The number of cars to get top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has increased for the second year in a row, according to the Institute’s list of “Top Safety Picks,” announced on Thursday. CNN Money writes that the Institute is now looking at making the awards even tougher, according to IIHS spokesman Russ Rader.

CNN Money reports: “Among the changes being considered are an additional crash test or factoring in safety technology such as blind spot warning systems or crash avoidance systems.”

“It’s tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority,” said Institute president Adrian Lund. The IIHS is a nonprofit group financed by the insurance industry, and its ratings, which began in 2005, are based on tests different from those of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

CNN Money notes that certain cars might get poorer scores in NHTSA auto safety tests despite winning the Insurance Institute’s award. For example, the Fiat 500 is an IIHS award winner despite earning only three out of five stars in NHTSA’s crash tests. A spokesman for Fiat told CNN Money that Fiat is looking into ways to improve its score in the NHTSA tests.

Every major automaker has a least one car model winning an award, with Subaru being the only one to get an award for every model in its 2012 season, including one for the redesigned Impreza, a small car. Toyota/Lexus/Scion has 15 winners for 2012, more than any other manufacturer. General Motors has 14, Volkswagen/Audi has 13, and Honda/Acura has 12.

Car buyers should take note that the IIHS groups winners according to vehicle type and size, and that size and weight are factors in how able a vehicle is to withstand a crash. As IIHS reports:

"Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford better occupant protection in serious crashes than smaller, lighter ones. Even with a Top Safety Pick, a small car isn’t as crashworthy as a bigger one."

You can see the complete listing all of the IIHS winners here.

Colombo & Stuhr is back again as the primary sponsor of the American Scholar program. The winner will receive a 4 year scholarship to West Virginia Wesleyan College valued at over $100,000. 

If you live in the Magic 106.5 listening area, are between the ages of 16-19, and are enrolled in the 12th grade you could be the winner of a four-year tuition scholarship. 

OFFICIAL RULES 

The scholarship grand prize is provided by West Virginia Wesleyan College to West Virginia Radio Corporation, to be granted to the Magic 106.5 American Scholar Competition winner as determined by management/ College and Sponsors associated with the Magic 106.5 American Scholar Competition. The contest and rules presented below are prepared in good faith. A process that includes the selection of qualified applicants, reviews of applications, and interviews of applicants will determine the winner, and listener voting as described below. All decisions of the management on the process and award of the grand prize are final. 

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The Magic 106.5 American Scholar Competition ("Contest") is open only to persons who are currently enrolled as senior high school students, all of whom must be legal U.S. Residents ages 16 to 19 at time of entry who are not currently enrolled at West Virginia Wesleyan Collage. Parents or guardians of minors must reside within the Magic 106.5 listening area. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility to its satisfaction, and shall be the sole judge as to whether an entrant is eligible for this contest. 

1. ENTRY: Contest begins October 9th, 2011 and ends December 31st, 2011 (This includes application, evaluation and voting period. There is one method of competition entry: ON-LINE. Application may be printed to gather information, but then must be submitted on-line and received by application deadline. For more information visit http://www.wvmagic.com/ or http://www.magicscholar.com/

The Wheeling Intelligencer and other news sources have reported seven (7) truck accidents in twelve (12) days, primarily in Marshall and Wetzel counties of the WV northern panhandle.  One was across the Ohio River in Jefferson county, OH.  Six of these trucks are known to have been serving the Marcellus shale gas industry, and possibly all seven.

1. August 19th — A flatbed pickup truck pulling machinery from a gas drilling site fell partially off of Rine’s Ridge near Graysville in Marshall county after a portion of road crumbled away. This truck had pulled over to the shoulder of the road to allow a larger truck to pass. A similar slip roughly 20 yards from Friday’s accident had recently been repaired. The stretch of road has seen heavy truck traffic over the past year, with signs at the bottom of the roadway warning motorists to use caution and beware of large trucks.

2. August 17th — A truck hauling a crane along U.S. 250 near Belton in Marshall county crashed and flipped onto its side, damaging a bridge. Officials could not confirm that vehicle was commuting to or from a gas drilling rig.

3. August 12th — A water truck serving drilling operations rolled over a 70 foot embankment on Huff Ridge Road in Wetzel county. No injuries occurred in this accident.

4. August 12th — A truck crashed on Ohio Route 43 in Jefferson county, OH, carrying chemicals to a drilling site. There were no injuries in this accident.

5. August 11th — A truck hauling drilling wastes rolled about 100 feet down an embankment on Blake Ridge Road in Wetzel county, smashing the truck’s cab.

