fatal vehicle collisions | Northern California Personal Injury Blog

Strict CA Traffic Laws Can’t Curb Costly Auto Accidents

By Kelly Balamuth on September 9, 2010

The costs associated with the many car accidents across the U.S. amount to hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Often these crashes are caused by the of another motorist or a third party somehow associated with the crash (such as the manufacturer of a defective car part). Despite California’s stringent traffic safety laws, California motorists are no more immune to auto accident injuries than any other motorists are in the country.

According to a mercurynews.com article, the United States has a crash death rate of 15 to 16 fatalities per 100,000 people. Many European countries have stricter traffic laws as well as harsher penalties for violations of those laws. Compared to those countries, the United States has about twice as many fatalities (i.e. Europe boasts an average of about 7 to 9 fatalities per 100,000 people).

When motorists choose to disobey traffic laws, they place everyone on the road in serious danger. In California, cell phone laws are put into place to curb distracted driving practices. Seat belt laws are mandated in order to give motorists as much protection as possible in the event of a crash. Even sobriety checkpoints are intended to remove impaired drivers from our roads to prevent accidents from taking place.

In Alameda County, motorists who have been convicted of driving while under the influence may be required to install an ignition interlock system in their vehicle. However, there are still a large number of drivers on Northern California roads who choose to drive in a reckless manner, either while under the influence or simply while being inattentive. Fortunately, motorists who have been injured in a Northern California car accident do have the right to hold negligent parties responsible for the crash.

For more information about car accident victim’s rights, please contact the Northern California personal injury law firm of Balamuth Harrington, LLP. Our experienced car accident attorneys will fight for your rights in a court of law to ensure you are awarded the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, please call 888-254-1234 today.

Financial District Multiple Muni Bus Crash Kills Man

By Kelly Balamuth on April 23, 2010

According to a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, two buses killed a 49-year-old pedestrian when the buses crashed into each other pinning the man between them. Somehow the buses separated, but the second bus ran over the man trapping him underneath the bus wheels.

One witness said the first bus pushed the male pedestrian into a bike rack, before pinning the man into the front of the second bus. After the buses separated, the man fell against the ground, but the witness said that the second bus could not have avoided running over the man. Other witnesses said the pedestrian was struck by the two buses as he was trying to hail a taxi cab at the intersection of Mission and Beale Streets.

Rescuers were forced to use a hydraulic jack to lift the second bus, and to crawl underneath the bus to detach the man from the front end of the bus. Shortly after the accident occurred, the pedestrian died of his injuries at San Francisco General Hospital.

Both of the bus drivers were also taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries. Police will test them for traces of alcohol and drug use. The cause of the bus accident in San Francisco is still under investigation.

Pedestrians injured in Northern California motor vehicle accidents may have grounds for personal injury lawsuits that may make them eligible to receive money to cover the costs of their injuries as well as compensate for their pain and suffering. Balamuth Harrington, LLP has over 15 years experience in assisting Northern California injury victims as well as families of deceased victims recover full and just compensation. We care about our clients. We understand that filing a lawsuit on behalf of a deceased loved one can be a painful experience. We have the legal knowledge and experience to handle difficult cases such as these, no matter how complex.

Balamuth Harrington, LLP San Francisco injury attorneys get results for our clients in Northern California personal injury and wrongful death matters. For a free legal consultation, please contact our offices at 888-254-1234.