Category: Car Accidents — Page 20 of 23

Senior drivers may experience physical declines, mental declines, and other changes that go along with aging.  The changes many people experience as they age can negatively impact their driving skills.  As a result, drivers aged 70 and older are the demographic group with the second highest rate of motor vehicle collisions.  Only teen drivers cause more auto accidents than senior drivers. The number of senior drivers is growing as more aging baby boomers are on the road, which means the risk of … [Read more...]

While much of the focus on preventing distracted driving is centered on cell phones, a driver who eats while driving can also be a menace on the roads.  A motorist who eats while driving takes a hand off the steering wheel to hold the food, and eyes off the road to consume it.  A University of Leeds researcher discovered, in a 2012 study, that driver reaction time slows by 44 percent when a driver is eating. Many drivers may be surprised to learn that, because of the danger it creates, people … [Read more...]

California's fault laws allow car accident victims to file lawsuits against those who were responsible for accidents. Passengers are never at fault for causing a crash, because they are not driving any of the vehicles involved. When a passenger is injured, it can become complicated to determine who should be sued. An injured passenger must make an informed choice about who to sue in a car accident so the passenger maximizes the chances of recovering full and fair compensation. There may be … [Read more...]

The Los Angeles Times reported on three car accident victims who addressed the court after a man was found guilty of second-degree murder, hit-and-run and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.  The man had driven intentionally onto the sidewalk, around pedestrian barriers, and into a crowd on Venice Boardwalk after he was angered by a botched drug deal.  An Italian newlywed couple died and 17 other people were injured because of his actions.  Three of the victims spoke at his … [Read more...]

Due to their inexperience, teenagers are the demographic group with the greatest likelihood of being in motor vehicle accidents.  Unfortunately, teen drivers face risks not just because they have not driven for very long. They also tend to engage in activities that make driving more dangerous.  One of the riskiest things teenagers do on the road, is become distracted by their smartphones or other electronic devices. It is not legal for teens to use a handheld cell phone, or to … [Read more...]

When a motorist becomes overtired while driving, there can be deadly consequences.  A drowsy driver may have delayed reactions, and impaired judgment.  Being tired behind the wheel can become just as dangerous as being drunk.  As the administrator of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) commented: “while not everybody drinks, or texts, or speeds, lack of sleep is a problem we all face.  And falling asleep at the wheel at 70 mph is a … [Read more...]

In 2012, 36 percent of people who made a personal injury claim after a car accident had a lawyer representing them in their case.  This number, from the Insurance Research Council, indicates a dramatic shift in the number of auto accident victims people who hire a lawyer when seeking compensation for their injuries.  More than double the number of people hired lawyers for personal injury claims after car accidents in 2012 than hired attorneys for claims in 1977.   The search also showed 50 … [Read more...]

  In a perfect world, the person responsible for your injuries would have sufficient insurance to cover all your damages, and the insurance company would be willing to settle your case for a fair and just amount. The fact is we do not live in a perfect world. We live in a world where insurance companies fight over even the smallest and most justifiable cases in order to protect their profits. We live in a world where insurance adjusters use tactics designed to entice accident victims to … [Read more...]

California Vehicle Code Section 20001 requires the driver of a vehicle involved in a collision to immediately stop if the accident causes injury or death. Vehicle Code Section 20002 mandates a driver to stop at the nearest safe location after an accident where there is property damage but no injuries. Drivers must stop so they can render aid to those who are injured and so they can exchange information. California is a fault state for car accidents, so the driver who causes a crash should pay … [Read more...]

Most of us use parking lots without considering the potential safety hazards. We think that since cars travel at a low rate of speed, parking lot accidents are unlikely. Parking lots are actually dangerous places for pedestrians and drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that parking lots are one of the most common sites of back-over crashes.  Back-over accidents happen when a driver pulls out of a parking spot and runs over a pedestrian because the driver is not … [Read more...]