Eyewitnesses have stated that the bus driver, who was killed in the accident, was doing nothing wrong. News stories like this serve as a somber reminder that accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy.

Serious bus accidents run a very high risk of catastrophic injury due to a lack of seat belts. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, do not hesitate to contact our offices at (800) 333-0000. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that your medical bills are paid and that you are not hassled by the insurance companies.

The news article discusses Mr. Robinson’s incredible work ethic and uncanny ability to obtain evidence that can make his case. Read the L.A. Times article. Mr. Robinson has been designated as co-lead plaintiffs’ attorney in the wrongful death and personal injury cases pending against Toyota in federal court.

Toyota has been struggling in the wake of the sudden acceleration recall, which now affects over 8 million vehicles. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker’s nationally recognized team of product liability attorneys is actively involved in the pending litigation against Toyota. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Toyota vehicle experiencing sudden acceleration, do not hesitate to send us an email or give us a call at (800) 333-0000 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

• Take an ATV safety training class
• ALWAYS wear a helmet and other safety equipment
• Only allow one person to ride any ATV
• Do not drive an ATV on paved roads
• Do not allow children to operate an adult ATV
• Do not drink and drive

Many of these tips are self-explanatory.  The CPSC website expands on each of these points with statistics.

• ATVs are inherently unique.  ATV handlers with formal training have a lower injury risk.
• Head injuries are common in ATV accidents, and helmets can prevent damage.  It is also recommended to wear full-body protection.
• ATVs are made for one person.  Having more than one person on an ATV can cause drivers great difficulty.
• ATVs are built for off-road environments, and are subsequently difficult to handle on developed roads.  Many fatalities occur with ATVs colliding with cars.
• Children riding appropriately sized ATVs are half as likely to be injured as children riding adult ATVs.
• Like all things, drugs and alcohol make ATV operation much more difficult and dangerous.  Don’t do it.

For more information on ATV Safety, visit the CPSC ATV safety website here.  If you or a loved one has the misfortune of being involved in an ATV accident, do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at (800) 333-0000.   Our law firm has handled numerous lawsuits involving faulty ATV manufacturing and ATV accidents, and as always, we’ll fight for you!

After a three day trial and more than a day of deliberation, the jury reached a favorable verdict for our client. Approximately $70,000 was awarded to our client, with expectations of an additional $10,000 award for costs. The story behind the trial is a classic example of an insurance company trying to get away with low-balling an accident victim simply because the insurance company thinks it can get away with it. Our client had previous accidents involving injuries, including a severe dune buggy accident many years ago. Our client also did not immediately seek medical attention after his most recent accident, and even had a gap in treatment. Without looking at the circumstances of the accident and situation, the insurance company decided not to settle our client’s case for a reasonable sum.

Our client’s auto accident case went to arbitration, with the resulting award of $41,000. The insurance company rejected this arbitration award, and instead offered $12,000 to settle. A few days before the trial, they increased their offer to $20,000. We rejected both offers, as they were not in our client’s best interest, and the matter was soon in court. The jury awarded our client approximately $70,000.

Larry H. Parker attorney Robert Zavidow, who represented our client in court, had this to say about the trial and its verdict.

“The importance of the trial process is to make sure that the insurance companies understand that they need to treat each case individually. If the insurance companies only look at medical bills and care, and not the individual circumstances of each case, then they are not going to properly consider and evaluate the damages suffered by the plaintiff. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker insists on making sure that every case is treated individually, and when a case is not treated fairly, we will proceed towards a trial. We feel confident, that with proper strategy and preparation, we have a very good chance of succeeding at trial.

In this case, our law firm has shown the insurance company and the attorneys that they hire that The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker will not accept low offers simply because it is expedient. We emphasize the needs of our clients, making every client a partner in his or her case, allowing them, with our legal advice, to make the ultimate decision regarding their cases. In this circumstance, our client decided that he preferred to proceed toward trial, feeling confident that the jury would understand his plight. They did.”

However, risks and dangers of fishing, boating, jet skiing, rafting and other water activities often go unmentioned. Just like Southern California freeways, busy and congested waterways have just as many traffic hazards. Other boats, uncharted shallows, wakes, currents, strong waves and other watercraft such as jet skis can present unexpected dangers to boating enthusiasts. Combine any of those dangers with alcohol or inexperience and these dangers can lead to boating accidents, which can cause serious and catastrophic injury.

According to the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, over 5,000 boating accidents occurred in 2007. The leading causes of these accidents were all attributed to human error, including speeding and drunk piloting. All boaters should be sure to follow all recommended safety practices, and should especially wear a life jacket.

