Modesto Injury Lawyer Blog

The Modesto Police Department will be deploying a number of DUI saturation patrols throughout the month of December in an attempt to bust drunk drivers. The DUI patrols are a part of the city's continuing efforts to reduce the risks of drunk driving accidents in Modesto. With the holiday season upon us, motorists are expected to travel throughout the state to gather with friends and family members. Unfortunately, many of these holidays will involve alcohol beverages and many drivers will fail to arrange a safe way home, endangering everyone on our roadways.

The Department says it began enforcing its "Zero Tolerance" policy during the first two weeks of December, setting up patrols on the 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th. Officers will be looking for those who fail to designate a sober driver and who choose to endanger innocent motorists on our roadways.

Our Modesto drunk driving accident attorneys understand that there were 10 people killed and another 400 people injured because of drunk driving accidents in the city over the last three years. As we enter the holiday season the number of drunk driving accidents are expected to skyrocket. We're asking all drivers to party safely and to drive soberly through this holiday season.

The Modesto Police Department isn't the only organization out pushing for safe and sober roadways through the holiday season, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

For its fifth anniversary, the organization has released a new report that looks at each state's efforts to reduce the risks of drunk driving. Each state was rated out of five stars. The country overall ranked in at three out of five stars. That's not an excellent rating for combating some of the deadliest types of accidents on our roadways.

California was ranked with four out of five stars. Our state was recognized for starting our pilot program for interlock devices. While the pilot program only took place in four counties, covering 13 million people, the program should be expanded statewide, says the report. The report also suggested that our state consider toughening up the child endangerment law. This is the law that lists the punishments for drunk driving with a child in the vehicle.

"Drunk driving is still the deadliest epidemic on America's roads, killing approximately 11,000 people every year," said Ray LaHood with USDOT.

Drunk driving accidents cost the state more than $130 billion every year.

The $132 billion consists of:

-More than $60 billion in monetary costs.

-More than $70 billion in quality-of-life losses.

-The federal government dished out almost $5 billion of the costs.

-Local and state governments covered re than $3 billion of the costs.

-Employers contributed nearly $11 billion to the bill, which included nearly $4 billion for accidents that involved work trips and roughly $7 billion for accidents that happened outside of work involving employees and benefit-eligible dependents.

Continue reading "Local Police and MADD Pushes to Eliminate Drunk Driving Accidents in Modesto" »

According to California Causality, half of all teenage drivers admit to text while driving. Texting at the wheel increases their risks for a car accident in Modesto and elsewhere by nearly 25 percent. California Causality has been pushing for more teen driver education for quite some time now. Teenagers face some of the most severe risks for an accident on our roadways.

Many organizations continue to share concern regarding the safety of these young drivers. Our Modesto teen car accident attorneys would like to tell you about a new campaign, "OMG," that was recently launched by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The "OMG" campaign is made up of two public service announcements (PSAs) that will be airing at roughly 550 Regal Cinema movie theaters across the country, on 12,000 pump-top screens owned that as well as on the Distraction.gov website all through December.

"Teen drivers are particularly vulnerable to distracted driving, which is why we are making an extra effort to ensure they understand the dangers," said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

With the busy holiday driving season underway, teenage drivers will be venturing out on winter vacations and to visit with friends, classmates and family. These PSAs are aiming to help raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving. The campaign uses popular texting lingo, such as "LOL and "L8R," to communicate with these young drivers. These drivers are more likely than any other age group to text message behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and are also at the highest risks for an accident.

Greg Dunn, the President and COO of Regal Entertainment Group, said that Regal is please to assist the USDOT in its fight to curb distraction-related accidents.

Nathan Gill with PumpTop TV says that he and the company are excited to be able to provide this type of information to our young on-the-go drivers and that these five-minutes can actually help to save lives on our roadways.

It's no secret that teenagers want to stay connected with one another, even if they've got to do it behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. It's important that these young drivers understand that there's a time and a place for this behavior and that behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is not it. There's no text message that's worth a life. Parents are asked to sit down and reiterate safe driving habits with your teen drivers to help keep them safe through the holiday season and long after.

Right now, there are 35 states, Guam and the District of Columbia that prohibits drivers from texting at the wheel. There are also nine states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia that prohibit all hand-held cell phone use while driving a motor vehicle.

