After our recent snowfall, roadways in Ada County are still marginal at best.  While some roads are clear, others, particularly in the interior neighborhoods, are quite slick.

Please use caution when driving. Keep a safe distance behind the car in front of you. Allow at a minimum 5-6 car lengths while driving on snow, and even more when driving on ice or when snow may be covering ice.

If you are in an unfortunate accident, call 911 and remain calm until help arrives.

It probably comes as no surprise, but most attorneys who have seen their fair share of car crash cases come through their office would advise people to "hang up and drive."

According to statistics at distraction.gov, in 2014 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.  Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes.  The statistics are clear, if you drive while texting or are distracted in some other fashion, you're playing with fire.

Don't be a statistic!

If you or a family member has been injured as a result of a distracted driver, call Meridian and Boise personal injury attorney Stephen Blackburn for a free consultation.  208-898-9442.

Serving all of Meridian and Boise, Idaho.

Driving conditions in the Meridian, Idaho area are treacherous!  Please give yourself plenty of time and keep a safe following distance as you travel.  Black ice, compacted snow and ice, all create extremely hazardous conditions that often result in car accidents that should be avoidable.

​From KTVB.COM
Canyon County -- An 18-year-old Caldwell woman is dead after she lost control of her car on Saturday, according to Idaho State Police.

ISP says Ashlynn Husak was traveling north on Notus Road, near Dixie River Road, at around 3 p.m. when she became distracted. Husak lost control near a curve, rolling her 2004 Toyota Corolla. ISP says the car landed on its top and slid into a canal.

Husak and her passengers, 28-year-old John Alger, of Caldwell, and 22-year-old Kimber Cheney, of Greenleaf, were taken to West Valley Medical Center.

Husak died from her injuries at the hospital.

The extent of the injuries to the passengers is unknown.

ISP says everyone was wearing their seat belt. They are still investigating the crash."

Distracted driving is fast becoming an epidemic in our society. These types of news stories are heart-wrenching and, unfortunately, more and more common. As noted in this news article, the allegations of distracted driving affected several people, not just the driver of the vehicle. As a community, we should reinforce principles of safe driving and remind ourselves of the constant need for vigilance as we travel our highways, city streets and interstates. Our thoughts go out to all involved in this serious rollover accident.

​From KTVB.COM
MOUNTAIN HOME -- Two juveniles are dead following a wreck near Interstate 84, according to Idaho State Police.

The wreck happened Friday at about 6:45 p.m., just south of the I-84 in Mountain Home.

ISP says a Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling westbound on West Frontage Road when the driver lost control of the SUV. All four juvenile occupants, who were not wearing their seat belts, were ejected when the vehicle rolled, according to ISP.

Two of the occupants died on the scene. The other two were taken by air ambulance to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

ISP says family members have been notified, but the victims' names and ages are not being released as they continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

Frontage Road was blocked for approximately 3 hours while crews worked to clear the scene.

​From KTVB
"NAMPA -- A 19-year-old woman was hospitalized Wednesday evening after she was hit by a pickup truck driven by a man police say was driving drunk.

Forty-six-year-old Francisco Lopez of Nampa was arrested and charged with aggravated DUI."

Nampa police received a report of a black Ford truck swerving and driving into oncoming traffic on Amity Road near Happy Valley Road just after 6 p.m. Wednesday. An officer spotted vehicle as they passed each other going opposite directions.

As the officer tried to turn around to follow the pickup, the driver turned down a side street. Police say that's when Lopez hit the Nampa woman, who was standing next to her vehicle in the 800 block of South Florence.

The officer was able to stop Lopez' truck in the same block. The woman was taken to a local hospital with injuries that did not appear life-threatening. Lopez was arrested after showing signs of alcohol impairment.

Police say the suspect has already been convicted of DUI twice, and was driving on a suspended license.

He has been booked into the Canyon County Jail."

Drunk drivers are not welcome in Idaho! If you have been injured by a drunk driver, call attorney Stephen Blackburn today to learn about your rights and remedies against this kind of outrageous conduct.

Serving Nampa, Meridian, Caldwell, Boise, Meridian and Kuna. 208-898-9442

​From The Idaho Statesman:
"The driver of a semitrailer turning east onto East Kuna Road didn't see a car approaching from the south on Cloverdale Road at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Ada County sheriff's spokesman Patrick Orr said.

The driver of the car was hurt, but those injuries were not life-threatening. That person was taken to a local hospital, Orr said; their name was not publicly available Wednesday morning.

The semi driver — John Jasnsenbanbeek, 55, of Nampa — was cited for an improper left turn, Orr said.

INTERSTATE 84 CRASH SLOWS MORNING COMMUTE

Slightly earlier Wednesday, the driver of a Saturn Ion was injured when his vehicle rear-ended a semitrailer on I-84 near the Ten Mile Road exit west of Meridian.

According to Idaho State Police, Brandon Gibbish-Hood of Caldwell was eastbound on the freeway when he "was unable to slow for traffic in front of him" and hit the semi shortly before 6:35 a.m.

