California Injury Lawyers Blog

According to the National Safety Council, about 287 traffic fatalities are expected during the 3.25-day holiday period that runs from 6pm on December 23 through 11:59pm on December 26. (Giving this figure a 90% confidence level, this means there could be anywhere between 220 to 365 traffic deaths in total. About 28,700 injuries requiring medical attention (or between 22,000-36,500 injuries) are expected.

"Although the holidays are among the least likely time when you want to be dealing with the aftermath of a California motor vehicle accident, the sooner you contact an Orange County, Ca personal injury law firm to begin exploring your legal options, the better," said Howard Law PC partner and Anaheim car accident attorney Vincent Howard.

The traffic death estimates for the 2012 New Year's Eve holiday period beginning the evening of December 30, 2011 through 11:59pm on January 2, 2012 include: about 297 traffic fatalities (with 249 to 353 deaths likely) and approximately 29,700 injuries requiring medical consultation expected (with 24,900 to 35,300 injuries likely).

Wearing a safety belt can help prevent traffic deaths. So can other preventive measures:
• Don't drive drunk
• Stay in defensive driving mode
• Pay attention when driving
• Don't follow another vehicle too closely
• Try to avoid traveling during peak traffic hours
• Make sure your car is up to date on all maintenance before driving away in it for the holidays
• Watch out for other drivers who may be impaired
• Avoid texting while driving
• Use a hands free phone if you must make or take a call while driving
• Avoid speeding
• Adjust the way you drive to current traffic and weather conditions
• If you are going to go to an area where there is snow, bring chains and other appropriate vehicle gear
• Avoid driving if you are exhausted or in a food coma

Unfortunately, the holidays, which should be a time for celebration and togetherness, can also be among the more dangerous periods on the road. With people rushing to different parties, clogging up the highways in an effort to visit family and friends, and drunken revelers thinking they are sober enough to drive, the traffic and road conditions can prove deadly.

In an effort to combat some of these conditions, police will be stepping up their efforts to crack down on inebriated drivers. Their attempts will be mirrored nationwide with the 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaign. Although nationally the number of drunken driving deaths has gone down, alcohol is still a factor in one in three US traffic deaths.

Christmas Day 2011 and New Year's Day 2012 Holiday Period Traffic Fatality Estimates, National Safety Council

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' Crackdown on Drunk Driving, NHTSA, December 13, 2011

More Blog Posts by Howard Law, PC:
NHTSA Reports 2,715 California Traffic Fatalities in 2010, California Injury Lawyers Blog, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 15, 2011

NTSB Wants All States to Ban Cell Phone Driving, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 13, 2011

Costa Mesa Woman Arrested in Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident May Have Been Intoxicated, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 7, 2011

Continue reading "National Safety Council Estimates 287 US Traffic Deaths During the 3-Day Christmas Period" »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 2,715 California motor vehicle traffic deaths last year, which is 375 fatalities less than in 2009. These figures are in line with the overall decrease in motor vehicle deaths experienced nationwide. Per the NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 32,885 US traffic fatalities in 2010--the lowest number since 1949 when there were 30,246 deaths.

"Obviously, a decline in motor vehicle fatalities is good news any day of the year, but any death that happens on a California road is one too many," said Anaheim Personal Injury Attorney Vincent Howard. "We at Howard Law, PC, hope this decrease continues."

Safety officials are likely hoping for the same, as law enforcement agencies step up their efforts during this holiday season to crack down on drunk driving. This week, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the country's 'Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over' campaign. While 2010 data reported a decline in drunk driving fatalities last year--there were 791 California alcohol-impaired driving deaths (down from the 924 fatalities in 2009) and nationally, there were 20,228 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2010 (down from the 10,759 deaths in 2009)--alcohol is still a factor in one out of every three traffic deaths in the US. In Los Angeles County alone, during last year's holiday season, 276 people were arrested for possible drunk driving and 197 were arrested for driving under the influence.

In Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County, California, our Huntington Beach motor vehicle crash lawyers are familiar with the devastation that being involved in an accident can cause for those involved and the emotional, financial, and physical toll this can take. We help victims and their families recover compensation for the harm they have suffered.

