones at the time of the fatal accident. Have you been hit by a distracted driver? Speak to an auto accident attorney today at The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC.  Call 844.4MI.FIRM.