California Injury Lawyers Blog

Last year, an estimated 14,000 patients in hospitals in the United States died from an infection called Clostridium difficle, or C-diff for short. Unfortunately, according to USA Today, these 14,000 patients were not alone. As many as 100,000 patients die in U.S. hospitals every year as a direct result of deadly infections, many of which are caused by "superbugs."

Our Costa Mesa injury attorneys know that hospitals make billions of dollars as a result of patients developing these dangerous or deadly infections. Unfortunately, this means that hospitals may have a financial incentive not to step up their efforts to try to prevent hospital infections from occurring.

Superbugs Are a Major Risk to Hospital Patients

The risks of developing an infection in a hospital have been well-established for a very long time. Efforts have been made over the years to make sure that surgical instruments are sanitary and that hospital rooms are sterile, all in an effort to fight infection.

Unfortunately, infections don't just spread during surgery. A patient could be exposed to germs anywhere in a hospital, from a contaminated television remote control to the bed rails on the patient's bed. Unless a hospital environment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to eliminate germs, patients are always going to develop hospital infections.

USA Today indicates that hospitals are making an effort to deal with their dirty little secret, embracing new technologies such as germ-resistant copper bedrails and UV machines that are designed to identify and destroy bacteria and viruses. Yet, making an effort to fight infections costs money while a patient who comes down with an infection can be profitable for a hospital.

Infections Mean Big Dollars in the Healthcare Industry

Hospital Infection.org indicates that hospitals are currently making substantial sums of money as a result of infected patients. When a patient develops an infection, the hospital will make an estimated $15,275 on average to provide treatment for that infection. Since Hospital Infection.org estimates that as many as two million patients a year get sick because of germs in hospitals, hospitals could be making as much as $30.5 billion annually off of their infected patients.

The amount of money that hospitals make may be increasing as well, since infections are becoming more dangerous and difficult to treat. For example, a new "nightmare" bacteria has now been identified in as many as 200 hospitals in the United States. This new bacteria joins a long line of super bugs that are resistant to antibiotics and that are very persistant in making people sick. C-diff is one of these superbugs, as is methicillin-resistant staph infections, or MRSA as it is more commonly known.

With these superbugs finding their way into many hospitals, more patients may find themselves getting sick and hospitals may end up making even more money in treating those infected. It is important that hospitals be given financial incentives not to allow infections but instead to fight very hard to do everything possible to prevent them. This means that medical malpractice claims need to be brought by patients who get sick due to hospital negligence in order to ensure that a hospital doesn't profit from providing sub-standard care.

Continue reading "Are Hospitals Doing Enough to Fight Superbug Infections? " »

Just over a week after two employees from the California Department of Transportation were killed while working to make our roadways safer, Caltrans officials honored the close to 200 workers who have lost their lives at work during the 23rd Annual Workers Memorial day at the State Capitol.

Those two fatalities were the end of close to 2 years without a Caltrans worker fatality. During this accident, a third worker sustained injuries.

With these accidents, our Costa Mesa accident lawyers are reminding drivers to be on the lookout for roadside workers. You can still keep traffic flowing by slowing down in these work zones and complying with the states "Move Over" law. The "Move Over" law took effect back in 2007 (and was amended in 2009) and it works to make sure that drivers move over if they see any amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles. By moving over and allowing extra room for crews do their job, we can help to reduce the risks for these accidents -- for you and for the roadside workers.

"What we do is important to California, but nothing is more important than the safety of our workers and the public," said Malcolm Dougherty, Caltrans director.

If you can't move over a lane -- you have another option. You can slow down and proceed with caution. Whenever you see anyone on the side of the road, you should be considerate and pass with caution. You wouldn't want someone flying passed you mere feet away. Your slow and cautious maneuvers could save lives.

Since 1999, the Transportation Department has been able to make significant strides is helping to prevent these accidents, including launching the Slow for the Cone Zone safety campaign. Since the launch of these efforts, the number of work zone fatalities has dropped by close to 65 per percent, compared with a less than 35 percent nationwide.

The top causes for these kinds of accidents including, distracted driving, speeding and even alcohol. Most of these accidents can be prevented if drivers were to just pay attention, slow down and stop driving while under the influence.

We're pushing the "Move Over" law for good reason, too. According to MoveOverAmerica.com, more than 70 percent of Americans have never even heard of these laws. Close to 90 percent say that they support these laws in all states and 90 percent believe traffic stops and roadside emergencies are dangerous for law enforcement and first responders.

