Auto Collision | Northern California Personal Injury Blog - Part 5

California Highway Patrol Offers Teen Driving Safety Classes

By Kelly Balamuth on January 16, 2012

The California Highway Patrol is offering safety classes for teen drivers in north Sacramento and in Santa Maria in the coming weeks, according to news reports from KSBY and The Sacramento Bee. The classes are designed to help teen drivers understand the risks of driving and encourage safe driving habits by both teens and their parents.

The Sacramento classes are being offered on January 18 and February 16, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., at the California Highway Patrol’s Northern Sacramento office on Tyler Street in the Foothill farms area. The class, known as “Smart Start,” offers information on avoiding collisions, distracted driving, and drunk driving. Officers from the Highway Patrol will also be available to answer questions.

The Santa Maria class is being offered on January 31, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Maria post. Parents are also welcome to attend. The class will cover the consequences of crashes and crash avoidance techniques, feature a speaker who caused a fatal crash as a young driver, and have officers available to answer questions.

Drivers between ages 17 and 20 are most likely to cause serious accidents, even though they represent only four percent of the drivers on California roads. Safety classes can be especially helpful for teaching these drivers to keep themselves and others safe.

At Balamuth Harrington, our experienced Sacramento car accident attorneys are dedicated to helping victims with every stage of the post-accident process. To learn more about your legal rights and options after a crash, call us today at (888) 254-1234 for a free and confidential consultation.

New Traffic Camera Keeps an Eye on Red Light Runners

By Kelly Balamuth on January 9, 2012

A new traffic camera installed at the corner of Fell Street and Masonic Avenue in San Francisco will be keeping an eye on drivers who run the red light at this intersection, according to a recent article in The San Francisco Examiner. The camera will provide evidence of illegal turns and other traffic violations at the intersection, making it easier for law enforcement to ticket those who break the rules and put others’ lives at risk.

The intersection has been the site of many pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents in recent years. One accident, in December 2010, sent a bicyclist to the hospital.

Both Fell Street and Masonic Avenue are busy thoroughfares, making it difficult for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross the streets. Drivers who run the red light at this intersection are frequent, as are drivers who make an illegal left turn from Fell onto Masonic. Both situations increase the chances of a bicycle or pedestrian accident.

The intersection was revamped in 2008 to make signals clearer for pedestrians and bicyclists, but many drivers still pay only casual attention to those who aren’t in cars. The city hopes that the new camera will remind drivers to think twice before making any risky or illegal maneuvers.

When a car hits a pedestrian or bicyclist, serious injuries can result. If you’ve been in a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced San Francisco car accident injury attorneys at Balamuth Harrington to learn more about your legal rights and options. Our number is (888) 254-1234, and your call is free and confidential.

When It Comes to Distracted Driving, “Multitasking” Is a Myth, Says National Safety Council

By Kelly Balamuth on December 22, 2011

The National Safety Council (NSC) released a report this year exploring why distracted driving is responsible for so many accidents on U.S. roads and explains how the human brain processes tasks. It concludes that “multitasking” is a myth, and that drivers who are distracted by cell phones or other things while driving drastically increase the risk that they will cause a serious accident.

“Multitasking” has been a popular buzzword in recent years, as more people try to fit more activities, work, and play into the same number of hours in each day. Many employers say that they prize workers who can “multitask” by handling more than one thing at a time.

People who study the human brain, however, say that “multitasking” is a myth, according to the NSC. When it comes to paying attention and processing information, the brain doesn’t actually do two things at once. Instead, it switches back and forth between two things rapidly. Unfortunately, in the amount of time it takes to make this switch, a driver can miss any number of things – a changing traffic light, a stop sign, a ball rolling into the street – that he or she should have reacted to immediately. By the time the driver does react, it may be too late to prevent a tragedy.

Safe driving must be a priority for everyone on the road if we are going to minimize the number of serious car crashes that happen every year. If you or someone you love has been injured by a distracted driver, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Orinda car accident injury attorneys at Balamuth Harrington. We can help you investigate what happened and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For more information, call us today at (888) 254-1234 for a free and confidential consultation.

Mistakes to Avoid Behind the Wheel

By Kelly Balamuth on November 14, 2011

Statistics by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that teenagers are four times more prone to vehicle accidents than their older contemporaries, illustrating the need for teen driver safety. The reasons for that may range from simple lack of experience to distracted tendencies. That’s why Gary Tsifrin from Oakland, California’s DriversEd.com supplied the Chicago Tribune with a list of some of the more regular mistakes novice drivers make that lead to crashes. These pitfalls are certainly relevant to drivers of all ages, and should be noted and avoided accordingly.

Distracted Driving: The ever increasing stream of electronic distractions, from cell phones to text messages to GPS devices, barrage drivers’ attention. Anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road can pose a deadly distraction (this includes passengers, pets, and food).

