Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

Indianapolis Auto Accident Lawyers can report more details concerning the death of a toddler from a Vehicle Collision Monday. Indiana investigators say the victim is two year old Alex Ekstedt. This accident happened on Indiana State Road 32 in Eagletown which is west of Westfield, Indiana in Hamilton County.

According to Westfield Police, Alex's mother crossed Indiana State Road 32 and left him with his grandmother. The toddler then attempted to cross the road to follow his mom. He apparently did this without any adults noticing. As he was going across Indiana State Road 32, a vehicle hit Alex and killed the little boy.

Westfield Police officers are not blaming speed for the Car Collision. However, homes are close to the road in that area. In the aftermath of this tragedy, C and S Sandblasting and Welding contributed materials and labor to build a fence to protect front yards in this area from traffic.

With children back in school now and in the aftermath of this tragic accident, the Indiana Car Crash Attorneys at Kooi Law took at look at the safety of children on our nation's streets. Research showed half of the kids struck by vehicles close to schools were struck by cars with parents of students behind the wheel. The National Safe Kids Campaign found about 67% of drivers drove faster than the posted speed limit in school zones in the half hour before school starts and after school ends. Thus, simply slowing down and obeying the speed limit can help protect our nation's children.

Further studies examined the safety of children as pedestrians and how often they are struck by vehicles. Data showed in 2000, about 44,000 kids were hurt as pedestrians and treated in emergency rooms. However, there was a promising trend. The death rate for children ages 14 and younger in Vehicle Collisions as pedestrians dropped almost 50% from 1990-2000. Additionally, the injury rate for the same time period dipped 36%.

Researchers also looked at the difference a child's gender plays in their involvement in Vehicle Accidents as pedestrians. They found boys who are 14 years old or younger have a death rate that is more than 50% higher than it is for girls in the same age group. Studies also centered on where these car crashes happen. Data showed more than 80% of traffic related childhood pedestrian deaths occur at non-intersections.

Continue reading "HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA TODDLER KILLED IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT" »

One person is dead following a Car Crash in Hamilton County, Indiana. That's just north of Indianapolis. The auto accident happened at about 4:15 Friday morning at Indiana State Road 37 and Essig Avenue which is north of Noblesville. The victim is identified as 50-year old Larrie Foor from Elwood, Indiana.

As reported by www.fox59.com in the article, "Fog Possible Factor in Deadly Hamilton County Crash," two vehicles were part of this auto accident. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department says Foor's car was going south on Indiana State Road 37 when a green car, driven by 29-year old Hannah Freeman, going in the opposite direction veered across the center line and collided with Foor's car head-on. A passenger, 19-year old Amber McKinley, was taken to an Indianapolis-area hospital. Freeman was also taken to an Indianapolis-area hospital. No word if any of the injuries are Work Comp related. Freeman is now facing charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Initially, Indiana investigators believed fog might have played a role in this fatal car crash. As many of us do know, weather conditions can play a big role in auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,675 people were killed in vehicle crashes in 2009 throughout the country when rainy conditions were present. Surprisingly, while still too many, only 660 people were killed in auto accidents when snow or sleet conditions were present.

Continue reading "DEADLY CAR CRASH IN HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA" »

An Indiana woman died after a head-on Vehicle Crash in Hamilton County involving the ambulance she was in and a minivan. The auto accident happened Wednesday night on Indiana State Road 38. Beverly Baker was a quadriplegic going to a local Indiana hospital for a procedure. It is not clear if the minivan driver or the ambulance crew suffered any Work Comp injuries.

As reported by www.fox59.com in the article, "Quadriplegic Patient Dies After Ambulance is Hit by Another Vehicle Head-on," the ambulance was on Indiana State Road 38 when a minivan did not stop at a stop sign and collided with the ambulance. The ambulance then flipped over and landed in a ditch. Baker's cot broke due to the force of the crash. Hamilton County's sheriff says medics and police officers determined Baker was ok after the crash and continued to take her to the hospital. However, upon her arrival, doctors realized Baker had multiple injuries including a hematoma and broken bones. Baker became comatose after emergency surgery and died three days later.