Other 2010 FARS Traffic Safety Facts:
• 22,187 passenger vehicle deaths
• 529 large truck fatalities
• 4,502 motorcycle deaths
• 4,280 pedestrian deaths
• 618 pedalcyclist fatalities

Except for large truck deaths, which were 30 more than in 2009, and pedestrian fatalities, at 171 more in 2010 than during the year before, the other types of motor vehicle deaths all dropped in numbers. It is important, however, to note that the total number of those injured in US motor vehicle crash injuries went up slightly, with 2.24 million traffic injuries in 2010 (up from 2.2 million in 2009.)

2010 Motor Vehicle Crash Overview, FARS, NHTSA, US Department of Transportation (PDF)

State motor vehicle fatalities, 2010, FARS, NHTSA, US Department of Transportation (PDF)

More Blog Posts:
NTSB Wants All States to Ban Cell Phone Driving, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 13, 2011

Costa Mesa Woman Arrested in Newport Beach Pedestrian Accident May Have Been Intoxicated, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 7, 2011

Deadly Air Bag Defect Prompts Honda To Recall Another 273,000 Autos,
California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 30, 2011

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports 2,715 California Traffic Fatalities in 2010" »

The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that every state ban drivers from using cell phones and other electronic devices unless there is an emergency. The recommendation comes following the board's finding that a deadly Missouri multi-vehicle pileup last year that killed 2 teenagers and injured 38 others involved a motorist who sent or received 11 texts in an 11-minute time span.

Although the NTSB cannot make the states adopt regulations, lawmakers do seriously consider its recommendations. The board's recommendations come less than a week after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its findings from its national survey on distracted driving. In California, except for school bus drivers and drivers under 18, other motorists are allowed to talk on cell phones as long as they aren't holding the device in their hands. Statewide, no one is allowed to text while driving. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean that there aren't motorists that continue to talk on handheld devices or that they have stopped texting. At Howard Law, PC, our Anaheim car accident lawyers are familiar with the devastation that distracted driving can create in the lives of victims and their families.

According to a government phone survey released last week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Most drivers don't think it's dangerous for them to text and drive--although they don't think its safe when other drivers are the ones texting.
• Approximately 50% of US drivers in the 21-24 age group admit to having texted or emailed while driving
• At any moment, nearly 1 out of 100 motorists can be found emailing, texting, or doing something else with a handheld device while operating a motor vehicle at the same time. The frequency of these distracted driving activities have gone up 50% more than in 2009
• Most drivers don't see a problem with answering the phone while driving
• Over half of the motorists surveyed said they don't think making a phone call affects their driving performance
• A quarter of them had the same opinion regarding how emailing or doesn't affect their driving
• 90% don't feel safe if they are riding in a vehicle where the driver is emailing or text messaging

6,002 respondents in the 18 and over age group participated in the NHTSA's survey.

The NHTSA says there were 3,092 US distracted driving deaths in 2010. Currently, there are 35 states that have a statewide ban on texting.

"Unfortunately, most people still don't fully comprehend that seemingly harmless behavior, such as making a phone call or sending a text message, is dangerous conduct when done in conjunction with operating a motor vehicle," said Howard Law, PC partner and Orange County, California personal injury lawyer Vincent Howard. "It can take just a few seconds, while one's attention is focused on a PDA or a phone, for a devastating crash to occur."

NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving, CNN, December 13, 2011

National Distracted Driving Telephone Survey Finds Most Drivers Answer the Call, Hold the Phone, and Continue to Drive, NHTSA, December 2011

More Blog Posts:
Huntington Beach Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit Accuses Police Officer of Talking on Cell Phone While Driving, California Injury Lawyers Blog, October 10, 2011

Huntington Beach Car Crash Lawsuit: Driver Rear-Ended in Accident That Killed Baby in Crosswalk Sues Distracted Driver, California Injury Lawyers Blog, September 29, 2011

Number of California Car Crashes Not Going Down Despite Handheld Cell Phone and Texting while Driving Bans, Says HLDI, California Injury Lawyers Blog, January 30, 2010

Continue reading "NTSB Wants All States to Ban Cell Phone Driving" »

Gerald and Darlene Goens have filed separate Orange County, California personal injury claims against the city of Huntington Beach. Darlene was riding her bike last July when she fell off after her tire got stuck in a pavement crevice on a beachfront boardwalk.

