Alone, a company can do so little; together, they can do so much. Ford and GM have recently signed an agreement to come up with new automatic transmissions together. This collaboration could save not only fuel but also hundreds of millions of dollars and time. If each automaker would work independently, the development of new transmissions would be complex and at higher cost.

The new transmissions are designed to improve the performance of GM’s and Ford’s cars, crossovers, trucks and SUVs and will be offered for both front- and rear-wheel-drive variants.

The new transmissions are anticipated to reach the market in 2016.

According to Jim Lanzon, G.M.’s vice president of global transmission engineering, the transmissions are seen as important components of the companies’ efforts to meet upcoming standards for fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions in the United States and Europe.

Statistics
? The average fuel economy of new vehicles (cars and trucks) sold increased 6% in 2012.
? Seven of the 11 car and truck manufacturers increased fuel economy from Model Year 2010 to Model Year 2011. The seven manufacturers were Volkswagen, Mazda, Subaru, Nissan, BMW, Ford, and Daimler.

With cars account for near half of the transport sector’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the development of new transmissions can definitely improve our fuel economy.

While major industry players are doing their part to boost fuel efficiency, we can also help and take actions to reduce the CO2 emissions of cars worldwide. How? Practice better driving habits.

As a Kentucky Auto Accident Attorney, I encourage every motorist to drive sensibly. Operate your vehicle within the speed limit. Remove unnecessary things in your car. Refrain from excessive idling as it can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour. Use cruise control and overdrive gears. Doing all of these will save not only gas and money but also your life from injuries and even death.

If you are one of the 84% worldwide who could not go a single day without their mobile device in their hands and can’t function without their phones even if it means using the phone while driving, having a phone car mount may ensure that your hands remain on the steering wheel. This is not as safe as not using a cell phone in the car but it is a step in the right direction as a means of preventing serous car accidents.

Current state distracted driving law bans on all cell phone use for bus drivers, novice drivers, and bans on texting for all drivers. Still, KRS 189.292 states the exclusions to these regulations which allow the following:

? the use of a global positioning system feature of a personal communication device;

? the use of a global positioning or navigation system that is physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle;

? the reading, selecting, or entering of a telephone number or name in a personal communication device for the purpose of making a phone call;

? an operator of an emergency or public safety vehicle, when the use of a personal communication device is an essential function of the operator’s duties;

? the operator of a motor vehicle who writes a text message on a personal communication device to report illegal activity, summon medical help, summon a law enforcement or public safety agency, or prevent injury to a person or property.

Only in the aforementioned instances that phone cars mount is allowed. This device secures your phone in a convenient position inside your car.

Mounting your phone does not mean that you can text or browse the Internet while driving; it only means that your phone is now in plain view or at eye level. You do not have to look down or dig in the car searching for your phone when someone calls you. Now you can talk hands-free and stay focused while driving. You can also turn your phone into a visually pleasing GPS unit with this device right at your fingertips.

A phone car mount can be attached on your dashboard or window. This simple device can ensure safe driving to a great extent.

The victims of distracted driving accidents are increasing. Don’t let yourself to be one. Take action to stop the distraction and you can do this even in a simple way. Use phone car mounts to facilitate smooth and safe conversation while driving if you have to talk on the phone.

The boxing community suffered a huge blow last month when, at 62, Mayfield Pennington, prize boxer and one-time training partner of Muhammad Ali died in a car crash in Floyd County. Kentucky State Police reported that Pennington was hit by a tractor-trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, Pennington was trying to pull onto the southbound lanes of U.S. 23 when he lost control of his car and started facing northbound in the southbound lanes. His 1997 Corvette ended up off the road and under the front right tire of the tractor-trailer.

Pennington competed in more than 50 professional matches. His professional boxing record was 48-16. He defeated US Olympian Sugar Ray Seals and former World Welterweight and Middleweight Champion Emile Griffith.

The legendary Bud Bruner of Louisville trained Pennington. Burner was the first professional trainer of Muhammad Ali. Pennington also had the chance to train alongside Ali.

When Pennington retired, he returned to Pikeville and opened Mayfield’s Boxing Gym. He considered the boxing gym as a place to give kids in the community something better to do with their time other than getting involved in trouble and drugs.

The whole boxing world was deeply saddened at the passing of a great boxer who had been admired not just because of his achievements, but also of his advocacy against drugs. The Schafer Law Office would like to send their sincerest sympathy to the family, relatives, friends, and colleagues of Mayfield Pennington.

Statistics

When a vehicle ends up under a tractor-trailer, expect extensive damage. Because of the sheer size of trucks, 98% of the fatalities in such accidents happen to the people in the car, and only 2% to the truck driver.

