New California Traffic Bill to Suspend Hit-and-Run Drivers’ Licenses

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Occurrences of hit-and-run remain a major traffic safety issue in Los Angeles, California. In fact, statistical data shows that of the approximately 20,000 incidents recorded every year in the county, around 4,000 of them either result in injuries or deaths, mostly to innocent pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other drivers. Despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies to apprehend drivers, these accidents still occur at tremendous levels. Yes, the existing laws are there, but are they enough to lessen, if not totally eradicate, the growing number of hit-and-run incidents?

Assemblyman Michael Anthony “Mike” Gatto, who leads the 43rd State Assembly District of California, thought of ways to solve this recurring issue. He did so by introducing bills that would further enforce the current hit-and-run laws in California. Just last year, he introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 184, which was signed by Governor Edmund “Jerry” Brown and was one of the new traffic laws that were implemented on the first day of 2014.

The bill extends the statute of limitations or time limits for filing charges against alleged hit-and-run offenders to six years from the date of the offense, or one year after law enforcement officers have identified possible suspects. With the passage of the bill and its current implementation, victims of hit-and-run crashes can now hope that they can soon obtain the justice they deserve. Also, the bill would also intensify hit-and-run investigations on the part of law enforcement agencies throughout California.

While AB 184 is a great addition to the current California traffic laws, Gatto wasn’t done with it. Apparently, he recently filed another bill called AB 1532. This second hit-and-run-related bill, which he introduced January 21, 2014, provides that motor vehicle drivers committing hit-and-run offenses and are convicted of such, regardless if the victim was seriously or fatally injured or not, would be suspended of their driver’s licenses for 6 months.

If passed, it would be a new addition to the existing penalties for convicted hit-and-run offenders. Currently, offenders found guilty of leaving the scene of the accident may face county jail sentences of up to six months and/or be asked to pay a fine of no more than $1,000.00. Also, if passed, the California Department of Motor Vehicles would be responsible for enforcing the mandate of suspending drivers’ licenses.

Assemblyman Gatto believes that the new bill is a “sensible fix to the law,” and that it would give hit-and-run victims “solace, knowing that cowards who drive recklessly, and purposefully avoid responsibility for their actions, are no longer driving the streets.” A personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles echoed Gatto’s statements, adding that raising awareness through campaigns and education initiatives from local agencies would further bolster the fight against errant and wayward drivers.

For more info regarding hit and run visit us at http://www.mesrianilaw.com/

About Slip and Fall: Hiring a Lawyer if You Get Injured in Los Angeles

 

Slip and fall Injuries are nothing new in Los Angeles, California, just as motor vehicle accidents are a common occurrence in the city, as well as in the whole state’s roadways. The city’s public places and business establishments are almost always filled with a lot of people, but if a hazard is left unattended in such areas, expect that someone would get injured or even get killed.

Premises accidents are truly devastating. Slip and fall mishaps, which falls under premises accidents, can be actually prevented had property owners made the initiative or effort to fix or correct any condition that poses a risk to people who are within the premises.

Slippery walking surface, poor lighting, unfixed steps on a staircase, and even a water spill left unclean can cause someone to slip or trip and then fall. According to a slip and fall accident attorney in Los Angeles, injuries related to these kinds of mishaps include sprains, concussions, fractures, and other serious, life-threatening ones like injuries to the spinal cord and even brain injury.

The lawyer for slip and fall in Los Angeles understands the immense consequences that injured victims and their families will have to go through because of these accidents. True enough, having the legal services of the said legal counsel will enable them to exercise their rights to seek damages from the liable parties involved. If you have been injured, or your loved one died, because of the accident, then you must immediately consult with an experienced Attorney for slip and fall accident in los angeles who can help you all throughout the complex legal process.

When you do hire a lawyer for your slip and fall claim, you will be able to know if the other party was truly responsible for what happened to you. This is why having a legal counsel to represent you and your claim is imperative; without one, you may be unable to collect compensation for your injuries and other losses you incurred.

By collecting and preserving valuable pieces of evidence to strengthen your claim, your Los Angeles slip and fall lawyer will prove that the negligent party, who can be anyone in-charge of looking after the property where the accident happened, knew of the dangerous condition. Not only that, but it must be known by the liable party for a considerably long time, which could have been discovered within the time period and fixed or corrected before someone else gets injured.

Having a topnotch attorney for your slip and fall case will help enhance your chances of obtaining a reasonable compensation for your incurred damages. Also, you and your family will obtain the justice you deserve from the negligent property owner.

Road Maintenance: An Important Way To Keep Roads Accident-free

The government is still battling ways on how to put a stop to accidents once and for all. However, despite the ton of efforts, the number of accidents involving motor vehicles continues to surge. While driver factor remains to be the biggest contributor to these incidents, the condition of the roads also plays a huge role in lessening them. The same goes with the condition of the vehicles. And so, the government is implementing ways on how to cut down if not totally prevent these accidents from happening.

The importance of maintaining these roads

As mentioned earlier, the condition of the road plays a huge factor in the occurrence of accidents. A well-maintained road is safer to drive in than one that has puddles of water or crater-like potholes. Ever heard about hydroplaning? Have you saw cars get broken because of suddenly hitting large potholes? These things can affect one’s driving and cause accidents. That is why roads always have to be maintained well. Rightfully so, the government is spending a huge sum of money to keep these roads in their top condition.