Continue reading ""OMG" Campaign to Curb Distraction-Related Car Accidents in Modesto, Nation" »

Thanksgiving holiday travel can be a challenge with more motorists traveling throughout the week but our Modesto car accident attorneys are confident that with a little extra caution roadways can remain safer for all. No one wants to spend the holidays mourning the loss of a loved one so keep that in mind as you venture out to family gatherings, holiday parades or Black Friday sales events.

CNN Money reports that higher gas prices won't be keeping motorists from taking to the highways this week. The average price of gas is roughly 50 cents higher than it was a year ago. But that won't stop families from venturing out to be with loved ones for a turkey dinner complete with all the fixings. According to American Automobile Association (AAA), 90 percent of holiday traveling will be by automobile, which puts motorists at high risk of car accidents in Stockton, Modesto or elsewhere in the state.

AAA is projecting holiday travel will be up 4 percent from last year. A spokesman from AAA indicates the rise has much to do with families making a commitment to spend quality time with family members this year after several years at home. It is estimated that 42.5 million will travel in 2011 compared to 40.9 million last Thanksgiving.

The National Safety Council defines the Thanksgiving Holiday period starting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. During that period, the organization is predicting that 434 traffic fatalities will be caused by car accidents. In addition, approximately 43,400 holiday travelers will be injured seriously enough to need medical attention in traffic accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday period.

In 2009, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reported 38 fatal crashes on Thanksgiving Day in California. As a result, 111 people were killed in a traffic accident which equated to roughly 12 percent of the total traffic fatalities nationwide.

Whether you are making a quick trip downtown for a Black Friday sales event or driving 50 miles to see grandparents, we urge all motorists to use extra caution. Roadways will be congested throughout the week so we offer the following tips to keep in mind as you travel.

-If children become restless or agitated and need attended to, pull of the road into a safe spot and take care of the situation rather than take your eyes off of the road to address a problem in the back seat.

-Be prepared for delays in congested areas and don't speed to make up for lost time.

-Ensure everyone is buckled before the vehicle starts in motion.

-Don't risk a drowsy driving accident if you feel sluggish after a meal or full day of shopping. Instead, rest up or ask someone else to drive if they feel more rested.

Continue reading "Increased Thanksgiving Travel Poses High Risk of Car Accidents in Stockton, Modesto, Statewide" »

A recent car accident in Modesto killed a 16-year-old passenger, according to WSVN.

The accident happened when the girl was driving around 7:30 a.m. in a Honda Civic. The driver of the vehicle swerved across to the eastbound lanes and hit a Mitsubishi Eclipse. The 17-year-old driver was injured in the accident, but is doing okay, the news station reports. The passenger died 15 days later. The driver of the Eclipse was reportedly not injured in the accident.

Both of the girls were students at Modesto High School. An investigation into the accident is ongoing, the Modesto Police Department is saying. Officials believe that road conditions could have been a factor in the accident. The roadway was wet and slippery as the area received about an inch of rain overnight.

Our Modesto car accident attorneys would like to ask everyone to travel safely throughout the remainder of the year. As kids are let out of school for winter break and we get to use up some holiday vacation time, many residents will be venturing out to gather with friends and family. With safe and defensive driving habits, we can all help to keep our roadways safe for everyone. Let's ring in the New Year safe, optimistic and injury-free!

Another teen car accident on Highway 132 seriously injured an 18-year-old and another driver when a young driver slammed into the back of a Honda Civic. The car was stopped in the westbound lane waiting to make a turn onto Stone Avenue.

Upon impact, the Civic was tossed into oncoming traffic and collided with an Acura Integra. The driver of the Integra was pinned in his vehicle and suffered injuries. A passenger in that vehicle was also hurt as a result of the impact. The 23-year-old driver of the Civic was taken to the hospital with injuries.

California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. The highway was closed for nearly an hour with rescue crews working frantically to clear the scene.

We would like to warn motorists about the dangers we'll be facing on our roadways throughout the remainder of the year. Motorists are asked to be cautious during every car trip. Unfortunately, motorists pay little attention to what they're doing behind the wheel as some feel that driving is now second nature. It's not. Drivers need to be cautious focused and alert at all times, especially teen drivers.

Parents are urged to talk with their young drivers about the dangers we face on our roadways. These young drivers are at extreme risks for an accident as they possess much less driving experience than some of us veteran drivers.

