Posted on September 05, 2016 in Car Accidents

You read that correctly; certain driving behaviors can actually increase your chances of being in a collision by four hundred percent. According to the California Highway Patrol, distracted driving behaviors--particularly the use of a cell phone--increases your chance of being in a car accident by 400 percent, and makes it 23 times more likely for you to be at risk for collision. Those are pretty astonishing statistics, but the fact that so many drivers continue to text and talk on their phones while driving sadly implies such driving behaviors are not taken very seriously.

Dangerous Driving Behaviors that Put You and Others in Harm’s Way

Sending one single text requires the average person 4.6 seconds of their time, and driving at 65 miles per hour and texting for a mere three seconds is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field completely blindfolded. Although using your cell phone in any way, shape, or form while behind the wheel is the most dangerous and the most commonly talked about distracted driving habit, other behaviors such as eating, interacting with other passengers, and fidgeting with the radio put you at serious risk for accident and injury as well.

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 Posted on August 29, 2016 in Premises Liability

Labor Day is a public holiday that occurs on the first Monday in September. Typically, it is a federal holiday where government workers and schools all have the day off. The holiday was created as a part of the labor movement and celebrates the economic and social development of American workers. It continues to be a national tribute to the workers who have made contributions to the well-being of our country. Many consider it to be the last day of the summer season, and therefore celebrations often include barbecues and other outdoor parties. These festivities can turn a fun day of celebrating into a lifetime of recovery for anyone injured due to the neglect of an uncaring host, which could also lead to premises liability claims.

What Can Go Wrong?

The sun is shining, the weather is a perfect temperature, and the gang is all together. When the host lets their guard down, relaxes, and begins to neglect the responsibility of safety to their attendees, disaster can strike. There may be plenty of areas that need further consideration rather than relaxation. Looking around and not including the proclivity of alcohol consumption, there are:

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 Posted on August 22, 2016 in Personal Injury

If you or a loved one has recently suffered an injury due to the negligence of someone else, you have likely been visiting health professionals in an attempt to get back to normal. For this, you are spending your time and hard earned money to resolve something that was not your fault. That does not seem very fair, does it? The person who is at fault should pay for the damages they have caused. This principle is the basis of personal injury claims.

Civil Court

There two types of cases in the American court system: civil and criminal. Personal injury cases are tried in a civil court because a civil court is where private citizens or companies can take action against one another. No criminal laws are addressed here. Unlike criminal cases, there is no right to a court-appointed attorney, so you will need to secure your representation. Judges, commissioners, or juries decide the verdict. Decisions are on the amount of the evidence but the believability of one story over the other.

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 Posted on August 15, 2016 in Car Accidents

When an auto accident occurs, families are left to deal with the aftermath. If the accident results in the death of a loved one, many families are severely affected in every aspect of their life, from the pain of the loss to the costs incurred and the life-long lasting memories of the event. After the occurrence of a fatal car crash, families often seek answers and assistance in putting a new version of their lives back together.

What Happens to the Families

Accident numbers have been on the rise in the last couple of years. In California alone, over 3,000 fatal car accidents were reported in 2013. Not only is a family likely reeling from an unexpected loss of a significant portion of their life, they then are forced to make a quickly pull together a funeral, make necessary repairs, and attend doctor’s appointments themselves. If the victim earned the primary source of income, the family may also face:

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 Posted on August 08, 2016 in Car Accidents

All drivers must re-evaluate their driving abilities and skills as they age. Mental acuity and physical strength change and decline as we grow older, putting us and others we share the road with at greater risk for car accidents and injuries. Re-assessing our abilities on a continual basis over periods of time is key to knowing where we stand behind the wheel.

