The Mississippi Highway Patrol said they are still investigating a vehicle accident that claimed the life of a man from Ripley, Mississippi. Officers arrived on the scene of late night accident last week on MS Highway 370 in Benton County, near the Tippah County line.

After arriving, troopers were able to determine that Michael S. Love, 55, of Ripley, was traveling eastbound in a 2004 Ford F-150, when he sideswiped a 1995 Plymouth Neon going the other direction. The Neon was driven by Kayla King, 24, of Ashland.

Police have said that after Love crashed into King’s vehicle, the Ford F-150 left the road and smashed into a utility pole. Love was ejected from the vehicle and died on the scene from injuries sustained during the wreck. Sadly, he was not wearing a seat belt at the time. [Read more…]

A recent poll conducted by the AAA Foundation demonstrated results similar to those from the National Sleep Foundation Polls, which showed that a large percentage of Americans report driving under the influence of sleep deprivation. The most recent poll showed that one-third of those surveyed admitted to driving drowsy in the past 30 days. A 2005 NSF poll of approximately 1,000 people found that 60% of drivers, or about 168 million people, admitted that they had driven while sleepy in the preceding year; and 37% confessed that they had actually fallen asleep behind the wheel.

Though many people know that sleepy driving isn’t a good thing, they don’t understand just how dangerous it can be. [Read more…]

In a story that highlights the dangers of driving on Mississippi roadways, one irresponsible driver was captured on camera speeding towards oncoming traffic for several miles before finally colliding head-on with an oncoming SUV.

The accident took place a few weeks ago on Highway 49 in Collins, Mississippi. A driver headed the opposite way filmed the reckless driver as he flew into oncoming traffic. The driver was identified as Edward Fairley of Mount Olive.

Fairley spent several minutes successfully weaving through cars until he plowed right into the front of the unlucky driver of a Ford SUV. Despite the speed involved and the direct impact of the crash, the driver of the SUV, Amy Cox of Waveland, and a young female passenger walked away with only minor injuries. [Read more…]

Passenger vans are common sights on roadways across Mississippi during the hot and hectic summer months. Colleges, church youth groups, kids in camp and others keep the vehicles full. The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (“NHTSA”) recently urged the owners of such 15-passenger vans to take certain steps to keep drivers and passengers safe as the vehicles can be especially dangerous if not operated correctly.

These larger passenger vans handle very differently from smaller passenger vehicles because they are typically longer, higher, wider, and heavier (especially when fully loaded). They require trained drivers who are comfortable and experienced with the unique driving challenges associated with these larger vehicles. Some of the differences include a greater reliance on side mirrors and the difficult job of changing lanes and longer braking distances. Passenger vans also have a higher risk of crashes and rollovers if they are not properly operated. [Read more…]

As the number of car accidents on the roadways continues to increase, it’s important that victims take steps to protect themselves immediately following a car crash. Delay can only hurt your chances of collecting for damages later. The following are some tips for how best to protect yourself in the event of a car accident:

1. Write everything down

For victims of accidents, it is important to gather as much information as possible. Think about writing down the names and addresses of everyone who was involved in the accident, including any witnesses. If the victim is left incapacitated after an accident then someone else needs to think clearly and record the details. Always call the police and have an accident report done. Do not let the at fault driver talk you out of calling the police to have a report done. [Read more…]

Though the increase in safety of the vehicles that we drive is apparent, the government believes that harsher fines are in order for automakers that use defective parts. The elimination of defective vehicles should be the ultimate goal for all parties involved and, since the crisis involving the Toyota recall, calls for stiffer regulations are seen by many as the best solution. For their part, car makers have stepped up with increased instances of self-reporting defects and recalls to help increase consumer awareness of potential defective products.

As it stands today the maximum fine for failing to disclose known defects is $17 million per instance, a number that is seen as too low by many in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The administration believes that higher fines are needed to help force businesses to voluntarily comply with safety disclosure regulations. The new penalty if approved by the Senate will raise the maximum fine to a record $250 million. [Read more…]

Studies have shown over and over again that texting while diving can be even deadlier than driving while intoxicated. The proliferation of smartphones have only exacerbated the problem. However, perhaps the greatest driving distractions may come from devices built into the cars themselves.

Gone are the days when the bulky car phone was a rare luxury enjoyed by few. Today the cars manufactured both domestically and abroad are becoming “virtual iPads on wheels.” Multitasking has become the norm. Drivers can order movie tickets, get stock quotes, or even receive status updates from their Facebook pages. The Facebook update feature received focus during one car commercial that debuted during Super Bowl XLV. [Read more…]

The Mississippi Supreme Court recently decided to hear a George County case concerning a car accident involving a horse.

The personal-injury case involved a 2008 automobile collision between Diana Ladnier and Diego, a horse owned by Joseph Hester. In the lower court, a George County judge ruled in favor Hester. The state Court of Appeals upheld the trial judge’s decision just this past year.

The details of the accident are undisputed, the issue is over who is at fault. The accident occurred shortly after midnight on January 2, 2008, near Lucedale. According to court records, Ladnier was driving her car when three horses ran across the darkened street. [Read more…]