Consider offering your teen driver with more supervised driving time. Offer them with positive encouragement while they're behind the wheel. You may be one of the most influential people in your young driver's life.

Continue reading "Modesto Car Accident Attorneys Warn of The Dangerous Holiday Driving Season" »

According to recent studies, young drivers seem to be most at risk for a car accident in Modesto or elsewhere in California shortly after they obtain a license. In fact, a recent study conducted by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that teen drivers are 50 percent more likely to be involved in a crash in the first 30 days of unsupervised driving than after the first 12 months of driving alone in a vehicle.

Stockton car accident attorneys know that teens probably tend to be on their best behavior while practicing to drive with an adult, but safe practices shouldn't stop once they start driving solo.

The AAA study involved teens being monitored by an in-vehicle camera while they were learning to drive with their parents. The camera continued to monitor the same young drivers six months after obtaining a license while no longer being required to drive with an adult present in the vehicle. Researchers found that teens tend to drive in favorable driving conditions on familiar roads during most of the time spent with an adult in the learner's permit phase. Once a full license was obtained, teenage behavior behind the wheel became more risky as illustrated in video clips. Teens were caught on tape doing things like running red lights, texting, or fooling around with another passenger while driving.

Researchers have found the three most common causes of teen accidents in the first month of being licensed are failure to yield to traffic, driver distraction and neglecting to reduce speed when needed. They found that 57 percent of accidents were attributed to these three mistakes commonly made by new drivers.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has a particular interest in reducing teen car crashes because young drivers between the ages of 15-20 were involved in crashes killing almost 600 people in 2008. Texas was the only other state to have more deaths caused by a teen driver that year than California.

Statistics have shown that for every 100 drivers, 16-year-olds are cited for a violation almost twice as much as drivers of all ages; 31.0 compared to 17.3 respectively. It has been found that 17- and 18-year-olds have a high rate of violations with 36.6 and 38.9 citations per 100 drivers, respectively.

Over the years, California DOT has found several risk factors that have attributed to the high number of crashes involving teen drivers. These include:

-Failing to detect hazards quick enough. Identifying hazardous stimuli that affect the driving environment and learning how to cope are skills that are acquired with time and experience.

-Underestimating the threat of a hazard and overestimating the ability to handle the situation.

-Becoming overconfident in your ability to drive which leads to riskier and more dangerous behaviors.

-Failing to wear a seat belt.

-Inability to eliminate distractions caused by other passengers riding in the vehicle, especially peer passengers.

-Night driving is difficult enough but adding drowsiness or the influence of alcohol to nighttime driving puts teens at severe risk of a crash.

Parents are advised to continue making safe driving a hot topic in family discussions with your teen. Frequent discussions about safe behaviors can let your teen know the importance of driving safely and help them to make better choices as they gain experience in driving alone.

Continue reading "Modesto Teen Car Accidents Often Happen During First 30 Days of Driving Unsupervised" »

Taking the Distraction-free Driving Pledge could make roadways safer in Modesto and reduce the risk of car accidents in Stockton. Of course, making the pledge requires that you make a valiant effort to eliminate all distractions inside your vehicle and talk to friends, family and anyone who will listen about doing the same.

Modesto injury lawyers know that distracted driving accidents are becoming all too familiar in the state of California and throughout the country. In fact, it is estimated that almost 8,000 car accidents occur daily because a driver took the liberty of getting distracted behind the wheel.

In a recent effort to curb texting and driving behaviors among teenagers, California Highway Patrol implemented a 2-day "Zero Tolerance" Campaign for high schools located from Modesto all the way to Grapevine. CBS 45 reported that teens in the area admittedly text and drive, even when told by parents that a stipulation to being permitted to drive alone is not to practice these types of unsafe behaviors. Highlighting their focus on teens, the California Highway Patrol hoped to scare them enough to stop the behavior, or risk a $20 fine for first offenses and $50 for every violation after that.

Rather than using a scare tactic, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is promoting Heads-Up Driving Week from October 2-8 for a third straight year. Concerned about safety for everyone, the Foundation is asking all motorists to eliminate attempts at multi-tasking or any kind of distraction while you drive.

