Speed and No Seat Belt Kills Driver in Athens

A twenty-eight year old man was killed when his vehicle veered off the road and struck a culvert. The incident took place on Holt Road near Athens, AL shortly before 2:00 on Saturday afternoon. According to Alabama State Troopers, the driver was *not wearing a seat belt* and was ejected from the vehicle. Investigators are believing that* excessive speed* was also a major factor.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, speeding is a factor in almost 33% of all fatal crashes and costs America approximately $27.7 billion in economic costs each year. In 2008, there were 37,261 fatalities on our nation’s roadways and 11,674 of these fatalities were speeding-related. For more information about speed management practices and other safety resources, visit http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/. Car wrecks are the # 1 cause of death for people under 25, claiming 11,000 young lives every year. Virtually all of these deaths result not from accidents, but from 7 CHOICES the Citrin Safety Foundation calls D.A.N.G.E.R.S.

Distractions (texting, eating, applying make-up, pets, etc.)
Alcohol/drugs (driving impaired)
No seat belts (failing to buckle up)
Groups (too many young passengers)
Exhaustion (fatigue)
Riding bumpers (tailgating)
Speed (exceeding the speed limit or failing to slow down for weather, traffic, or other conditions)

Fortunately, the National Safety Council created a program called Alive at 25 which is proven to be 90% effective in reducing these fatalities. Because Alabama ranks 3rd worst in the U.S. in traffic deaths, Alabama trial lawyer Andy Citrin became certified in 2009 to teach the Alive at 25 program. A father of four and a top-rated injury attorney with a 26 year track record of winning large verdicts and settlements for people innocently injured or killed in car, truck, and motorcycle wrecks, over the past three years Mr. Citrin has personally taught the 4 hour “Alive at 25” program to thousands of area high school students free of charge. Since its formation in 2009, Mr. Citrin has contributed over $200,000 in profits from his law practice to the mission of the Citrin Safety Foundation. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Citrin Safety Foundation, or to schedule Mr. Citrin to teach the program at your school, call Executive Director Pam Winstead at 251-626-7766 or visit www.CitrinSafetyFoundation.org.

If you’ve been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident through no fault of your own, and you want passionate, proven lawyers on your side, call the Citrin Law Firm at 251-621-3000 for a FREE consultation or visit www.Citrinlaw.com to submit a free case review.