High Risk Behavior: Abrupt lane changes, failure to yield, and speeding through changing signals all fall under this category, and can cause serious accidents.

Speeding: This is an obvious danger, but not obvious enough to deter drivers from doing it. The faster you drive, the less time you’ll have to react to a problem, and the more devastating an accident may be.

Packing Cars: For teens, more passengers equates to risky and dangerous behavior by drivers, according to studies by the National Institute For Highway Safety (NIH), Johns Hopkins, and the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS).

Failure to Stop: An average car requires from 120 to 140 feet to fully stop. Sport utility vehicles need an additional 5 to 10 feet. It’s essential to leave ample following room for the vehicle in front of you to stop.

Other common driver mistakes noted were neglecting to use seat belts, driving impaired or tired, and failing to keep up with car safety maintenance. If you’ve been injured in an accident you think was caused by another driver in Northern California, contact the Northern California car accident attorneys with Balamuth Harrington at 1(888) 254-1234.

California’s Primary Texting Law Sees Increased Enforcement

By Kelly Balamuth on October 26, 2011

For Californians, text messaging or using any handheld device while operating a vehicle has been a primary offense since 2009. Recent data shows that the law has yielded results in terms of heightened enforcement for the offense.

Data from the California Office of Traffic Safety shows that there were 7,924 texting citations in 2010. The number of citations is almost triple the amount observed in the year before, when the state enacted the law prohibiting texting while driving. Primary texting laws enable law enforcement to pull over drivers for texting alone, while secondary laws require an officer to have another reason (such as speeding) that prompts further investigation.

A representative told USA Today that the huge jump in texting citations for California was most likely a result of increased enforcement, and that the trend would probably continue due to increasing efforts on the issue. Officials say that texting ranks among the most dangerous driving risks. This epidemic of distracted driving causes nearly 450,000 accidents resulting in injuries on a yearly basis; it’s estimated that around 20 percent of all highway accidents involve distracted driving. And those numbers are growing.

In more comments to USA Today, a spokesperson for the DMV in New York reminded the public that prior to primary seat belt laws, few people buckled up. Now, over 90 percent of drivers and passengers are estimated to use seat belts. Let’s look for the same degree of positive change in the years to come with efforts to fight distracted driving.

Have you or a family member been injured in an accident involving distracted driving? Contact the Bay Area vehicle crash lawyers with Balamuth Harrington at (888) 254-1234 for a complimentary case review.

AAA: Parents Must Teach Teens Safe Driving

By Kelly Balamuth on October 24, 2011

Teenagers are among the most susceptible to car accidents. In fact, they have the highest accident rate of any driving demographic. But with proper experience, that risk can dwindle relatively quickly and make teens much safer drivers, according to new research released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The data shows that teenagers are approximately 50 percent more likely to cause a car accident in their first month on the road than they are in the entire following year of experience. The study also shows that progress is exponential, as new teenage drivers are two times more likely to crash than those who have been on the road for two full years.

The AAA data showed that speed, distracted driving, and problems yielding were behind 57 percent of all accidents for which teenagers were found at fault during the first month of driving legally. For that reason, AAA Northern California is urging parents to continue safe driving education efforts even after their teenagers obtain. The following advice is offered for families with new drivers on the road.

• Parents should continue to ride with new drivers and coach them on safe techniques after a license has been obtained. Specific practice should be done under parental supervision to avoid a weather-related car accident in in-climate conditions like rain and snow, as well as in challenging situations like dense traffic or winding rural roads.
• Passengers should be limited to mature family members in the initial driving period. Studies show that teenage drivers are more likely to crash when other teenagers are in the car. Limits should also be set for nighttime driving, which is another common time when accidents occur.
• Rules should be set and enforced by parents. A written agreement is a good way to document this.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Northern California car accident that you think was the fault of another driver’s recklessness, contact the Northern California car accident attorneys with Balamuth Harrington at 1-888-254-1234.

Bike Safely, Wear a Helmet!

By Kelly Balamuth on September 12, 2011

Northern California’s climate is favorable to bicyclists year round, but the warmer months see large increases in the number of riders on the road. Tragically, every year many cyclists accidents kill many cyclists and sent over a half a million to hospital emergency rooms for treatment. Recent studies show that nearly two-thirds of fatalities and one-third of all bike accident injuries involved trauma to the face or head. Helmets may decrease the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. Even so, only around 50 percent of cyclists wear them.

Helmets protect the head by absorbing the energy of an impact to minimize or prevent head injuries. Riders should pick a helmet that fits snugly but comfortably on the rider’s head. The helmet should always be worn level on the forehead, not tilted back, forward or loose. A loose or improperly positioned helmet may fly off or shift and do nothing to protect the head in the event of an accident. Most helmets include a tightening back strap as well as customizable padding to make the fit personal to the user. When a parent is buying a helmet for a child, it’s important the child is present to try it on and to make sure it fits properly.