It seems as though multi-tasking is becoming more prevalent for motorists because we are all short on time and guilty of feeling like we need to utilize every minute of the day. The time spent operating a vehicle seems like free time that can be spent on grooming, catching a quick bite to eat, returning phone calls or other distracting behaviors like texting. Recent studies have shown that drivers are distracted more than 50 percent of the time that they are operating a vehicle. Crash data is limited, but it is estimated that 16 percent of fatal crashes involve a distraction that caused the accident.

According to the recent 2011 Traffic Safety Culture Index, most drivers, 87 percent of those surveyed, support a law that would ban texting, emailing or surfing the internet while driving nationwide. Even more of the respondents, 94 percent, admit that the behavior is extremely dangerous when trying to operate a vehicle and is unacceptable.

Why then, are a third of those surveyed still practicing the unsafe behavior during the last 30 days? Attitude has a lot to do with it. Most motorists have the attitude that a tragic accident won't happen to them or responding to one text or a minute of surfing won't hurt anything. That couldn't be further from the truth.

Just ask the family members of the almost 5,500 people killed in distracted driving car accidents in 2009. The age group most at risk is the 20-year-olds and under but I think we are all slightly guilty of thinking a tragedy won't happen to us when we are behind the wheel. By eliminating distractions, we can stay focused and make roadways safer for everyone.

Continue reading "Modesto Motorists Pledge to Drive Distraction-Free In Order to Reduce Risk of Car Accidents in Modesto" »

National Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 18 to 23. The effort to keep our children safe is a year-around activity.

In a new attempt to help educate our young ones and to help reduce the risks of child injury in Modesto and elsewhere, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Chuggington, a popular kids series, recently teamed up to teach children ages 2- to 7-years-old about safety habits to practice when playing around or traveling in cars, riding a bicycle, riding a school bus and walking as a pedestrian. This child safety campaign includes a kid-focused safety pledge, an interactive video series and downloadable tips and activities that parents and caregivers can use with children.

"This exciting partnership with Chuggington will help us bring our traffic safety message to young children," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Our Stockton child injury attorneys understand that teaching children safe habits at an early age may be one of the most beneficial ways to help keep them safe. Children are likely to carry the knowledge they retain as young ones into a lifetime of safe driving skills. This is so important because motor vehicle-related accidents continue to be the number one cause of death for children who are 14-years-old or younger.

There were approximately 1,300 child deaths and nearly 180,000 child injuries that resulted from traffic accidents in the United States in 2009. There were nearly 300 child-pedestrian fatalities and nearly 120,000 child-pedestrian injuries around the nation in 2007. Many of these injuries and fatalities could have been avoided if children were equipped with the proper safety knowledge and skills.

In the video series, Chuggington and his friends will be learning life lessons regarding traffic safety. When a new skill or habit is learned, characters will earn badges. Your child has a chance to win an 'official' Chuggington Traffic Safety badge as well. Throughout the series, the characters will also be pushing the "The 'Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!' safety pledge.

The release of this video series supplements National Child Passenger Safety Week. Parents and guardians are urged to take their vehicle and their child's car seat to a certified technician to have it inspected to make sure that it was properly installed. At these California child car seat inspections, parents can also get information about the proper way of buckling a child in a car seat. Estimates calculate that about 70 percent of all child car seats in the United States are installed improperly. Done right, child seats help save lives. Officials are targeting parents to make sure that children are properly buckled during every trip in the car.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 14 children under the age of 15 were killed and nearly 500 were injured every day in the U.S. in 2009 because of traffic accidents. During this year, California witnessed nearly 150 fatalities of individuals in this age group because of motor-vehicle accidents.

Continue reading "New Child Series with Potential to Teach Children the Skills to Avoid a Car Accident in Modesto, Nation" »

Later this month, Modesto will be holding its 2nd Annual Child Watch event to kick off the new school year. This is an event that's free to everyone. Children are invited to enjoy free food, a bounce house and face participating. Parents are urged to bring along a donation of school supplies in exchange for a raffle ticket for each donation. The collected donations will then be given to local schools, according to ABC 10. Parents will also be able to enter their chosen school into a raffle to receive some of the school supplies.

California Highway Patrol will be providing free child seat safety checks. Free child seats will be given to those who officers feel are in need. Children will also be provided with a free CPR class and with free digital fingerprinting. Modesto City Schools will also be addressing school bus safety to help keep kids safe from child injury in Modesto during the upcoming school year.