As it stands now, there are 43 states that have passed some sort of "Move Over" law. California is one of them and don't forget it!

"One of the biggest hazards is a motorist who does not exercise caution while driving where highway workers are present," said John Yang, chief, Office of District Traffic Manager, Division of Operations.

Continue reading ""Move Over" Law -- Saving Workers and Motorists Statewide" »

The state of California made it on the list of top 20 most bike-friendly states. The problem is, as the Detroit Free Press and other news outlets reported, most only focus on the top 10 states, so we've still got a ways to go.

Every day there are millions of people who safely ride bicycles for their main form of transportation, and so can you! Just make sure you're ready to commit to safety.

Our Costa Mesa bicycle accident lawyers understand that safety on the road depends on five essential bicycling skills, and it's these skills that can significantly reduce your risk of an accident. These five skills build upon one another, starting with the most basic skill that offers the most protection. Each skill is the foundation for the next. You can think about them as each a "layer" of protection - with each skill you master, you can add another protective layer, say officials with Bike Safe California.

So what are these skills?

5.) Protection: This is what we're talking about when we're asking you to always wear a helmet out there. In California, anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle on a street, bikeway or public bicycle path or trail. But we're still asking all bicycle riders to make sure they've got a helmet strapped on during every bike ride.

4.) Responsiveness: You always want to be on the lookout for dangers, and be ready to react. Make sure that you know how to stop your bike, or how to turn it quickly when someone else makes a hazardous mistake.

3.) Positioning: Make sure that you're as visible as possible out there. Always use bike lanes when possible. Be on the lookout for parked cars and opening doors. On roads that don't have bike lanes available, make sure you ride with the flow of traffic, on the rightmost lane and as far to the side as possible.

2.) Cooperation: Make sure you know the rules of the road and you know what you're doing out there. This will help to avoid accidents. Know that you have the same responsibilities as drivers. Follow all traffic signs, lights and markings. You want others to do it -- lead by example and bike safely and responsibly.

1.) Handling: Know how to handle your bike properly. You don't want to fall or slam into someone else. Know how to use your bike's safety features. You can't ride safely if you don't know what you're doing.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 110 bicyclists killed in the state of California in 2011. During the year, we were ranked the second most dangerous state in the country for these kinds of traffic fatalities, only behind the state of Florida. These fatalities accounted for more than 4 percent of all traffic fatalities recorded throughout the year.

Continue reading "California 2nd Deadliest in U.S. For Bicycle Accidents" »

Currently, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) level for drivers throughout the nation is .08 percent. That could soon change if the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) gets its way. The federal agency is looking to lower the BAC level for all drivers. The aim is to get the level dropped from .08 or .05, which many believe is a level at which driver's vision can be affected.

Our Los Angeles accident lawyers understand that close to 10,000 people are killed each year in alcohol-related traffic accidents. In addition to that, more than 150,000 are injured. And these are all completely preventable. Yes, this is a big improvement from the 20,000 who were killed annually about 30 years ago, but we've still got a long way to go.

According to recent studies, about 4 million people are driving under the influence each year.

While we may be all for lowering the legal BAC level for drivers, there are some restaurant trade groups who aren't as happy.

"Moving from 0.08 to 0.05 would criminalize perfectly responsible behavior," said Sarah Longwell with the American Beverage Institute.

Many are arguing that this lower level isn't going to do anything to stop the hardcore drunk drivers, or the ones who are repeat offenders. And many say it's those drivers who are the real problem.

Currently, the U.S., Canada and Iraq are among a very limited number of countries that have their legal limit set at .08. Most other countries have their legal limit set at .05.

Australia was one of the countries to drop from a .08 to a .05. With that, there was reportedly a near 20 percent decrease in the number of traffic accident fatalities.

What many safe driving advocates believe is that a driver's depth perception and a number of other visual functions start to suffer once a driver hits a .05 BAC. According to studies, your risks for an accident increase by close to 40 percent with a .05 BAC, whereas your risks increase by more than 100 percent when you have a .08.

Officials predict that if every state were to drop the legal BAC limit, then close to 1,000 lives would be saved each and every year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 1,000 people killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents in the state of California in 2011. An average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 53 minutes in 2011.

