Washington Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Regan Zambri & Long Law Firm : DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and partner            

The AP (12/15) reported that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety "named a record 115 vehicles as 'top safety picks' Monday, including the new versions of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry." This list "includes 18 new recipients on top of the 97 who qualified for the award last year and had it carry over to the 2012 model year."

CNNMoney (12/15, Valdes) noted that in order "to earn a Top Safety Pick Award, a vehicle must earn top marks from the Institute for front and side impact protection, rollover protection and whiplash protection."

When purchasing a vehicle, please do so with safety in mind first.  And remember, never drive distracted. 

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About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney and Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. The association has recently named him the " 2011 Trial Lawyer of the Year".  He has also been acknowledged by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all of the more than 80,000 lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also acknowledged him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in medical malpractice matters, product liability claims, and serious automobile accident claims. Mr. Zambri was recently (2012 edition) acknowledged as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers, and has also been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Law and Politics magazine (2012)--a national publication that honors the top lawyers in the country.

Mr. Zambri is regularly asked to present seminars to lawyers and doctors, as well as both medical and law students concerning defective products, medication errors, medical malpractice litigation, and safety improvements.

If you have any questions about your legal rights, please email Mr. Zambri at szambri@reganfirm.com.  You may also reach him at 202-822-1899.

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and senior partner

During a radio interview this morning, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood discussed his efforts to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.  Distracted Driving has been the centerpiece of Mr. LaHood's  tenure for the past three years. Distracted driving is an epidemic which continues to cause accidents, injuries and death.  According to Secretary LaHood, getting the problem of distracted driving under control is similar to getting the seatbelt issue from several years ago under control.  Two important components are necessary to accomplish that goal:

• Drivers accept personal responsibility
• Enforcement of distracted driving laws

“Distracted driving is not only dangerous, deaths and injuries from this reckless practice are preventable,” LaHood said in a statement.

“As we look ahead to the holiday driving season and beyond, our message on distracted driving is simple: There’s no call or text message that’s so important that it can’t wait.”

In related news, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended a nationwide ban on driver use of personal electronic devices Tuesday, following its investigation into a deadly accident last year in Missouri. The NTSB has been investigating a deadly crash in Gray Summit, Missouri last year. A 19-year-old pickup driver sent 11 texts in the 11 minutes before before the accident, according to the NTSB, including one “right before impact.” The accident killed two people and injured 38.

According to the NTSB Chairman, Deborah A.P. Hersman, “We will never know whether the driver was typing, reaching for the phone, or reading a text when his pickup ran into the truck in front of him without warning,” 

“But, we do know he had been distracted — cognitively, manually, and visually — while driving.

“Driving was not his only priority.”

Every year I give presentations to area schools and parents about distracted driving in an effort to teach young people the importance of driving carefully, and to empower them to be sure they do not allow others to drive while distracted, at least not while they are in the car.

If you or your child's school would like to know more about my presentation, please let me know. I of course do not charge a fee for it, as it is part of my volunteer community service program.

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and senior partner

Distracted driving kills nearly 5,500 people and injures 500,000 more each year. These aren't just statistics. Children, parents, neighbors, and friends are victims every day due to the distracted driver epidemic in this country and in your community.

“Faces of Distracted Driving” is a powerful new video series that raises awareness about the potentially tragic consequences of texting and cell phone use while driving by sharing the stories of family members who have lost loved ones in distracted driving crashes.  As part of their campaign to educate drivers of the seriousness of distracted driving, the Department of Transportation encourages anyone who would like to share experiences to email faces@distraction,gov.

In an earlier blog posting, I noted that the U.S. Department of Transportation had created an official government website Distraction.gov to "share knowledge and promote a greater understanding of the issue, and identify additional strategies to end distracted driving."  "Faces of Distracted Driving" is an effort to personalize experiences of distracted driving, with the hope that individuals seeing the videos will see something more than just some statistics.

Every year I give presentations to area schools and parents about distracted driving in an effort to teach young people the importance of driving carefully, and to empower them to be sure they do not allow others to drive while distracted, at least not while they are in the car.

If you or your child's school would like to know more about my presentation, please let me know. I of course do not charge a fee for it, as it is part of my volunteer community service program.