She fractured her leg and was forced to undergo surgery. In her Huntington Beach bicycle accident claim, Darlene is alleging Orange County, California premises liability. She says that the area in front of the Beach Hut concession where she was cycling was paved with cement sections that had been joined together but that whatever was supposed to keep the different parts together had deteriorated. She is seeking Huntington Beach injury compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity.

Darlene's husband Gerald is also seeking Orange County, California injury damages for the emotional trauma he suffered from the accident. He also wants compensation for loss of consortium.

Loss of Consortium
The spouse of a person who got hurt because of another party's negligence may be able to obtain damages for loss of consortium. The husband or wife doesn't need to have been involved in the Orange County, California personal injury accident in order to sue for damages.

Although in theory "loss of consortium" refers to losses resulting from limited sexual activity between two people that are married, this type of claim can also refer to loss of companionship, affection, emotional support, love, comfort, society, love, and services.

When someone gets hurt, he/she may not be able to enjoy/live life in the same way as before the accident, which can have an effect on loved ones. Loss of consortium allows the spouse to seek damages for his/her own Huntington Beach personal injuries sustained as a result of his/her significant other's injuries.

The serious injury/death of one person can take a financial, emotional, and psychological toll on loved ones and there is no reason why you shouldn't be compensated for the harm that you also have suffered. In California, to file this type of civil case against a government entity, such as a city, you must first file an Orange County, Ca. injury claim first before you can go ahead and sue. This first step gives the government a chance to respond before taking the claim into litigation.

City and other local governments are responsible for maintaining public roads and walkways so that they are free from any hazards that could cause serious injury or death. Even when filing a claim against a government entity you should be represented by a Huntington Beach personal injury law firm that knows how fight for the maximum recovery possible.

Claims: H.B. responsible for bicyclist's boardwalk spill, OC Register, November 18, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Woman Files Laguna Beach Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Against the City, California Injury Lawyers Blog, September 7, 2011

Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Lawsuit Seeks Damages from City Over Man's Orange County, California Wrongful Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, June 23, 2011

Woman Charged in Fatal Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Was Drunk and Texting, Say Authorities, California Injury Lawyers Blog, April 16, 2011

Robin Ellen Levinson, a community services officer with the Laguna Beach Police Department, is suing the city for Orange County, California personal injury. Levinson suffered physical injuries when she crashed her electrical bicycle in February 2010.

Levinson blames the city for her Laguna Beach bicycle accident. She claims the city failed to properly maintain Eagle Rock Way and did not remove the root deformity, which her bike ended up hitting. This caused her to lose control of the bicycle and she was thrown off it.
Per a California Highway Patrol report, Levinson sustained a shoulder fracture, a broken hip, bruises, and abrasions. The report noted that there is no designated bike lane on Eagle Rock Way.

Earlier, the city denied Levinson's Laguna Beach personal injury claim, contending that she did not "exercise ordinary care" and caused her own accident. (Prior to being able to file a civil lawsuit against a city, the injured party must first file a claim that will either be resolved or denied.)

Levinson, who had to take time off from work to recover, is claiming about $1.5 million in losses. She says the city should be responsible for her medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning capacity, rehabilitation, future medical bills and lost wages, and other compensatory damages.

Road defects can prove dangerous for motorists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists, which is why it is so important that such safety hazards are repaired immediately. Common road defects:

• Potholes
• Turns in roads that cannot properly accommodate the legal speed limit
• Merging lanes that are too short
• Inadequate road width
• Improper signage
• Inadequate grading
• Trenches
• Uneven lanes
• Malfunctioning stop signs
• Blind intersections
• Corners with blind spots
• Inadequate speed limits
• Absence of a sidewalk
• Poorly designed roads
• A tree placed too close to the curb edge
• Inadequate road construction warning signs

Interstates, highways, and streets in California are maintained by the city, county, another local government, or the California Department of Transportation. These parties are among those that can be held liable for injuries or deaths caused by a road defect.

Poor road conditions can cause catastrophic Orange County, California car crashes with devastating results. Medical and recovery expenses can be astronomical and there may be a loss of wages and benefits because the victim had to stop working to recover. There are also the life-altering changes that you and your family may have to live with as you cope with a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or a loved one's death.

You will want to work with a Laguna Beach car accident law firm that knows how to prove liability on the other party's part.