Alcohol and/or drugs can seriously impair your judgment. Impaired judgment or good sense affects how you react to sounds and what you see -- especially when you're behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. It's also dangerous to walk in traffic or ride a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The bottom line is that someone who has not been drinking should drive. Never get behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol.

Continue reading "California Drunk Driving Crashes: The Impact of a Lower BAC" »

As we age, we just can't do things as good as we used to. Touching our hands to our toes is harder, keeping up with technology is more difficult and driving can seem a bit trickier, too.

Older drivers have special needs -- especially when driving. That's why officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are stepping in and helping you to better choose a vehicle as an older driver. It all comes with the new "silver" rating.

Our Costa Mesa car accident attorneys understand that the new "silver" rating would be used in addition to the current five-star rating system we've been using since 1978. This new rating is important because our driving population is aging. As it stands now, less than 20 percent of our licensed drivers are 65 and older. Experts predict that the number will shoot up to more than 55 percent by 2030. The "silver tsunami" or the wave of older drivers we can expect, will be unprecedented.

There were 35 million licensed older drivers in 2011. That's a more than 20 percent increase from 2002. In contrast, the total number of licensed drivers increased by only 9 percent from 2002 to 2011.

According to The Washington Post, older motorists are more likely than younger motorists to be injured or killed in a car accident. Younger bodies are just better equipped to withstand the force in an accident. Because of this, we want elderly drivers to be equipped with a vehicle that's going to protect them best.

For example, officials with the NHTSA cited inflatable seat belts and technologies that help prevent low-speed pedal misapplication as two safety features with potential benefits for older vehicle occupants.

When you break it all down, elderly drivers account for the highest fatality rate out of all motorists involved in serious crashes.

Age-related declines in vision and cognitive functioning (ability to reason and remember), as well as physical changes, may affect some older adults' driving abilities.

The only worry here is that the new ratings will alienate a manufacturer's target audience. Older drivers typically don't want "older people" cars.

According to the latest statistics from the NHTSA, there were close to 500 people over the age of 64 who were killed in car accidents in the state of California in 2011. These fatalities accounted for nearly 20 percent of the total number of traffic accident fatalities recorded throughout the year.

As we get older, it's no surprise that our driving abilities are going to change. By making sure that we're up to date on our driving skills and that we're in a vehicle that best suits our needs, we can help to eliminate the risks for injury or death out there. It's also important for us to know when it's time to give up the keys. It's not giving up our independence, but it's helping us to stick around for that much longer.

Continue reading "Keeping Elderly Drivers in More Accommodating Vehicles" »

Wake up!

No, seriously. We're asking drivers to open their eyes and pay attention behind the wheel. Let's be serious, we've all been there -- driving along the road and our eyes are drooping and our thoughts are drifting. We're talking about drowsy driving.

According to Yahoo News, there have been more than 11,000 fatalities in the U.S. from 2000 to 2010 because of drowsy driving. And those are only the fatalities we know about. Researchers believe that the number is actually much higher.

Our Los Angeles car accident lawyers understand that there are tests out there to see if a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Unfortunately, there's no test to see if a driver was drowsy at the time of an accident. And who's willing to admit they were at fault? The sad truth is not many. And that's why these kinds of accidents continue to endanger our roadways.

Lawmakers have even tried to enact laws to keep drivers aware. Motor coach and commercial truck drivers aren't allowed to spend more than 11 hours behind the wheel in one day. The problem there is that these drivers are the ones reporting their own hours. And we all know we can't rely on that.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), drowsy driving caused close to 4,000 accidents, more than 30 fatalities and over 2,000 injuries in 2010.

There are many underlying causes of sleepiness, drowsiness, fatigue and drowsy driving. They include sleep loss from restriction, interruption or fragmentation; chronic sleep debt; circadian factors associated with driving patterns or work schedules; time on task; the use of sedating medications; and the consumption of alcohol when already tired. These factors have cumulative effects and a combination of any of these increases crash risk greatly.

There are simple ways that you can help to eliminate your risks for one of these accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sleep is the best medicine. Before heading out, make sure you get a good night's sleep. If that doesn't work and you still find yourself drowsy behind the wheel, try drinking a couple cups of coffee and follow it up with a 15- to 20-minute nap. This can help to refresh your attention for a short period of time.

"It's just as bad as drinking and driving. As far as public awareness, drowsy driving is in the dark ages compared to that, but it's just as dangerous," said Mark Rosekind with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

So how serious is it?

According to researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), close to 5 percent of U.S. adult drivers say that they've nodded off or completely fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once while driving in the last month.

