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 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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About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. The association recently named him "Trial Lawyer of the Year" (2011). He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners. His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA. Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition) and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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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."

Every year I give presentations to area schools 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.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. The association recently named him "Trial Lawyer of the Year" (2011).  He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners.  His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA.  Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition) and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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

For those of you following my blog, you know that I give presentations at schools to faculty, parents and students about the dangers of distracted driving.  Historically, I have given those presentations at Middle and high schools.  Last week, I gave a presentation at an area elementary school.  You may be thinking, "Why give a presentation at a school that teaches such young children, kids who won't be driving for a very long time?"  I was wondering about the wisdom of such a presentation too.  What I found out, however, is that elementary schools are a perfect place to start talking about the distracted driving crisis.

One of the most significant problems fueling the crisis is parent/caregiver conduct. Young children witness their parents and caregivers driving while using a cell phone or even texting.  Kids start to see this conduct as acceptable and, even worse, safe.  By the time they reach driving age, they are indoctrinated with the thought that driving while using distracting devices is appropriate.  If my parents have done it for so long, it must be ok.  What's all the fuss about?

The fuss is about millions of people being severely injured and killed from distracted driving.  It's about the multitude of lives that can be devastatingly changed in a moment from someone's carelessness.  Perhaps I learned more than those I spoke to about unsafe driving practices last week.  I know this:  I need to speak to more elementary school parents in our community about their behavior, and about how to teach their kids--their young kids--about the deadly consequences of distracted driving.

Please drive safely, and put the phone down.  Better yet, shut it off.  It will turn back on when you get to your destination.  I promise.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners.  His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA.  Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition) and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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

As we have posted previously, the ongoing battle between safety groups and the rental car industry continues.  Following the deaths of two sisters renting a recalled vehicle and the subsequent jury verdict, the Center for Auto Safety and Consumers for Auto Safety and Reliability petitioned the FTC to force Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (the country's largest rental car agency) to repair vehicles under recall  notice prior to renting them out. 

As of November 1, 2010, Senator Charles Schumer got involved by writing to the FTC. According to a report by National Public Radio (NPR), "Schumer asked the FTC Monday to end the practice across the industry, telling the federal agency in a letter that "if automotive dealers are not allowed to sell recalled vehicles without first fixing the safety issues, then rental car companies should be held to the same standard. If a car is not safe enough to be bought and driven off the lot, then it is not safe enough to rent," Schumer wrote. Threatening legislation, he said that if the FTC "can't or won't act, Congress will."

Consumers need to have confidence that the vehicles they rent are safe enough to drive and not worry about whether the rental car agency has decided that profits are more important than safety. We will continue to follow this safety issue and blog about its implication for our readers. 

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including premises liability, automobile accident, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Law and Politics (2011 edition) and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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

For years now, the Chamber of Commerce has been spending millions upon millions of dollars trying to limit peoples' right to seek justice through the court system when they have been victimized by corporate greed and wrongdoing.   Yet, the Chamber itself utilizes the court system to advance its own selfish agenda multiple times every single week.

This hypocrisy was noted in a recent publication by the Association for Justice.  Here is a reproduction of some of that report:

Washington, D.C.--Earlier this month, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue called litigation "one of our most powerful tools for making sure that federal agencies follow the law and are held accountable." 

Yet ironically, the Chamber today holds its annual Legal Reform Summit – an event underwritten by its multinational corporate members that promotes undermining the civil justice system to weaken the basic legal protections of American workers and consumers.

The Chamber's hypocrisy – blocking justice for everyday Americans while using the courts liberally for its own pro-corporate agenda – is the subject of a new report released today by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) that exposes the Chamber as one of the most aggressive litigators in Washington, entering lawsuits at a rate of over twice weekly.

"The Chamber's 'one rule for corporations, another rule for everybody else' motto has come at the expense of ill-treated workers, defrauded investors and injured consumers," said AAJ President Gibson Vance. "It readily spends millions of dollars to prevent Americans from holding wrongdoers accountable in the courtroom, and then aggressively uses the very same legal system to advance the agenda of its multinational corporate membership."

In almost every case, the Chamber's litigation on behalf of corporations has come at the expense of Americans' health or financial security. The Chamber has:

• justified the actions of Wall Street banks that drove the country's economy into turmoil; • defended the most conceited and worst behaved CEOs and their most extravagant excesses;
• tried to force workers, instead of employers, to pay for their own safety equipment; • filed numerous actions opposing any move to combat climate change;
• sought to shield pharmaceutical executives who skirted safety procedures that ultimately killed 11 children;
• opposed measures allowing workers to receive a rest period during a full work day;
• fought on behalf of lead paint manufacturers found to have poisoned thousands of children;
• defended corporations that discriminated on the basis of race and disability; and
• spent years defending big tobacco, asbestos companies and chemical companies found to have contaminated water and air.

