Category: Car Accidents

With a new year on the horizon, CHP wants to remind motorists of a handful of new laws that go into effect in 2009. “The overall safety of the motoring public is our primary concern,” says CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Not only will these new laws enhance a motorist’s safety, many of them are a step toward ridding the roadways of drunk drivers and the tragedy they cause.” Below are the changes to driving regulations and vehicle equipment. Texting While Driving (SB 28, Simitian) This new law makes it an infraction to write, send, or read text-based communication on an electronic… Read More

Will wonders never cease? What an incredible website has now graced the Internet! www.reportdangerousdrivers.com is the ultimate in real life George Orwell (ianism). This site has special meaning to me since part of my practice revolves around representing fault-free people who’ve been injured at the hands of reckless drivers. I get enraged when I see the senseless physical and emotional pain that my clients go through because someone wasn’t paying attention or, worse, was driving erratically or angrily (can you say “road rage?”). This moment of dangerous driving changes innocent lives forever. From the home page of www.reportdangerousdrivers.com comes their description and reason for existence:… Read More

I was fascinated by the Associated Press report which begins with “Fatalities from vehicle crashes with deer and other animals have more than doubled over the last 15 years…” Click here to read the entire story. Being an animal lover, it pains me to think that the phrase “deer caught in the headlights” has real life and death consequences both for the deer and unsuspecting motorists and their passengers. But is it just the deer? What about farm animals who unwittingly escape the confines of the land in which they live? And the dog or cat whose owner turned their head for… Read More

I started thinking about road rage this morning when I read an article about an incident that recently happened in Florida. The woman, whose picture you see to your left, got a little upset when her boyfriend got into a road rage altercation with another driver and stabbed him to death! WPTV.com reports that “Sheriff’s detectives arrested Anusha Bissoon (DOB 2/22/80) at 1:30 this morning, which was half an hour after incident, which began as a fight over tailgating.” Read the entire police report by clicking here. Wikipedia provides a pretty thorough discussion of road rage. Of interest to you will probably be some of the… Read More

From practical to stylish, high tech companies worldwide are developing and marketing new hands-free devices to help you comply with the new hands-free cell phone laws in various states in the union.  Being an attorney who represents injured people, I’m thrilled to see the proliferation of these devices.  I can’t tell you how many clients will come to me after a devastating car accident and say “She/he was on the cell phone and didn’t see me.”  It reminds me of a case that I had several years ago where my client was rear-ended by a guy who was watching a… Read More

Have you been noticing the proliferation of the Daimler AG’s Smart Car recently? Sure, it gets great mileage, looks pretty cute and zips right along. But its recent emergence on the scene got me to wondering just how safe this little tiny car would be in a big crash. According to greencar.com, “The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently crash tested the 2008 smart for two and found it performed so well it earned the Institute’s best ratings for front and side crash protection. Plus, its rear crash worthiness was rated as “acceptable,” the Institute’s second-highest rating.” Read the complete IIHS report… Read More

I found an interesting article on the Helpguide.org website entitled Senior Citizen Driving: Warning Signs and Helping an Unsafe Driver to Stop Driving. The article details a great many issues of importance to senior drivers and those who love them: Risk Factors of Aging That Can Affect Driving Ability Warning Signs of Unsafe Driving Steps to Take if You’re Concerned About the Safety of a Senior Driver Talking to a Senior Driver Who Should Stop Driving When a Senior Driver Refuses to Give up the Keys Helping a Senior Adjust to Life Without Driving References and Resources for Helping an Unsafe Senior to… Read More

As you know by now, I’m a great proponent of the new California hands-free law which goes into effect on July 1, 2008. I blogged about it in May: Click Here. A corollary, of course, are my rants and raves about texting while driving: Click here, here, here and here. So, I’ve decided to post (yet again) on this subject and provide several useful links to articles, videos and hands-free equipment vendors below. What to Expect from California’s New Hands-Free Law: The Public Policy Institute of California writes the following press release: Update: 2009 Law Bans Text Messaging while Driving – See Video As of July 1, 2008,… Read More

Well folks, here’s the low down on the new California cell phone laws that go into effect on July 1, 2008 taken directly from the DMV Website. Whatever you do, do NOT drive while holding your cell phone – you need to be using hands free technology. And please, please don’t text while driving. Watch the DMV Video by Clicking Here Update: 2009 Law Bans Text Messaging while Driving – See Video Two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving go into effect July 1, 2008. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws. Q: When do the… Read More

Please view the photo album with caution. The photos in this posting are not for the faint-at-heart. For that reason, I am posting only one picture here and you’ll have to click here to see the rest. Please show these pictures to your kids and tell them in simple, emphatic words, don’t text while driving. Texting while driving could lead to death, or worse.