A newsletter roundup of recent traffic-related stories, including $45 million verdict against a drunk driver, and reports about a year-over-year increase in traffic fatalities.

1. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 9/14/16
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Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
1. LA jury awards $45M to estate of single mother killed in crash
Adapted from L.A. Daily Journal, 9/7/16
On Sept. 2, an L.A. County jury awarded $45 million to the estate of a young mother who was killed
by a drunk driver. Decadent Claudia Fernandez, a single mother, left behind four children, three of
whom were minors. The crash also killed nineteen-year Marlene Alatorre, and injured three other
people. Both driver Elba Janeth Jimenez and vehicle owner Maria Rodriguez were found liable for
Fernandez’s death. Before the crash, Jimenez had been involved in a high-speed chase with a California
Highway Patrol officer, who pursued the vehicle over erratic driving. While exiting the highway, Jimenez
lost control and crashed into Fernandez and Alatorre, who were waiting at a taco shop in East Los
Angeles. Fernandez’s estate was represented by John Carpenter of Zuckerman & Rowley, LLP. Alatorre’s
family previously settled a lawsuit against Jimenez and Rodriguez. After the June 2012 crash, Jimenez
was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison.
2. Traffic fatalities up sharply in 2015
Adapted from National Highway Traffic Safety Admin., 9/8/16
Traffic fatalities in 2015 rose 7.2% year-over-year to 35,092 people, ending a 50-year trend of
declining fatalities, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Pedestrian and pedalcyclist fatalities hit a 20-year high, while motorcyclist deaths rose more than 8%
compared to 2014. According to NHTSA, the increase in motor vehicle fatalities was likely driven by
factors including job growth and low fuel prices.
3. What Hidden Safety Risks Could Your Child Face During Back-to-School Season?
Adapted from National Safety Council, 8/29/16
Every day, 61 children in the U.S. are struck by cars, with most collisions occurring during the period
before and after school. Car crashes, a frequent killer of teens, usually spike in September. Alarmingly,
motor-vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death among school-age children, according to
President and CEO Deborah Hersman of the National Safety Council (NSC). Hersman added that school
buses are the safest form of transportation for children.
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