"The Chamber has every right to seek what it believes to be justice in a court of law, even if representing the most deplorable corporate interests," said Vance. "But it must learn that this right to justice belongs not just to their organization, or big business generally, but to all Americans."

The report, titled "The Chamber Litigation Machine: How the Chamber Uses Lawsuits to Keep Americans out of Court," can be found by clicking here.

Don't let the Chamber or other special interests fool you.  Contact your local and federal legislators and fight for your rights.

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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. He has 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 (2010)--a national publication that honors the top lawyers in the country.

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

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

I am thrilled to report that Maryland has changed its law governing cell phone use while driving.  Effective October 1, 2010, it is now illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless a hands free device is used.  Here's a list of salient portions of the legislation:

"MARYLAND CELL PHONE LAW FACT SHEET -EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2010
           
1.     What is Maryland's Cell Phone Law that takes effect on October 1, 2010?

Maryland Senate Bill 321 and House Bill 934 were signed into law by Governor O'Malley.  The new law will prohibit all Maryland drivers from using a cell phone without a hands free device while operating a motor vehicle in motion on a street or highway.  In addition, the new law would prohibit a school bus driver or a holder of a learner's permit, or provisional license who is 18 years of age or older, from driving a motor vehicle while using a handheld telephone.  A driver under 18 already is prohibited from using any cell phone.

2.     What exceptions are allowed?

Phone calls placed to 9-1-1, ambulance, hospital, fire, or law enforcement agencies are allowed, as are calls made by emergency and law enforcement personnel.  A driver is allowed to turn a handheld phone on or off and to initiate or terminate a call.

3.     Is the law a primary offense?

The new law is a secondary offense, meaning that a driver must first be detained for another offense, such as speeding or negligent driving, before he or she can be ticketed for a cell phone offense.  However, be advised that "negligent driving" is a primary offense in Maryland and can be used as a precursor to citing violators of the new cell phone law.

4.     What is the fine for the offense?

The fine for a first offense would be $40 and subsequent offenses would be $100.  Points will not be assessed to the first-time violator's driving record, except, three points are assessed if the violation contributed to a crash.  One point is assessed for a second or subsequent offense.

5.     Is this the same law as the texting law?

No, Maryland also bans texting while driving.  This law prohibits an individual from writing or sending a text message while operating a motor vehicle that is in motion or in the travel portion of the highway. If convicted of violating this law a person may be assessed a fine not exceeding $500. This law does not apply to texting 9-1-1 or using a global positioning system.

6.     Why is this law needed?

Studies indicate that cell phone conversations distract a driver and delays reaction time, which can cause and increase the severity of a vehicular crash.  The National Safety Council has estimated that cell phone use is responsible for 1.6 million crashes a year, nationally -- about 28 percent of all crashes.  Maryland now joins 7 other states (Calif., Conn., Del., N.J., N.Y., Ore. and Wash.), D.C. and the Virgin Islands in banning handheld cell phone use while driving.  For more information, please visit www.ChooseSafetyForLife.com"

As you know from reading my previous blogs about distracted driving, I give lectures to middle and high schools every year about the adverse effects of distracted driving.  Hand-held cell phone use is as dangerous as drinking and driving.  Texting while driving is three times as dangerous as drunk driving.  Don't do it.  Please drive safely.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners.  His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA.  Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition) and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Law and Politics magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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

As you know from reading my blogs, I have been giving presentations for years to students throughout the Metro area about the dangers associated with driving while being distracted (through cell phone use, texting, drinking, loud music, rubber-necking, etc.).  The Department of Transportation has announced that it will hold its second National Distracted Driving Summit on September 21.  I applaud this effort.

The DOT stated on its website:

"From the powerful momentum of last year's distracted driving summit, we've seen some important efforts emerge in the fight against this deadly epidemic. But we're not about to rest now.

That's why we're hosting a second National Distracted Driving Summit on September 21 here in Washington, DC. By getting the best minds together, we think we can figure out effective ways to get people to put down their phones and pay attention to the road."

Distracted driving is an epidemic indeed.  We need stronger regulation, greater education, and cooperation by parents and communities to resolve the problem.  If we don't act fast, millions of people will be severely injured or killed.

Here are a few of my previous blogs about distracted driving that you may find interesting:

• Distracted Driving Kills, Seriously Injures
• More Than 1.6 Million Car Crashes Caused By Texting, Cell Use
• Cell Phone Use, Texting While Driving Causes Catastrophic Consequences
• Oprah Winfrey Speaks Out Against Distracted Driving
• Laura Bush's New Book: More Attention to Distracted Driving

Please drive safely.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners.  His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA.  Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition) and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

As I posted earlier this summer, recalled rental cars are routinely rented out. The deadly crash that brought this issue to light has now settled, but Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety and the Center for Auto Safety have taken up the battle to request that the Federal Trade Commission require rental agencies to repair recalled vehicles before renting them. 