ISP initially reported that no one was injured in the crash. But later Wednesday, the agency said Gibbish-Hood, 19, was taken to St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center. Gibbish-Hood was not wearing a seat belt. He was not listed as a patient at the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

The driver of the semi — 52-year-old David Sebastian of Middleton — was apparently not hurt.

Both vehicles were able to be moved to the shoulder of the freeway, according to ISP. But the incident still slowed down eastbound traffic for a short while."

Traffic accidents are usually avoidable. That's why they are called accidents. Nobody has "on purposes" as a general rule. Nevertheless, just because accidents are avoidable doesn't mean they don't happen. In fact, as we read almost daily, Idahoans suffer injuries in car accidents all the time. When it happens, it can be life-changing. Not every accident requires a lawyer be involved, but if you are seriously injured, don't risk being a victim twice - call a personal injury lawyer before talking to the insurance company.

Stephen Blackburn handles all kinds of semi vs. car crashes, and others involving motorcycles and school buses. The consultation is free, and you never pay anything for a retainer if you choose to hire him. 208-898-9442.

From The Idaho Statesman: 
"DRUNK DRIVER DERAILS CROCKETT'S CAREER Crockett, 33, came to Boise State on a scholarship in 1999 after winning two state titles at Battle Ground High in Washington. He redshirted his freshman year, then entered the 2000 season as the starter at 165 pounds. He posted a 9-6 record before the Broncos broke from the Reno Tournament of Champions for the holiday break.

During an evening jog near his parent's house, a drunk driver plowed into Crockett, shattering both of his legs and rupturing the descending aorta in his heart. Doctors performed life-saving, open-heart surgery that night. Surgeons inserted a synthetic sleeve around his aorta and a 14-inch steel rod into his left leg. But the right leg remained in danger.

After eight surgeries, only one vein still fed blood into his foot. Doctors proposed one last solution - lopping off a lat muscle from his back and grafting it onto his calf. They couldn't guarantee it would save his leg, or if it did, what saving it would actually mean.

Crockett said his choice was simple - amputation below the knee.

'They told me that I didn't really need my lat muscle,' Crockett said. 'But as a wrestler, I use my lat muscle all the time. So I didn't really agree with that. It just didn't sound good.'

'We're going to take your lat muscle off your back and patch it to your calf and try to save it.' That didn't sound like saving my leg to me.'"

Read more here. 

Drunk drivers are a menace and a threat to all Idahoans. If you have been injured by a drunk driver, contact the firm of Blackburn Law, PC today. Mr. Blackburn has successfully handled many cases against drunk drivers and the insurance companies who insure them. 208-898-9442.

​This morning on the radio I heard the announcer blame fog for causing crashes near Payette, Idaho. While I normally wouldn't bat an eye at this type of radio announcement, there have been a myriad of car accidents lately that have been blamed on foggy or slick conditions. I suspect a careful review of the facts of these accidents would reveal that inattentive driving, or driving too fast for the conditions of the roadway were significant contributing factors.

When the road is slick, or the visibility is low, let's slow down. We'll still get to our destination. Car accident can leave people with physical and emotional scars that last a lifetime. Many of us have been in the "fender-bender" type of accident, but accidents that happen on the interstate system are often at higher speeds, so the damages are greater.

If you or a family member has been injured as a result of someone's negligent driving, give attorney Stephen Blackburn a call to discuss your rights. Most importantly, get better!

Serving Boise, Meridian, Kuna, Caldwell, Nampa, Payette and surrounding areas. 208-898-9442.

​From The Idaho Statesman: 
"An eight-vehicle pileup on Interstate 84 near Eagle Road blocked traffic for two hours Tuesday night.

The eight vehicles were heading west on I-84 around 9:30 p.m. when motorist Michael Trombley, 35, of Meridian, driving a Subaru Legacy, struck the median barrier. He then hit Bryan Diaz, 23, of Nampa, who was driving a Ford Ranger. The Subaru then hit a Chrysler 300 that was on the shoulder with a flat tire. This led to the pileup that involved several other vehicles, according to a release from Idaho State Police.

Jesse Lassister, 26, of Meridian; Megan Ford, 19, of Nampa; Jessica Hollopeter, 21, of New Plymouth; Carson Shaw, of Meridian; and Kristina Johnson, 44, of Nampa, also were involved in the crash. But no one was injured.

Three westbound lanes were blocked for two hours while crews cleaned up the crash.

Everyone involved wore seatbelts and no one was transported to the hospital, according to ISP."

***
This could obviously have ended much worse, and we are thankful nobody was seriously hurt. Every day when I drive in to Boise or find myself on I-84, it amazes me how often people will be texting while driving, putting on make-up, reading the paper - you name it. Distracted driving kills people. I find myself even being distracted by looking at others to see what is distracting them! It may sound comical, but in reality I need to focus on driving and be defensive and alert to those around me. I hope you will, too.

Have a safe New Year's Eve and should you choose to celebrate by consuming alcohol, please plan ahead and have a designated driver ready to assist you.

Happy New Year!