Police Department employee sues city over bike accident, Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot, September 1, 2011

City of Laguna Beach

More Blog Posts:
Trucker Charged with Murder in 2009 La Cañada Flintridge Truck Accident Files Los Angeles County Personal Injury Over Angeles Crest's Allegedly Unsafe Road Conditions, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 31, 2011

Latest Orange County, California Claims Filed in Baby Pedestrian Death Blame Huntington Beach for Crosswalk Deficiencies, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 30, 2011

$40M Huntington Beach Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims Seek Damages From City Over Fatal Orange County, California Pedestrian Accident that Killed 3-Month-Old Girl, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 18, 2011

The family of Michael Nine is suing the city of Newport Beach, Harbor Ridge Master Association, and Harbor Ridge Estates Maintenance Association for his Orange County, California bicycle accident death. The Santa Ana man died from injuries he sustained when he hit a truck on the morning of July 15, 2010.

The 43-year-old cyclist was with a group of riders traveling from Tustin to Irvine to Newport Coast and Fashion Island when the Newport Beach traffic accident happened on Spyglass Hill Road close to the Harbor Ridge development. Nine wasn't able to swerve around a gardener's truck that was blocking the southbound uphill lane near the Harbor Ridge development.. At the time, the cyclists were moving at about 40 mph.

In their Orange County, California wrongful death lawsuit, Nine's widow and children are claiming that the city of Newport Beach did not set up warning signs or safe sight lines and that the existing signage was "confusing" and was an "unreasonable risk of harm" to others. They claim that the two associations also failed to set up routine signs and warning signs to stop accidents--despite other crashes having occurred in or around the same area. Nine's family also contends that the association did not let public agencies know about the roadways poor condition.

Also a defendant in the Newport Beach wrongful death case is the truck driver, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence. Nine's family is seeking damages for medical, legal, and funeral bills, loss of his earning capacity, as well as the losses of his services, support, society, advice, consolation, training, love, companionship, and comfort.

The Nine family's case is an example of why it is so important to make sure that you are represented by an experienced Newport Beach bicycle accident law firm. There may be multiple parties who should be held liable and you want to work with a legal team that knows how to prove liability against all those who were negligent. There is a lot of work to be done to start building your case, including the gathering of key accident evidence as soon as possible. Your Orange County, California injury law firm will also need to talk to any witnesses and possibly retain the right experts to prove your case.

Cycling Victim's Family Files Lawsuit, Coronado Del Mar Today, June 21, 2011

Driver pleads guilty in fatal Spyglass Hill Road crash, Daily Pilot, February 8, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Bicycle Rules and Safety, California DMV

Bicycle Safety Tips, California Department of Transportation

More Blog Posts:
Woman Charged in Fatal Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Was Drunk and Texting, Say Authorities, California Injury Lawyers Blog, April 16, 2011

Driver Charged in Deadly Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Had Received at Least 16 Traffic Ticket Citations Since 2005, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 24, 2011

Preventing Orange County, California Distracted Driving Accidents: CHP Cracks Down on Cell Phone Use and Text Messaging In Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, and Westminster, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 10, 2011

Authorities say that Danae Marie Miller, the 22-year-old Newport Coast woman charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated in the Newport Beach car crash that claimed the life of 44-year-old bicyclist Amine Britel last February, was text messaging when the collision happened. Miller, who has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charge, has an extensive record of traffic citations going back to 2005, including one for using a cell phone. Her pretrial hearing is scheduled for next month.

The Orange County district attorney's office says that on the day of the Newport Beach bicycle accident, Miller consumed alcohol at Zinc Café, where she worked. Almost two hours after the deadly collision, her BAC was .10%

Our Anaheim car accident lawyers reported on this tragic accident soon after it happened last February. Read that blog post for more details.

Texting while Driving
Texting while driving is a dangerous activity to engage in regardless of whether or not one is intoxicated. Some have even called texting more dangerous than drunk driving.

Texting prevents a driver from fully paying attention to the road and traffic. It also requires part of the brain function required for driving a motor vehicle. A person who is texting likely has at least one if not both hands off the steering wheel. Now imagine a driver who is texting and also impaired from having consumed too much alcohol and you'll get a sense of how dangerous that person can be on the road.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a car crash because someone else was texting and/or drunk, you may be able to sue for Orange County, California personal injury damages in civil court. Our Newport Beach injury lawyers know that while no amount of money can make up for your injuries or the loss off a loved one, it can allow you to hold the responsible party liable and help cover some of your resulting financial costs.

Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Crash That Killed Cyclist, Newport Beach Patch, April 15, 2011

Driver Charged in Deadly Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Had Received at Least 16 Traffic Ticket Citations Since 2005, California Injury Lawyer Blog, February 24, 2011

More Web Resources:
Texting Is More Dangerous Than Driving Drunk, The New York Times, June 25, 2009

Distracted Driving, U.S. Department of Transportation

More Blog Posts:
Preventing Orange County, California Distracted Driving Accidents: CHP Cracks Down on Cell Phone Use and Text Messaging In Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, and Westminster, California Injury Lawyer Blog, February 10, 2011

Orange County, California Car Accident Involving Dropped Cell Phone Leaves One Woman Dead and Three Men with Injuries, California Injury Lawyer Blog, February 16, 2009

According to police, the 22-year-old driver being blamed for the Newport Beach bicycle accident that claimed one man's life on Monday had received at least 16 traffic citations since 2005. Now, Danae Marie Miller has been booked on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Miller is accused of striking a bicyclist on San Joaquin between Spyglass Hill Road and Newport Ridge Drive West. The victim, 41-year-old Amine Britel, died at the scene. Meantime, Miller failed a field sobriety test.

Her past traffic citations include tickets for talking on the cell phone, speeding, wrong way driving, following too closely, operating a vehicle faster than the conditions warrant, making an unsafe turn, and neglecting to stop at stop sign.

Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Cases
As an Orange County, California bicycle accident victim, you may be entitled to financial recovery from the liable parties. Serious bicycle accident injuries can include head trauma, internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and disfigurement.

Bicyclists are at a huge disadvantage anytime they are involved in an Orange County, California traffic crash with another vehicle. Injures are frequently catastrophic and costly. Our Newport Beach injury lawyers work with a team of professionals that knows how to prove who was at fault in causing your bicycle crash and what acts of negligence may have transpired.

Is there more that safety officials can do to keep bicyclists safe? Findings from a new study, found in Injury Prevention, report that the answer to this question may be yes. Researchers say that when bicyclists ride in bikes-only lanes, they have a 28% lower rate of injury. With only 20 miles of bike-only tracks, this safer alternative may be something that US safety and transportation officials may want to consider.

Driver in fatal accident had multiple tickets, Daily Pilot, February 22, 2011

Separate Bikes-Only Lanes in Cities Cut Injury Rate: Study, Bloomberg Businessweek, February 17, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Injury Prevention

California DMV

More California Injury Lawyer Blogs:
California Truck Accident Lawsuit Filed in Bicyclist's Wrongful Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 22, 2010

Los Angeles Bicycle Accident: Mayor Villaraigosa Undergoes Surgery to Repair Broken Elbow, California Injury Lawyers Blog, July 20, 2010

Family of Bicycle Accident Victim Who Struck Her Head After Hitting Defective Lane Divider Settles California Wrongful Death Lawsuit for $2.4 Million, California Injury Lawyers Blog, June 18, 2010

Continue reading "Driver Charged in Deadly Newport Beach Bicycle Accident Had Received at Least 16 Traffic Ticket Citations Since 2005" »

This week, California Highway Patrol officers in Orange County have been cracking down on drivers caught text messaging or talking on cell phones that aren't hands-free devices. This type of enforcement is important in preventing Orange County, California car crashes caused by distracted drivers--many who don't fully grasp that phone conversations and texting while driving can be dangerous. These latest CHP efforts took place in Westminster, San Juan Capistrano, and Santa Ana, California.

Although the texting and handheld phone bans have been in effect for some time, many people still can't resist the urge to make an important phone call or catch up with a friend while caught in traffic. In 2010, the CHP gave out 397 texting-while driving citations and 11,367 citations to motorists who talked on cell phones that were not hands-free. Also, last year, the Automobile Club of Southern California put out a study that showed that the level of texting while driving seemed to actually go up after the ban went into effect.

Our Westminster, California personal injury law firm cannot emphasize enough the risks motorists put themselves and others in when they text while driving or talk on a handheld device. Distracted driving has become an "epidemic" to the point that for the last two years, the US Department of Transportation has hosted gatherings focused on combatting this problem.