Fixing those broken roads

The government has been checking roads lately and starting to fix these broken roads or structures for the benefit of the people. For example, Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles was closed to undergo rehabilitation. Not too long ago, eastbound and westbound lanes of the west side of the road, between south Beloit Avenue and Cotner Avenue were closed. To protect motorists and pedestrians alike, curbs are demolished and replaced with a sidewalk. This way, people will be protected better from wayward vehicles from hitting them. Also, this will help drivers avoid pedestrians as they would be using the sidewalks now than walking on roads which is a very dangerous act. A lawyer that handles auto accident in los angeles believes that such thing would help make road accidents happen less than it used to.

Yes, there are many reasons as to why road accidents happen. Yes, human error still plays a huge part as to why accidents do happen. However, at the end of the day, this measure to curb accidents is still a good way to save lives on the road. And every life saved is worth every penny that the government spends.

7-year-old Kid’s Life End Because of “Ice Cream”

 

 R.I.P Diyarbek Uzakbaev

Another young, promising life suddenly ends. This is what happened to a 7-year-old boy as he was killed after being struck by a vehicle. According to reports Diyarbek Uzakbaev was trying to cross the street to reach an ice cream truck was hit by a speeding vehicle around the crossing of the 29000 block of Pujol Road in Temecula, California.

The police identified the driver who struck the kid with his car, 25-year-old Bradley Megginson. He was arrested for gross vehicular manslaughter. Authorities added that they believe Megginson was drinking alcohol leading to the accident.

In the fifth issue of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Safety in Numbers campaign released last August 2013, the agency highlighted the great effect of impaired driving and hot it contributes to accidents. The same issue said that impaired driving, where you are the one drinking or not can affect you and get you involved in an accident.

In 2011, 9878 people have died because of drunk driving. This means that 31 percent of all road fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes are related to impaired driving. While the number of the people who die because of accidents have generally decreased, the number of people died because of impaired driving remains at the same level.

According to NHTSA studies, in all of the alcohol-related crashes, 1,612 individuals have been passengers of a driver with Blood Alcohol levels of 0.08 percent or higher. Additionally 1,049 people were occupants of other vehicles, 710 were pedestrians or bicyclists, and finally 91 of it were very young child passengers of motorists with BAC levels 0.08.

If you’d sum those numbers up, it means that for the past years, around 3,500 people get involved in accidents just because of drunk drivers. The same number of people are put into danger because of some irresponsible motorists.

That is why a lawyer for car accident remind everyone of the consequences that comes with drunk driving. One needs not to be through difficult times because of accidents to know the dangers that alcohol and impaired driving brings. He says that drivers should be responsible enough to know the possible bad effects of their negligence and insensitivity.

How Distracted Driving Can Get Things All Screwed Up

 
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person’s attention away from driving. Sending or reading text messages, fiddling with a cell phone or smartphone, eating and drinking causing the driver to let go of the steering wheel, excessive talking to passengers, grooming or putting on make-up, reading including maps, fiddling with a navigation system, watching a video, even the excessive adjusting of a radio, CD player or MP3 player all count as distractions when driving.

Facts about distracted driving

Most people don’t recognize the ill effects of distracted driving. In fact, a lot of people believe that distractions can really affect one’s skills, preventing them from being successful in avoiding accidents as hazards suddenly pop out of the road.  In fact, the number of those involved in accidents got lower at 387,000 in 2011 compared to the 416,000 involved in accidents back in 2010. However, the number of people who died increased to 3,311 in 2011, 64 deaths higher than the recorded 3,267 deaths because of crashes brought about by distractions to the driver, 64 cases higher than the number of casualties for the same period in 2010. These staggering numbers prove the point that distracted driving can really get one person into serious trouble.

The aftermath of an accident caused by distracted driving

Beyond the numbers mentioned in the statistics, the damage caused by such accidents can be devastating. For one, crashes bring about damage to property. Accidents can cause damages to the car of both parties, as well as other structures on and off the road. These accidents can also cause bodily injuries which hurt or leave a victim temporarily and permanently disabled.

Running after irresponsible drivers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
If the negligence of a driver has caused an accident that resulted to damage to one’s property or worse, caused one to get injured or dead, the driver can be held liable for personal injury. By filing a personal injury claim through the help of a car accident attorney in Los Angeles, one victim can avenge what has happened to him or her. This will help them get compensation to have the damaged properties fixed. More importantly though, such repayments can be used by one to get the treatment, medication, and rehabilitation that they need, while also being paid of the earning they should have received while they are unable to work because of these disabilities. This will help these poor victims rebuild their good life that they’ve almost lost when this accident happened.

So when you’re out on the road, keep those distractions away and focus on what you should really be doing; driving—nothing more, nothing less.

Mistakes That Parents, Caregivers Make When Dealing with Child Safety Seats

The use of safety devices for children is one of the most basic driving laws in the U.S. As it is, every parent, caregiver, or any supervising adult must be aware of the right restraint for his or her child relative to the latter’s age and size. More importantly, children must be seated at back of the car.