Our Modesto child injury attorneys understand that the new school year comes with some dangerous risks for school bus-related injuries. Parents are urged to speak with their children about bus safety before sending them off to school. There are basic safety measures that your child can practice to help avoid being involved in a school bus-related accident.

The event will be held at:

Modesto Free Will Baptist Church
225 E. Orangeburg Avenue
Modesto , Ca 95354

This year, roughly 25 million students will use the big yellow bus to get to and from school. Unfortunately, many children are injured and several killed in school bus accidents every year. It is estimated that school bus-related accidents killed more than 130 people in 2005 alone. Another 11,000 people were injured in these accidents during that same year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Of all the people injured in school bus-related accidents from 2000 through 2004, nearly 50 percent were school bus passengers, 8 percent were school bus drivers and another 41 percent were occupants of other vehicles. The rest of the injuries were sustained by pedestrians, bicyclists and other or unknown type persons.

School bus safety tips for your child, from the National Safety Council:

-While waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness. Children should not stray onto streets, alleys or private property.

-Wait until the bus stops and the door opens before stepping onto the roadway.

-When on the bus, find a seat, sit down and keep your voices down.

-Never put head, arms or hands out of the bus window.

-Keep the aisles clear of books and bags as they are tripping hazards and can block the way in an emergency.

-At your stop, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before getting up from your seat.

-Make sure that the driver can see you when walking near the bus.

-Wait for a signal from the driver before you cross in front of the bus.

-Stay away from the bus' back tires at all times.

Continue reading "Free Food and Entertainment to Kick Off New School Year and to Raise Awareness about Child Injury in Modesto" »

A Marin Academy student was killed after the vehicle she was riding in left the roadway during a car accident in Yosemite National Park, according to Twin Cities Times. According to Kari Cobb, a Yosemite National Park ranger, the car accident happened at about 7:15 a.m. on a stretch of Tioga Road, a well-traveled thoroughfare in the northern end of Yosemite. This area is also a popular summer destination for tourists.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the Dennison family at this very difficult and tragic time. We are here to support the family and members of the MA community in any way that we can," said Travis Brownley, Marin Academy's head of school.

Our Modesto car accident attorneys would like to warn motorists about the dangers motorists can expect to face on our roadways through this rest of this month. The beginning of August kicked off the start of the deadliest month of the year for American motorists. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, going back to 1994, concludes that more Americans die in car accidents in the month of August than during any other time of the year.

"We are all devastated by the loss of Alena Dennison," said Brownley. "She was a wonderful, vibrant young woman and a valued member of the MA community.

The vehicle involved in the accident was carrying 7 young passengers at the time of the accident. The teens had taken part in a hike the was held the night before and were returning to the Bay Area when the accident happened, the park official said.

In 2009 alone, the NHTSA says on average 93 people killed each day in U.S. traffic accidents. That's an average of one death every 16 minutes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety backs up the information by concluding that from 2005 to 2009 seven of the 25 deadliest days of the year happened in August.

The roadways are so deadly during this time of year because more people are out on our roadways, according to MSN Money. According to the NHTSA, per 100 million miles traveled, August has an average fatality rate of 1.09. September followed at a close second with a death rate of 1.09. March ranks in as the safest with a 0.94 death rate.

"A large proportion of crashes happen in late afternoon and early evening in general, but especially in August," says Russ Rader, a spokesman for the institute. That is a time when our roads fill up both with commuters and vacationers.

Who is most at risk for a fatal car accident?:

-Ages 13 to 15; typically experience 2 percent all traffic deaths.

-16 to 19, 9 percent.

-20 to 34, 31 percent.

-35 to 49, 23 percent.

-50 to 69, 22 percent.

-70 and up, 12 percent.

It's no surprise that weekends are deadlier than weekdays. Americans use weekends to get out and run extra errands, visit family members or friends and take more day trips. This is also a time when drunken driving increases.

Saturdays have the most accident-related deaths, with an average of 123 deaths each Saturday in 2009 nationwide. Sundays followed close behind in 2009, with an average of 107 deaths, followed by 102 on Fridays.

Tuesday is your safest day on our roadways as it has an average of 69 deaths occurring each Tuesday.

Remaining weekday daily death rate averages:

-Mondays, 79 deaths.

-Wednesdays, 78.

-Thursdays, 84.