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Posted by Paul Cornoni

A man was fatally shot outside of Heritage India, a local Dupont Circle restaurant last evening. The DC Metropolitan Police Department and Council Member Jack Evans have expressed concerns regarding security at the restaurant.  Patrick Regan and Paul Cornoni litigated a nearly identical case against a night club in DC a few years ago.  We obtained a $4.1 million dollar verdict on behalf of our client who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being assaulted as he was exiting a night club.  The night club failed to have the proper amount of security personnel working that evening.  A description of the case can be seen here.

An investigation should be undertaken to discover what security measures were put in place by this restaurant to ensure that this type of violence would not occur.  As Council Member Jack Evans state: "The overriding issue is you have restaurants that morph into a nightclub with promoters and bands and disc jockeys.  What precautions are they taking for security?"

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and senior trial attorney.             

As a parent of four children, I frequently receive notices from their schools about upcoming events that could involve my children.  One of the most powerful recent notices forwarded to me from Whitman High School illustrates how important it is to constantly communicate with your children regarding safety issues.  I am reproducing the school's notice below in its entirety.

"While Homecoming is a time for fun, it is also one of those times of years when students are more likely to make a bad decision. Please take steps to keep your child safe and be forever vigilant. The tip sheet below can help you in the endeavor to help your child have safe fun!

Drugs and Alcohol
Guidelines for Initiating a Healthy Parent/Teen Conversation
Numerous research studies have shown that parents can positively impact their teens’ decisions about alcohol and drug use by talking with them about it. It is particularly important to have conversations about drugs and alcohol prior to social activities, whether private parties or school-sponsored activities such as Homecoming and Prom.
Suggestions for starting this conversation with your teen and setting appropriate boundaries:

• Ask your teen what he/she knows about alcohol and what he/she thinks about teen drinking, including why kids drink. Listen carefully without interrupting. This approach can help your teen feel heard and respected, and leads into further discussion.
• Although many kids believe they already know everything about alcohol, myths abound. Some facts to share:
• Alcohol is a powerful drug that slows down the body and mind, impairing coordination, vision, clear thinking, reaction time, and judgment.
• Beer and wine are not safer than hard liquor.
• The younger a person begins to drink or use drugs, the higher the likelihood they will become addicted.
• On average it takes 10+ hours for a single drink to leave the system. Nothing can speed up this process, including coffee, cold showers or “walking it off.”
• People tend to be very bad at judging how seriously alcohol affects them. Many people who drive after drinking think they can control a car, but actually cannot.
•  Anyone can develop a serious alcohol problem, including a teen. In fact, the mean age of alcoholism is now 16 years of age.
• Talk about good reasons why teens shouldn’t drink or use drugs (it’s illegal, to maintain self-respect, it can be dangerous and unhealthy, etc.). Don’t forget to emphasize that YOU want your child to avoid illegal drugs and alcohol. Remember that your values and attitudes count with your child, even though he or she may not always show it.

Please Remember
It is illegal for parents to host parties where there is underage drinking. By Montgomery County law, parents can be held responsible and may be subject to heavy fines if there is any underage drinking on their premises. If you are out of town, please consider arranging chaperones for your home.

• Set limits and monitor your teen’s whereabouts. Ask your teen to tell you his/her destination whenever he/she leaves home, and to call if plans change. If it sounds overly vague, ask for more specifics. If you find that your teen was not completely up front in explaining his or her whereabouts, restrict his/her privileges for a while.
• Band together with other parents and present a unified front against drugs and alcohol. If none of the teens in your child’s group have total freedom, peer pressure will be reduced.
• Put yourself in your teen’s shoes. Talk to her/him about what might help to resist peer pressure. “Just say no” wears a little thin by the teen years, but you might brainstorm tactics together, such as “I don’t drink (smoke) because I don’t like the taste.” “I’m not going to have a drink because if the coach finds out, I’ll be kicked off the team.” “If my parents find out I won’t be able to use the car for a month.” "

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and senior trial attorney.          

As we've often posted on this blog, Halloween safety is an important issue for Trick-or-Treaters, but also for all parents and drivers.  One of the biggest hazards for children is the increased danger of getting hit by a car on the holiday.  The main reasons for this increased danger include:

• Children are out in the dark;
• Costumes are usually dark and masks can impair vision and hearing;
• Children are often excited and distracted;
• They usually cut across streets instead of crossing at corner; and
• They are not accustomed to being out late at  night.

