Bob Simon’s reporting career spans a good portion of any 20th century U.S. textbook. He reported on the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, reported on the protests in Tiananmen Square, and when he covered the Gulf War, he and his crew were captured and held for 40 days. He won 27 Emmys. Earlier this month, Bob Simon was killed in a car accident in Manhattan. He was found unresponsive in the back seat of a Town Car and was reportedly not wearing a seat belt.
The tragedy hit the journalism community hard, with reporters expressing shock at the tragic circumstances of Simon’s death.
Anderson Cooper told CNN, “Bob was for the last five decades, simply one of the best, in my opinion . . .”
Larry King, Dan Rather, and others expressed their shock and condolences.
Sadly, the circumstances surrounding Simon’s death are all too common. According to the CDC, car accidents are the second leading cause of accidental death in individuals over 25 years of age. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports that in 2013, 387 people were killed in car accidents.
These accidents occur due to a variety of factors, but speeding is certainly one factor that can make a crash deadly. Failure to wear a seatbelt can also lead to greater injuries or death.
Now, investigators are looking into whether speeding may have been a factor in the accident that killed Simon. The driver of the Town Car has had his driver’s license suspended while the investigation continues.
In order to increase seat belt use, in 2009, Minnesota passed a seat belt law which made failure to wear a seat belt a ticketable offense. Researchers have found that the law has been effective. Since the passage of the law, there were 132 fewer deaths, and close to 1,500 fewer injuries. The study also estimated that individuals saved $67 million in hospital bills, and the state saved $16 million in tax money, as a result of the passage of the law.
Since the law’s passage, seatbelt use in Minnesota is estimated to be at 95%.
Seatbelt use might have saved Simon’s life, but the speed of the driver may have also been a factor. Investigators are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
While Minnesota has seen a decrease in car crash injuries and deaths due to its seat belt law, speed does kill and injure. The consequence of these accidents on victims and families can be immense. Hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages and productivity can strain families and victims.
Minnesota law offers protections for victims of car accidents. Individuals can seek reimbursement for the cost of medical services, lost wages, and pain and suffering if they have been involved in an accident where another person’s speeding was a factor.
The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino is a firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, committed to seeking justice for car accident and personal injury victims. If you have lost a loved one due to a car accident, contact the firm today for a free consultation.
For Car Accidents in Chattanooga, you may wish to reach out to The Davis Firm, LLC for their legal assistance in your case.