Meantime, the National Safety Council released a white paper pointing out that talking on a hand-free cellular device was also dangerous because this too requires that the brain multitask, which a person should not be doing while driving. Per the white paper, a driver on any type of cell phone may "look at" but fail to "see" up to 50% of the information in his/her driving environment. This type of "inattention blindness" can make it difficult for a motorist to spot potential hazards and respond swiftly and properly.

CHP officers on the lookout for drivers violating cell-phone laws, OC Register, February 9, 2011

The National Safety Council Releases White Paper on Brain Distraction During Cell Phone Use While Driving, National Safety Council, March 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving

California Highway Patrol

Related Blog Posts:
$49.2 California Car Accident Verdict Awarded to Driver's Family and CHP Officer Who is Now a Quadriplegic, California Injury Lawyers Blog, January 28, 2011

Allstate Says 12/15 is Day California Car Accidents are Most Likely to Occur, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 6, 2010

16-Year-Old Cypress Pedestrian Dies from La Palma, California Car Accident Injuries, California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 6, 2010

Continue reading "Preventing Orange County, California Distracted Driving Accidents: CHP Cracks Down on Cell Phone Use and Text Messaging In Santa Ana, San Juan Capistrano, and Westminster" »

A 13-year-old student was injured this morning when he was hit by two cars. The boy was walking to Santiago Middle School when a Toyota 4Runner struck him. The impact of the Orange, California car crash pushed him into the path of Land Rover Discovery, which also hit him. He was transported to Western Medical Center for treatment of his moderate trauma injuries.

Also today, a woman was fatally injured in a Lake Forest car crash. The victim was driving a 2009 Hyundai Accent when her vehicle crashed with a 2007 Toyota Tacoma. She was pronounced dead at Mission Hospital.

Huntington Beach police say that earlier this week, a 44-year-old bicyclist was left in critical condition after he was struck by a car along the Pacific Highway Coast on Sunday night. Newport Beach resident Glenn M. Moore, the driver of the Honda Accord that struck 44-year-old Richard Lauwers, was apprehended and booked on suspicion of causing injury while driving under the influence. One witness says that the Accord and a 2006 BMW sedan had been racing right before the traffic crash happened. The vehicles collided and drove down an embankment, which was where the Accord struck the cyclist.

On Sunday morning, 18-year-old Paige Armstrong-Maltos was killed in a traffic crash on I-5 close to Crown Valley Parkway. The Concordia University student was a passenger in a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria that collided into another vehicle and then crashed out of control. The driver of the Crown Victoria, a 24-year-old Costa Mesa male resident, was reportedly moving at a high speed. The vehicle rolled over several times and Armstrong-Maltos was ejected from the vehicle.

Our Anaheim injury lawyers know that legal issues are likely the last subject that you want to be dealing with as you cope with your injuries or your loved one's death. However, in the event that you do have grounds for an Orange County, California personal injury case, it is important that the lawyer that you retain begin preparing your claim as soon as possible.

Boy, 13, walking to school hit by 2 cars, The Orange County Register, January 14, 2011

SigAlert issued after woman killed in Lake Forest crash, OC Register, January 14, 2011

Former Fresno Christian basketball star dies, Fresno Bee, January 9, 2011

Bicyclist hit by car remains critical, The Daily Globe, January 12, 2011

Continue reading "13-Year-Old Pedestrian is Struck in Orange County, California Car Crash by Two Vehicles " »

Eugene Grant Duke has filed a Huntington Beach personal injury claim for injuries he sustained during an Orange County, California bicycle accident. The 56-year-old local was riding his bike over the railroad tracks when he fell off it and landed on the concrete.

Duke says he suffered serious facial injuries, as well as fractured his cheekbones and right thumb. He also claims that his vision was impaired. Duke says that his Huntington Beach bicycle accident injuries required reconstructive surgery and stitches.

In his Orange County, California injury claim, Duke is seeking $250,000. He says that he fell off his bike because its front tire got stuck between two rubber surface mats. He contends that the city of Huntington Beach failed to properly inspect and maintain the mats.

Orange County, California Bicycle Accidents
Bicyclists only have their protective clothing and helmet to protect them during any type of traffic crash. This means that a fall off the bike or a traffic accident can result in serious injuries.

