car accident Tag

Road Rage – 3 Ways to Stay Safe

When dealing with an aggressive or reckless driver, you may feel either concerned for your safety or angry and ready to respond in kind. Road rage has been in the news frequently in recent months, with some cases ending in tragedy. What we will do today is discuss 3 ways to deal with road rage and keep yourself safe. 

• Do not make eye contact – You have to treat a driver with road rage like a wild animal. Eye contact may be considered a challenge. Instead, do what you can to keep an eye on the driver through mirrors, and allow aggressive drivers to pass and speed away.  
• Do not tailgate – If a reckless driver gets ahead of you and then is forced to slow down by traffic, your first instinct may be to drive close as a protest to how you were treated. Reckless drivers are selfish and don’t care about your well-being. He or she may hit the brakes to cause you to rear-end the vehicle or may become angry and resort to further reckless behavior.  
• Stay calm – If you were to begin yelling, shaking your fist, or worse, a person who is already experiencing road rage may completely fly off the handle and do something shocking. It is best just to allow an angry, selfish, violent person to have the right of way. You’re not doing it for them. You are doing it for yourself, your passengers, and other drivers who may pay the price later. Feel free to have someone in the car alert the authorities to your location and a description of the reckless driver’s vehicle.  

If You Are Injured by a Reckless Driver 

Reckless driving can result in accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. If your family has been struck with tragedy as the result of a reckless driver, contact the Petrov Law Firm. Our compassionate attorneys will help guide you through the process of seeing restitution. Call 619-344-0360 to get started today.

2 Misconceptions About Defensive Driving

Driving safe is far better than having to go after compensation for injuries due to an accident. While you can’t anticipate every mistake other drivers will make, there are certain good habits that can protect you and your passengers. Of course, not every defensive driving technique you read about online is everything it’s made out to be. Here are 2 misconceptions about defensive driving.

Myth #1 – Always keep your hands at 10 and 2

This has been drilled into anyone who is 30 and over since high school. There’s just one problem – the air bag was invented. Sure airbags keep us safer, but they also make the 10/2 hand position a prime spot for broken arms during an accident. Now the recommendation is to keep your hands at the 9 and 3 positions.

Myth #2 – Hands-free headset calls are safer

Unfortunately, the problem with being on the phone while driving is not taking one hand off the wheel – it’s being distracted by the conversation itself. As a result, studies have shown that drivers are just as dangerous while taking a call on a headset as while holding the phone for a call. The best way to stay safe is to leave phone calls for when you arrive at your destination and to pull over for emergency calls.

If You Have Been Injured in a Car Accident

No matter how safe you try to be, accidents can still happen. If you have been injured due to a mistake made by another driver, you need the right support in order to receive a fair settlement from the insurance company. Petrov Law Firm has experience in dealing with these companies and attaining just compensation for our clients. To learn more, call 619-344-0360.

Common Injuries that Occur During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is usually a time of great joy when families get together, share a meal, exchange gifts, and spend quality time together. Unfortunately, the holiday season also brings a certain amount of danger. Here are a few things to watch out for.

• Car accidents – Especially since many drivers are enjoying alcoholic beverages around the holidays, this can lead to an increase in car accidents. The Petrov Law Firm wants to encourage everyone to be safe and use a designated driver this holiday season.
• Cuts – While it is nice to give and get gifts, opening them can pose a danger. Be sure that young children don’t have access to scissors, knives, boxcutters, or other sharp items. And adults should also be extremely careful if using one of these items to open a gift.
• Burns – First of all, a stove is probably in use in the home where everyone is gathering for a meal. That means keeping an eye on children and making sure they know not to touch the oven. The holidays are also a time when many light candles. Keep candles out of the reach of small children.
• Electric shock – Families with children know to keep outlets protected. But if you are traveling this holiday season, especially if you will be visiting a family member with no small children, be sure that the house will be child-friendly to ensure no accidents ensue with unprotected outlets.
• Defective toys – A gift can quickly turn into a hazard if it is not manufactured properly.

Protect Your Family This Holiday Season

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, suffers harm from a defective device, or is subject to personal injury in some other way, contact the Petrov Law Firm to speak with a personal injury lawyer.

Safe Distance is a Relative Term

Although other drivers might not approve, driving less than two car lengths behind another vehicle is unsafe. And that’s especially true at high speeds. During rush hour traffic, bottlenecks create sudden stops; and if drivers are traveling too fast there will be rear end collisions.

Although southern Californian drivers are used to dry, sunny days, they still have to adjust their speed on days with rain. In especially bad whether, drivers should drive below the speed limit as roads are slick with an oil and water mixture.

Driving at unsafe distances can also mean chain reaction accidents. Frequently several safe drivers get caught in multiple car accidents as other vehicles slam to a stop and swerve into other lanes. If you’ve been blamed for an accident, contact a lawyer to ensure the blame is being assigned correctly. If you’ve been the victim of an accident, you need a lawyer who will ensure all of your interests are taken into consideration.

