The Chilling Facts about Car Accidents

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Sometimes, scare tactics work for people who care less about their own and other people’s safety.

Every year, thousands of people get killed in vehicular accidents due to the negligence of certain motorists to practice and prioritize safety. Hence, the need for drivers to know the scary and alarming facts and statistics about road accidents become a must.

In this regard, motorists should not only know but also understand the dangers of traffic mishaps for them to practice caution and put responsible driving on a pedestal. It could be considered as a win-win scenario, since they are safe from accidents, and so are other people.

The following are some of the chilling facts about road accidents that California motorists should keep in mind for them to realize the certain dangers of negligent driving:

•    A person gets killed in a car accident every 12 minutes, or roughly 117 traffic deaths per day
•    Drivers and vehicle occupants aged 16-20 are most likely to be injured in a car accident
•    At least 39 percent of the total traffic deaths in 2005 were alcohol-related
•    Every 525 minutes, a person dies in a car accident in California due to intoxicated driving
•    At least 950 were killed in California in 2009 due to alcohol-related crashes
•    About 100,000 car accidents happen every year in the country due to drowsy drivers
•    About 40,000 injuries and 1,550 traffic fatalities are associated with drowsy driving every year
•    In the year 2008, roughly 28.4 percent of all fatal car crashes in California were due to speeding

California motorists should remember the mentioned facts and statistics for them to mind their actions when driving. They must keep in mind that with even a simple act of negligence in driving, their own and other people’s lives and safety are at stake.

Accordingly, drivers are not the only ones who need to remember certain points, but accident victims as well. California car accident victims should know a thing or two about their rights as personal injury survivors for them to effectively recover for compensations.

The following are some of the reminders that California car accident victims should remember:

1.    Secure all evidence – Victims should secure and keep all documents that prove their claim. Documents that should be kept include police report, hospital records, medication receipts, car repair receipts, proof of loss of income, and others.

2.    Hire an attorney – Claiming for personal injury damages require a good legal representation. Therefore, it is a must for accident victims to get the services of an experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney for them to successfully claim for compensations.

3 Common Negligence-related Causes of Wrongful Deaths in California

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Car accidents in California are not always just fender-bender cases as they can be fatal at times. According to available statistics, in the year 2009, almost 4,000 people were killed in California road accidents. Many of these fatal accidents were caused not because of the casualties’ fault but of other drivers’ negligence and irresponsibility. If there is one thing certain behind thousands of fatal traffic accidents in the Golden State, it is: driver’s negligence can cost lives.

Accordingly, there are various negligent driving acts and behaviors that could result in fatal car accidents, and these include:

Texting while driving or distracted driving – Thousands of lives are lost each year due to distracted driving-related accidents. Drivers who use their mobile phones while driving are prone to committing errors that can cost other people’s lives.

Intoxicated driving – According to studies, every 525 minutes, a person dies in California due to intoxicated driving-related accidents. In the year 2009, around 950 people were killed as a result of drunk driving.

Speeding – Drivers who violate the speed limit laws are likely to cause an untoward road accident. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), in 2008, at least 28.4 percent of the total fatal car accidents in the state were caused by speeding drivers.

Survivors of fatal car accident victims in California have the right to claim for wrongful death compensations as stipulated in the tort laws. Meanwhile, surviving family members, such as spouse, children, siblings, parents, and the like may be entitled to various damages to compensate for their losses.

Wrongful death claimants should hire a Los Angeles wrongful death attorney to improve their chances of winning their claim in a prompt and convenient manner. A lawyer’s help is beneficial to claimants because it can provide ample assistance in the complicated and lengthy legal procedures involved in claiming for compensations.

Lack of Bicycle Lanes as Cause of Los Angeles Bicycle Accidents

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One of the different reasons of bicycle accidents in Los Angeles County is the lack of bike lanes. Even though there are hundreds of miles of bike ways in the county, they still cannot compensate the need of the cyclists. Hence, the Department of City Planning of Los Angeles County and the United State Department of Transportation (DOT) joined forces in 2010 to solve the lack of bicycle lanes in Los Angeles. The collaboration between the said agencies envisioned to create at least 200 miles of bicycle lanes every five years.

Recently, the Department of City Planning held a meeting to survey the effectiveness of the joint project. In the said meeting, the department asked the communities for feedbacks in relation to the implementation of the program. Additionally, the department asked for suggestions from the public to ensure that the program will take effect as expected.

The lack of bicycle lanes in Los Angeles County is just one of the various causes of bicycle accidents in the area. Based on available data, the following also play a big role in the rise of bicycle accidents:

Negligent drivers – Drivers who care less in the traffic situation are always a threat to cyclists. Accordingly, motorists who do not keep an eye on incoming cyclists are likely to cause a bicycle accident.

Vision-related issues – It is a known fact that it is difficult to notice cyclists on the road. Cyclists who do not wear bright-colored outfit are vulnerable to accidents because motor vehicle drivers have difficulty noticing them.

Irresponsible cyclists – Bicycle accidents are not always caused by motorists but by cyclists themselves. Bicycle riders who do not follow traffic laws and fail to wear appropriate safety gears are a pedal closer to danger.

Bicyclists who want to learn more about safety should read the California Driver Handbook and other resources. They may also consult with a Los Angeles Accident Attorney to know their legal options in case they get injured in a bicycle accident.