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker wants everyone to have a fun, but safe, boating season. If you or a loved one has the misfortune of being involved in a boating accident this year, do not hesitate to contact our offices right away to learn your rights under the law. We can always be reached at (800) 333-0000.

Visit our website for more information on boating accidents and boating injuries.

The Associated Press just detailed a nerve-racking anecdote of a driver who’s Toyota Prius experienced unintended acceleration while on a highway outside of San Diego. You’ll probably see more of James Sikes’ story in the news soon. Mr. Sikes contacted the California Highway Patrol with a simple message: “My car can’t slow down.” 23 minutes and some burned-out brakes later, the CHP was able to help the man stop his car. ***** (Please note that this story is most likely a hoax, as described at Forbes.)

Also reported, a few hours later in New York, a Toyota Prius appears to have accelerated into a garden wall. A separate news blog article details the story of a Minnesota doctor who’s Toyota Prius experienced unintended acceleration while in reverse.

Anything involving Toyota vehicles with circumstances that appear to be slightly out of the ordinary are becoming news stories, even when there are no injuries and minimal damages involved. Expect the Toyota sudden acceleration problem to be major news for a while yet.

See: Runaway Prius reports hit Toyota at worst time
And: Minnesota Doctor Says His Prius Took Off In Reverse

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker and our nationally recognized team of automobile defect attorneys is continuing to monitor the current Toyota unintended acceleration recall and any additional recalls that may yet happen. If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death involving a Toyota vehicle, whether that vehicle was subject to the recalls or not, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Call us at (800) 333-0000 to schedule a free consultation.

Gilbert is an associate professor of automotive technology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. In late February, Gilbert claimed he was able to reproduce the sudden acceleration problem in Toyota vehicles using only electrical shorts. Gilbert testified to Congress that it only took him a few hours to reproduce the errors, which would cause unintended acceleration and produce no errors that would allow the braking system to override the throttle.

Toyota, for its part, contends that Gilbert’s electrical reproduction of the sudden acceleration problem is nearly impossible to occur in the real world and that any car, regardless of make or model, would exhibit the exact same behavior. This claim by Toyota was backed up by independent engineers and was aggressively marketed at news agencies in an attempt to counter Gilbert. Toyota believes that the current mechanical fix implemented on millions of Toyota is addressing the sudden acceleration issues.

With all the back and forth between Toyota, the U.S. Government, and other independent experts, it’s apparent that information about the Toyota sudden acceleration problem will continue to emerge. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker and our nationally recognized team of automobile defect attorneys is continuing to monitor the current Toyota sudden acceleration recall and any additional recalls that may yet happen. If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death involving a Toyota vehicle, whether that vehicle was subject to the recalls or not, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Call us at (800) 333-0000 to schedule a free consultation.

The new texting ban is just the latest in numerous bans on distracted driving that have been put in place by the DOT and state governments across the country. California placed a ban on texting while driving in 2009. Arizona does not currently have a ban on texting while driving, but the city of Phoenix has had one in place since 2007. The penalty for the new texting law is steep. Any trucker or bus driver violating the new law will be fined $2,750.

The National Safety Council estimates that driving while texting causes hundreds of thousands of accidents each year, or around 1 in every 30 accidents. Accidents involving large trucks or buses often involve serious injuries, or worse. Banning texting while driving for commercial truck drivers and bus operators should hopefully prevent some major, devastating truck accidents from occurring.

The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker hears from the victims of auto accidents caused by distracted driving everyday. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker to help you preserve your legal rights. We can always be reached at (800) 333-0000.

For more information on the new texting ban, please visit the Fast Lane blog, operated by the DOT.

Only months after its last huge recall, Toyota has initiated another recall in response to continued problems with unintended acceleration. Vehicles affected by the 2010 recall are the 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2007-2010 Toyota Camry, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2008-2010 Toyota Sequoia, 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla, 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix, and the 2009-2010 Toyota RAV4.

Unlike the fall 2009 recall, no Lexus vehicles are affected by this recall. Toyota has not decided on how to proceed with the repairs to these vehicles at this time, and are recommending that anyone who experiences an unintended acceleration problem to discontinue driving the vehicle and notify their Toyota Dealer.

Unintended acceleration is especially dangerous on the freeways of Southern California and Arizona. Known for the bumper to bumper traffic, there should this problem occur at the wrong time, there is little anyone can do to prevent what could be a major accident. Should you or a loved one be the victim of a Toyota vehicle experiencing sudden acceleration, do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at (800) 333-0000. In this particular accident circumstance, while you may have caused an accident, Toyota is at fault, and you deserve fair compensation.