Danger on the Road

Vehicle accidents have devastating effects on all parties involved in it, especially the injured victims. It becomes even more dangerous when the gas tank is hit and damaged, which could trigger an explosion or the vehicle to burst into flames.

This happened exactly in San Diego, California where a man died and two other victims were injured when the vehicle ignited after another vehicle rammed its back. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the car accident.

Reckless driving often results to serious and fatal car accidents. Sometimes, accidents are caused by people who drive in excessive speeds to reach their destinations immediately. Others make stupid decisions by driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Car accidents can happen all the time. Safety is the key to avoid it. He should use his seatbelt when he is driving. He should drive slower when the road is wet or there is ice. He should also take note of potholes or road bumps.

The Influence of DUI: A Car Accident Case

Actions of drivers while they are driving out on the streets should always be guarded because even a simple mistake made by them cause serious problems to others.

Just like the incident that led to a short chase in Chula Vista involving a 30 year old driver that was suspected to be driving under the influence alcohol. The chase ended when the suspect lost control and crashed into someone’s house, which had caused major destruction to some of the properties.

It is fortunate that no one was physically injured in the incident.

Drunk driving is one of the most common causes of vehicle accidents. Such accident can be avoided if drivers will follow established traffic laws. A little effort on their part can save others from facing property damages, sustaining injuries, or even death.

Establishing Fault in a Car Pileup Accident

A car pileup or a multiple vehicle crash is a devastating vehicle accident, often involving several victims with extensive damage to vehicles or properties.

Take the case of a car pile up accident that occurred in France’s A4 Motorway and involved 28 vehicles, including a tractor-trailer and two buses.

About 39 people were injured while one died as a result of the multiple vehicle crash. Some 230 rescue personnel and police officers also rushed to the scene of the accident to help the victims.

In vehicle accidents like this, one may ask – whose fault is it?

Under the tort law, comparative responsibility in accidents such as this applies. This principle applies not only to accidents caused by negligence but to intentional torts as well.

By comparative fault, the participation of each party in the accident is assessed and the fault of each one is determined and established. In this way, the fault is divided by percentage among the parties and accordingly, the amount of damages for the plaintiff.

Proving and establishing comparative responsibility in a car pileup accident may be an intricate process. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer will ensure protection of your rights during the process.

Drunk Driving, Bike Accidents and the Elderly

What could be more tragic than being struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated motorist while cruising on a motorcycle with your fiancée on a great weekend?

The article, “Riverside Drunk Driving Accident Kills Motorcyclist”, posted on October 16, 2008, mirrors this tragic incident involving a motorcycle and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Riverside County.

According to the article, the motorcycle enthusiast and his fiancée were crossing an intersection after attending the 2008 American Heat Motorcycle Weekend in Palms Spring, when a SUV turned in the its path. The bike was “broadsided” by the vehicle, causing the rider and his companion to be thrown off the motorcycle during the collision.

As a result, the rider suffered more than his fiancée who had only minor injuries and survived the crash while the rider died later from severe injuries sustained in the accident. To make it worse, it was learned that the couple were engaged to be married next year.

Investigations revealed that the driver of the SUV was a 76-year old man whom the police later arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving, later amended to vehicle manslaughter following the death of the accident victim.

Authorities have noted a recent upsurge in motorcycle accidents, which may be attributed to the increase in the number of people who use motorcycles as cheaper means of transportation in the midst of rising fuel prices.

Consequently, bike accidents have also increased. Considering that motorcycles are dangerous enough to use, it has become even more lethal with the added factors of a drunk elderly losing control of a vehicle in an intersection.

Drunk driving is considered as one of the major causes in many vehicular accidents. Many teen and adult drivers are guilty of violating the road safety regulation on drunk driving.

If you happen to become a victim of a vehicle accident caused by negligence or recklessness such as drunk driving, consulting with a skilled personal injury lawyer can help from the damages wrought by the accident on your life.