And these accidents are costly, too! One analysis estimated the cost of automobile accidents attributed to sleepiness to be between $29.2 and $37.9 billion.

Continue reading "Waking Up Drivers for Safer California Roadways" »

It's summertime!

And while that means some time off from school for our teens, it also means the deadliest time on our roadways for them. Teens will be out, carousing the town, spending time with friends and just hanging out. It's cause for serious concern for parents. According to education.com, more time spent driving also puts teens at greater risk of getting into a fatal car accident.

According to statistics, the month of May through June represent the 100 deadliest days for our teens to be behind the wheel. During this time, an average of 13 teens are killed every day.

Our Costa Mesa car accident lawyers understand that there's a good way to help combat this problem. Parents and guardians are asked to step in and talk with the young drivers in their family about the importance of safe driving. Parents are also asked to reduce the risks by enacting household driving rules -- to help strengthen the ones already in place in California.

Sound hard? It's not.

"This isn't about being harsh or overly strict; it's about being caring and loving and about taking parental responsibility seriously," said Phil Berardelli, author of Safe Young Drivers: A Guide for Parents and Teens.

Here are some simple safety tips to help keep your teen safe behind the wheel this summer:

-Set a safe example. Make sure you're displaying safe driving habits while your teen driver is riding with you. Parents are the most influential people in a teen's driving career. Make sure you're setting them up for success.

-Make sure they're getting plenty of practice. Ride along with your teen driver often. Experts say that newly-licensed drivers should have at least 100 hours or supervised driving time underneath their belt before setting off on their own. Make sure you're exposing them to all sorts of driving conditions, in all sorts of weather conditions.

-Stay in control and rule the road. Make sure you and your teen have a common understanding about what's expected of them behind the wheel. Make sure they have a curfew, they limit the number of passengers in their vehicle and they're aware of all road laws and rules.

-Make sure they know how to take care of their vehicle. Teach them basic maintenance techniques to help to avoid a breakdown or a potential accident. Teach them about tire pressure, checking their own, maintaining fluids under the hood and mirror maintenance.

-Talk with your teen about the dangers of drinking and driving. Although they may not be old enough to drink, it doesn't mean that they can't get their hands on alcohol and that they won't get behind the wheel. Better safe than sorry.

Continue reading "Keeping Teen Drivers Safe through 100 Deadliest Days" »

We're focusing on bicycle safety, and we're talking about your children. According to the Costa Mesa Police Department, there are hundreds of citations handed out each year to children for bicycle and pedestrian violations.

The most common of these violations include riding on the wrong side of the roadway, riding double (with a passenger), riding outside of a designated bicycle lane, not wearing or improper wearing of a bicycle helmet, riding motorized scooters, walking against "Don't Walk" signals and even jaywalking. Although receiving a citation might not be the most exciting experience, it's these citations that are necessary to ensure bicycle and pedestrian safety in our city.

The truth of the matter is that 52,000 bicyclists were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2010. Close to 20 percent (or about 9,000) of the bicyclists who were injured were age 14 and younger.

Our Costa Mesa bicycle accident lawyers are here to make sure that our youngest riders are safe out there. It's important that we're taking them out on rides and displaying the safety bicycling habits for them so that they can learn the best way to ride. Teach through example. When taking them out, make sure you're on a safe route. You can do this by checking bikemap.net. This website offers riders with the safest and most convenient bicycling routes in the area.

The next step to safe riding is to understand your role out there. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure you and your child are familiar with the laws in the area. We're here with the California Vehicle Code (CVC) to help you get a little more familiar with that:

-Bicyclists have the same right as drivers of motor vehicles.

-You may not ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

-On each bicycle, you must have a working brake, handlebars no higher than your shoulders, a white light in the front, a red reflector in the back, yellow or white reflectors on each pedal and you must be able to stop safely and place one foot on the ground when stopped.

-You must ride as far over on the right side of the road as you can. Riding against traffic is prohibited.

-If you're riding on the road at a speed that is slower than normal traffic, you might ride as close to the right-hand curb as possible.

-You are not allowed to ride more than one person on a bicycle.

-You are required to always keep at least one hand on the handle bars.

-Riders under the age of 18 are required to wear a properly-fitted helmet.

-You are only allowed to cross the road at a crosswalk.

-When signaling a turn, you must do so at the last 100 feet traveled before turning.