Basically, California law dictates that children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. If they are under 8 years old but are 4’9” or taller, they may be secured by a safety, still in the back seat of the vehicle. When they reach 8 years old and over, they must be secured with a child passenger restraint system or safety belt.

Indeed, there is no doubt that when it comes to crashes, children today are a lot safer now, and that is thanks to the implementation of child safety seat laws. In fact, since 1975, the rate at which children die as passenger vehicle occupants has significantly declined by 59 percent. Despite this, there are still a lot of vehicle crashes which involved children who are either seriously injured or killed.

One factor as to why they happen is due to the mistakes that parents, caregivers, and supervising adults make when dealing with child safety devices. Some of these mistakes may seem irrelevant, but then, even the smallest of errors can result in serious consequences, rendering such devices as ineffective if not installed and secured on a child completely.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one of its surveys revealed that one in five parents, caregivers, or any supervising adults fail to read the instruction manuals that come with the child safety devices. Aside from this, here’s a list of some of the other mistakes, as detailed by the AAA:

•    Moving a child out of a booster seat to the safety belt before he or she reaches the age wherein he or she is allowed to wear a seat belt.

•    Adding toys, padding or mirrors to a child or booster seat.

•    Having a child wear coats or sweaters while secured in a car seat.

•    Loose harness straps.

•    Retainer clip too low.

•    Loosely installing the car seat.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer always tell drivers to exercise safety at all times, especially when they carry children as passengers inside their vehicles. Aside from making sure that they drive with ease, the attorney also reminds them to avoid the abovementioned mistakes, ensuring that their children are secured in their appropriate child safety devices so that they may prevent any injuries.

The Dangers of Drunk Driving that You Cannot Ignore

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Every year, hundreds of thousands of road accidents are recorded. With these accidents, hundreds of thousands of people get injured, thousands die, and millions of the lives of people are challenged because of these unfortunate incidents. That is why, the government, through the Department of Transportation is making a campaign to help lessen the instances of these accidents. Through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the government is coming up with ways on how to minimize if not completely avoid these accidents from happening. That is why the NHTSA has been coming up with campaigns, left and right, to help curb the number of accidents, if not to completely prevent them from happening.

Safety in Numbers
One of the programs that the NHTSA started is its “Safety in Numbers” awareness campaign series. This campaign is centered in providing numbers from various statistics to help remind drivers of their role in keeping all of the country’s roads safer. In its recent installment, the campaign focused on the dangers brought about by drunk driving. Over the years, impaired driving has caused thousands of accidents that left thousands dead, and some others injured.

The dangers of impaired driving
According to the latest installment of the Safety in Numbers campaign by the NHTSA, the agency revealed that 9,878 people died because of drunk driving in 2011. This accounts for 31 percent of all the motor vehicle crash deaths. These numbers show that while the overall number of deaths recorded because of motor vehicle accidents have steadily declined over the years, the number of deaths because of drunk driving has been growing lately.

Other more interesting figures reveal that:

• 1,612 of the people who died in impaired driving accidents were passengers whose drivers have BACs of .08 or more; additionally, 91 of those who died were child passengers
• 1,049 of those who died were occupants of the other vehicles
• 710 pedestrians or bicyclists died after they got involved in a crash

A car accident attorney in Los Angeles says that these alarming numbers are the best proof that drunk and impaired driving should once and for all be stopped. That is why this Los Angeles lawyer called on all road users to keep safety in mind to prevent these to help lessen, if not to completely prevent these accidents from happening again.

Car Crash Disaster: Chase Leads To Fiery Crash

 

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Some people really think that they can run away from the law. Some people can be bold enough to take risks and think that they can actually outrun the country’s law enforcers. Police chases are something that is very common in the United States. In fact, all over the world, television shows featuring crazy police chases with fugitives. However, with the federal and state governments’ advanced equipment, engaging the law enforcers and running away from them is nearly impossible.

So you think you can run?

This is what precisely ran into the mind of a man in Hesperia, California. A carjacking suspect engaged the local police in a chase that ended fatally. According to reports, the San Bernardino sheriff’s deputies have been trying to pull a man over with suspicion of the vehicle being carjacked from its owners. However, the man refused to pull over and instead sped. The deputies then ran after the suspect along the southbound lanes of the 215 freeway. The suspect lost control of the car before it got engulfed in a flame. This caused the life of the suspect. No other injuries were recorded in relation to the chase though.

The dangers of police chases

As much as possible, law enforcement agencies have been trying their best to avoid police chases. For one, these chases can get really dangerous as it can endanger the lives of people around. In every car chase, authorities understand the great danger that the public is exposed to. With these criminals showing no fear of whatever it is that might happen to them, innocent people plying by the roads and even some in their homes gets subjected to a great deal of danger. That is why officers would want to end car chases the soonest that they could. Good thing that nobody got hurt in the recent police chase. According to a car accident attorney in Los Angeles, a lot of these chases leave innocent people hurt.

That is why people who drive on the roads should also be vigilant while driving and do everything they can to avoid these instances of car chases to stay unharmed. Otherwise, the victim may end up getting confused as to who they will be filing charges against to claim for the property damaged and physical injuries they sustain. As a Los Angeles lawyer explains, such kind of accidents brought by car chases are quite trickier to handle.

Important Qualities to Look for in a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, the first thing you should do is to seek immediate medical treatment. After you have been treated for your injuries, the next thing to do is to recover damages. As it is, filing a personal injury claim is a step towards receiving monetary compensation from the liable party; however, doing so may pose certain hassles.

Since you’ve just recuperated from your injuries, you may have a hard time understanding what you really need. Of course, you won’t be able to create your personal injury claim. You need someone to help you on that, and that role lies on the hands and minds of a personal injury lawyer.

What you should look for when choosing a personal injury lawyer

The role of the personal injury lawyer is to guide the client throughout the duration of the latter’s case. Whether it is a car accident, slip and fall, wrongful death, product liability, or dog bite case, the lawyer has the expertise to carry out legal measures to meet the primary objective, and that is to compensate the injured client with the right amount of monetary compensation.

Meanwhile, if you wish to have an attorney by your side, here are the things that you should consider when looking for the right legal representative:

•    He or she must have won many personal injury cases before. You know that your chosen lawyer is the right one if he or she has prior experience winning personal injury cases. Your chances of winning your case would increase if he or she has already taken up a case that is similar to yours.

•    He or she has the reputation of resolving cases soundly. You know you have chosen the best lawyer if he or she has the reputation of comprehensively taking clients’ cases and quickly resolving them. Plus, if he or she is well-regarded among legal circles in your area, then you know that your claim for compensation in a personal injury accident will favor you.

•    He or she is objective. You know you have chosen the right lawyer for your case if he or she genuinely cares for his or her clients. The lawyer is not one to quickly resolve a case just to receive a fee and move on to another client. Instead, he or she must be willing to spend time and effort to enable him or her to reach a settlement going to your favor.

Accordingly, if you’re from California and you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence, there’s no other legal representative to retain but a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles from Personal Injury Defenders. Aside from having the qualities mentioned above, he or she works on a contingency-fee basis, which means that if the lawyer wins your case, he or she will be paid a percentage coming from the amount awarded to you after the settlement. Otherwise, your attorney won’t get any compensation.

Get Your Damaged Car Fixed By Filing A Car Accident Insurance Claim

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Your car is your handy tool that can get you to different places. Over the years, it has been more than just a mere means to travel. Somehow, it has become a part of your life, your family. That is why when someone causes damage on your beloved ride, you’d do anything to make sure that it is mended at the soonest possible time. But it is not every day that you have money to spare to get your car fixed as soon as possible. That is why when your car gets involved in an accident, make sure to file a claim from your insurance company. Here are some of the ways on how you can file your claims.

Get the insurance details of the vehicles involved. This is very critical especially if it is the accident is the fault of the other party. This will be beneficial as you wouldn’t need to pay for a deductible.

• Document the accident by taking images of the crash site. This will help with your claims. This will help you with your insurance claims at it will be a great piece of evidence against the other party.
• Give your claims representative a call the soonest possible time. These guys are the ones that help you with your claims. He or she will conduct the necessary investigation to help expedite the processing of your claims so your car gets fixed as soon as possible.
• Ask for the help of a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. These professionals know how to go around the system of car insurance companies. So before you file a complaint, make sure that you ask for their advice to help you get the most of your insurance claim.
• Wait for the compensation check to arrive. This is the most painful time of the processing of your claims. After the insurance company checks on your application and evaluated the results of the claim that you submitted, they will then send you a check that you can use to pay for the expenses to have your car repaired.

Getting your car broken for reasons caused by one’s negligence is really a pain in the neck. You should not worry though for your car insurance can have that covered and repaired. All that you need is file a compelling claim to have your vehicle repaired as soon as possible.

Answers to Common Questions About Personal Injury, Revealed

 You probably know that there are legal remedies that you can turn to if you have suffered a personal injury due to the actions or negligence of an individual. The thing is, you still probably have questions about personal injury, the laws governing it, and how you can file for such claims. Here are the common questions asked about it and the answers that could help you get your claims filed the right way.

“How do I know if I can file a personal injury claim?”

If the injuries that you sustained were caused by one’s negligence or carelessness, you can file a claim to get damages from the ones responsible for you getting hurt. In such case, a Los Angeles personal injury attorney can help assess your injuries, pain and suffering and will peg the amount of damages that you can ask for.

“What am I entitled to receive if I file a personal injury claim?”

A personal injury claim gives you the right to seek for damages that will help you recover from your injuries. More than that, you are entitled to pursue “special damages” that includes past and future wages or income that have and will be lost because of your injuries. This also includes the expenses you will incur as a result of the injury. Also, you can ask for “general damages” that will be used as payment for your pain, suffering, disfigurement, and inconvenience.

“Will the person that caused my injuries receive punishment?”I

The thing with personal injury claims is that it is a civil action, not a criminal one. Defendants in such cases won’t be jailed, or will be made to pay criminal fines as punishment. Instead, the defendant will be made to pay “punitive damages”. This is a way to punish the defendant that behaved recklessly or have intentionally done things that are against public interest.

“Will my medical bills be paid for after filing this?”

It will be included however, depending on the settlement or litigation of the case, the availability of funds to pay for such bills can vary. Rest assured though, these are included and are actually a major component of the damages you are to receive.

These are just some of the questions that are usually asked by those who want to file a personal injury claims. However, you might have questions that were not included in this. That is why this is the best time to ask for the help of a Los Angeles lawyer that can and will answer such questions. That is why everyone who has been a victim of such injuries must go and seek the best legal help that they can find. This will help them get justice for the pain and suffering that they have been made to go through because of this incident.

A Look at the Recent Million-dollar Car Crashes

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Let’s face it; owning a car, especially if it is bought out of your hard work and perseverance, is basically an investment in itself. While it could be a hassle to encounter traffic on your way to work, the fact that you drive something that you can use for your daily trips is what it’s all about. You got to own something that you can use on a daily or weekly basis.

Getting your car wrecked

But then, the only disadvantage of driving your car is the possibility of getting it wrecked. As we all know, there are a lot of motorists out there on the road who are reckless, aggressive, and negligent with their driving.

While you believe that you’re a safe driver yourself (not drinking while driving, following traffic rules, etc.), the chances of encountering these kinds of motorists will surely get you to into a world of trouble. If you do, it’s always a sad situation to be involved in, as you’ll have to deal with your finances, particularly the insurance and the needed repairs for your vehicle.

Similarly, it is definitely even sadder if the accident involved an exotic car. Such vehicles value to up to five- to six-digit figures, and having to repair a wrecked one would surely make its owner cringe.

Million-dollar crashes

However, such occurrences of exotic cars getting totaled in crashes are not uncommon today. In fact, there are those kinds of crashes that are very rare that you’ll surely expect that the total costs of damages result in millions of dollars.

Here are some of the recent million-dollar crashes:

• Mr. Bean’s McLaren F1. Rowan Atkinson has that tremendous passion for cars, and owns high-end, exotic ones. He hates keeping them in his garage, and uses them whenever he wanted to use them. But then, he had this own history of crashing his exotic cars, including his McLaren F1 in which he did twice. His latest was on August 2011. After a year’s worth of calculation, the final damages to the vehicle amounted to a whopping £900,000 (about $1.4 million), making it the highest repair bill on a car in all of the U.K.
• Fourteen-car wreck in Japan. This accident is one of the worst and most expensive, not because of the casualties (thankfully no one died), but with the number of exotic vehicles involved in this crash that happened roughly 2 years ago. Imagine this: eight Ferraris and a Lamborghini were involved in it. The total amount of damages: around $3.8 million.
• Ferrari 250 GTO. It was last year when this accident, dubbed as the “most expensive car crash ever,” happened. The car involved is very rare that only 36 units were manufactured in the 1960’s! Called the Picasso of the motoring world, the crash to the blue-and-yellow-painted GTO amounted to an astonishing $30 million.

While these three accidents are just few of the many other instances where exotic cars amounting to millions of dollars were involved, every Los Angeles car accident lawyer and other legal experts believe that all motorists should learn from them.

Even if you own a vehicle that is not within the level of being exotic, you still have to value it. You must make sure that you employ safety when driving so as to avoid serious injuries or dealing with the repair costs.

The Perils of Distracted Driving in the Realm of Law Enforcement

Blasting sirens, breakneck speeds, and aggressive pursuits: these are what we typically describe a perfectly normal police response. Whether they are responding to an accident on the road or chasing down a culprit who had just stolen a car or has done some law violation, the pursuits we see on TV news footage and even in real life are just the regular duties of the elements of most law enforcement agencies.

However, officers who engage in emergency responses and police pursuits on a regular basis, while exercising professionalism in the line of duty, are often beset with the possibility of encountering accidents.

As it is, driving while on pursuit of a criminal on a heated chase often involves multitasking on the part of the officer. Looking at it, police officers often engage in distracted driving practices, which we all know is one of the primary factors as to why accidental injuries and deaths happen.

Distracted driving explained

Basically, distracted driving, among normal motorists, is more than just using the cell phone to text or call while driving.  Activities that are usually done simultaneously with driving are often diverse. They include fidgeting on the car stereo, eating and drinking, talking to a companion inside the vehicle, and picking up a loose change on the floor of the vehicle, among others.

In the United States, distracted driving is one of the lingering problems in the realm of traffic safety. In fact, in 2011, some 3,331 people were killed in car crashes involving a distracted driver. The figure was a 1.9 percent increase from the previous year, which stood at 3,267. Conversely, related injuries decreased by 7 percent in 2011, from about 416,000 in 2010 to around 387,000.

Multitasking during police responses and pursuits

Police officers, for one, often engage in multitasking activities while driving, and that is a part of their job. However, such duties would often take away the officer’s attention away from his or her driving. From complex ones such as entering queries into the mobile data terminal or MDT, to as simple as talking to a fellow officer on the police radio, multitasking while on the line of duty can be dangerous.

In fact, many officers have died in accidents while performing pursuits and emergency responses. Interestingly, in 2009, statistics showed that they often involve those who already had vast experience in law enforcement, particularly 35-year-old officers who had served 9 years in the police force.

Efforts to curb distracted driving in law enforcement

Despite most law enforcement being exempted from laws that prohibit distracted driving, there are states whose agencies have applied such legislation to its police force who exclusively deal with emergency responses and pursuits. One of them is the State of Washington. In Florida, it mandated hands-free voice communication to its troopers, despite the state’s lack of such statute.

Meanwhile, every Los Angeles car accident lawyer informs that there are no relevant laws yet with regard to distracted driving in California’s law enforcement. While there are existing laws in the state with regard to the use of mobile phones while driving for motorists, California authorities might as well pursue a similar statute for the benefit of those who respond to emergencies and pursuits.

New Statistics Show Common Types of Car Accidents

For most motorists, getting involved in a car accident is really something to worry about. Aside from the resulting damage and repair costs that car owners may have to shoulder later on, there are other factors that motorists should not be overlooked. For the most part, accidents on the road are not only caused by driver error, but also road hazards including animals crossing the road, potholes, and the like.

While a two-vehicle collision remains to be the most common form of road accident, it accounted for less than half of the incidents reported by people looking for insurance. This is according to a study made by CarInsurance.com, which is a website that provides auto insurance data and shopping tools.

The survey in which the study was based on covered around 42,000 online auto insurance quotes that were given from September of 2011 to February 5 of this year. Said auto insurance quotes were from drivers who reported incidents of car collisions in the last five years, all of which were single-vehicle policies for collision, comprehensive, and liability coverage.

According to CarInsurance.com, over a third of all incidents involved vehicles hitting a parked car, sustaining damaged due to inclement weather conditions or road debris, vandalism, or unsuspectingly hitting an animal crossing the road. As such, insurance rates differ depending on the type of accident a driver gets involved in.  For instance, between a driver hitting a runaway deer or a tree, both may incur similar damage but the latter may increase one’s insurance rate.

Meanwhile, here is a list of percentages for every reason why vehicles included in the report was damaged (rounded off):

• Struck another vehicle – 23 percent
• A vehicle struck the driver – 22 percent
• Single-car accident (e.g. rollovers) – 8 percent
• Act of nature (e.g. weather condition) – 6 percent
• Struck parked car or a tree – 5 percent
• Insurance holder’s parked car struck – 5 percent
• Debris (e.g. hitting a pothole) – 3 percent

Road accidents can be troublesome, especially if those involved have to deal with insurance and repairs. It is even more worrisome if they have to deal with injuries because of these unfortunate events. But then, they are entitled to personal injury damages, especially if the accident is caused by the other party’s negligence. For such occurrences, injured parties may have to consult with the best car accident attorney in Los Angeles for them to be entitled compensation.

Following Traffic Laws Do Save Lives

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Traffic laws are made and implemented for a reason. Without rules and regulations, orderliness cannot be achieved. There would be no discipline and the roads will be in total chaos. That is why to put order and discipline with the road users, both houses of congress came up with all of these traffic laws that you know of now.

Stubborn drivers

However, despite the implementation of the many traffic laws of the land, there are still a lot of people that disregard these laws and choose to disobey the same. These people don’t realize the impact that their actions or the lack of it could mean. For example, not too long ago in Santa Clara County in California, one motorist driving a Chevy Impala went against the flow of traffic on the ramp of the Oregon Expressway and Alma Street intersection. On the very same ramp, a female Palo Alto officer was on board her patrol car that collided with the counter-flowing vehicle. The female police officer was brought to the nearest hospital where she was treated for the minor injuries that she got from the crash. The male driver of the Impala was luckily not hurt in the incident.

The price lawbreakers have to pay

A driver liable to an accident, according to the same traffic rules will be made to pay for the consequences of his or her action. According to a Los Angeles vehicle accident lawyer, one will be dealt with the corresponding corrective action depending on how grave a driver’s infractions are. Consequence for the violation of these laws ranges from varying amounts of fines, cancellation and revocation of one’s license, even jail time. That is why if you do not want to be dealt with these penalties, be sure to always follow the many traffic laws that the state implements.

How traffic laws can save lives on the road

A Los Angeles attorney believes that by helping inculcate discipline in the minds of motorists, these traffic laws play a significantly huge role in helping cultivate a culture of safety on the road. The general motoring public, (well, except those people bold enough to violate these laws) exercise safe driving habits that prevent accidents from happening with these laws in place. Without accidents there would be no properties damages, no injuries, and no live lost.

How to Become a “Roll” Model and Avoid Bicycle Accidents in Los Angeles

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Biking is a good hobby as it provides you with lots of benefits. First, it gives you the capability to go around different places. Biking gives you the mobility at less expense since you won’t have to spend money on fuel, which also makes this hobby environment-friendly. It also lets you go on places less traveled where cars just can’t be driven. Biking also promotes fitness as it helps you exercise different muscle groups, improves your reflexes and cardiovascular system functions.

Responsibility in biking

However, biking is not just all fun. For one, bikers should be responsible enough, not just in ensuring the safety of one’s self but also of the people around them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been encouraging all users of public roads, not just motorists but bicyclists as well, to respect each other. Mutual respect among all road users helps promote a safe transportation environment. Bikers, like all road users, have rights and responsibilities. That is why the NHTSA has been promoting biking safety through continuous research, education, and enforcement of bicyclists’ and motorists’ behavior. This way, safety on the road can be enhanced while lessening instances of biking injuries and fatalities in the country.

How can you be a “Roll Model”

The NHTSA came up with a campaign on how one can be a “Roll” model on the road. This program helps promote biking responsibility, fostering a safer environment on the road. In the campaign, the NHTSA asks every biker to exercise the following:

• Focused riding and driving. Always remain focused and never give in to distractions.
• Prepared riding and driving. Make it a point to do the necessary preparations before going and riding your bike. Always be ready for unexpected things.
• Putting Safety First. In anything that people do, one must make sure that safety is prioritized above everything. Wear a bike helmet whenever you go on a ride.
• Be a law-abiding citizen. Following traffic laws is critical in ensuring the safety, not just for you but for everybody on the road.
• Share the road. Roads are not specifically made for bikes. A Los Angeles bicycle accident attorney reminds that roads are for vehicles, motorcyclists, and pedestrians too. Sharing the road by showing respect to others will help prevent accidents from happening.

A Los Angeles lawyer believes that bicyclists’ rights deserve to be observed as well. But he reminds all bikers that one best way to be able to earn the respect of other road users is by following the rules given above and showing respect to others as well. Such good attitude will make others respect you more and your rights as well. Being a “Roll” model may be hard, but it is not at all impossible to do; for exerting extra effort and trying to go the extra mile will do you good.

What to Do Before and While Driving Your Vehicle on a Summer Road Trip

Planning on a summer getaway trip with your family, friends or colleagues? If so, then preparation and planning should be on the top of your list. As you might already know, highway crashes are on the rise, especially during this time of the year where roads are almost always filled with vehicles. Whether you’re going to the beach, to the campsite near the mountains, or go fishing by the lake, it really helps if you plan ahead. Doing so is much easier than dealing with breakdowns along the way, or worse, a highway crash. 

Before you put your family, friends, or colleagues inside your vehicle, let alone drive it, have your car, SUV, pickup, or RV serviced by a licensed mechanic. It is much better if you do it regularly at any time of the year. If, however, you are not aware of the service history of the vehicle you plan to drive, schedule a preventive maintenance check-up with your mechanic weeks before your scheduled trip.

Make sure that your tires are well-inflated so that you can avoid tire blowups or failure while traveling along the heat-soaked roadway. To prevent your engine from overheating, check carefully your vehicle’s coolant level to make sure it is enough to sustain long hours of driving. More importantly, make sure that your vehicle lights, from headlights, brake lights, turn signals, to your emergency flashers, are all in good working condition.

Before the day of your summer getaway, ensure that you have obtained enough rest, especially if you are the driver of the vehicle. That way, you will not only stay focused on the road ahead of you, but you will also avoid experiencing fatigue. It is much better if one of your family members, friends, or colleagues can also drive the vehicle. You may share your driving duties with him or her along the way; just don’t forget to bring along with them their driver’s license!

Moreover, to avoid experiencing a fender-bender along the road, you must avoid exercising certain bad driver behaviors. One such behavior is distracted driving. As much as possible, drivers must avoid anything that can pull their attention away from their driving. To put it simply, don’t use your mobile phone, eat, drink, or use in-vehicle gadgets while you’re behind the wheel.

Another behavior that you and your passengers need to avoid is the failure to use seatbelts. Before the trip, everyone aboard the vehicle, including you, must agree to wear the seatbelt, especially when they are riding or driving the vehicle. Doing so is the best defense against a highway crash caused by a drunk driver.

By making the necessary preparations before the trip and avoiding risky behaviors behind the wheel, reaching your preferred summer destination will be hassle-free. Expert litigators, including a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, are all wishing all motorists and their families, friends, and colleagues a safe and fun-filled summer.

Summer Safety on the Road: What You Need to Be Aware Of Before Driving Out This Season

 

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Today is the summer season, and it is expected that there will be a massive influx of vehicles going in and out of cities to get to various summer destinations. As it is, this time of the year is the perfect opportunity for a lot of people to go out on road trips to enjoy the great outdoors. However, motorists should be aware of a lot of things before and during trips in order for them to avoid certain inconveniences.

So if you are planning on a road trip going to picnics, beaches, and other destinations with your family and friends, it is important that your whole summer experience should hinge on the concept of safety. Here are some things that you need to be aware of before driving out:

•    Be prepared before and during the trip.

Preparation is always a key component in order to make sure that safety is at the forefront of driving your vehicle. Days before the road trip, you must make sure that your car has undergone maintenance. If your car performs well and every vital part of it is in tiptop condition, then you are good to go. It also helps if you prepared an emergency roadside kit before the trip in case your car breaks down in the middle of the trip.

Moreover, it is important that during the trip, you and your passengers are well-restrained with seatbelts. If you have children with you, they should be seated at the back, with a booster seat if they are of certain age. They must not also be left unattended; heat stroke is a leading cause of death among children, increasing during the summer time. More importantly, you must always follow traffic rules, as well as look out for passing motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians crossing the road.

•    Watch out for car thieves.

It is during the summer months—July and August—where vehicle thefts are on the rise. In fact, in every 44 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally, mistakes on the part of drivers make up more than 40 percent of car theft incidents. Certain mistakes include leaving valuables inside the vehicle, failing to lock up all the vehicle windows and doors, and not parking in well-lit areas during the night.

•    Check your vehicle’s tires.

Driving your motor vehicle at highway speeds on hot summer weather may result in tire failure, especially if one or all of your tires are under-inflated. According to the NHTSA, around 11,000 crashes happen every year because of tire failure. To avoid this, it is important that you follow the recommended tire pressure on the front- and back-end of your vehicle, especially before you drive your vehicle on the day of your trip.

Incidentally, expert lawyers, particularly a car accident attorney in los angeles, advise all motorists to be physically and mentally prepared for road trips. Being on the right state of mind, along with the needed preparation, would help make this summer’s experience enjoyable, memorable, and free from hassles.

New Federal Regulations to Reduce Truck Driver Fatigue, Accidents

A collision between a big-rig and a smaller passenger vehicle would only mean two things; injuries or instant death. Despite the fact that such accidents only account for around 10 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States, most of the recorded deaths in truck mishaps often happen not on truck drivers, but on passenger vehicle occupants.

One of the reasons why truck accidents happen is because of truck driver fatigue. Because driving trucks entails long drives and weekly completion of working hours, most drivers often experience chronic fatigue, therefore increasing their chances of getting involved in crashes. Previous safety regulations imposed by the federal government on trucking companies does not also help, which is why such devastating accidents continue to happen.

Fortunately, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), implemented a new set of federal regulations that would not only reduce the chances of truck drivers to experience fatigue, but also improve the overall safety of motorists.

Fully implemented on the first day of July this year, the said safety regulations were first announced by the FMCSA in December of 2011. According to the DOT division’s press release, it estimated that the safety regulations would save around 20 lives, as well as prevent more or less 1,400 crashes and 560 injuries annually.

Since the FMCSA’s announcement, trucking companies were given 18 months to adopt the changes in the hours-of-service rules for truck drivers. In the new set of rules, truck drivers would now only have to work for an average of 70 hours a week, instead of the previous 82 hours per week.

Also, once they’ve reached the said average maximum hours of driving within a week, they can resume their duties on the next workweek if they rest for 34 consecutive hours, including at least two nights when their body clock demands sleep the most, which is from1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Finally, truck drivers are now required to take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift. Retained from the previous hours-of-service rules is the 11-hour-per-day driving limit within a 14-hour work day.

Meanwhile, legal experts, including a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, are satisfied with the new changes with regard to the working hours of truck drivers. They believe that this development would lessen incidents of truck collisions, as well as lower the number of injuries and or deaths because of these mishaps.

Car Accidents in Los Angeles, California: Common Causes and What You Need to Do

Auto accidents in Los Angeles are nothing uncommon. Given the fact that this progressive California metropolis is teeming with public and private vehicles, particularly cars, as well as being home to some of the busiest thoroughfares in the United States, it is no surprise that the city is not only known for its traffic jams but also for its incidents of vehicle accidents.

These accidents either result in serious injuries or in tragic deaths. In fact, over 50,000 individuals sustained bodily injuries from such mishaps across Los Angeles County every year. Also, in 2008, a total of 667 car accident-induced deaths were recorded. Around 80,000 car accidents resulted in damages to property.

With these figures, it is easy to point out that motorists, no matter they are driving in Los Angeles or elsewhere in the U.S., are highly at risk of getting involved in either a devastating or fatal car crashes.

Common causes

Auto accidents often happen because of various factors. Some of them are often attributed to the carelessness of other motorists. Tort laws in California, as well as in the whole country, allows victims of such mishaps to file personal injury cases against liable parties who/that negligently caused them injuries and other damages in order for them to be awarded monetary compensation.

As a motorist living in Los Angeles, it is imperative that you are aware of the common causes of vehicle accidents that are attributed to negligence. Here are some of them:

• Failure to drive within the roadway’s speed limit. Since most roadways in Los Angeles are wide, it is easy for speed freaks to step on their car’s accelerators. Because of this, many of the accidents recorded in L.A. are caused by speeding drivers who go over the speed limit, especially in school zones and pedestrian crossings. Speeding drivers are the ones who cause collisions with other motor vehicles and private property, as well as pedestrian accidents.
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol. We all know that drinking and driving do not make a perfect pair since alcohol greatly impairs a driver’s capability to make sound decisions while operating a vehicle. This leaves him or her highly vulnerable to driving errors that could result in serious or fatal injuries.
• Driving while distracted. Los Angeles motorists who got involved in accidents are found to have been using their cell phones to text or call someone while driving, as well as eat or drink while behind the wheel. Such forms of driving distractions often result in serious, if not fatal collisions.

Seeking legal assistance for your personal injury claim

If in case you have been involved in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you must consider hiring an expert Los Angeles Auto Accident Attorney who can aggressively pursue your interest. Your chosen legal representative will help you collect valuable evidence in order to establish the fault of the liable party, which would also determine the amount of compensation that may be entitled to you to cover your injuries and other damages.