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Car Accidents | Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie Blog - Part 4
Who is Most at Risk on California Roads?
Anyone who has driven a California road knows that accidents are a daily occurrence. Whether there is a delay on the I-5 or an intersection is blocked off by fire trucks, we often assume that there was a car accident. We try to tell ourselves that accidents happen to other people, that we are defensive drivers and know our streets better than everyone, but the reality is that an accident can happen to anyone. What is more troubling is that the risk of fatality varies depending on a number of factors, such as alcohol or drug impairment, distracted driving, and even age.
Who is Liable in a Food Delivery Accident?
Food delivery apps have become a major part of our lives, whether you want pizza on a Friday night or when you forgot to bring lunch to work. You can easily order food for an older family member who can’t get to the store or get that pancake special you have been craving but do not want to drive across town. But when you are on the road, you may dread seeing a speeding or distracted delivery driver.
Car Accidents in Construction Zones
Despite strict traffic regulations, construction zones are one of the most dangerous areas on a road. In the most recent year for which statistics are available, 754 people were killed in U.S. work zone crashes, as reported by the Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse. Among these accidents, there were 203 fatal wrecks involving large commercial trucks, and a total of 122 pedestrians and 124 construction workers were killed. In California alone, 65 people were killed in 56 fatal car accidents in construction zones in a single recent year.
Liability and Fault in a Pileup Accident
Multi-car pileups often happen when a driver rear-ends another vehicle and pushes it into the next vehicle, creating a chain reaction. This can become even more complicated if the original driver is rear-ended in turn by another vehicle, which may make it challenging to determine when the accident started. Other drivers may swerve to avoid the crash, sideswiping other vehicles and causing further accidents. When a tractor trailer rolls over, lying across several lanes of traffic, other vehicles on the roadway are likely to crash into it. These confusing – and often tragic –circumstances can make it difficult to determine liability.
OC Sheriff’s Department Ramps up Battle with Distracted Driving
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on distracted driving, as stated in its January 7, 2020 press release. In order to deter dangerous driving practices, the Department is requiring deputies to concentrate their patrols on identifying and pulling over drivers who use their phones while driving. While the fines for this crime are still rather low, the Department hopes that aggressive enforcement will help reduce distracted driving accidents.
SUVs Pose Less Accident Risk; However, Your Pickup Truck May Still Be a Threat
Back in the 1990s, people in cars and minivans were much more likely to die in a crash with an SUV than in a collision with another car or minivan. But in 2013 through 2016, there was only a slightly higher risk of death in a crash with a one to four-year-old SUV than in a collision with a car of the same vintage. This trend toward compatibility of cars and minivans with SUVs has been documented by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It has been attributed to new SUV designs with lower front ends and stronger structures and side airbags in cars and minivans.
The Statute of Limitations of California Car Accident Claims
A statute of limitations is a time limit imposed by law for filing a lawsuit, after which your claim is barred. California has different statutes of limitations for different types of lawsuits. For example, it is one year for libel or slander, three years for fraud, and four years for the collection of rents. For personal injury matters, including car accidents, the statute of limitations is two years.
Finding Peace After an Auto Accident
By Jim Ballidis
An automobile accident can be traumatic and frustrating. You may be the victim of a drunk or inattentive driver. That driver walks away from the collision unharmed while you suffer the consequences for months or even years afterward.
How can you regain peace while you’re recovering from an accident?
Do I Need an Injury Attorney or Can I Handle My Case Myself?
By Jim Ballidis
I hear this question often from prospective clients. Everyone tends to think “I can do it myself!” In the age of the DIY internet, I certainly have that opinion about a lot of projects I handle, unrelated to law. The idea is that if you handle the case, you can avoid any attorneys’ fees. Otherwise, why bother with the hassle?
Liability and Legal Concerns Regarding Self-Driving Vehicles
Every day people get into car crashes due to negligence, user error, bad reaction times, and just plain bad luck. In fact, according to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, 2.35 million Americans are injured or disabled in road crashes every year.
As it stands, if an individual suffers an injury following a collision with, or in, a vehicle as a result of a driver’s negligence, that individual would be entitled to make a claim for compensation against that driver’s insurance company.
Even if you aren't sure you have a case, give us a call at (888) 752-7474, or fill out our Free Case Review below.
We are here to help.