Tips for Prevention

It is important to constantly be alert to any physical and mental changes that may affect our ability to operate a vehicle, and more importantly, to recognize which skills we need to work on to improve our driving as we adjust to those changes. Whether you are aging yourself or you have a loved one who is growing older, here are some ways you can help prevent an accident on the roadways:

• Keep your vision in check - Be sure to stay up to date on your vision tests by visiting with your vision specialist regularly. The California DMV does not require you to see a vision specialist if you have an existing vision condition as long as it is stable, they have a record of it, and you are able to pass the required vision test for operating a vehicle;

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 Posted on July 25, 2016 in Personal Injury

Summer is quickly coming to an end, and the children will soon be on their way back to school. Registration periods are upon us, as are school shopping lists and teacher introductions. Although the summer has been full of vacations for many, the relief of going back into the usual school-year routine washes over parents across the United States. Certainly, toward the back of the minds of these families is the potential for school zone accidents.

Potential Hazards

For the purposes of this discussion, the definition of a school zone is not strictly limited to the drivable area surrounding a school, but anywhere that a family entrusts the life of their child to school personnel. School zones additionally include the school bus, the route to school, anywhere on campus, and anywhere that is considered to be the property of the school. The top three hazards across the country that result in injuries and even death to our nation’s schoolchildren are:

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 Posted on July 18, 2016 in Car Accidents

When it comes to shaping car accident and injury statistics on the highways, taking a proactive approach through the use of driver’s education is proven way to reduce the number of incidents and fatalities. This is especially the case in terms of youth-related accidents and injuries. Young drivers present a hazard for numerous reasons; not only are they inexperienced, they are more distracted today than ever before.

The Dangers Associated With Young Drivers

Distracted driving and driving under the influence are very real threats on the roadways, particularly where young drivers are concerned. Interacting with other young passengers, the pressure to drink or do drugs at parties or at friends’ houses and then drive, plus distractions from various devices all make it very easy for young drivers to lose focus or make poor decisions behind the wheel. This, in turn, puts everyone on the roads in danger, emphasizing the need for everyone, no matter what age or walk of life, to play a role in prevention.

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 Posted on July 11, 2016 in Dog Bites

Dog bites can range anywhere between virtually harmless to life-altering. Facial dog bites have the potential to be more traumatic than other areas on the body. Not only are the wounds more visible than other areas of the body, there is also the possibility of a longer recovery time and even permanent damage. If you have been the victim of a dog bite attack that resulted in facial wounds, it is imperative that you follow key steps to increase the likelihood of recovering the full damages at trial or through a settlment.

Why Are Facial Dog Bites More Traumatic?

When a dog does choose to bite a human, nearly three times out of four they will bite an extremity. Statistics have shown that approximately 71% of dog bites result in injuries to the arms, legs, hands or feet of a human. This may be true for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that our survival instinct is to reach out to protect ourselves from danger, thereby giving the animal something else to grab besides our face or neck. However, if you consider the features of an arm versus all of the features of a face, you will be able to recognize several delicate areas that are essential to daily activities. Consider for a moment the following senses that would all be affected should a sensory organ become damaged:

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 Posted on July 04, 2016 in Motorcycle Accidents

When we hear about motorcycle accidents on the roadways, the news often revolves around other drivers and how they are at fault for collisions with motorcyclists. While it is true that drivers must exercise special caution when operating vehicles around motorcyclists, those riding motorcycles can have just as much of an impact on highway safety. We all share the roadways, and we all have a part to play.

What You Can Do as a Motorcyclist

The California Highway Patrol reports that Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System data has shown a continual increase in motorcycle fatalities since 2011. The CHP’s motorcycle safety program exists to help equip riders with the education, skills, and tools they need to take responsibility for their part on the roads as they operate and interact with other drivers. 

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 Posted on June 27, 2016 in Car Accidents

Each year, an increasing amount of individuals are opting to utilize mass transit services. In 2014, the number of Americans who used public transportation were found to be the highest in 58 years. There are several benefits for those who make the decision to forgo their own personal vehicle and opt to use public transportation. However, the increased usage of this mode of transportation also includes a shift in accident statistics, including a rise in mass transit injury reports. In many situations, the injuries in these types of accidents can be severe and even catastrophic, and victims may be left unsure of what to do next.

Benefits of Public Transportation

Mass transit is comprised of many forms of travel, including but not limited to: buses, trains, and light rail. The benefits of using public transportation are numerous and include such considerations as:

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