Safety Measures to Do Before Going on a Long Drive for Vacation

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Many Los Angeles citizens love to travel to other states via vehicles, and if you are one of them, then you should learn certain tips before hitting the road.

Every year, because of road accidents, thousands of people get injured in a supposedly fun vacation. This is why it is imperative for any Los Angeles driver to know how to avoid accidents especially in long trips.

The following are some of the helpful tips for drivers who are planning to go on a long trip for a vacation:

1. Check your vehicle – Make sure that everything in your car is in good working condition. Check the brakes, lights, oil, water, battery, air, and gasoline (BLOWBAG). If you are about to go on a long drive for a vacation, it would be best to have your vehicle checked by certified mechanics to ensure that it will not have a problem during the trip. Additionally, make sure that you have with you spare tools and supplies like tire, jack, wrenches, oil, water, and gasoline in case your vehicle suddenly experienced mechanical problems while on the road.

2. Know your route – Before hitting the road, make sure that you know the routes to and from your destinations. If you are not familiar with the routes, it would be better to use a reliable GPS device or a map. However, make sure that you will not be distracted by such tools because you could end up in an accident.

3. Get enough sleep – If your destination is hundreds of miles away from home, it is necessary for you to get a good sleep the night before the trip. You need to be in perfect condition when you are driving on a long trip; otherwise, you will feel drowsy and could get involved in a sleepy driving-related accident. Also, make sure to take some stops after a couple of miles just to refresh your mind and body.

4. Do not drive drunk – Alcohol could add some fun to the trip but it could also get you into a fatal or debilitating accident. Alcohol can impair your reasoning and driving competence, thus making you vulnerable to road accidents.

In case you get involved in a road accident and you are not at fault, it would be best to contact a Los Angeles car accident attorney to have your case assessed.

Ultimately, Los Angeles drivers must remember that vacations are best spent in a relaxing and hassle-free place, and not inside a hospital or a court room.

Teenage Driving: Parents’ Role to Mold Them into Responsible Drivers

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Immaturity and inexperience—these are just two of the underlying reasons why teenage drivers get involved in road accidents. This is due to the fact that teenagers, in nature, have that strong fondness for being adventurous, which involves taking risks. Doing so, however, doesn’t always yield favorable results.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some 1,963 young drivers between the ages of 15 to 20 were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2010. Meanwhile, more than 187,000 others were injured that same year.

Surely, immaturity and inexperience are the basic reasons for these injuries and deaths. However, these two can be understood more deeply by looking at some factors.

Basically, distracted driving—outside distractions and use of mobile phones while driving, night driving, and failure to wear seatbelts are three of the most common factors for the injuries and deaths within the said age group.

In fact, in 2010, some 368 young drivers between 15 to 19 years old who were killed in motor vehicle crashes were found out to be distracted at the time of the accidents. Nighttime accidents, meanwhile, occur to them between 9 p.m. to midnight. In addition, three of five 16- to 20-year-old passengers were killed because of failure to use the seatbelt.

The statistics alone only show that teenage driving is a growing concern. Fortunately, this alarming situation has been addressed through the graduated driver licensing systems (GDL) and the implementation of state laws that ban the use of cellphones while driving for teenagers.

Aside from these key improvements, parents should also play a role in reducing such incidents. As it is, teenagers tend to bend the rules when it comes to driving. As such, parents must do a better job in reminding them of the consequences of their actions.

Apart from that, they should also serve as their “guiding light,” especially if they’re still learning to drive. That way, the young drivers learn to prioritize safety behind the wheel and to prepare themselves well in certain emergency situations while on the road.

Incidentally, legal experts, such as a Los Angeles car accident attorney who closely monitors teenage drivers, remind all drivers to be responsible enough behind the wheel, regardless of age.

Vehicle Recalls and Consumer Rights

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Losing a loved one from a tragic accident is such a painful experience, especially if the incident could have been prevented.

In August of 2009, California Highway Patrol officer Mark Saylor was driving a loaned Lexus ES350 with three family members. The car suddenly accelerated out of control, causing it to hit another vehicle, and burned after it tumbled down.

Apparently, Saylor’s car was being serviced because the wrong set of carpets was installed, interfering with the accelerator pedal. Saylor and all of his companions died on that accident and it started the huge wave of recalls issued by Toyota. Saylor’s family went on to press charges against Toyota, along with the thousands of other customers who also figured in accidents that had cost the lives of their loved ones.

Consequently, class suits were filed against the Japanese carmaker, forcing its chief executive to attend various congressional and fact-finding inquiries. Until now, Toyota is being hounded by the issues of the past years, significantly affecting the sales of its vehicles.

The largest Japanese carmaker was once known as the manufacturer of the most reliable vehicles. However, the global automotive industry had a rude awakening as the Tokyo-based automotive giant started issuing recalls after recalls of the vehicles they produced here in the United States and elsewhere in the world.

Since then, the once highly-respected brand became the most notorious as it issued consecutive recall orders for most of its Toyota and Lexus vehicles. These recalls spanned over millions of vehicles produced from 2009-2011. The woes of the said carmaker looks far from over as just this March of 2012, Toyota made another round of recalls for some 681,500 of its vehicles.

Companies seem unaware that the consumers are king and that they should be given nothing but the best from their purchased goods or services.

Meanwhile, if you figured in an accident and lost a loved one, or sustained serious injuries because of a defective vehicle, then you should make your voice heard. The best course of action is to get the services of the finest Los Angeles car accident attorney. This way, you stand to get every bit of compensation for your loss once your lawyer successfully handled your court case.