Now, Baker's daughters are questioning the actions of medics and Hamilton County police officers. Her daughters tell Fox 59 they believe mistakes were made at the scene of the vehicle accident, mistakes that cost their mother her life. The Hamilton County sheriff's crash investigation team is looking into the auto accident.

While ambulances do provide much needed medical help, they can prove deadly. According to www.emsworld.com, in 1991-2000, occupied ambulances were involved in 300 deadly collisions. Those auto accidents resulted in 82 ambulance occupants dying and 275 people in other vehicles and pedestrians dying.

Continue reading "INDIANA WOMAN DIES AFTER AMBULANCE SHE WAS IN CRASHES INTO MINIVAN IN HAMILTON COUNTY" »

Indiana State Police were on the scene of a Car Crash in Hamilton County Wednesday morning. Hamilton County is north of Indianapolis. Indiana State Police say the auto collision happened on Indiana State Road 37 near the Florida Road intersection. Part of State Road 37 was shutdown as a result of the car accident.

As reported by www.theindychannel.com in the article, "At Least Two Hurt in Serious Crash," one of the cars involved in the auto accident was on fire. At least one other car was involved in the crash. Indiana State Police say one person had to be pulled from one of the cars while one other victim was apparently ejected from a car. Medical helicopters were heading to the scene of the auto accident. No word if any of the injuries are Work Comp related.

While we are still awaiting word on the extent of the victims' injuries, there is promising news on current trends related to traffic safety. The United States Transportation Secretary recently announced the number and rate of traffic deaths in 2010 fell to the lowest levels in more than 60 years, since 1949. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, total traffic deaths dropped three percent between 2009 and last year. And, since 2005, the number of deaths fell 25 percent. This all happened despite a huge increase in the miles Americans traveled on our country's roads.

Continue reading "HAMILTON COUNTY CAR CRASH SHUTS DOWN PART OF INDIANA STATE ROAD 37" »

Indiana State Senator Mike Delph is recovering after he was involved in a Car Accident last night in Carmel which is a city in Hamilton County north of Indianapolis. Delph said he was on his way to his Carmel home when the car crash happened on Spring Mill Road.

As reported by the Indy Star in the article, "Car Crash Leaves Senator Mike Delph Woozy, Tweeting," the Indiana State Senator was taken to a local Indiana hospital and released. Delph said he suffered some minor injuries like bruises. Carmel police did not comment on the vehicle collision. Apparently, Delph's car was hit on the driver's side door by another passenger car going in the opposite direction. That automobile was driven by a 19-year old who allegedly moved quickly to avoid a car that was turning in front of it. No word if that 19-year old driver suffered any Work Comp related injuries. Delph said he will go to work at the Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis today despite his injuries and damaged car.

Many auto accidents do happen when drivers are close to home. In fact, a recent survey by the insurance industry of 11,000 drivers involved in vehicle crashes in 2001 found that 52% of them were in auto accidents that occurred within 5 miles of their home and 69% were in vehicle crashes within 10 miles of their home.

Continue reading "INDIANA STATE SENATOR HURT IN CAR CRASH IN CARMEL" »

A Noblesville man is dead after an Auto Accident in Hamilton County which is north of Indianapolis. Noblesville police officers say the victim is 50-year old Robert Milligan. The car crash happened on East 191st Street in Noblesville early Tuesday morning.

As reported by www.WTHR.com in the article, "Police Investigate Deadly Wreck in Noblesville," Milligan apparently struck a tree after his car went off the road. Indiana investigators are looking into this auto collision and say speed might be to blame.

Noblesville authorities put the time of the car crash at about 12:10am on Tuesday. That actually appears to be one of the least likely times on a Tuesday to be involved in a deadly auto accident. As compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, there were 270 deadly vehicle crashes in the country on Tuesdays between Midnight and 2:59am. Only 3am-5:59am saw fewer deadly vehicle collisions.

Continue reading "NOBLESVILLE MAN DIES AFTER CAR CRASH IN INDIANA'S HAMILTON COUNTY" »