If you follow these safe laws, your riding experience can be a little bit safer. But don't remember to be on the lookout for other travelers who aren't following these laws. Unfortunately, we can't rely on the safe habits of others to keep us safe.

Continue reading "Teaching Our Youngest Riders Safe Biking Habits" »

What has two wheels, improves mobility and air quality, reduces traffic congestion and parking demand, saves energy, and promotes healthy living through enjoyable exercise?

Sound too good to be true? Planners, engineers, policymakers, and cyclists recognize these as benefits of bicycle commuting.

We've been talking about the importance of safe bicycling habits and the importance of motorists' attention on these vulnerable travelers. According to the Caltrans Division of Local Assistance, May is Bike Month 2013 and it's going to provide Californians and visitors with the perfect opportunity to give Active Transportation a try. But if you're new to two wheels, make sure you get to know the routine before heading out. You've got to be one step ahead of the traffic behind you, otherwise you'll find yourself at the mercy of someone's irresponsible driving habits.

The truth of the matter is that many times, bicycling just makes more sense than hopping in your car to get to where you've got to go. A little scared or intimidated? Don't know if biking is for you? Our Costa Mesa bicycle accident lawyers encourage you to participate in any of the bicycling events in the state for awareness month:

-May 1st is May is Bike Month Kick-off.

-May 8th is Bike to School Day.

-May 9th is Capitol Bike Fest. This event is held on the West Steps of the State Capitol.

-May 17th is National Bike to Work Day.

-Each and Every Day is please obey all laws and ride safely.

It's important for everyone to remember that bicycles on the roadway are, by law, vehicles with the same rights, and responsibilities as motorized vehicles. Not everyone thinks this way though. Unfortunately, our two-wheeled friends are oftentimes overlooked and completely disregarded. And that's why there are so many accidents. We need to remember that these travelers have rights too, and we've got to respect those rights as drivers.

According to recently-released statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 700 bicyclists killed in the U.S. in 2011. Unfortunately, that's a 10 percent increase from the number of bicyclist fatalities recorded the previous year. It's now more important than ever that we shine light on this deadly epidemic.

In addition to the hundreds who were killed in bicycling accidents in 2011, there were another 50,000 bicyclists who were injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout the year. Unfortunately, California ranked one of the most dangerous states in the country for these kinds of accidents. In 2011, we saw more than 110 bicyclists killed in the state. We ranked as the second most dangerous state in the country -- behind Florida.

We're asking you to stay safe out there. Don't rely on the safe habits of drivers to do it for you. Travel alertly, travel cautiously and travel safely.

Continue reading "SoCal Bicycle Accidents a May Focus" »

Our Costa Mesa accident attorneys know that bicycle riders and drivers face many challenges in sharing the road safely. One big issue is that cars often misunderstand the rights of bicyclists to be on the roads. A new campaign in Los Angeles is aiming to make a change to this by providing education for drivers.

According to the Center City Patch, L.A. bicycle rider advocates recently teamed up with the Metro, which operates buses and other transportation in the area. Metro will be helping to spread the message about bicycle safety as part of a special campaign running until the start of Bike Week L.A., which will be held on the 13th through the 17th of May.

The Campaign to Improve Bike Safety

Many drivers in Los Angeles believe that bicycle riders are permitted only in the bicycle lane and believe that these riders must stay on the far right bike lane whenever they are on the road.

The reality, however, is that this is not the case. California Vehicle Code section 21200 gives bicycle riders both the same rights and the same responsibilities of every other driver on the road. Further, section 21202(a)3) expressly gives bicycle riders the right to take a full lane if necessary for their safety. Bicycle riders may need to do this:

• To avoid unsafe conditions or obstacles including open car doors.
• When passing another bicycle, a car or a bus.
• When preparing to make a left turn.
• In order to avoid areas where right turns are being made.
• When keeping pace with the traffic.
• When the lane is too narrow for a bicycle rider to share it with a vehicle.

In these and other situations, drivers need to respect the right of a bicyclist to take a full lane. Unfortunately, many drivers don't know this and/or don't understand the law. The new campaign with Metro aims to teach drivers more about this bike safety rule.

The campaign is killed "Every Lane is a Bike Lane." Pictures indicating that bike riders can go in any lane will be printed in ads that are located on the back of 75 metro buses. There will also be 135 billboards and there will be commercial spots run on 21 local stations throughout the region.

