Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Stephanie F. Brown and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Athens, Georgia, a University of Georgia college student took partying just little bit too far. She went to a party, got drunk and then did something stupid – like getting behind the wheel of a car. She drove to a stop sign and stopped. She was following the traffic sign but when she stopped – she passed out. Undoubtedly, this college student put her life and the lives of other college students, adults, and children at risk by driving her car in such a condition. There is a high risk of injury and death to driver, passengers, and others when drunk drivers are on the road. Being in college and having a good time is no excuse at all for such conduct. You can read about this story at Drunk University of Georgia Co-Ed Passes Out at Stop Sign.
In Mississippi, school bus drivers need to have background checks before they are hired to drive our children. Recently, a school bus driver in Jackson County, Mississippi, had two bus accidents in less than one month. The second wreck caused five children to be hospitalized when the bus ran off the road and overturned. Fortunately, the first wreck involving this same bus driver only caused property damage and no injuries.
Police in Richmond, Wisconsin reported that a school bus driver was arrested for intoxication. The school bus driver was transporting 43 children at the time of the incident. In Wisconsin, the legal limit of intoxication for commercial drivers is .04. Fortunately, no children were injured as a result of the bus driver’s drinking. It is quite unsettling to read about such a story. The school district rightfully suspended the driver. It is difficult enough to drive a school bus. No school bus driver should ever get behind the wheel while under the influence of any amount of alcohol. It puts our children at undue risk for personal injuries and even death.
KCCI Des Moines Iowa TV Station did an excellent study and program on distracted drivers. Distracted driving can result from common everyday activities that do not exactly combine well with the physical and mental requirements of operating a motor vehicle. While driving, many people eat, sing, talk, read, check e mail, text, and multi-task. Motor vehicles in many states are referred to as “dangerous instrumentalities” since a minor mistake or a second or two of inattention can lead to serious adult and child injuries and, in some instance, death.