It is important that motorists remember that bicyclists have just as much right to use the roads as they do. Also, both drivers and cyclists must obey the different traffic laws. It is also up to the city (or whatever entity that is tasked with this responsibility) to maintain all roads and other areas that cyclists and motorists must travel. Road defects, debris, or faulty traffic signals cause serious injuries and deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site says that over 500,000 people a year are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle accident injuries. Common bike injuries can include:

• Abrasions
• Cuts
• Bruises
• Fractures
• Teeth injuries
• Facial injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal injuries
• Broken bones
• Death

Claim: H.B. man ejected from bike wants $250,000, The Orange County Register, January 10, 2011

Bicycle Related Injuries, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Related Web Resources:
Bicycling Info

City of Huntington Beach, California

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The family of Lauren Perdriau Ward is suing truck driver Gabriel Manzur Vera and his employer Randazzo Enterprises for her California wrongful death. Ward, a 47-year-old bicyclist, died last month when her bicycle collided with the large truck.

According to Ward's family, Vera was negligent when he drove his semi-truck directly into Ward's path without warning and that not only did this violate her right-of-way, but also it caused her death. Ward's husband and two children are seeking compensation for economic and non-economic damages. and they would like their California truck accident lawsuit to go to a jury.

Meantime, the California Highway Patrol has issued a report finding that Vera was not at fault in the deadly collision. According to the CHP, Ward, who was riding her bicycle to the big rig's "immediate left" in the same right lane of the road, "unsafely turned." She and her bicycle then dropped in front of the truck's second axle. However, the Ward family's California tractor-trailer crash lawyer says that there are experts, including scientists, who disagree with the CHP's findings.

This is not the first time that Randazzo and Vera have been sued over a fatal truck collision. In March, they settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the parents of John Myslin, who was killed in 2007 bicycle accident for $1.5 million. Police also did not find Vera at fault for this California 26-wheeler truck accident. Also, in 2003 Vera was involved in a fatal truck accident with Annette McDaniel, who drove into opposite lanes and crashed head-on into his vehicle.

Department of Motor Vehicles and court records show that over the last 12 years, Vera has been involved in a number of truck crashes. He was not found to be at fault in many of them. He also has received moving violations.

Trucking companies are responsible for making sure that they hire and retain safe and experienced drivers to manage their large trucks. Failure to do so can be grounds for a California truck crash lawsuit if someone gets hurt or dies. Even if a trucker is not found criminally liable for a large truck accident, he/she can still be held liable in civil court.

Family of Los Altos Hills cyclist files wrongful death suit against trucker, demolition company, Mercury News, December 22, 2010

$1.5 million settlement reached in death of Santa Cruz cyclist, teacher John Myslin, Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 17, 2010

Trucker was in three fatal crashes, All Business, November 18, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The Truck Safety Coalition

According to Allstate Insurance Company, more Californians crash their motor vehicles on December 15 (when there is a 23% jump in the number of accident claims above the daily average) than on any other day of the year. Allstate says it reached this conclusion after reviewing its auto insurance claims in the state over the last four years.

According to Robert Feldman, a Los Angeles Allstate agency owner, holiday shopping, weather, travel, and other distractions may be causing this rise in California car crashes. Allstate says the other worst days of the year for California car accidents are February 14, October 13, December 18, and September 5.

There are ways to decrease the chances of an Orange County, California car accident while driving regardless of the day of the year, including:

• Don't text message
• Don't talk on a handheld cellular phone
• Stop playing with the radio dial or fidgeting with the iPod
• Don't drive drunk
• Don't speed
• Adjust your driving to the traffic and weather conditions
• Don't drugged drive
• Obey the traffic laws
• Don't drowsy drive
• Don't distracted drive

To show you that a decrease in traffic fatalities is possible even when the odds are against it, the California Highway Patrol reported 11 traffic crash deaths during the first 60 hours of the Thanksgiving holiday period--that's 8 less deaths than during the same period for 2009. Thanksgiving is the holiday that is considered the most dangerous for US motorists.

Unfortunately, negligent motorists are not the only parties that can cause an Anaheim car crash. Trucking companies, auto manufacturers, and the state or local entity in charge with maintaining a street and its traffic devices have all been known to cause catastrophic injury accidents because of negligence or carelessness.