The hope is that this will raise awareness of the Vehicle Code protections for bicycle riders so drivers of motor vehicles will give them their space and respect their positions on the roads.

Protecting Bicycle Riders
This "Every Lane is a Bike Lane" campaign is an important one because 39 percent of all roadway fatalities involve either bicycle riders or pedestrians, despite the fact that those who walk or ride make only 19 percent of the trips in the state. Hopefully, when drivers learn a little more about bicycle riders and about the rules protecting cyclists, the number of accidents and fatalities will decline.

Metro is also working to help educate bicycle riders as well. For example, traffic safety courses will be offered to help teach cyclists their responsibilities for safe diving.

By educating both drivers who cause bicycle accidents and the bicycle riders themselves, hopefully the 'Every Lane is a Bike Lane" campaign will make a real difference.

Continue reading "Campaign to Improve Bike Safety Launched in California" »

Drug abuse has been a problem among the teenage population for decades. Unfortunately, today many teenagers are not just experimenting with illegal narcotics but are also using prescription drugs in dangerous and illegal ways. A new study indicates that this type of prescription drug abuse among teenagers has increased significantly in recent years.

Our Costa Mesa personal injury attorney know that prescription drug abuse is a dangerous and even potentially fatal practice. Unfortunately, there may be doctors and parents who are supporting this type of dangerous behavior, which could help to explain why prescription drug abuse is on the rise.

More Teens Abusing Prescription Drugs

According to Web MD, the United States is currently involved in a "prescription drug abuse crisis among teens." This statement is based on a new survey indicating that around 24 percent of all high school students have abused a prescription medication. This adds up to more than five million high school kids throughout the United States. It is also 33 percent more kids than were abusing prescription drugs last year when the survey was conducted.

Kids use a variety of different kinds of dangerous prescription drugs, but 13 percent reported that they used an ADHD drug such as Ritalin or Adderall. These drugs can act as stimulants similar to speed and are often used by kids who want a competitive edge in their schoolwork. In some cases, parents will condone or support this prescription drug abuse to try to help their kids do well in school. In fact, an estimated 1/3 of parents surveyed indicated a belief that either Ritalin or Adderall could improve their child's performance in school even without an ADHD diagnosis.

Parents and kids can both pressure doctors to provide a prescription for one of these medications that may not be justified, which gets the doctor involved in facilitating prescription drug abuse as well. If something goes wrong, the doctor could potentially be blamed for the consequences of the prescription drug abuse if he was negligent in prescribing the drug and/or if knew that there was no legitimate need for the prescription medication.

ADHD drugs are, of course, not the only prescriptions that kids abuse either. The study indicates that both parents and kids seem to buy into the idea that misusing prescription meds is a safer way to get high than using illegal drugs. Further, 1/3 of the teens who were surveyed indicated that they don't think there's anything wrong with taking a prescription drug for a condition that had never been prescribed.

This is a dangerous trend, especially if the idea that it is OK to abuse prescription drugs becomes more mainstream. Parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing and need to become informed about the impact that different prescription drugs can have. Doctors should also be vigilant about identifying potential drug abuse and must make sure they do not give in to the demands of either a teen or a parent asking for a prescription without a legitimate medical need.

Continue reading "Prescription Drug Abuse Up Among Teens & Doctors Could Play A Role" »

Getting older brings with it many challenge but perhaps one of the most difficult for seniors to overcome is the loss of mobility. Not being able to get around any more can be devastating, especially as this can mean that it is no longer possible to live on your own.

For many seniors who are unable to drive any more due to age or infirmity, exploring other ways to get around becomes essential to continue to make independent living possible. Our Costa Mesa accident attorneys l know that sometimes these other solutions can be just as dangerous for the elderly as getting behind the wheel once they no longer can do so safely.

Pedestrian Car Wrecks Dangerous for Seniors
A senior who is no longer able to drive who wants to get somewhere on his own has few options. One option is to use public transportation, but this is an impossibility for many. In fact, Aging in Place, Stuck without Options, indicates that as many as 15.5 million seniors 65 and over have no access to public transportation at all.

With no ability to drive and no buses or subways to take, many seniors turn to their last final option that allows them to do things on their own. That option is walking. Seniors in more densely populated areas, in mixed-zoning areas and in closely packed areas are able to walk from place-to-place to get their needs taken care of and to talk to others. For many seniors, the option to walk is a lifeline that gets them out of the house as well.

