St. Louis Cardinals player killed in car crash

Oscar Taveras, the 22-year-old outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, was killed in a car crash on Sunday in the Dominican Republic. Taveras, who was from the Dominican Republic, was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro near his hometown of Sosua at the time of the crash. ESPN reported that Taveras lost control of the vehicle and went off the road. His 18-year-old girlfriend was also killed in the crash.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Taveras was the second active Cardinals player to die in a car crash in the past seven years. In 2007, pitcher Josh Hancock died in a crash in St. Louis.

Many other professional athletes have lost their lives in car crashes as well. In 2009, Los Angeles Angels pitcher, Nick Adenhart was killed in car accident. And several NFL players have also been killed in crashes, including Rob Biros of the Tennessee Titans in 2014, Thomas Howard of the Atlanta Falcons in 2013 and Jerry Brown of the Dallas Cowboys in 2012.

Professional athletes may seem invincible, but they are just as vulnerable to the dangers of the road as the rest of us. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 33,561 people lost their lives in crashes in 2012. An estimated 2.36 million people were injured in motor vehicle crashes that same year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called motor vehicle crashes a leading cause of injury in the US, reporting that Americans spend more than 1 million days in the hospital each year from crash injuries. The CDC also reported that crash injuries in 2012 totaled $18 billion in lifetime medical costs.

To help reduce the risk of crashes, the CDC has made the following recommendations to state officials:

• Primary enforcement of seat belt laws that cover everyone in the vehicle. A primary enforcement law means a police offer can pull over and ticket a driver or passenger for not wearing a seat belt.
• Having child passenger restraint laws that require the use of a car seat or booster seat for children age 8 and under or until 57 inches tall.
• Using sobriety checkpoints regularly.
• Requiring ignition interlocks for people convicted of drunk driving, starting at their first conviction.
• Using comprehensive graduated driver licensing systems.

Three of the main causes of car accidents in this country include drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving.

We can all help reduce the number of crash-related injuries by making a conscious effort to use seat belts on every trip, no matter how short. Ensure all passengers in our vehicles are bucked up and that children are in age-appropriate car seats or booster seats that have been properly installed. We must also focus on reducing drunk driving, by making sure that no one gets behind the wheel of a vehicle when intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Focusing on following posted speed limits and other signs, as well as remaining distraction free when driving can also help prevent injuries and save lives.

If you have been injured in a car, truck or bus accident, the personal injury lawyers at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help. For a free consultation, call the professionals at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys at 855-866-5529.