For adequate protection, the helmet must also be equipped with a chin strap and buckle that will stay firmly fastened. The strap should be totally fixed; no mixture of pulling or wriggling should remove the helmet or unfasten the strap.

If you’ve been injured in a Northern California bicycle accident that you think was caused another party’s negligence or recklessness, contact the Northern California auto accident attorneys at Balamuth Harrington. Call 1-888-254-1234 for a free review of your case today.

California Combats End of Summer Impaired Driving with Labor Day Weekend Drunk Driving Campaign

By Kelly Balamuth on September 2, 2011

As part of a nationwide measure by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the state of California is gearing up for enhanced enforcement against drunk and drug-impaired driving for the final weeks of summer, its finale being Labor Day weekend. The national plan is called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” effective from August 19 through September 5, and utilizes a combination of “high-visibility enforcement and public awareness messaging,” according to the NHTSA.

Law enforcement officials and State Highway Safety Offices are working together during this campaign. While all states are unified by the national vision, specific approaches are detailed on the administration’s website. For California, the Golden State’s 41 countywide Avoid DUI task forces, in addition to 111 individual local authorities, are manning special checkpoints and saturation patrols spanning 98 percent of the state’s collective communities. Every one of the 41 task force areas have issued individual publicity releases and are running press events. The California Office of Traffic Safety is also involved, utilizing recent DUI fatality data to assist in promoting the clampdown in statewide releases.

For Labor Day weekend specifically, the California Highway Patrol is organizing a “Maximum Enforcement” campaign that puts 80 percent of available law officers on the roads. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Northern California car crash that you believe was the result of an impaired driver’s negligence, contact the Northern California car accident lawyers at Balamuth Harrington. Call 1-888-254-1234 for a complimentary case review.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Oakland

By Kelly Balamuth on August 29, 2011

Like all cities with a large volume of vehicles on the road, there are many causes of car accidents in Oakland. Here are some of the most common.

Distracted driving: One of the deadliest and highest producers of crashes is frequently categorized into three areas: 1) when drivers remove their eyes from the road, 2) when drivers takes their hands off the steering wheel), and 3) when drivers allow their minds to drift away from the road. Using handheld devices is often considered among the most treacherous forms of distracted driving, as it engages all three of these areas. The NHTSA reports that there were 5,474 deaths and approximately 448,000 injuries due to distracted driving-related vehicle accidents during 2009.

There are many other possible causes of car accidents, including but not limited to the following:

Driving while fatigued: This can cause a driver to fall asleep at the wheel, which often results in a crass. This is one of the most regular triggers of truck accidents, as truck operators often drive long hours in order to complete deliveries on-time or ahead of schedule.

Speeding: The faster drivers travel, the less reaction time they have if they need to react quickly to avoid an accident.

Drunk driving: Unfortunately, drivers who operate their vehicles under the influence of alcohol make up approximately 40 percent of all vehicle accidents in the United States. There were 10,839 deaths resulting from drunk driving-related accidents in 2009.

Reckless driving: When a driver is operating aggressively or without regard for the safety of surrounding drivers, i.e. changing lanes too abruptly or following too closely, accidents are more likely to ensue.

Car manufacturing defects: Faults in car manufacturing can produce defects that may lead to crashes.

Natural elements: Rain, fog, ice, badly maintained roads, etc.

If you have been involved in a car crash that you think resulted from another driver’s wrongful actions, contact the Oakland car accident lawyers at Balamuth Harrington. We can help you understand your legal rights, as well as the options available to you based upon your situation. Call 1-888-254-1234 for a free review of your case.

San Francisco Family Wins $29 Million in Fatal Car Accident Suit

By Kelly Balamuth on July 29, 2011

The Sacramento Bee reports that a San Francisco family has been awarded $29.2 million from the state as well as the defendant in a suit over a fatal car crash. The defendant fell asleep at the wheel and crossed over the center line into oncoming traffic, crashing head-on into a car carrying one adult and three children. Two of the children were killed and the other paralyzed from the waist down. The mother of two of the children who was driving suffered injuries that required a two month hospital stay.

The jury said that the defendant was mostly to blame for the Northern California car accident and they convicted him of second degree murder as well as requiring him to pay $9.2 million in damages. The man was charged with murder rather than manslaughter because he had been previously convicted of killing two people in a crash where he also fell asleep in 1994. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The other $20 million of the settlement will be paid by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) because the jury found that the road was unsafe. According to the victim’s lawyer, there have been multiple fatal accidents on the same stretch of highway but Caltrans has failed to install a median barrier or make other improvements to make the hilly, two-lane road safer. Caltrans has now put in a median barrier on part of the highway.

As is evident in this case, when drivers are negligent, they can cause serious or even fatal injuries and should be held responsible for their actions. The car accident lawyers in San Francisco at Balamuth Harrington have the experience necessary to help you get compensation for damages caused by a negligent driver. Contact us today to see how we can help you. Call 1-888-254-1234.