Unfortunately, seniors who do decide to take a walk either for fun or out of necessity may find themselves in great risk of becoming involved in a pedestrian accident. USA Today demonstrated recently just how great the risks for seniors are. Unfortunately, based on the available CDC data, seniors ages 75 and older are more than twice as likely to die in pedestrian crashes compared with people ages 34 and under.

The Risks for Elderly Americans
There are lots of possible explanations for why more seniors die in pedestrian accidents than other populations. For example:

• Seniors may be more likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash. Impaired vision and other factors may cause seniors to do dangerous things like step in front of the path of cars.
• Seniors may be slower to get out of the way of a potential crash. While a younger and more dexterous person could potentially jump out of the way of the path of an oncoming vehicle, a senior might not be mobile enough to escape harm.
• Seniors may take longer to get across the street. If a senior walks more slowly and takes longer to get across, the senior is in the path of potential danger for longer.
• Seniors may have a harder time recovering when they are in an accident. Pedestrian accident injuries that may not have killed someone younger could kill a senior because he or she is not in as good of shape.

These are just some of the many possible explanations for the fact that senior pedestrians have a death rate that is so much higher. Ultimately, all drivers, all seniors and the family members of seniors all need to come together to find solutions and keep elderly Americans safe.

Continue reading "Elderly Pedestrians More than Twice as Likely to Die in Car Wrecks" »

When you think about deaths caused by bad weather, you probably assume that hurricanes, blizzards or tornadoes take the most lives. In fact, this is not the case. While these weather events get a lot of publicity and cause a lot of death and destruction at once, the number one cause of weather-related deaths is not a newsworthy natural disaster. It's traffic collisions.

Our Costa Mesa accident attorneys know that drivers are expected to operate their vehicles in a manner that is safe for the current weather conditions on the roads. Unfortunately, some drivers fail to account for dangerous conditions and they make bad choices that lead to serious accidents.

Car Wrecks Leading Cause of Bad-Weather Deaths

Recently, USA Today published an article on weather-related car accident deaths. The article indicated that people might hear of gruesome multi-car pileups caused by bad weather, but that they rarely if ever hear about the small one-and-two car crashes that routinely occur due to less-than-optimal outdoor conditions.

While the public may not be aware of these isolated fatal wrecks, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) now keeps track of them to determine the impact of weather on accidents. According to the FHA data, there are an average of more than 7,000 fatalities within the United States each year due to wrecks related to bad weather. This is almost as many as the 10,136 deaths that MADD reported occurred as a result of intoxicated drivers throughout the U.S. in 2011.

Despite the thousands of deaths each year, a program manager for the National Center for Atmospheric Research indicated that there was no information until recently about just how big of a problem weather-related accidents were. The National Weather Service's annual toll of weather-related deaths does not count these types of accidents among the weather-related deaths because the weather is not an active event in causing the fatality. NHTSA and others who keep statistics on car accidents also provide minimal information on weather-related accidents.

This new data from the FHA, therefore, may be the first information that we have that truly reflects the scope of the problem. Unfortunately, it shows that this is a serious public health issue.

Preventing Weather-Related Deaths
There are lots of different weather-events that can increase the chances of an accident occurring. In California, snow, sleet and ice are not problems that drivers have to cope with. However, fog and rain are both issues throughout California and these types of adverse weather can be every bit as deadly as a snow and ice covered road.

It is up to every driver to try to avoid weather-related accidents and the best way to do this is to ensure you adjust your speed and driving style so you are operating your vehicle in a safe manner in light of the weather. For example, if it is foggy or raining and visibility is affected, you should slow down and potentially even drive below the speed limit in order to avoid an accident. You should also increase the following distance between you and the car in front of you when the weather is bad.

By doing these simple things and by learning how to drive safely in fog and rain, drivers throughout California can do their part to bring the number of weather-related auto accidents down. Unfortunately, until every driver throughout the U.S. is aware of the dangers and responds to them by improving driver safety, it seems likely that car accidents will remain a top cause of weather-related deaths.

Continue reading "Traffic Collisions: The #1 Cause of Deaths Due to Bad Weather" »

Eating on the run has become a way of life for many people.

Whether you are grabbing a quick bite to eat on the way to dropping your kids off at after-school activities; having breakfast on the way to work; or gobbling a snack during the day, there is a good chance that you've dined in your vehicle recently. If you have eaten in your car, you aren't alone.... but you and the other dining drivers may be putting yourself at risk.

