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Ford Explorer, SUV victims fight back, see results

Brian Foley — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:30:47 GMT

Today, November 19, 2007, an expected class action settlement concerning Ford Motor Co. may impact 1 million Ford Explorer owners nationwide. SUVs, passenger vans and trucks kill 10,000 people and injure another 27,000 every year. Among them, the Ford Explorer in particular is a disaster waiting to happen for millions of Americans who drive them.

Between their flawed design that makes them susceptible to rolling over , their substandard roofs that can crush the carÂ¹s occupants and their history of relying on tires that are ticking time bombs http://www.injuryboard.com/topic/firestone-tires-overview.aspx, it is no wonder that profit-hungry executives at Ford have been on the receiving end of a torrent of litigation for years.

Meanwhile, deadly accidents continue to happen. On Saturday night, 7 people were killed in a Ford Explorer in Central California.

On July 5, 2006 in Menlo Park, Ca, the issue of its lethal design hit new proportions when a 1998 Ford Explorer rolled over and killed its three passengers after it was cut off by a speedy teenager driving a Mustang on U.S. Highway 101. Among the victims were two members of the Tongan Royal Family: Prince TuÂ¹ipelehake, 54 and Princess Kaimana, 45. The news sent shockwaves throughout the Tongan world and it is a tragedy that is still felt today.

The tragic accident has highlighted an ongoing issue that rests on the hands of Ford executives who continue to attempt to skirt responsibility for designing a metal box on wheels that has killed scores of Americans. Ford can no longer pass off the Explorer and other SUVs as a reliable and safe mode of transportation and Explorer owners deserve to know how dangerous this vehicle really is.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian Foley

SUV Rollover Fatalities Still Frequent

Brian Foley — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:00:41 GMT

Despite what the car industry aficionados and government may claim, SUV rollovers continue to kill and maim. Take, for example, the single-vehicle SUV rollover crash last month that killed a 23-year-old man in Southern California . In another example in a case I am handling, three people were killed on July 5, 2006 in Menlo Park, Ca when the driver's 1998 Ford Explorer rolled over and killed them after it was cut off by a speedy teenager driving a Mustang on U.S. Highway 101. Among the victims were two members of the Tongan Royal Family: Prince Tu'ipelehake, 54 and Princess Kaimana, 45.

Just because the mainstream media has relaxed its coverage of SUV rollovers and faulty tires doesn't mean SUVs are no longer susceptible to dangerous solo accidents caused by its top-heavy design and poorly structured roofs.

As noted in the August 2007 edition of Auto Monitor, an Indian auto trade publication, Americans' views of car safety are "schizophrenic," because car companies tout technology designed to prevent accidents, but fail to invest in protecting occupants who actually do end up in accidents.

Of the 42,000 annual highway fatalities in the U.S., one-third came at the hands of rollovers. Furthermore, a majority of SUV deaths are from rollovers.

Recent media reports have framed auto death rates in a positive light, noting that driver deaths per million have decreased for newer model cars. SUV's supposedly have become safer, thanks to technologies like Electronic Stability Control.

Unfortunately, SUV drivers who blow a tire or swerve to avoid an accident are too preoccupied to be worried about national fatality rates if their car suddenly flips. Roof strength regulations rely on standards first established in 1973, which states that it must withstand 1.5 times the static force of its unloaded vehicle weight. As this study indicates, SUV roofs "crush significantly under loads that are 30 to 50 percent" the regulated standards.

Another aspect of SUV rollovers is tires. As noted in an April 2006 report by Safety Research & Strategies, tire-related fatalities in the Ford Explorers rose sharply between 2002 and 2004, well after the fallout from the 2000 tire scandal. Click here for more information on SUV rollovers.

Between vulnerable roofs and tires, the design of the SUV is something that can and should be thoroughly reviewed by automakers and regulators if fatality rates on the road are to truly improve. Meanwhile, SUV drivers should heed caution and drive with extra care while knowing that rollover accidents are a real possibility and continue to this day.

For more information on Car and Motorcycle Accidents, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian Foley

San Jose Teen Unconscious After Car Accident, Expected To Survive

Chrissie Cole — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:35:00 GMT

Jessica Huse, 18, of San Jose, suffered serious injuries in a car accident Sunday morning on her way to church. According to her family, she is expected to survive, but she is still unconscious.

“She will eventually wake up, but we don’t know when,” a neurologist told the family. “And when she does wake up, we don’t know what we are up against. It’s a matter of waiting.”

Huse left her father’s house early Sunday to attend a 10 a.m. service at Twin Oaks Church. The accident happened when Huse pulled onto Blossom Hill Road. She made a left turn into oncoming traffic when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The driver is not believed to be at fault.

A police officer and a Good Samaritan watched over her until rescue arrived. She has been unconscious at the hospital since the crash.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Ford Settles Lawsuit, and then Lies Again

Brian Foley — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:14:53 GMT

Ford settled a class action lawsuit in Sacramento on Wednesday but then proceeded to lie to the public and media, claiming that the settlement ended all outstanding lawsuits against Ford stemming from Explorer rollovers.