December 15 is Most Dangerous Day for California Drivers, PR Newswire, December 6, 2010

Thanksgiving traffic deaths down this year, The OC Register, November 27, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Allstate

California Highway Patrol

Continue reading "Allstate Says 12/15 is Day California Car Accidents are Most Likely to Occur " »

According to a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, 41% of drivers who were surveyed have admitted to nodding off or falling asleep at the wheel. 11% said such instances of drowsy driving occurred to them last year. The AAA study says that drowsy driving is a factor in 16.5 % ( that's one in six collisions) of the deadly US motor vehicle crashes occur. 2,000 US residents that are old enough to drive were surveyed over the phone for the study. Among the findings:

• Men and teens are the groups most likely to fall asleep while driving.
• When a traffic crash was involved, men were 61% more likely than women to have been drowsy driving at the time.
• Young drivers (ages 16 to 24) were 78% more likely than middle-aged drivers to feel drowsy right before an auto accident.
• In more than 50% of drowsy driving crashes, the driver ended up going off the road or drifting into other lanes.

Our Anaheim car accident lawyers are familiar with the catastrophic consequences that can result from drowsy driving. Although the drowsy driver likely never intended to cause your Orange County, California personal injuries you still may have grounds for a case.

One reason that drowsy driving is so dangerous is that drivers don't realize that sleep deprivation and fatigue can turn a motorist into a dangerous driver. Driving while sleepy can impair the vision, fog the mind, negatively affect reaction time, impair judgment, and slow down a motorist's ability to process information. A drowsy driver may not even realize he/she has fallen asleep--even if just for a few seconds. That said, it takes just a few seconds for a tragic car crash to happen.

Symptoms of a drowsy driver:

• Heavy eyelids
• The need to blink often
• Problems focusing
• Difficulties focusing your attention on the task at hand
• Lane drifting
• Sudden swerving
• Driving over rumble strips
• Short-term memory lapses
• Missing traffic signs or exits
• Constant yawning

This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. If you are feeling drowsy you should stop driving.

Study shows drowsy drivers behind the wheel, Los Angeles Times, November 7, 2010

Drowsy driving crashes prevalent, but preventable, University of Michigan Health System, November 8, 2010

Be Aware: Drowsy Driving Prevention Week 2010, Sleep Foundation/PR Web, November 5, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Drowsy Driving Prevention Resource Center, National Sleep Foundation

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Continue reading "Drowsy Driving Causes 16.5% of Deadly US Traffic Crashes, Says AAA Study" »

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is recuperating following surgery over the weekend to treat his right elbow, which he broke during a Los Angeles bicycle crash on Venice Boulevard on Saturday. According to his spokeswoman, Sarah Hamilton, the surgery was a success and the mayor is expected to make a complete recovery.

The Los Angeles bicycle accident happened early in the evening when a taxi reportedly stopped in front of the mayor, who was forced to step on his bike brakes. He then fell off his bicycle.

The taxi driver did not stay at the Los Angeles traffic crash site and no one was able to obtain the cab's license or the name of its taxi company. This latest incident will likely further push the mayor to step up efforts by the city and local enforcement officials to make the streets safer for bicyclists.

Although Los Angeles has always been more car-friendly, city officials are hoping to change this. In June, the Planning Department put out its bicycle plan update for Los Angeles. Goals include providing convenient and safe bicycle routes for riders of all levels. Villaraigosa says that the City intends to build 1,663 miles of bikeways. In the meantime, Los Angeles cyclists continue to remain very vulnerable to motorists, which is unfortunate since it is the riders who are at greater risk of suffering the more serious injuries during a Los Angeles bicycle crash with a motor vehicle.

Granted, cyclists too can be at fault for causing a traffic crash. There are, however, many cases when it is the driver of a car, truck, motorcycle, or bus, or another party who should be held liable for the Los Angeles personal injuries sustained by a bicyclist.

Mayor Villaraigosa undergoes surgery for fracture after bike accident, Los Angeles Times, July 18, 2010

Bikes Belong On LA's Streets, The Huffington Post, July 19, 2010

Related Web Resources:
LA Bike Plan Update

California Bicycle Coalition

Continue reading "Los Angeles Bicycle Accident: Mayor Villaraigosa Undergoes Surgery to Repair Broken Elbow " »