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

A man was struck and killed Monday morning by a hit-and-run driver on S. Capitol Street near its intersection with Martin Luther King Avenue in Southwest, D.C.  The victim was found lying in the street. Police believe he was struck by a Mercedes Benz, which may have front end damage as a result of the collision.

If you know anything about this collision, please report what you know to the police. 

I represent victims of reckless driving every day.  It is important for the family of this man to obtain witness statements as well as any video surveillance footage before the video is destroyed.  Securing such video can be critical to the case.

Every year I give presentations to lawyers about the use of video in automobile cases.  My goal is to teach attorneys the most effective ways to obtain and use videos in order to promote justice.

Our thoughts are with the victim of this horrible incident and his family.

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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 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

Although we have previously written a number of safety articles regarding Halloween safety, the number of possible situations for accidents is practically endless.  A recent media release by the CPSC summarizes some important considerations for parents about costumes, treats, and decorations. We are reproducing the CPSC publication in its entirety for our readers:

"WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants parents of trick-or-treaters to know that there is nothing scary about preventing Halloween-related injuries. By taking a few simple safety precautions when selecting costumes and Halloween decorations, consumers can prevent burn, fall and laceration injuries.

Parents who make their kids' costumes can send off their little ghosts, goblins and superheroes safely by using inherently flame-resistant fabrics, such as polyester and nylon. These materials will resist burning if exposed to an open flame. When purchasing a costume, look for "Flame Resistant" on the product's tag or packaging

Lighting the night also is made safer when children have no access to open flames. Flameless candles, light sticks and flashlights provide a safe lighting alternative in jack-o'-lanterns and areas where children will have access.

"Uncovering Halloween's hidden dangers is simple with CPSC's safety steps," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Thoughtful costume selection, care with candles and careful placement of decorations and lighting will help ensure your Halloween is safe and enjoyable."

In addition to providing safety tips, the CPSC works to keep children and families safe during the holiday celebration by enforcing the Flammable Fabrics Act and recalling hazardous costumes and products at Halloween and throughout the year.

Make this year's holiday a safe one by following these safety tips on costumes, treats and decorations:

Costumes

• When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label "Flame Resistant." Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves, large capes or billowing skirts.
• Purchase or make costumes that are light colored, bright and clearly visible to motorists.
• For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light-colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
• Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
• To guard against trips and falls, costumes should fit well and not drag on the ground.
• Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Oversized high heels are not a good idea.
• Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes and obstructing their vision.
• If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision.
• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.

Treats

•  Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.
• Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters younger than three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use and present a choking hazard.

Decorations

• Keep candles and jack-o'-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
• Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
• Indoors, keep candles and jack-o'-lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other items that could ignite. Do not leave burning candles unattended.
• Indoors or outside, use only decorative light strands that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.
• Don't overload extension cords.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov."

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

I have four children, who love Halloween, as most kids and parent do.  We are one of those families that deck the house with all kinds of decorations to really get into the spirit of the holiday.   However, my wife and I spend time with our kids every year, teaching them how to be careful as they "trick or treat" throughout our community.  We are also very careful to take precautions with our decorations to be sure we put safety over fun.  There is nothing fun about a tragedy.

Happy Halloween, and please be safe.

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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, 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 attorney

Each year, we are reminded by the American Red Cross, local fire departments and other agencies that October is Fire Safety Month.  Each year, we learn of tragic stories of families destroyed by fire, many of which could have been avoided by proper installation and maintenance of smoke alarms.  

Recent publications by the American Red Cross emphasizes some simple yet critical guidelines for helping to minimize the potential fire dangers faced by families.  We have reproduced one of the most recent articles below in its entirety for the benefit of our readers.

"Home Fires A Threat To All Of Us"

"Friday, October 15, 2010 — The American Red Cross and its 650 chapters respond to more than 63,600 home fires every year, or about 170 fires a day. Fire in the home is the most common threat to families in this country, and that danger increases as the weather turns colder and people turn to alternate sources to help heat their homes.

The use of such items as space heaters, fireplaces or coal or wood stoves can be dangerous if not used properly. Fires related to heating are the second leading cause of home fires in this country, and fixed and portable space heaters are involved in 74 percent of fire-related deaths.

Smoke alarms are one of the best ways to protect you and your loved ones in the event of a fire. They provide a few minutes of advance warning, and that extra time can save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2003 to 2006, forty percent of all home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms, while 23 percent resulted from homes in which smoke alarms were present but did not operate.

The Red Cross recommends you install the alarms on every level of the home, as well as inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas of the home. They should also be tested once a month by pushing the test button, and batteries should be replaced yearly or as soon as you hear a low battery warning, which appears as a "chirping" noise for many alarms. Other tips include:

• Keep smoke alarms clean by vacuuming over and around it regularly. Dust and debris can interfere with its operation.
• Smoke alarms wear out. Replace your alarms every 10 years. If you can’t remember when you last replaced them, buy new alarms that are interconnected, if possible.
• Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it.

Only 26 percent of families have developed a family escape plan. To ensure the safety of your loved ones, make sure that all household members know ways to escape from every room of your home. Designate a meet-up spot outside the home in case of fire. This fire escape plan should be practiced at least twice a year. Each household member should also know how to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire."

For more information on Fire Safety and Prevention, visit www.redcross.org.

The safest home fire is the one that never occurs. Having an operational smoke detector in your home and educating your family with a sensible escape plan are the best ways to protect your family in the event of a home fire. 

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 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

According to Consumer Reports, there is "[g]ood news for safety-conscious car-buyers: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is about to launch an overhauled crash-test program that makes it tougher for any car to earn five stars in crash worthiness....
The new scores can’t be compared against results from previous years, since both the testing and scoring criteria will be different. Once the tests are completed, the new ratings will be posted on safercar.gov."

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 Los Angeles Times (8/3, Reckard) reports, "Countrywide Financial Corp., which epitomized the home-loan industry's boom and bust, has agreed to pay $600 million in the largest settlement yet of shareholder lawsuits stemming from the mortgage meltdown. The agreement, given preliminary approval Monday by US District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer in Los Angeles, would end several class actions brought on behalf of investors in Countrywide stock." The settlement "also would clear the liability of a list of financial firms that underwrote the Countrywide stock offerings and were named as defendants."

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.  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

I was contacted earlier this week to represent the family of a man who died when he fell seven stories as a result of a work accident that likely could have been prevented. All too often, employers consider profits over people, allowing their job sites to fall short of applicable safety standards, endangering American workers.   There are strict federal and local laws in place that govern workplace safety.  Unfortunately, these laws are often ignored and poorly enforced.  As a result, workers are killed or otherwise seriously injured every day.

Please take a look at a video that you can view by clicking here.  It  dramatically explains how workers are needlessly killed or injured as a result of preventable incidents.

There are workers'-compensation laws in every state that provide benefits to injured workers.  My office handles those kinds of claims routinely.  However, those laws do not make the workplace safer, which should be the primary goal.  Employers need to create safe work environments so that deaths and serious injuries can be avoided in the first place.  If they fail to adhere to the laws governing safe work environments, they should be shut down.  It's a matter of life and death.

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Posted by Salvatore J. Zambri, founding partner

Toyota's woes continue.  The Washington Post (7/30, Cha) reports that Toyota announced yesterday the recall of "412,000 Avalons and Lexuses for steering problems, bringing the number of cars recalled around the world since October to nearly 9 million. The 373,000 recalled Avalons, dating from between 2000 and 2004, have improperly cast steering lock bars that appear to have been a factor in three accidents reported to the company. This problem can cause what Toyota described as a 'minute' crack to develop on the surface. The crack, in turn, can break the bar and lock the steering wheel, increasing the risk of a crash." A smaller number of Lexus models "have a different steering shaft problem and no injuries have been reported related to this issue, Toyota said."

Bloomberg News (7/30, Ohnsman, Kitamura) adds, "Toyota also said it will recall 80,000 Land Cruisers for another problem involving steering shafts. The world's largest automaker is working to improve quality following global recalls of more than 8 million cars and light trucks for defects linked to unintended acceleration," noting that the crisis resulted in a $16.4 million fine and pending auto safety legislation.

The Los Angeles Times (7/30, Hirsch, Times) adds that the "latest recalls bring the number of vehicles Toyota has recalled in the last year to about 9 million worldwide. That's almost as many vehicles as were sold by all manufacturers in the US last year. ... Toyota faces hundreds of lawsuits arising from its problems with sudden acceleration and sticking gas pedals and has been the target of intense scrutiny by federal safety regulators and Congress."

As an attorney who represents many people who have been injured as a result of defective vehicles, I will keep a close eye on these issues.  In the meantime, if you own an Avalon or Lexus, I encourage you to immediately contact Toyota about potential defects.

Be safe.

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 New York Times (7/25) editorializes, "All automakers in the United States are required to report flaws in their vehicles to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration within five business days of detection," but Toyota "has repeatedly failed to report potentially deadly problems. The latest omission to be brought to light -- and not by the automaker -- regards problems with steering wheel relay rods, which transmit changes in direction from the steering gearbox to the wheels. ... Toyota has a lot to explain about why it delayed informing American regulators about the faulty rods - and why it told the N.H.T.S.A. it had received no complaints in the United States."

As time passes, it becomes more and more clear that Toyota hid the truth to avoid accountability and pad their profits. Regrettably, such greedy conduct has caused many people to suffer serious injuries. Let's hope these revelations cause auto-makers to reevaluate how they do business. Safety first.

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 Catherine Bertram                                       

There are 270 million cellphones in use and,  according to the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, cell phones have caused 636,000 crashes, including  2,600 deaths, 342,000 injuries and a financial toll of $43 billion each year.