DUI, Elderly Victims, and Vehicle Accidents

Vehicle accidents involving drunk drivers are commonplace occurrence and there seem to be no end to the number of innocent victims, harmed or killed, in DUI-related incidents.

In the article,”Woman Charged in Church Van Drunk Driving Accident”, posted on August 20, 2008, some factors tended to complicate matters as two elderly women were among those injured.

The collision involved a car driven by an intoxicated woman and a church van carrying seven members, most of them elderly, from the Light Oak Missionary Baptist Church.

Luckily, for the van passengers, including the two elderly, they suffered only minor injuries but the vehicle was damaged extensively.

According to the article, the female driver of the car that collided with the van had been charged with “drunk driving and driving left of center” before. When police confronted the suspect, the officers smelled her reeking of alcohol.

As an excuse, the car driver denied being drunk and said she just took a few sips of vodka before she left the house. She also claimed that she was only driving at 20 miles per hour, and was just trying to reach for something in the back seat when the accident took place.

Apparently, it was not the first time for the same driver to be involved in a similar accident and for all other accidents, drunk driving is the scourge of motorists.

Perhaps in the future, the authorities could implement stricter laws that will ultimately prevent occurrence of similar accidents.

A police officer, subject in a motorcycle accident

Last month, I have read from news on the internet that Officer Kevin Schmidt, a police officer in Flower Mound, Texas, has been injured in a motorcycle collision. This news from the internet really struck me and partially caused me some concerns. It seems very unlikely. Who would you believe that even an officer, who is supposed to make a report of an accident scene, is the one who is actually the subject of the case? You may see the full news article at http://www.dallasnews.com/

The said vehicular accident happened when Officer Schmidt was on his motorcycle chasing a motorist when he was suddenly struck by a car on a road intersection.

The reports also stated that he was wearing complete safety gears and traveling with his motorcycle’s hazard lights and siren on. But still, he bumped on the passenger side of Toyota Camry that unexpectedly appeared in his front. Consequently, he suffered severe personal injuries from it. This may explain the dangers that motorists should expect when crossing an intersection.

Now, if these things do happen to a police officer, who greatly understands all the precautionary measures to observe on roads, it only explicates that no one really, is guaranteed about his or her safety on while riding on a vehicle.

On the other hand, this event may be considered as a call for us to implement stricter dealings when driving our cars. We must establish to ourselves that traveling can be very much risky for us.

Be more observant on the roads; follow all the traffic rules and signs around. Be more careful, especially on risky areas such as curves and intersections. Proper diligence should be observed at all times, at least, if you do not want yourself and your passengers to be victims of another road disaster.

The Truck Accident Lawyer

Vehicle accidents happen everyday. It is a normal occurrence for cars to hit one another for various reasons like driver’s negligence, weather conditions and unworthy maintenance of the vehicles.
It is another matter however, when collisions involve trucks. Due to the sheer size and weight of the trucks, accidents involving them almost always result in serious injuries or costly damage to properties.

Considering that there are now more than two million more registered trucks than there were ten years ago, it is not surprising to know that truck accidents also increased in the last decade.

Even if truck drivers are very careful in operating their vehicle, accidents still may occur due to other human factors. One of which is tiredness. Truck drivers are made to work long hours hauling their cargo from long stretches of roads. Another factor is stress. The cargos being hauled by truck drivers are sometimes needed post haste.

In order to meet deadlines, although they are mindful of being extra careful, stress in meeting deadlines cause these drivers to miscalculate road and traffic conditions leading to accidents. Failure to see blind spots is another factor. Considering the size and length of the trucks it is fairly difficult to always be correct in estimating and reading traffic conditions.

Furthermore, overloading of cargo on its own or as a cause of truck malfunction are causes also of truck accidents.

If you have been involved in a truck collision, it is logical to expect that you have sustained serious injuries. Even if the trucks are insured, you need to secure the services of professional truck accident lawyers to make sure that you are well represented in proving that you are not negligent and that your damage is a certain amount.