Modesto Injury Lawyer Blog

Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants to remind us that the 100 deadliest days of the year for teen drivers have begun.

Our Modesto car accident lawyers know that nine of the 10 deadliest days for teen drivers are between May and August. We know that nationally in 2009, almost 3,000 teen drivers died in car crashes and an additional 350,000 went to the hospital for injuries sustained in car crashes.

It has been reported that the first year of unsupervised driving is the most dangerous for our teen drivers. Ensuring the safety of our teens on roadways is challenging. Speeding, driver error and distractions are some of the main causes of teen crashes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that California recorded 149 crash deaths of young drivers (ages 15 to 20) in 2009 - second only to Texas, which had 241. When it came to crashes involving young drivers, California ranked first with 476 people killed. The total includes young drivers, their passengers, occupants of other vehicles and non-occupants. Alcohol was involved in 24 percent of fatal accidents involving young drivers ages 15 to 20.

A Health News Digest article reports that each year, 681,000 people are involved in car crashes with teens, resulting in more than 40,000 serious injuries nationally. In roughly 33 percent of the crashes involving teens, a death occurred in the other vehicle not driven by the teen.

"When most people think about those affected by teen driver crashes, they think of the teens behind the wheel. We must also consider the significant impact of these crashes on other members of our communities: occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and other road-users," says Dennis Durbin, a co-author of the report. "Whether or not we have a teen driver in our family, we should all care about this issue. This report provides a concrete way to measure the effectiveness of laws, education, and other programs in reducing teen crashes and their impact on communities."

This is the perfect time to review these 10 safe driving practices:

-Practice driving as much as possible.

-Make sure everyone in the vehicle wears a seat belt.

-Minimize the number of passengers to avoid distraction.

-Don't drink and drive.

-Obey all traffic signs, signals and markings.

-Don't speed.

-Limit driving at night.

-Put the cell phone away.

-Avoid distracting activities - don't eat, drink, adjust the radio or climate controls.

-Keep your vehicle in good shape.

-Drive with a positive attitude.

Continue reading "Summer Brings 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Car Accidents in Modesto" »

Our Modesto car accident attorneys know that the "golden hour," or the first 60 minutes after a car crash, are the most critical in terms of saving or losing a life. States that are participating in the Yellow Dot car program are seeing some success in saving lives, according to a recent article in USA Today. This is especially true for senior citizens involved in car accidents who can't always communicate special needs to first responders. The Yellow Dot program signals rescuers to a folder in the glove compartment which contains medical and other pertinent information, which allows the first responder to act quickly in caring for the victim.

California does not currently participate in the Yellow Dot program, but citizens involved in car accidents in Stockton, Modesto and elsewhere throughout the state would highly benefit if the program were implemented since California typically leads the nation in traffic fatalities each year.

In 2009, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported more than 3,000 traffic fatalities in California. It was reported that 15.2 percent (467) of traffic fatalities were of elderly drivers 65 and older.

The Ledger Dispatch recently reported about a string of accidents that kept first responders on their toes in Amador County. The Yellow Dot car program could have been beneficial in at least one accident that reported three senior citizens who were badly hurt when they were struck by a drunk driver. All three survived the crash but were taken to the hospital to be treated for severe injuries.

The Yellow Dot program was launched in Connecticut in 2002 with the intention to help save older drivers in car crashes, according to an article in the Senior Journal. Senior citizens with medical issues can't always communicate special needs following a crash, so the Yellow Dot program communicates for them. Citizens sign up for the free program and receive a yellow dot sticker to place in the rear window of their vehicle. The sticker alerts first responders to look in the glove compartment for a corresponding yellow folder which contains a personal photo, medical information, prescription medications, allergies and other important medical information such as hospital references and phone numbers of doctors or family members.

Alabama is the most avid participant with at least 30,000 citizens enrolled in the program. Other states that have joined are Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York and Minnesota.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Governors Highway Safety Association are two national organizations that show support for the Yellow Dot Car program.

"It is very nice to see innovative programs to address the unique risks associated with older Americans and car crashes," says Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Since older individuals tend to have more medical conditions, are on more medications and are generally more fragile, this sounds like a well-justified program, especially in light of the growing number of older Americans."

You have likely heard the expression, "time is of the essence." The Yellow Dot program reiterates the importance of not wasting time to save the lives of crash victims. California motorists are advised to keep their own folder containing important medical conditions or drug allergies that can easily be found by first responders in order to expedite medical attention given to the crash victim.

Continue reading "Response Time Enhanced by National Program to Reduce Severe Injuries in Modesto Car Accidents" »