6. August 10th — A truck serving a Stone Energy drilling site rolled off American Ridge Road outside New Martinsville in Wetzel county.

7. August 8th — A fatal accident occurred on US 250 near South Highland Avenue at Moundsville in Marshall county. The driver was killed. Apparently the brakes were defective on the tanker truck carrying by-products or wastes, possibly without the proper documentation in the truck.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in a truck accident, contact the West Virginia Truck Accident Attorneys of Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414.

Colombo & Stuhr is currently investigating reports that over the past 5-7 years local healthcare providers have been inserting defibrillators into patients unnecessarily. These heart defibrillators are costly, potentially dangerous, and can negatively affect your quality of life. 

See our defibrillator information page for more information.

If you or someone you know has had a defibrillator inserted in the past 5 to 7 years, contact Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414

Over the past several years, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has implemented a several new safety measures designed to make roads safer and reduce the overall number of fatal car accidents.

Most recently, the agency introduced a new - and more rigorous - safety rating system for all new vehicles that utilizes both a family of crash test dummies and a side impact test.

In light of these new safety measures, is not unreasonable to expect that the rate of fatalities on U.S. highways should eventually decline rather sharply?

According to recent statements by a high-ranking official at the NHTSA, this is precisely what happened just last year.

Deputy Administrator Ronald Medford recently informed Wards Auto that a soon-to-be released 2010 NHTSA report will reveal that 32,788 people were killed in car crashes in 2010.

This constitutes a rather significant reduction from 2009, a year in which there were approximately 33,808 fatalities, and the smallest amount of fatal car crashes in over sixty years.

Medford attributed much of the reduction to the aforementioned new vehicle safety rating system and the continued development of certain crash-avoidance technologies.

He also went on the state that while the agency is pleased with the overall reduction in fatalities, more work must be done by government officials and major players in the private sector - car manufacturers and handheld device manufacturers - to eliminate the constant threat of distracted driving (i.e. talking and texting while driving).

"We have challenged the auto industry and the cell phone industry to work collaboratively with us to keep the driver focus on their required task - driving - and to keep them safe."

Interestingly, Medford also indicated that the NHTSA will be working closely with carmakers to ensure that efforts made to improve gas mileage don't compromise vehicle safety.

If you or your child has been seriously injured in a car accident, you should strongly consider speaking with an experienced attorney who can answer your questions and explain your rights.

This post was provided for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.

Read more at: Wards Auto

If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, contact the Morgantown Car Accident Lawyers of Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414.

On Saturday, March 26, 2011 the law office of Colombo & Stuhr was honored to participate in the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs event in Elkins, WV.  

The law firm gave out over 200 FREE child photo IDs to parents.  These child photo IDs are basically like a driver’s license for children. It gives the parents a current photo of their child along with the child’s height, weight, hair color, and identifies any distinguishing marks.  In the event a child is lost the parent will have the child photo ID that they can show to law enforcement. 

It was an honor for us to participate in the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs campaign.  Over the years we have given out over 1000 photo IDs to parents in Morgantown, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Elkins, Buckhannon, Weston, Grafton and throughout North Central West Virginia. We are pleased to provide this service to the families in our community.

Colombo & Stuhr not only provides first class representation to individuals and families hurt in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, but we are involved in many community activities.  

We are the injury law firm that families have turned to for years to provide legal representation in serious personal injury matters and in cases involving wrongful death. 

West Virginia drivers would be banned from texting under a bill passed Thursday by the House of Delegates, although some lawmakers say the proposal is so watered down that it's worthless.

The legislation (HB2555) would make texting while driving a traffic offense, rather than a misdemeanor, as originally proposed.

Also, unlike the original legislation, the House-passed version would make texting a secondary offense, rather than a primary offense. That means violators could only be cited if they were pulled over for something else, such as speeding.

Delegate Danny Wells, D-Kanawha, said the bill is now "worthless."

"I'm totally disappointed and discouraged," he said after the vote Thursday. "I think as long as it's not a primary offense, it's just a worthless piece of paper. There's no way anybody's going to be pulled over for texting the way it's written."

"It's hard enough for an officer to see someone texting in the first place."

Wells has pushed for stronger seatbelt and cell phone laws for drivers, and still voted for the bill Thursday.

"This is all about saving lives, and the statistics show you lose lives when you drive and text at the same time," he said

In most states with texting driving bans, violating the law is a primary offense. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 26 of 30 states with anti-texting laws have primary enforcement.

