Rear-End Collisions: Not Always Cut and Dried
When it comes to rear-end collisions, many people mistakenly think that the driver who did the rear-ending is automatically at fault. The state of California has a “pure comparative negligence” regulation. This means that each driver is assigned liability for causing the accident and the amount of compensation a driver is entitled to is determined by a liability assessment. If the driver who was hit is found to have contributed to the cause of the accident and that liability is assessed at 10% then as...
Bicycle Injuries on the Rise
The dramatic rise in gasoline prices has even more people riding their bikes to work as well as for recreation. Bicycle accidents continue to increase and unfortunately, the state of California has the highest rate of bicycle accident fatalities with over 140 each year. Most Common Causes of Bike Accidents Despite many urban and suburban areas having designated bike lanes, there are still a large number of accidents that occur involving bicycles and cars. Some of the more common causes of these accidents include: Dooring—opening...
Traumatic Brain Injuries Alter Life Dramatically
Your brain is the most vital organ to the functioning of your entire body. From every move you make to every breath you take to each plan you want to create your brain is central to accomplishing these and all other actions. That’s why an injury to the brain is so life-changing. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can affect every area of your existence: work and your ability to earn an income, relationships, and your physical well-being. Consider some of these common emotional, physical, and...
Help for Motorcycle Crash Victims
In sunny California, we’re lucky to have year-round good weather for biking. In the Sacramento area, some people use motorcycles for commuting to work as their preferred method of transportation. For others, taking their bike out on the road is a pleasurable break and a way to enjoy the great outdoors. Riding a motorcycle is not without risk, however. Each year the number of injuries and fatalities from motorcycle crashes in California continues to rise. Motorcycles offer less protection than cars. Drivers often fail to...
Auto Accidents and Our Young Passengers
We take extra precautions when traveling in the car with our children. From car safety seats that graduate with our young passengers’ growth to sunshades, and snacks, we do everything to make sure our kids are primarily safe, and secondly, comfortable. On the road, there are a multitude of motor vehicle laws that require we take very specific actions in order to protect children. For example, if a child passenger is under the age of 2, they must be riding in a rear-facing car seat,...
Who’s Responsible for an Unsecured Load Truck Accident?
That’s a tricky question. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specific regulations for loading and securing items onto the back of a commercial truck. These pertain to any cargo-carrying vehicle that contains a box, hopper, tank, or other similar device forming the structure of a truck operating in interstate commerce. These regulations dictate the amount of cargo allowed as well as how it is to be loaded, stacked, balanced, and secured. Causes of Unsecured Load Events A load that becomes unsecured and falls...
Facts about Motorcycle Accidents
One of the advantages of living in California is mild weather year-round—a big draw for those who love to ride motorcycles. A greater number of riders with fewer down days due to weather may also be the reason why in 2016, California recorded 566 motorcyclists killed in accidents, the highest fatality rate of any state for that year according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association. Across the nation, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that motorcycle fatalities occurred nearly 28 times more frequently...
Watch Out for Distracted Drivers
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can result in a spike in car accidents caused by distracted driving. Three common types of distractions can lead to a distracted driving car crash and holiday drivers can easily check the boxes for all of them: Visual Distractions Simply put, visual distractions are anything that takes your eyes off the road. Glancing at a holiday shopping list at a red light, looking at the radio display to learn who’s singing that Christmas carol, or turning to...
Nerve Damage After a Car Accident
One of the trickier injuries to diagnose and treat after a car accident is nerve damage. There are approximately 7 trillion nerves in your body, and they can be injured in many ways including being stretched, torn, or pinched. What accident victims often don’t realize is that nerve damage can happen not only in a major motor vehicle accident but even in the case of a minor “fender bender.” One of the most common car accident injuries—whiplash—can be the cause of nerve damage. Some other...
Simple Safety Checklist to Prevent Car Accidents
Each year thousands of car accidents are caused by a failure of some part of the vehicle. Many of these are from common maintenance items that could have been prevented. It’s important that you schedule regular maintenance on your car or truck. In addition, however, there are some basic parts of your car that you should check periodically to help prevent crashes. Below is a safety checklist for your vehicle. Tires There are two tests you need to do to prevent tire failure. To grip...