Continue reading "Yosemite Teen Car Accident Kills Marin Academy Student" »

A recent article in the Sacramento Bee reported that fatal car accidents in Modesto, Stockton and throughout the state of California have dropped for the fifth consecutive year. According to the article, the California Office of Traffic Safety reported 2,715 deaths on roadways last year, a 12 percent decrease from the previous year and nearly 40 percent decrease from 2005 when an all-time high was reported.

Normally we would find these statistics commendable but with the economic downturn and high unemployment rates, our Modesto car accident attorneys know that less traffic has a lot to do with it.

Very little has changed in terms of the number of distracted drivers, speeders, drunk drivers, and now drivers who operate under the influence of legally prescribed medical marijuana. If you have been involved in an accident, an experienced attorney can help determine the cause of your accident and who is responsible for damages.

Legal use of medical marijuana has become an issue in more and more car accident cases. The Los Angeles Times recently reported about a man sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter. The medical marijuana user had run off the road and killed a school teacher while she was jogging.

Little is known about the effects of how much marijuana is needed to impair a driver's ability to operate a vehicle but California is one of 16 states that allow the drug to be prescribed for medicinal purposes. After performing roadside checks the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration assessed that over 16 percent of all nighttime drivers stopped nationwide were under the influence of legal or illegal narcotics. Approximately half of the drivers were under the influence of marijuana. Each year, California reports roughly 1,000 fatalities and injuries caused by drugged drivers. From 2000-2009, deaths in drug-related crashes where alcohol was not a factor increased 55 percent.

California passed Proposition 215 in 1996 which allowed residents to use medical marijuana legally.

When comparing the effects of marijuana to alcohol, much research still needs to be done. Learning how much drug in your system is needed to affect your ability to react and make quick decisions is critical at this point.

"A lot of effort has gone into the study of drugged driving and marijuana, because that is the most prevalent drug, but we are not nearly to the point where we are with alcohol," said Jeffrey P. Michael, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's impaired-driving director. "We don't know what level of marijuana impairs a driver."

One thing is for sure. With more states considering passing legislation to permit medical marijuana, a national standard will need to be set similar to blood alcohol content being illegal at .08. To date, each state has a different allowable limit which leaves it up to law enforcement to decide if someone is impaired beyond their ability to drive safely.

Continue reading "Medical Marijuana a Contributing Factor in Impaired Driving Accidents in Modesto" »

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" »

Police will be out in full force this Memorial Day holiday weekend in an attempt to decrease risks of a car accident in Modesto. The Modesto Police Department Traffic Unit will be out on our roadways to conduct DUI and Driver's License checkpoints at a number of undisclosed locations. There will also be a special DUI Roving Saturation patrol during the upcoming holiday weekend, according to The City Of Modesto.

Our Modesto injury attorneys urge all motorists to practice caution on our roadways over this Memorial Day weekend. The city of Modesto has seen nearly 400 drunk driving accidents that have resulted in 6 fatalities and nearly 400 injuries over the course of the last 3 years. This holiday weekend brings an increased risk of serious and fatal accidents.

Overall traffic fatalities declined by more than 20 percent throughout the entire state of California during the past few years. The state saw a decrease from 3,995 fatalities in 2007 to 3,081 fatalities in 2009. Alcohol impaired traffic deaths made up the largest category of vehicle fatalities in 2009. More than 30 percent of all traffic fatalities were caused by a drunk driver.

These Memorial Day enforcement efforts are made possible through grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Officers would like to remind you that a DUI arrest can cost up to $10,000, time in jail, skyrocketing insurance and the loss of your driver's license.

The National Safety Council reports that the rest of the United States will be upping its enforcement this weekend to help prevent deadly vehicle accidents as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be running their "Click It or Ticket" campaign through the entire weekend.

This campaign will also run through the first week of June. The "Click It or Ticket" campaign has been proven to be the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever. Statistics show that the campaign has contributed to the highest national seat belt usage rate - nearly 90 percent. Law enforcement agencies will be enforcing their zero-tolerance enforcement practices of all seat belt laws across the country throughout the campaign.

The NSC estimates that more than 300 people may survive the Memorial Day holiday weekend because they will have been wearing their seat belts. They also estimate that another 103 lives could be saved if everyone wore their seat belts.

A complete list of Memorial Day events in Modesto can be found on the Modesto Bee website.