In its 2011 Traffic Accidents in Kentucky Report, Kentucky State Police revealed that there were 8, 622 accidents involving trucks in the state, resulting in 86 fatal accidents, which killed 83 people and caused 1,832 injuries.

The Law

If you or someone you know is involved in a truck accident, it is important to consult a personal injury lawyer right away. You have to make sure that you get the proper legal assistance and care that you deserve.

In Kentucky, the statute of limitations for a truck accident is two (2) years from the date of the accident or two (2) years from the date of the last no fault payment, not to exceed a total of four years. The sooner you hire a lawyer who focuses on Kentucky truck accidents, the more likely it is that all responsible persons or entities will be identified and key evidence will be obtained.

Learning to drive while young is part of a teenager’s social life so learning to drive properly is important.  In an unfortunate accident, a Carter County teenager died after crashing into a tree last Saturday. Lewis J. Fankell, 17, of Grayson died after his lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree on the side of the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Carter County Deputy Coroner Ronnie Wallace.

Kentucky State Police reported that Fankell was driving his Pontiac Firebird on Ky. 1444 (Mayhew Flats Road) when he lost control of the car, which travelled over an embankment and hit a tree. According to the police, the accident happened shortly before 3:30 pm.

The police are conducting an investigation in Fankell’s death. Police do not suspect alcohol usage; but seat belt usage has not been determined because of the severity of the collision.

The investigation is assisted with the Carter County’s Sheriff’s Department, Carter County EMS, Grayson Fire Department and Carter County Coroner’s Office.

Motor vehicle accidents remain the major cause of death for teenagers in the United States.

According to the latest report of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Kentucky is among the states with the highest number of deaths for the first six months of 2012. Kentucky obtained 12 deaths while the other states are Indiana (16), Tennessee (16), Louisiana (15), Texas (14), Alabama (12), and Illinois (12). The report has revealed that the number of 16- and 17-year old driver deaths in the United States increased for the first six months of 2012- from 202 to 240, 19 percent higher than in the first six months of 2011.

Kentucky Graduated Driver License Law

Inexperience, immaturity, drunk driving, speeding, usage of drugs, and more are among the causes behind the alarming status of teen driving accidents. To address this problem, Kentucky enforces its Graduated Driver Licensing Law. This includes the following components:

• Have a minimum age of 16 to get a learner’s license
• Have a mandatory holding period of 6 months and a minimum supervised driving time of 60 hours (10 of which must be at night) to get a license or restricted license
• License holders younger than 18 must complete a driver education course or a state-sponsored traffic school.
• Nighttime restrictions during intermediate or restricted license stage- from midnight to 6am
• Passenger restrictions during intermediate or restricted license stage- no more than 1 passenger younger than 20 unless supervised by a driving instructor

Kentucky laws strictly implement restrictions on teen drivers but parents can also play an important role in helping their teens realize the consequences of irresponsible driving. Parents must talk about seat belt usage, the danger of texting while driving, and the effect of driving after drinking alcohol.

Fankell’s death is indescribably painful for his parents, family, and friends. I would like to send my deepest sympathy.

The law applies to all everyone, including a former candidate for Kentucky’s Senate. Former Democrat Senate candidate Jim Noll was arrested by Fort Mitchell police for driving a vehicle under the influence, last week. Noll participated in was administered a breath test and had a blood alcohol level of 0.15, which is almost twice the legal Kentucky limit in Kentucky.

Noll was booked in the Kenton County Jail and was charged with DUI and reckless driving. He was also charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, but was released after pleading not guilty of the charges.

The Democrat was a candidate for Kentucky’s Senate District 23 but he lost in the November election to Republican Chris McDaniel.

Kentucky DUI Laws

Drunk driving, or driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is one of the major causes of road accidents in the United States, killing lives of innocent people and damaging properties. History has shown how tragic DUI accidents are. In fact, one of the deadliest DUI accidents in United States history happened in Kentucky.

The Carrollton, Kentucky Bus Collision happened on May 14, 1988. This resulted in the death of 27 people while 34 were injured and 6 were unharmed out of the 67 passengers. The pickup truck driver Larry Mahoney was arrested for DUI, having a 0.24 blood alcohol content- more than twice the 1988 Kentucky legal limit of .10

Today, Kentucky lawmakers seek to strengthen DUI  by making its offenses stricter. Representative Mike Harmon, R-Danville (54th District) has sponsored House Bill 32, last January.

HB 32 aims to toughen drunk driving law by instituting swifter punishment for subsequent DUI violations through a three-tier set of penalties. It also expands the “look-back” period from 5 years to 10 years. This means that any DUI conviction which occurs within a 10 year period would be considered for sentencing.

Representative Kim King, primary co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized that it is time to make the right choice to keep our children and loved ones safe from repeat DUI offenders.