By fighting the good fight in such case, you are giving yourself and the general public a huge favor. You are becoming an instrument to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again.

Things You Should Check on Your Vehicle before Using It

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Checking your vehicle prior to driving it is tantamount to saving your life from car accidents. In the United States, certain road accidents are caused by faulty car parts, which is why it is imperative for any car owner to ensure that his or her vehicle is roadworthy before using it.

Things to check before driving

There are particular vehicle parts that every driver should check before hitting the road. These parts play a vital role in safe and efficient driving, which is why drivers must check them before driving. These parts are popularly abbreviated as “BLOWBAG.”

Brakes – Drivers must check whether their vehicle’s brake system is working well. They must check the car’s brake pads if they are still in good condition. Also, drivers should check the vehicle’s brake fluid to determine if it is still on its maximum level.

Lights – The car’s headlights and signal lights should be in perfect condition, especially if the driver will use his or her vehicle at night or in places with low-light conditions.

Oil – Drivers must see to it that their vehicle’s oil is on normal to maximum level. Motorists who are planning to go on a long trip should have an extra liter of oil.

Water – Drivers going on a long drive must make sure that their radiator’s water is on its maximum level. Also, they must look for any leaks that can drain out their radiator.

Battery – It is advisable for drivers to check if their car’s battery is functioning well. They should also look for any corrosion on the battery terminal.

Air – Air pressure on tires should be on their normal level. Drivers must also make sure that their tires have no damage or cuts. Bringing in a spare tire is a must for any driver.

Gas – Before driving, drivers must check their gas meter to know the level of remaining gas on their vehicle.

It is strongly recommended to drivers who are going on a long trip to have their vehicles checked by expert mechanics to avoid any inconvenience along the way. Los Angeles injury lawyers likewise advise drivers to make sure that their vehicles are roadworthy prior to using them to avoid any accidents.

Irresponsible Behaviors of Drivers that Result In Car Accidents

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The State of California is among U.S. states heavily plagued with traffic accidents. In 2006, the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that there were 4,236 traffic fatalities in California, making it the state with the highest number of road accident fatalities.

There are many factors that make traffic accidents common in California, one of which is irresponsible behavior of drivers. Certain California drivers practice unsafe and irresponsible driving that make road accidents more common.

The following are some of the irresponsible behaviors of California drivers that result in auto accidents:

Aggressive driving – Drivers who speed are likely to become victims of California car accidents. Motorists who break traffic rules on speeding have limited time to react to sudden changes in the traffic situation like crossing pedestrians and swerving vehicles, which make them vulnerable to road crashes.

Distracted driving – California drivers who use their cell phones and electronic gadgets while driving are susceptible to cause or be involved in a traffic accident. According to studies, distracted drivers are four times more impaired than intoxicated drivers; this is one of the reasons distracted drivers are highly vulnerable to different types of vehicular accidents.

Tailgating – Drivers who tailgate other vehicles are likely to cause a rear-end accident. It is thus advisable for California motorists not to drive too closely to other vehicles. The recommended space between two vehicles is measured by 2-second rule.

Intoxicated driving – Motorists who operate their vehicle while under the influence of alcohol are likely to make poor judgment on their driving duties as alcohol can impair a person’s senses and logical thinking. In California, drivers with at least .08 percent of blood alcohol content (BAC) are not allowed to drive.

California drivers or pedestrians who get involved in a car accident caused by irresponsible motorists are advised to seek for personal injury damages. Victims may consult with a Los Angeles auto accident attorney who can assist them in filing a lawsuit and claiming for injury compensations.

Top 10 Safest and Worst Cities to Drive in the United States

In the latest Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report Los Angeles did not show up in the top 10 list of cities with worst drivers. The city placed 182nd in the tally of cities with best drivers – not a perfect spot but still better than being on the top list of cities with unsafe and irresponsible motorists.

The list named the following cities as places with highest rate for road accidents due to unsafe drivers:

1.    Washington DC – 112 percent chance of accident versus national average
2.    Baltimore – 88 percent chance of accident versus national average
3.    Providence, R.I. – 81 percent chance of accident versus national average
4.    Hialeah, Fla. – 78 percent chance of accident versus national average
5.    Glendale, Calif. – 76 percent chance of accident versus national average
6.    Philadelphia – 64 percent chance of accident versus national average
7.    Alexandria, Va. – 63 percent chance of accident versus national average
8.    Newark, N.J. – 59 percent chance of accident versus national average
9.    Miami – 58 percent chance of accident versus national average
10.    San Francisco – 55 percent chance of accident versus national average

Los Angeles City recorded at least 48 percent chance of accident versus national average.

The report listed the following cities as the safest in terms of traffic accidents:

1. Sioux Falls, S.D. – 27.6 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
2. Boise, Idaho – 27.3 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
3. Fort Collins, Colo. – 26.7 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
4. Madison, Wisc. – 23.0 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
5. Lincoln, Neb. – 19.3 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
6. Huntsville, Ala. – 19.1 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
7. Chandler, Ariz. – 18.9 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
8. Reno, Nev. – 18.4 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
9. Knoxville, Tenn. – 18.1 percent less likely to have traffic accidents
10. Springfield, Mo – 17.4 percent less likely to have traffic accidents

Even though Los Angeles is not on the top list of cities with high chances of traffic accidents, Los Angeles drivers, riders, passengers, and pedestrians should not underestimate the dangers of the road. Los Angeles car accident attorneys always remind motorists to mind their actions while on the road to make sure that they are not inching their way towards accident and possible lawsuits.

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.