Our Costa Mesa accident lawyers know that eating while driving can be dangerous. Unfortunately, this type of distracted driving is common and many people choose to take on the risks that go with dining and driving. In fact, a recent UK study shows just how many people may be eating during their commute.

How Many Drivers Eat Behind the Wheel?

According to Automotive Fleet, a recent poll of 2,000 motorists in the United Kingdom took a look at the prevalence of people who eat and drive. According to the poll:

• Around 2/3 of all drivers admitted to eating and driving.
• One out of every 12 drivers indicated that eating behind the wheel is commonplace and that they eat as they drive between five and ten times every single week.
• Twenty-six percent of drivers said that they snacked behind the wheel but did not eat a full meal.
• Twelve percent of drivers said that they had their breakfasts as they drove.
• Nine percent reported that they consumed lunch behind the wheel.
• Four percent said that they ate their dinner or evening meal as they drove.
• Chocolate was the most common food consumed behind the wheel. Chips and sandwiches were the next two most commonly consumed items.
• Ready-made pastas and meals were among the top 10 foods consumed while driving.

This data shows that a high number of people are eating and driving every single day in the United Kingdom. These numbers are surprising because 77 percent of British drivers believe that it is dangerous to eat and drive, while 55 percent support making it illegal to eat while operating a motor vehicle.

Drivers who voiced their opinions on the dangers of eating and driving are right. It is risky to consume food while operating your car because you need to take your hands off of the steering wheel in order to eat and because you may also need to take your eyes off of the road. A portion of your brain energy is also going to be focused on eating, which means that you devote less of your attention to other cars on the road and to avoiding a crash.

Unfortunately, this is not just a problem in the United Kingdom either. It is likely that just as many people, if not more, are eating behind the wheel each day in the United States. These drivers are endangering themselves with this type of distracted driving and they are also putting others in harms way if they cause a crash as a result of being focused on their food instead of the road.

Continue reading "Eating a Primary Distraction Blamed for Traffic Collisions in Southern California" »

During the spring and summer, there are generally more 15-passenger vans on the road than at any other time. This is because these vans are often used by tour groups who enjoy summer weather, as well as by camps and churches who run summer programs for kids.

While 15-passenger vans may seem a useful way to transport mid-size groups of people, our Costa Mesa injury attorneys know that these vans are also a dangerous method of transportation. This is because 15-passenger vans are much more likely to be involved in rollover accidents.

NHTSA Warns of 15-Passenger Van Risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is so concerned about the high rollover risk associated with 15-passenger vehicles that it recently released a consumer advisory notice urging users to take appropriate precautions to prevent injury.

According to the advisory released by NHTSA, 15-passenger vans have a higher center of gravity than other types of vehicles. A high center of gravity can make the van top heavy and can make it more likely to roll over and end up with its wheels in the air and its roof on the ground.

Rollover accidents, while not as common as head-on crashes or side impact collisions, can be especially devastating types of accidents and typically cause more serious injuries or a higher number of deaths.

As of the risk of a serious rollover accident isn't bad enough, there are also other dangers associated with 15-passenger vans as well. For example:

• 15-Passenger vans are susceptible to problems with tires. Estimates indicate that an estimated 30 percent of all 15-passenger vans on the road have at least one tire that is not fully inflated. This can increase the chances of a van spinning out of control. It can also increase the risk of a rollover.
• 15-Passenger vans are often driven by people with little to no experience. While those transporting large numbers of passengers are required to have commercial drivers' licenses, there may be situations when the driver of a 15-passenger van is not required to have a CDL. In these cases, inexperienced drivers may operate these large and dangerous vehicles.

Passengers need to be aware of these risks and should be careful about knowing who the driver is before climbing aboard any 15-passenger van.

Avoiding Accidents
In addition to warning of the 15-passenger van risks, NHTSA also has some tips to prevent accidents in these vehicles. The tips include:

• Refraining from overloading the van.
• Ensuring that the van undergoes regular routine maintenance by qualified professionals.
• Inspecting parts, including suspension and steering components, as required by the manufacturer.
• Ensuring the van has the right tires and that the ties are properly inflated and not damaged.

By following these basic tips, those operating 15-passenger vans this summer can hopefully keep their passengers safe and thus avoid liability for auto accidents or rollover crashes.

Continue reading "SoCal Traffic Safety: 15 Passenger Vans Have High Accident Risk" »