History has proven how many people have already died of DUI accidents and how irresponsible drunk drivers are, whether they are just ordinary people or persons in authority. Families and relatives of DUI accident victims have been pleading for tougher DUI laws. When there were already hundreds and thousands of people who died from DUI accidents, then there’s something that needs to be done.

I am thankful no one was injured by Mr. Noll. I am hopeful that this high profile DUI arrest will lead to the legislature making the penalties for DUI more severe. As a Kentucky personal injury attorney I believe that this will help reduce the number of accidents caused by drunk drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is becoming increasingly concerned with the large number of dangerous auto accidents. The NHTSA is looking for new and smarter ways to determine what caused auto accidents with the goal of preventing similar crashes. They’ve proposed that all car makers start including “black boxes” or event data recorders (EDR’s) similar to that of all aircraft in their cars.

The agency is hoping that black boxes will serve a more practical purpose by providing an objective and clear source of information, showing exactly what happened after an auto accident. The cause of auto accidents is not always clear. Black boxes would help by providing the details that are not available from traditional means of accident reconstruction. Details and evidence would be preserved that sometimes get lost in the cracks.

Many car manufacturers have already placed black boxes in some vehicles as early as 1999. The NHTSA’s proposal would make black boxes mandatory in all vehicles starting with the 2014 models. According to NHTSA, 96 percent of all cars and light-duty trucks produced in 2013 have the ability to house EDR’s and at least 91 percent already have them installed.

Auto accidents in Kentucky have been on the rise in early 2013 only making the NHTSA’s concern more valid. Even small auto accidents can cause brain injuries which can make details get blurry and lost. These EDR’s will help drivers be responsible and gather information to help put everything into perspective, especially if injuries have occurred. I would love to see black boxes in all vehicles. This would show the last events prior to a collision such as baking or evasive maneuvers. This information would be critical in determining the true cause of a serious auto accident. If you’ve been in an auto accident, a Kentucky personal injury attorney can help assist you in the next steps. Also, be sure to seek medical treatment to treat all injuries.

We’d like to announce our new Facebook Caption Contest! All you have to go to our newly designed Facebook page, Like our page and click this link to enter your caption to the photo above: http://bit.ly/YTjsuJ

We will pick the three best and each winner will get a $50 gift card to any Apex Theater! What are you waiting for? Enter now!

Last week, two men from Meade County entered a plea of guilty to charges of arson and insurance fraud. According the report, Kentucky State Police say Joseph Ross pled to ten years and Joshua Fuqua pled to seven years for their involvement in a staged accident to collect money from the insurance policy.

In June of 2011, a pickup truck drove into a motor home and the case was initially marked a motor vehicle accident. After an investigation, it was found that the accident was staged and Ross and Fuqua were arrested.

Staged accidents are actually common and something you should be aware off. There are different types of staged accidents that you can find here(link).

According to the DMV, staged car accident scam artists tend to be vulnerable to facts. The more information you provide, the less inclined the scam artist will be to follow through with the charade.

When driving, it’s not a bad idea to always have a camera (a camera phone will suffice), pen, and paper. This way, if you’re involved in an accident which hints of phoniness, you can validate inner suspicions with facts. Snap photos from every angle of the involved vehicles, with special focus on the damage. Also, capture on camera the license plate, as well as photos of all the passengers in the other vehicle.

Take copious notes. Record the general height and weight and ethnicity of the other car’s driver and passengers. You should also try to obtain the driver’s:

• Driver license number.
• Vehicle registration information.
• Car insurance information.
• Name, address, and phone number.

In addition, you should:

• Always call the police. This is especially imperative if you suspect something may be in question
• Never settle on site with cash. Report the accident and/or accident claim to your auto insurance company. Be sure to express your suspicions if you feel fibbers are afoot.
• Be careful without how much personal information you disclose. You don’t want to discover two weeks later that your identity has been stolen.

In 2010,  AT&T did this awesome documentary campaign about texting and driving. Check it out!

Gonzales was an American Red Cross volunteer. According to an American red Cross biography, he was in no fewer than 51 state and national disaster relief operations involving hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, flooding, large apartment fires, terrorist attacks on September 11th, air disasters, and the Kosovo refugee resettlement operation.” Gonzales was even named “Volunteer of the Year” once. Gonzales was one of the first ones to arrive at the Pentagon after the 9/11 attack. He received a that had flow over the Pentagon for his services. He also completed two assignments at the World Trade Center.

Not only was Gonzales a highly active member in the American Red Cross, he was also a loving uncle who sent cards and gifts to his family on holidays. His family members said he was famous for putting dollar bills into all of the cards. He enjoyed spending time with his family and putting a smile on their faces.

Gonzales was a man with an enormous heart, who died doing what he loved to do. Our hearts will be with the Gonzales family this Valentine’s day as they remember Uncle Vic.