Speeding Kills: RIP Ariel Camacho
An increasing number of medical professionals and media outlets no longer use the term “accident” when describing or referring to a vehicle collision, because most of the time, these incidents are not “accidents” at all. A recent tragedy in Mexico serves as a sobering reminder. A 22-year-old grupera singer was killed when his speeding car skidded off the road and into a ditch after a concert in Sinaloa.
Details are sketchy, but it appears that Mr. Camacho was in the car with three other people. Some sources indicate that other occupants were killed as well, while others relate that they were hospitalized in critical condition. Reportedly, the car itself was totally destroyed.
Mr. Camacho had just performed “El Karma” at a Clave Azul concert in Mocorito. He and his band, Los Plebes del Rancho, were scheduled to play several concerts in Southern California over the next few weeks. Their songs often reflect the culture of Mr. Camacho’s native Sinaloa, which is the home of one of Mexico’s largest drug cartels.
Contributing Factors in a Car Crash
No one plans to get in a car crash, but the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has identified a number of contributing factors to crashes. Most all of these factors are preventable, to one extent or another:
- Alcohol and Drugs: Statistics vary, but somewhere around a third of vehicle collisions in the San Antonio area involve drivers who were impaired by a legal or illegal drug. These substances delay reaction times and make it difficult to multitask.
- Excessive Speed: Much like motorists impaired by alcohol or drugs, speeding drivers have less time to react to changing conditions. Speed also increases force during a collision, transforming a fender-bender into a serious wreck.
- Fatigue: Driving after 18 hours without sleep is like driving with a .05 BAC; driving after 24 sleepless hours is like a .10 BAC, which is above the legal limit in Texas.
- Distracted Driving: Anything that causes drivers to take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, or their minds off of driving is, by definition, distracted driving. Although most people know that it only takes a momentary lapse to cause a tragedy, many people still talk on their phones, read text messages, and practice other bad driving habits.
- Mechanical Defect: Sometimes the owners know nothing about the defective parts, and sometimes they have ignored recall notices urging them to have their vehicles repaired.
Damages in a car or truck crash case may include compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Punitive damages may also be available in some cases.
If you were hurt due to someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced New Braunfels personal injury attorney for a free consultation. A lawyer may be able to get you in to see a doctor, even if you have no money and no insurance.