For more information see: http://wvgazette.com/News/politics/201102171656

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in an automobile accident, contact the West Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys of Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414.

In West Virginia adult drivers are still allowed to type messages into their cell phones while on the road, but in nearby Kentucky this will soon change. 

As of January 1, 2011 drivers in Kentucky can be fined if they’re caught texting while driving, and people under 18 could be fined if they’re caught using their cell phones at all. 

Violators will be liable for fines of $25 on a first offense and $50 on each subsequent offense, plus court costs. 

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed the law in April. Currently, 30 states and the District of Columbia ban text messaging while driving. 

In West Virginia laws to ban text messaging while driving stalled during last winter's legislative session. It is illegal for anyone under age 18 to use cell phones while driving. 

If you're not already convinced that driving a car and trying to tap out a message on a tiny keyboard is a poor match, perhaps the short documentary AT&T has just released will convince you otherwise. The carrier is launching a campaign geared towards teens over the holidays leading up to New Year's Eve in the hopes that the youth of the world will be slightly less sure of their invincibility -- at least where car driving and text messaging is concerned.

The West Virginia Legislature will convene next month. Hopefully they will attempt to address distracted driving, especially driving while text-messaging. Lawmakers declined to take any action last year, and residents in other states have noticed. 

Reporter Christine Miller Ford found that Maryland's restrictions on cell phone use and text-messaging have caused some Eastern Panhandle motorists to change their driving habits when they enter Maryland. Some now use hands-free devices. But she also found that some drivers now see West Virginia as a place where they can text-message while driving and realize no consequences. 

Most West Virginians certainly understand the risks associated with distracted driving. A motorist who pushes buttons on a tiny keyboard while driving a motor vehicle cannot be fully mindful of that family in the approaching minivan. 

While simply passing laws will not solve each and every problem, letting motorists know that high-risk behavior is unlawful is the appropriate step to take. Such a legislative initiative won't cause every irresponsible driver to change his or her behavior, but it certainly could save some lives. 

For more information: http://wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=86843 

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in an automobile accident, contact the West Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys of Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414.

A coal truck driver was killed Saturday in a haulage accident near the upper end of Cabin Creek while working at a Massey Energy surface mine.

The Charleston Gazette reports the unidentified man was killed when his runaway truck overturned at about 5:35 p.m. Saturday. The accident took place on Carbon Road, a fork of Cabin Creek Road, a dispatcher with the Kanawha County 911 center said.

Brake failure and icy road conditions may have contributed to the accident, Amy Louviere, a spokeswoman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, said Sunday. Firefighters extricated the victim from his cab, Louviere said in a news release.

The man worked for Medford Trucking, a contractor for Massey subsidiary Elk Run Coal Co.'s Republic Energy. Two other Medford Trucking drivers witnessed the accident, Massey said.

Medford Trucking lost another driver on a Massey mine haul road nearly two years ago.

In February 2009, William Wade, 70, of Bloomingrose lost control of his truck on a haul road, also at a Republic Energy mine in eastern Kanawha County.

An MSHA spokeswoman said Wade was traveling downhill on a paved road when he drove up a short embankment and flipped over. The man was ejected from the truck and died while he was pinned under the cab, the spokeswoman said.

State regulators with the Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training later cited Medford Energy in connection with the accident. Investigators said a brake hose had been bypassed on Wade's truck, four of the six brake drums were worn out, and company employees apparently used inspection forms that did not cover all required items.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in a truck accident, contact the West Virginia Truck Accident Attorneys of Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414.

Winter weather can pose serious dangers to travelers. Snow and sleet decrease visibility, and slick, icy roads make it difficult to safely stop and can cause you to slide.

Stay safe on the roads this season by following these tips for driving in winter weather:

• Buckle up!
• Before you leave the house, thoroughly remove any snow or ice from your front windshield, back windshield and side-view mirrors.
• Drive at a slower speed and leave yourself ample distance for braking.
• Keep your lights on even during the day to increase your visibility to other drivers.
• Avoid slamming on your brakes. You can avoid skidding by braking gently.
• Remember that bridges and overpasses freeze first and use extra caution when traveling on them.
• Be on the lookout for black ice – it will make the road look shiny and new.
• Don’t use cruise control. Severe weather conditions call for your complete control of the vehicle at all times.
• Allow yourself extra driving time so you can exercise proper caution.
• Consider delaying your trip if a severe storm is approaching.
• Prevent gas line freeze-up by keeping your tank at least half-full.
• Be sure your tires are properly inflated before you leave your house.

If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in an automobile accident, contact the West Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys of Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414.