Continue reading "Modesto Police Department Join Fight to Decrease Risk of Modesto Car Accidents" »

The National Safety Council, along with the cell-free driving advocates of FocusDriven, recently announced that April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

We frequently post on our Modesto Injury Lawyer Blog about the dangers of talking or texting on your cell phone while driving, which can lead to a serious or fatal car accident in Modesto or Stockton.

Now that spring has arrived and summer is knocking on the door, you will begin to notice more motorist on the roadway; Modesto personal injury lawyers want to encourage drivers to not allow themselves to become distracted while behind the wheel.

The two non-profit organizations are asking motorists in California and elsewhere in the country to pledge to turn off their cell phones when they are behind the wheel during the month of April and beyond.

Better yet, eliminate the distraction completely by putting your cell phone in the glove compartment or trunk of your car so that responding to a text alert or ring tone doesn't even enter your mind while you are driving.

It is estimated that 28 percent of all crashes, roughly 1.6 million each year, are caused by someone using their hand-held or hands-free cell phone while behind the wheel, according to National Safety Council (NSC).

Talking and texting ranks higher than any other distraction liable to cause a motor vehicle crash.

Drivers are also encouraged to create a temporary voicemail to be used while they are driving. This will alert callers that you are currently behind the wheel but you will return their car when it is safe to do so.

"If drivers can go one month without using their phones while driving, they will find out - as many of us have - work still gets done. Many drivers realize most of the calls they thought were so important, really aren't. It is our hope drivers will decide to make the change permanently. Doing so will make our roadways safer for everyone," said Jennifer Smith, FocusDriven president and founding board member.

Businesses who supply their employees with a cell phone are encouraged to participate in awareness by devising a company policy that prohibits cell phone use while driving. Corporations who place a high demand on their workers to multi-task should make sure employees put safety first and do not talk or text while driving.

"When businesses allow employees to conduct business on cell phones while driving, they are putting their employees at a 4 times greater risk of a crash," said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO.

The NSC offers various resources to businesses in order to keep their employees safe. They provide a free and downloadable Cell Phone Policy Kit for Employers who need assistance conveying the high risk of driving distracted to their employees.

Continue reading "Distracted driving awareness in April lowers risk of car accidents in Modesto, Stockton" »

The Modesto Bee is reporting a disturbing trend of pedestrians being hit on Highway 108. The roadway claimed another victim last month, which now puts the total at 17 in just over a year.

Our Modesto personal injury lawyers know that California leads the nation in pedestrian accidents.

Law enforcement will be beefing up patrols and will issue tickets to both drivers and pedestrians. Drivers will get a $243 ticket for not stopping for people in the crosswalk and pedestrians will be issued a $203 ticket for walking in front of cars. The police plan on using pedestrian decoys to see if vehicles will stop at crosswalks.

We recently reported on our Modesto Injury Lawyer Blog about the high rate of pedestrian accidents in Stockton, Modesto and the surrounding areas.

The Governors Highway Safety Associations Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State reports that California had 563 pedestrian deaths in 2009. For the first 6 months of 2010 we have had 260 which is the same amount for that time frame in 2009.

Police blame both drivers and pedestrians for being inattentive while driving and walking. They have been engaged in such activities as eating, putting on makeup, texting, talking on their cell phones. Anything and everything that is likely to distract them from paying attention to their surroundings.

Most of the accidents have involved children and the bulk of the injuries have been minor. The youngest victim was a 3-year-old hit by a texting driver. There has been one fatality that involved a 49-year-old who was intoxicated and was hit by a car while attempting to cross Highway 108 at night.

The latest victim was a 40-year-old who was walking across Highway 108 when she was hit by a pickup truck. Police reported that traffic was heavy and it was raining at the time of the accident.

Safety tips for all pedestrians:

-Make eye contact with the driver and always cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks.

-When crossing the street look left, right and left again. Always walk across the street, don't run.

-Use sidewalks or paths, if there aren't any, walk facing traffic.

-Be alert to vehicles around you.

-Children should hold hands with an adult in parking lots.

Pedestrian safety tips for children:
-Children under 10 should never cross streets by themselves.

-Children should walk using the routes with the fewest street crossings.

-Children should never cross the street behind a school bus and should wait for adults on the same side of the road as the school bus unloading or loading zone.

-Children need to be taught to not run into the road after a toy or pet.

Continue reading "Highway 108 a Dangerous Place for Modesto Pedestrian Accidents" »