Enterprise-Rent-A-Car admitted negligence in the suit, but the company indicated that it "might not immediately carry out recalls it did not consider major safety problems," according to a recent story in the New York Times.  Even though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cannot force rental-car companies to carry out recalls, a spokesman said “we expect the rental car companies to provide safe cars to their customers by submitting the recalled vehicles to the appropriate manufacturers for the appropriate safety repairs in a timely fashion.”

Unfortunately, putting profits above the safety of consumers seems to have become an acceptable part of the business plan for some corporations.  Let's hope this trend reverses as enough people speak out about the dangers of overlooking or minimizing safety.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners.  His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA.  Mr. Zambri has also been acknowledged as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition), and has been repeatedly named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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Posted by Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

A recent article in the Washington Post addresses the concerns of many families regarding how to determine when an aging driver is no longer safe behind the wheel and how best to deal with taking away that independence.  Although older drivers frequently retain the cognitive functions necessary to drive, other progressive diseases that come with aging complicate matters. Being able to drive represents maintaining independence and confidence for older drivers.  However, "a 2007 report by the Government Accountability Office found that drivers 75 and older were more likely than drivers in all other age groups, including adolescents, to be involved in a fatal crash."

Even though some states are requiring more stringent renewal requirements to include vision exams or a doctor's approval, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "there is no single test or screening tool that will reliably weed out unsafe older drivers."  Proactive involvement by families and physicians will likely be the best way to prevent older drivers on the highways as they become more dangerous.

Protect your family and the memories of your grandparents. Don't allow them to drive beyond the time it is safe for them to do so. 

The issue of how and when to determine whether someone has become too risky to safely drive has been the subject of frequent previous postings on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog:

• Alzeheimer's Study Illustrates Need for Reliable Tests of Driving Skill and Cognitive Ability
• Safe Driving for Those Who Take Medications
• Older Drivers Not the Most Dangerous: New Study
• Senior Drivers; Special Equipment and Helpful Advice
• When Should You Ask a Family Member to Stop Driving? Look for Warning Signs for Aging Drivers
• AARP Driving Course for Adults over 50

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners. His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA. Mr. Zambri has been named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers (2011 edition), as well as a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)-- national publications that honor the top lawyers in America.

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

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

In an excellent article by Robert McCartney, published in the Washington Post today, Mr. McCartney notes that "the NTSB took pains in its admirable report to emphasize two messages that weren't about money at all. First, the Red Line crash, like some previous Metro accidents, was directly attributable to what the NTSB labeled an 'anemic safety culture'".  He suggests that "Metro must undergo a top-to-bottom overhaul of its institutional habits and mind-set so that everyone places a higher priority on safety."

As National Traffic Safety Board Chairperson Deborah Hersman stated, "When safety is more important than schedules, their organizational culture can be a success."  If profits are put about safety, bad things will happen.  Very bad things.

As Mr. McCartney points out, based on the NTSB report, "Metro comes up short in virtually every category" related to safety.  With respect to the tragic crash that took place in June of 2009, signs of danger were simply ignored, according to the report. Mr. McCartney comments that "it emerged at Tuesday's hearing that workers were ignoring thousands of alarms a week triggered by the faulty signaling devices, known as track circuit modules. The attitude was: The machines don't work, but there haven't been any crashes, so why worry?"The answer should have been simple:  because people will be seriously injured and killed if the problem is not fixed.

"Metro's deep cultural problems suggest that the next general manager needs to be a powerful change agent," says Mr. McCartney.  He's right.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile accident claims, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and work-accident claims. He has successfully litigated multiple cases against truck and bus companies, the Washington Metropolitan Area transit Authority, and other automobile owners.  His law firm, in fact, has obtained the largest settlement ever in a personal injury case involving WMATA.  Mr. Zambri has also been named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)--a national publication that honors the top lawyers in America.

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

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

The AP (7/27, Manning) reports that Nissan has informed NHTSA that it is recalling over 51,000 Cube models in North America "because of possible problems with fuel spilling during rear end collisions," noting that "tests conducted by NHTSA safety regulators found more fuel spilled than federal standards allow. The spillage occurred during rear end crash tests at 50 miles per hour where the vehicle also spun onto its side."

The spillage of fuel can lead to fires, which can be deadly.  If you own a Cube, I encourage you to immediately contact Nissan and stop driving the vehicle.  Your life is too precious.

Do you have any questions about this post?

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and automobile accident claims. Mr. Zambri has also been named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)--a national publication that honors the top lawyers in America.

