Recent Accidents Highlight the Importance of Automobile Safety

Automobile accidents like the ones that recently occurred in San Mateo County are far from uncommon on the roads in California.

2013-01-12

January 12, 2013 (Press-News.org) Recent accidents highlight the importance of automobile safety

Three men were recently killed in a car accident along Highway 1 in San Mateo County after the driver of the vehicle veered off the road and fell 40 feet off a cliff near Pescadero Creek Road. The driver of the car survived, but was seriously injured.

The California Highway Patrol has not determined the cause of the accident, but has ruled out the possibility that the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the crash. An investigation is underway.

In another recent accident, a bicyclist was seriously injured after being struck by two separate cars along Highway 1. The California Highway Patrol is also investigating this incident.

Automobile accidents in California

Automobile accidents like the ones that recently occurred in San Mateo County are far from uncommon on the roads in California. Statistics show that in 2011:
-There were 2,791 traffic fatalities around the state
-Over 400 motorcyclists died in accidents
-Around 600 pedestrians were killed after being struck by automobiles
-Almost 800 accident fatalities were caused because the driver was impaired by alcohol
-Speeding was the cause of 890 accident fatalities

Although many of the drivers in these accidents were killed, passengers in these vehicles account for a large percentage of accident fatalities.

Holding negligent drivers responsible

When you want to bring a lawsuit against a driver who has injured you in an accident, you must be able to prove that that driver was negligent. Some of the factors that the court will look at when deciding negligence include whether the driver was speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving recklessly, or engaging in actions such as not changing lanes in a proper manner or failing to signal when passing another driver on the road.

In order to prove that the driver who caused the accident was negligent, it helps to have a police report to show the court, which will detail what law enforcement observed and who police officers believe is responsible for the accident. In addition, if there were any witnesses to the accident, having statements from them can go a long way toward proving the other driver's negligence.

If you have been injured because of the negligence of another driver, you may be able to receive compensation for your troubles. Contact a qualified personal injury attorney who can advise you of your rights and help you file a claim against the other driver. You may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. In addition, you may be able to receive compensation for any damage that was done to your car during the accident.

Article provided by Anderlini & Emerick LLP
Visit us at http://www.afespilaw.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Legal Fatherhood in New York

2013-01-12

Legal fatherhood in New York All children deserve support from both parents, and the State of New York has a vested interest in protecting its children's interests. When parents are not married, legally establishing the father's paternity serves as a gateway to the rights and responsibilities associated with parenthood. How paternity is established A father can establish paternity at the time of a child's birth if both he and the mother sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity form. When an unmarried woman gives birth in New York, the hospital must provide this form ...

Parents, Grandparents Declaring Bankruptcy Because of Kid's Student Loans

2013-01-12

Parents, grandparents declaring bankruptcy because of kid's student loans Parents want what is best for their children, but sometimes they forget what is best for their own financial security. About 2.2 million borrowers over the age of 60 took out student loans last year, this is triple the amount for the same age group in 2005. About ten percent of these borrowers are delinquent on their payments. Financial analysts say that almost all of this debt is related to parents or grandparents taking out loans for their children's college education. Struggling parents applying ...

Court Gives Marital Rights to Out-of-State Domestic Partnership

2013-01-12

Court gives marital rights to out-of-state domestic partnership The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently handed down a ruling that will affect the parental custody rights of some same-sex partners in the state. The court ruled that a same-sex domestic partnership that was entered into in California is the equivalent of a Massachusetts marriage. Furthermore, the court decided that children that were born after the domestic partnership was entered into are legally the children of both the partners. About the case The facts of the case started when Miko Rose ...

Estate and Gift Taxes After the Fiscal Cliff

2013-01-12

Estate and gift taxes after the fiscal cliff At the end of 2012, many people scrambled to make gifts and changes to their estate plans in anticipation of big changes in estate tax laws. Thankfully, at what seemed like the final hour, Congress reached a deal that will allay the concerns of many people who have not yet updated their estate plans. Concerns about the fiscal cliff Many people were rightly concerned that unless Congress moved to change things, the estate tax would affect far more people and result in much higher federal estate taxes. This was because ...

Some North Carolina Crime Lab Analysts Not Certified

2013-01-12

Some North Carolina Crime Lab Analysts Not Certified With the rise in popularity of television shows featuring forensic scientists, people are becoming more accustomed to seeing scientific evidence as part of criminal trials. Juries almost seem to expect forensic evidence to be a major component of the state's case against a person facing criminal charges. North Carolina's crime lab may not be producing evidence as reliable as people think it is, however, since many of the analysts have not passed their necessary certification exams, according to state records. One-Third ...

Why It Is Important To Divide Debts In Divorce

2013-01-12

Why it is important to divide debts in divorce Couples that are going through a divorce have to face the difficult task of dividing up debts that were incurred during the marriage. This task can be particularly hard because it is common for one spouse to incur debt during a marriage that the other spouse has nothing to do with. But when married, debts incurred during the marriage are "marital debts" and therefore can be apportioned between the spouses in the divorce. Therefore, Colorado residents should be sure to divide debts when getting a divorce. Division ...

Domestic Violence Against Men: Steps Husbands Should Take

2013-01-12

Domestic violence against men: Steps husbands should take Domestic violence committed against anyone is wrong, but when men going through divorce claim they're the victim of domestic violence in court proceedings the claim is often interpreted as being disingenuous or as a power play. Husbands, like wives, can be the victims of the domestic violence. Recent data shows that more men are subjected to domestic violence than what is perceived by the public. The statistics regarding women and domestic violence are sobering. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic ...

Recent Study Sheds Doubt On DUI Checkpoint Effectiveness

2013-01-12

Recent study sheds doubt on DUI checkpoint effectiveness Colorado residents may have encountered a DUI checkpoint before, but according to a recent University of Maryland study, DUI checkpoints are not as effective as they were thought to be. The study finds that the checkpoints often fail to make any drunk driving arrests even though many drivers are pulled over and tested. The study also found that the checkpoints do not typically change driver behaviors. A DUI checkpoint is a point on the road established by officers who then pull over either every vehicle or a ...

Financial Steps Individuals Should Take To Prepare For Divorce

2013-01-12

Financial steps individuals should take to prepare for divorce A person going through a divorce can expect many changes, particularly with respect to his or her finances. When preparing for a divorce, it is important for people to plan for how the separation might affect their financial situation. Spending some time thinking about the financial future can be a huge help to people preparing for their lives post divorce. When getting a divorce, it can be important for each spouse to prepare a budget that plans for his or her new financial situation. Sometimes when couples ...

Icy Sidewalks Bring Lawsuit Risk for Missouri Homeowners

2013-01-12

Icy Sidewalks Bring Lawsuit Risk for Missouri Homeowners Winter is on its way, and that means that cold temperatures, snow and freezing rain will soon be facts of life for St. Louis residents. With this comes the risk of slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk. Nearly everyone has fallen on the ice at some point in their life. In most cases, the worst consequences are wet pants and a bruised ego. However, slip and fall accidents also have the potential to cause very serious injuries. Falling on an icy sidewalk could result in bone fractures, joint damage, back injuries, ...