Dozer Operator Killed While On-the-Job

It is difficult to tell from this story whether the operator was an employee or an independent contractor when he is reported to have suffered a heart attack and his bulldozer went into a pond at a quarry near Fort Dodge, Iowa. The way the story is written it raises more question than provides answers.

City lawn worker suffers serious injury in rollover lawnmower accident

A lawn care worker in Lincoln, Nebraska was hospitalized after the lawn mower on which he was riding rolled on top of him. He is a 37-year-old man named Eric Kohles and was in reportedly critical condition. He was reportedly mowing a drainage easement. I drive a Lazer-Z commercial lawn mower and it comes standard with roll over protection or ROP as they call it. It’s a royal pain in the neck because of it grabbing tree limbs and snapping them into the head of the driver.

Have you ever seen a car or truck rollover?

In this traffic camera from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on August 11, 2010 a car rolls over after being t-boned when the driver failed to stop for a stop light. That will stop the distractions; that’s for sure. Lucky for him no one was injured.

Keenan Charged with Two Counts for deaths of Cadena and Rochelle.

The driver of a 2000 Toyota 4 Runner lost control at the 1-35 southbound ramp to the I-80 eastbound ramp and the SUV rolled several times causing the passengers inside to be ejected. The accident occurred on July 25, 2009 at around 5:00 a.m. in Polk County, Iowa.  The driver must have failed the breath test for alcohol because he was charged with OWI 3^rd, driving while his license was barred and homicide by motor vehicle, 2 counts.  The last charge was due to Martina Cadena and Mar’quis Rochelle dying as a result of being ejected during the rollover.  Keenan was 31-years of age and from Iowa City. Rochelle was 26-years of age and also from Iowa City. Martina Cadena was 35 and from Coralville, Iowa.
Is there negligence here? If there is it's probably to be proven in pursing evidence of the driver taking the curve too fast, driving while under the influence and not using due care. A failure to keep a proper lookout should also be pursued.  Passengers and the estates of the two who died would have 2 years to pursue causes of action. They can expect to have to pursue coverage under their own auto policies; because it's not likely the driver had auto insurance since he was barred from driving. Insurance companies insure risk and a person with a barred license shouldn't even be driving; so he's probably not insurable.  UIM, or uninsured motorist policies may have a two-year statute of limitations or it could be from the date of the denial by the insurer. Check the applicable policies.

Teen driver drifts off the hard surface and rolls - Was she distracted with a cell phone?

In another single vehicle accident a teen driver, 17-year-old Brittany Shaver drifted off the solid surface of U.S. Highway 385 in Alliance, Nebraska, was unable to get the car back onto the hard surface, rolled and was killed. The report states she was not wearing a seat belt. I’d like to know if she was talking on a cell phone. What a waste of human life.