Late Tuesday evening, a 1998 Toyota Forerunner was involved in a single vehicle fatal crash when the driver lost control and struck a tree killing a one year old child. It happened on HWY 69 in Hale County about five miles south of Greensboro, AL. According to Alabama State Troopers, the infant was *not properly restrained in a car seat* and was killed instantly. The 27-year old driver and 8-year old passenger was also *not wearing seat belts* and were taken to local hospitals. The police confirmed that *speed was also a major factor in this terrible incident.*
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 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, Mr. Citrin has personally taught the 4 hour “Alive at 25” program to thousands of area high school students free of charge over the past three years. 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.
Andy is the owner and CEO of Citrin Law Firm, P.C. He founded the firm in 1995 with the goal of helping injured people put their lives back together. His passion for protecting injured people has only grown since he opened the doors of Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, and he has a history of winning numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients.