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.