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

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

Following the crisis created by Toyota's issues with sudden acceleration, lawmakers proposed sweeping safety requirements in the ambitious Vehicle Safety Improvements Act of 2010 that would have allowed federal officials unlimited fine power against automakers for safety violations as well as set safety standards for vehicle electronics.  However, according to a recent Los Angeles Times article, pressures from the auto industry have caused the subsequent bills proposed by both the House and Senate versions to be weakened, delayed or eliminated key safety provisions considerably. 

Auto safety advocates, while not surprised by the weakening of the original bill, are disappointed.  "The auto industry has had undue influence on this legislation," said Joan Claybrook, former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who testified at several congressional hearings. "The industry wanted to change a lot of little words that had a major impact."

According to Rep. Henry A. Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "the new bill would give NHTSA significant new powers, create large fines for violation of safety rules, double the agency's auto safety research budget and require it to create a number of new standards involving vehicle electronics."  He acknowledges that changes were made, but states, "The legislation . . . will dramatically improve the safety of motor vehicles. Through this process, we were able to earn broad support from our membership."

Initially, the auto safety bill focused on sudden acceleration; through compromises with the auto industry other issues became more important.  One change that provoked strong protests by several key safety groups was the efforts by MADD to obtain as much as $60 million over five years for research into unproven technology to prevent drunk drivers from starting their vehicles.  Funding for this initiative would  come out of the $140 million currently allocated to vehicle safety standards and research.  According to Public Citizen President Robert Weissman, "funds for drunk driving technology 'far outstrip' the government's budget for crash avoidance, occupant protection and vehicle safety research."

The delays and setbacks in the auto safety standards would cause a more immediate loss of life, said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety.  "If the purpose of the standards is to save lives and prevent injuries, delaying the implementation is not going to achieve that goal," Ditlow said. "The one certainty is that there will be deaths and injuries caused by the delay. What we don't know is how many."

The auto industry should embrace the new standards.  The American people want safety to be the primary concern for all auto makers.  Those that fail to put safety over profits should be subject to meaningful repercussions.

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Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including automobile collisions, medical malpractice, premises liability, product liability, and work-accident claims. Mr. Zambri has also been named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)--a national publication that honors the top lawyers in America.

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

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

During a recent California court case involving the deaths of two women, executives of the country's largest car rental company admitted to renting vehicles known to be under safety recalls. According to testimony by Enterprise (parent company for Alamo and National) executives, there was no company policy to require cars under recall to be held back from rental.  A subsequent investigative report by ABC News also revealed that  neither Avis nor Hertz have company-wide policies regarding recalled vehicles, but evaluate safety recalls on a case by case basis. After the trial and admission of negligence, Enterprise issued a statement of their procedures for automobile manufacturers' recalls. 

Essentially, car rental agencies have taken the attitude that demand trumps safety.  By doing so, are they also putting profits over safety? Consumers need to become their own advocates in matters of safety and recalls.  When renting a vehicle, ask what types of vehicles are available, then do your own research at SaferCar.gov, a special portion of the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. 

As I have advocated frequently on this blog, safety and people must be put above profits.

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About the author:

Mr. Zambri is a board-certified civil trial attorney by the National Board of Trial Advocates and a Past-President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. He has been rated by Washingtonian magazine as a "Big Gun" and among the "top 1%" of all lawyers in the Washington metropolitan area. The magazine also describes him as "one of Washington's best--most honest and effective lawyers" who specializes in personal injury matters, including premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, and automobile accident claims. Mr. Zambri has also been named a "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyer magazine (March/April 2010)--a national publication that honors the top lawyers in America.

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

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Posted by: Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

The Los Angeles Times reports that House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, speaking at his committee's hearing into the cause of Toyota's sudden acceleration crisis, said that the automaker "still had not done the testing required to determine the cause...and had been more concerned about its image than addressing the issue."  This remark was in response to Toyota's statement that it was confident electronics were not causing sudden acceleration.  Waxman, however, "said that his panel's investigation had raised serious questions about the scope of Toyota's efforts" to root out an electronic fault.

According to the report, Waxman stated, "Toyota has repeatedly told the public that it has conducted extensive testing of its vehicles for electronic defects. We can find no basis for these assertions." The Washington Post notes that Toyota has "assured worried customers and Congress that it was conducting an independent investigation," but yesterday, "congressional investigators said the company that Toyota has hired to do the review, Exponent, had offered no written plan for the project or any written specifications for the experiments it intends to run." The Post reports that Waxman called the investigation "deeply troubling," and rejected Exponent's explanation of a lack of a written plan "preposterous."

I hope Toyota and its agents are genuinely interested in determining all potential defects.  If their principal focus is avoid accountability, then consumers will be endangered more.  I'll keep a close eye on the hearings as they continue.

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