As reported in this Associated Press article, Ford spokeswoman Kristen Kinley claimed that the settlement, which will provide vouchers to Explorer owners to buy other Ford vehicles, "ends all the outstanding lawsuits against Ford stemming from the Explorer rollovers." That's a lie. Ford's credibility is as defective as the Explorer.

This settlement does not settle the case I am handling in which three people were killed on July 5 2006 in Menlo Park, Ca, including two members of the Tongan Royal Family. I am also handling another case in Albuquerque in which a teenaged male was killed in an Explorer rollover.

As noted by Bloomberg News, despite Wednesday's settlement, "Ford still faces hundreds of lawsuits across the U.S. over personal injuries involving Explorer rollovers."

SUV rollovers are still very frequent and real and should not be undermined by Ford spokespeople.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian Foley

Drunk Driver Injures CHP Officer in Car Accident

Chrissie Cole — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:04:28 GMT

A California Highway Patrol Officer was injured in a car accident while parked in the center divide of U.S. 101, when a suspected drunken driver struck his patrol car.

The man, 19, was arrested and transported to Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of felony driving under the influence, causing injury to others and rear-ending the CHP officer's patrol car, on Monday evening. The driver also crashed into another vehicle. The CHP officer and citizen were helping a driver of another vehicle that had a flat tire.

The driver was treated at San Jose Regional Medical Center prior to being taken to jail.

The officer was treated at San Jose Regional Medical Center for a minor concussion and cuts and on his face. At this time his name is not being released and the crash is still under investigation.

For more information on this subject, please visit our section on Car & Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Toddler Killed by Truck in San Jose

Shannon Weidemann — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:18:20 GMT

A 2-year-old boy was killed by a truck backing up in a parking lot last month. The car accident happened in San Jose. The boy's stepfather did not realize the child was behind his vehicle. It is believed the victim left his apartment through an open door.

Nationally, there were at least 101 "backover" children deaths in 2007, according to data Kids And Cars compiles from coroners, individuals and the media. But organization founder and president Janette Fennell said the real number is undoubtedly much larger than that. Each week, according to her organization, cars back up over 50 children in the United States, killing at least two.
"This absolutely fits the mold," Fennell said by phone from Kansas in reference to today's San Jose death. "The father thinks the child is inside, the little one doesn't want to be left behind. And pick-ups have some of the worst blind zones."

The little boy was killed instantly in the accident. On the same day President Bush signed into law a bill that mandates better visibility in vehicles to prevent this kind of accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

Update: Anticipated settlement with Ford delayed

Brian Foley — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:03:50 GMT

The anticipated settlement of a multi-billion suit against Ford was delayed Monday in Sacramento Superior Court for unspecified reasons. A courthouse spokeswoman said she was awaiting word when the case would resume. One of the lawyers involved in the litigation said they would return on Dec. 3, according to the Sacramento Bee. Meanwhile, authorities are picking up the pieces of a tragic accident in Central California on Saturday in which a Ford Explorer toppled over and killed seven people.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brian Foley

California Fires Wreak Havoc and Frustration

Courtney Mills — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:11:13 GMT

The raging wildfires across California look utterly terrifying, and thus far have destroyed over 1,500 homes and damaged hundreds more. It will take years for the families who are affected by the loss of homes to take stock and rebuild. Displacement of this magnitude is always accompanied by a great deal of stress and anxiety about the future.

The last great bout of wildfires in California was in the San Diego county area in 2003, when a small brush fire developed into a major conflagration that spread all over San Diego County. The wildfire destroyed over 3,500 homes and caused billions of dollars in damages. Furthermore, homeowners filed hundreds of lawsuits against insurance companies, alleging that insurance agents did not advise them properly to purchase enough fire insurance coverage to rebuild their homes. Insurers have generally prevailed in court on this matter.

According to accident analysts, the damages in California so far appear marginal - about 2.5% - compared to what was paid out by insurers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Insurance companies spent over $40 billion dollars satisfying Katrina claims. Despite the inherent tragedy of the situation, California claims would still represent a very small fraction of these payouts.

California residents should look for the state's property insurance market, especially in high-risk areas, to become much tighter. Insurance analysts agree that certain policies in some high-risk markets may not be renewed at all.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

California Man Killed in SUV Rollover Accident

Chrissie Cole — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:00:50 GMT

A 23-year-old man was killed and two others injured, in a SUV rollover accident, Friday, when a truck skid off Interstate 5 and overturned.

For reasons still unknown, the driver lost control of the vehicle and veered off the roadway near Palm Avenue, according to California Highway Patrol reports.

The vehicle struck a stand of trees, killing the man, of City Heights, at the scene according to CHP and the County Medical Examiners Office. At this time it is unclear if he was driving the vehicle.

The other two people were airlifted to a local hospital for treatment. Their injuries and conditions are not available at this time. The cause of the accident is being investigated by Highway Patrol.

The off-ramp to Main Street was blocked off for two hours during morning traffic following the accident.

For more information on car accidents, please visit our section on Car & Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole