In 2004, 24-year-old Maria Federici was driving on her way home when a furniture fell on a trailer truck and smashed her windshield.
Because of the impact, her face was disfigured beyond recognition and her brain was damaged to the extent that doctors feared that if she manages to survive, she will be immobile like a “vegetable”, unable to walk, sit, or even smell, hear, and see.
Despite all this gloomy prediction, Federici survived but lost her sense of smell and taste. And because the accident also left her blind, she has to learn Braille to read with her fingers.
Federici has also undergone intense physical and psychological rehabilitation to help her recover mentally and physically. Also, she has to relearn even the simplest skills and tasks since her brain was partly damaged.
Preventable Injuries and Deaths
According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, road debris such as cargos, tires, and other auto parts causes almost 25,000 accidents, killing at least 100 people every year. Citing this data, AAA President Peter Kissinger said such accidents can be avoided if only people will be responsible enough to properly secure their loads in their car’s roof, inside their trunks, or in the back of their pickup trucks.
Kissinger also said most states impose higher fines for littering than penalties for improperly placing loads in cars and trucks, despite that it puts motorists and pedestrians at higher risks.
In 2004, AAA data showed the most prevalent road debris and auto accidents are caused by tire treads, garbage from trucks, construction materials, and lumbers. With this finding, the organization released these countermeasures which can be carried out by local authorities to prevent vehicle-related road debris:
1. Motorists should be educated on how to properly secure loads in their cars and pickup trucks.
2. Motorists should be educated on defensive driving in the event of tire separation and accidental unloading of cargos.
3. Motorists should be educated on how to properly secure the wheels in their cars.
4. Commercial truck drivers should be trained on how to properly secure loads such as construction materials, lumbers, and furniture.
5. Provide training for garbage truck drivers.
6. Stricter penalties and higher fines for motorists and commercial drivers who will not properly secure their loads.
Meanwhile, AAA also provided safety tips for ordinary motorists that can help them avoid injuries caused by road debris:
1. Make sure that the loads (e.g. bikes, surfing board, and baggage) are properly secured on the car’s roof. If possible, check the loads and its cord from time to time.
2. Report to authorities if there is road debris or another motorist has improperly laid his load which may cause accident.
3. Be extra careful when driving near commercial trucks and large carriers.
4. Maintain a safe distance and avoid tail-gaiting.
5. Know defensive driving. When debris is small, it is better to run over it than to swerve which can even lead to collision with another car.
6. Scan the road ahead to have enough time to react for sudden changes in the road condition.
To help you deal with issues involving road debris and
auto accidents, consult with our skilled
personal injury lawyers. Visit our website and avail of our free case consultation.