Here are some suggestions to help ensure the safety of your children as recommended by HealthDay News:

• "Set up a route for your children's trick-or-treating and make sure you are familiar with the neighborhood and the neighbors;
• Make sure children under 12 are accompanied by adults;
• If children over 12 are unaccompanied by adults make sure they are going to be with a group;
• Make sure your children know basic traffic safety rules: stopping before crossing the street, crossing only at cross walks, and using flashlights so they can see and be seen better;
• Consider replacing a face mask with face paint so that children's vision and hearing aren't impaired;
• Make sure costumes are well fitting so that children can't trip;
• Avoid costume props that are rigid and/or sharp so that if a child should fall they won't be further injured by their prop;
• Look through the candy your children collect before they consume it to make sure nothing has been tampered with."

As a driver, please be alert and practice extra precautions.   Watch for children who may jump out into the street at  unpredictable times.  Take special caution in backing out of driveways, as small children may be completely unseen.  Following sensible safety guidelines will enhance the enjoyment of Halloween, and keep it fun for everyone.

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and senior trial attorney.             

Each year during the month of October, attention focuses on fire safety and prevention. This issue deserves year-round attention.  Protect your family by addressing potential fire hazards throughout your home routinely and utilize preventive measures to avoid fires.  Taking steps to fireproof your home can go a long way in protecting your property and, most especially, saving your family.

The following listing includes the most frequent causes of bedroom fires:

• Misuse or poor maintenance of electrical devices
• Careless candle use
• Smoking in bed
• Children playing with matches or lighters

All of the above fire hazards are easily addressed by planning ahead and using common sense. In addition, pay attention to this simple fire safety checklist reproduced from About.com:

• "Install and maintain a working smoke alarm outside of every sleep area and remember to change the battery at least once a year.
   
• Designate two escape routes from each bedroom and practice them regularly.
   
• Teach everyone the 'Stop, Drop, and Roll' technique in case clothing catches on fire.
   
• Avoid storing old mattresses in the home or garage.
   
• Teach kids that matches, lighters and candles are tools, not toys. If you suspect that a child is playing with fire, check under beds and in closets for telltale signs like burned matches. Matches and lighters should be stored in a secure drawer or cabinet."

According to the U.S. Fire Administration division of FEMA, over 75% of all fire fatalities occur in homes.  Don't become the next statistic. Please be safe.

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and senior partner

DISTRACTION.GOV - Official U.S Government Website for Distracted Driving

Yes, there is an official government website for distracted driving.  Why?  Because distracted driving results in thousands of traffic crashes and deaths in this country every year.  The epidemic of distracted driving continues to cause drivers to drive recklessly, leading to serious injuries and death.

Although states are responsible for their own driving laws, the distracted driving problem has reached such heights that The U.S. Department of Transportation created the Distraction.gov site to work with advocacy groups and others to "share knowledge and promote a greater understanding of the issue, and identify additional strategies to end distracted driving."

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding member and senior trial attorney.             

The New York Times has reported that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 460,000 containers of pourable fuel gel used in decorative fire pots. The fuel, which was manufactured by Napa Home and Garden Inc., was recalled after dozens of consumers suffered burns, some of which were nearly fatal. Some victims reported that the fuel "exploded in a flash, stuck to clothing and would not stop burning." The fuel has been sold since December 2009, under the names Napafire and Firegel. 

To read the full report, click here.

Please do not use this product.  If you have it in your house, dispose of it properly or return it to the manufacturer.  Please be safe.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney and Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. The association has recently named him the " 2011 Trial Lawyer of the Year".  He has also been acknowledged by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all of the more than 80,000 lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also acknowledged him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in medical malpractice matters, product liability claims, and serious automobile accident claims. Mr. Zambri was recently (2011 edition) acknowledged as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers, and has also been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Law and Politics magazine (2011)--a national publication that honors the top lawyers in the country.

Mr. Zambri is regularly asked to present seminars to lawyers and doctors, as well as both medical and law students concerning defective products, medication errors, medical malpractice litigation, and safety improvements.

If you have any questions about your legal rights, please email Mr. Zambri at szambri@reganfirm.com.  You may also reach him at 202-822-1899.

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