Despite recent public campaigns to get people to put down their phones while driving, 81 percent of people saying they use cellphones.  That means by one calculation that at any given time almost 1 million drivers in cars are talking while on the nation's highways.  In a study released last week,  research released last week on Beltway drivers in Virginia put the number at one in four.

Yesterday, on Fastlane, DOT's official blog, they announced a second national summit on distracted driving will be held Sept. 21 to highlight the problem and find ways to combat it, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday. In 2008, more than 20 percent of crashes that year involved distracted drivers.  This is a great step in the right direction. We need the country's top experts to work together to stop this needless loss of lives. 

At this point, this is a public health crisis.  How many people need to be permanently injured or die before we take action?

About the author:

Catherine Bertram is board certified in civil trials and was recently nominated as a 2010 Super Lawyer for personal injury law in Washington, D.C.  Ms. Bertram has 20 years of trial experience and is unique in that she was formerly the Director of Risk Management in Washington, D.C.  Ms. Bertram is a member of the bar for the U.S. Supreme Court.  She is a partner with the firm and lectures regularly to lawyers, nationally and locally, regarding trial strategy,  complex medical issues and other related consumer safety issues. She has also recently published a chapter in a surgical textbook.   She can be reached by email at cbertram@reganfirm.com or by phone 202-822-1875 in her office in Washington, D.C.

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By Patrick M. Regan

The National Transportation Safety Board met today to announce the findings of its investigation into the June 22, 2009 Metrorail crash that killed nine and injured countless others.

An "anemic safety culture", and "layers of safety deficiencies" made the tragedy all but unavoidable, according to Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.  "Metro was on a collision course long before this accident," Hersman said. "The only question was when Metro would have another accident."  

Mr. Regan and the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long are one of the lead lawyers representing Metro passengers who were killed or seriously injured in this tragedy.  "WMATA knew for years that there were serious safety problems with the subway system and yet they refused to take simple safety measures to protect the passengers" according to a statement released by Mr. Regan.

Investigators determined that Metro knew about the problems as early as 2005, when the same inadequacies caused a near-miss collision near the Rosslyn station.  The operator averted a collision by hitting the emergency brake after the Automatic Train Control system failed to detect the train in front. 

Track circuits in the Automatic Train Control system malfunctioned thousands of times each week, and eventually, Metro simply turned off the alarms caused by the malfunctions.

The Board also found that Metro failed to inform its technicians about the automatic train control system; failed to oversee automatic train control maintenance; and continues to use 1000-series rail cars even though they pose an "unacceptable risk".

If you have questions about this post or want to discuss a potential claim against Metro, you can contact Mr. Regan by phone, 202-463-3030 or click here to send an email to him directly.

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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

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reached a settlement with Imperial Sugar for safety lapses at two Imperial Sugar plants.  At one plant, in 2008, the safety violations caused a sugar-dust explosion which killed 14 workers.  OSHA had previously warned Imperial Sugar about allowing sugar dust to build up in its plants.

The accumulated sugar, which is combustible, in Imperial Sugar's 92-year-old plant exploded like gunpowder on February 7, 2008.  The federal Chemical Safety Board said the explosion was "entirely preventable".  Imperial Sugar failed to admit liability in settling OSHA's complaint against it.

Another 18 of the workers injured or killed and their families have settled lawsuits they filed against Imperial Sugar.

Thousands of Americans are killed every year as result of preventable workplace "accidents".  Employers must do more to protect their workers.  And, of course, people and safety must be placed 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 automobile collisions, medical malpractice, premises liability, product liability, and workers'-compensation 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

As I have frequently blogged before, the dangers of distracted driving cannot be under-estimated, especially for teen drivers.  In her new book "Spoken from the Heart," former First lady Laura Bush describes her deadly teen auto accident in which a high school friend was killed.  According to Mrs. Bush, she and her friend were chatting when she ran a stop sign that caused the crash. She suffered years of guilt as a result of the accident.  Mrs. Bush brings one more celebrity voice to the devastating life-long effects that a deadly accident can have on young drivers.

Distracted driving, whether caused by other passengers in the vehicle, eating while driving, playing with the radio, talking on the cell phone, texting, or any number of other reasons for not paying 100% attention to driving, is a serious and very real danger for all drivers, as I have emphasized repeatedly in my talks with high school groups. As posted in a previous entry on this blog, Motor Vehicle Accidents Continue to Be the Leading Death Cause for Teen Drivers.  Please be careful on the road and don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to learn more about my presentations concerning distracted driving. You can call me at (202) 822-1899 or email me at szambri@reganfirm.com.

About the author:

Mr. Zambri is regularly asked to give presentations to lawyers and businesses regarding product defects, automobile accident litigation, and safety improvements.

Mr. Zambri has authored an article regarding how automobile collision cases are evaluated. To read it, please click here.

To read an article published by one of Mr. Zambri's clients, who was injured in a tragic automobile collision, please click here.

Many Americans are killed or critically injured each year in vehicular collisions. If you want more information about your legal rights, please email Mr. Zambri at szambri@reganfirm.com or call him at 202-822-1899.

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