Open Door Policy: What To Do When a Cyclist Hits Your Car Door

So who is at fault and how does each person recover the costs caused by the accident? Generally, both parties will need to hire an attorney if the medical costs are high for one or both parties.

Car insurance won’t cover this kind of accident. Car insurance is only meant to cover costs while the vehicle is in operation. Homeowner’s insurance might cover some of the costs, however, homeowner’s insurance generally comes with a high deductible (like $2,500). If the medical costs associated with accident are less than $2,500, the money will have to come out of pocket.

Fault is also an important issue when dealing with a bike rider running into a car door.
• Was the vehicle in place for more than a few minutes before the door opened?
• Should the cyclist have known the car was newly parked in the space?
• Was the car parked near a designated bike lane?
• Was either person on the phone when the accident occurred?

Feelings of guilt, anger, and frustration are very common when a cyclist runs into an open car door. However, unless there are significant medical costs, each party might be better by simply covering his or her own expenses.

PERSONAL INJURY 101: Cell Phone Distraction Causes One In Four US Car Crashes

Recent reports state the number of car crashes caused by cell phone use and texting while driving at 1.6 million – one million more than previously thought. Have you seen these drivers? With one hand their holding their cell phone trying to balance it to their ear. The other hand is clutching a cup of coffee. The question begs, which hand is driving?

It’s easy to tell when you’re driving behind someone on a cell phone. They’re not paying attention to the road! They speed up, change lanes unexpectedly, stop in the middle of the road – it’s frightening to drive near them. You see them weaving in their lane and driving slowly very similar to the impact of someone under the influence of alcohol.

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine compared the effects of using a cell phone while driving to the impact of driving legally drunk. While the study’s methodology has been criticized, eyewitness reports confirm the problem.

Researchers have long found that using a cell phone while driving dramatically impairs the ability to drive. It is not just the visual impairment, such as when a driver takes his eyes off the road when dialing a number or writing text. It’s the cognitive disconnect involved. The brain is focused on a virtual conversation, so it does not compute images that come into the driver’s view.

The National Safety Council released estimates that at least 28% of all traffic accidents involve drivers using cell phones and texting. They estimate that each year 1.4 million crashes involve drivers using cell phones. Tens of thousands additional accidents involve drivers who are texting.

It’s apparent that using a cell phone when driving is a very risky distraction and it’s obvious that texting is even higher risk. We now know that cell phone use is a factor in many more crashes than texting. The main reason is that millions more drivers use cell phones than text. That is why we need to address both texting and cell phone use on our roads. Our advice? Stay safe on the road, and leave your cell phone alone when driving. We urge all drivers to stay alert and drive defensively.

PERSONAL INJURY 101: Top 5 Deadliest States for Auto Related Accidents.

In the United States, someone is killed or injured every 15 seconds in an automobile accident.

Fortunately, this number is decreasing because of improvements in auto design and safety, but it is still an exceedingly high number.

There are tens of thousands of deaths and injuries each year. Billions are spent on lost wages and medical care.

Safe driving and safety equipment matter; however, sometimes there are factors that may be outside of your control. Even if you are safe driver, your chances of being in an accident depend on where you live.

Deadliest States for Auto Accidents. In 2011, there were 30,000+ automobile accidents, resulting in 32,000+ deaths. There are some significant differences in the number of deaths by state, and Mississippi tops the list.

5 Top States:

Mississippi
Montana
Alabama
Wyoming
Arkansas

Pedestrians. Pedestrians can also be killed in auto accidents. Not all car accidents result in fatalities, and fatal accidents do not always involve a driver.

The likelihood of this happening differs depending on the state in which you live, and Florida tops the list.

5 Top States:

Florida
Delaware
Arizona
District of Columbia
South Carolina

Costs for Auto Accidents. A study in 2009 by AAA, showed that the cost of accidents was $300+ billion, and there were 10+ million accidents resulting in $3+ million injuries. In 2005 (the most recent data available), people lost $170+ billion due to lost wages and medical expenses.

Fortunately, the majority of accidents do not always result in death, but they can lead to major injuries and property damage. We urge all drivers to stay alert, drive defensively, and stay safe.

PERSONAL INJURY 101: Auto Accidents Projected to Increase Over Labor Day Holiday.

As we approach the upcoming Labor Day Holiday, we reference AAA’s recent study that projects a significant increase in highway traffic over the holiday weekend. AAA predicts more than 30+ million Americans will travel more than 50 miles away from home over the holiday.

This rise in auto traffic is determined to be at its highest since the recession. The study projects that the increase is due to both the economy and increasing costs for air travel.

The major factor this year is more people will be traveling by car rather than air. This increase in auto traffic can bring an increase in accidents, injuries, and deaths as more people are trying to get to their destinations.

Labor Day is considered by most Americans to be the final fun event before school begins. Unfortunately, there is a noted flux and increase in the number of drunk drivers and related accidents.

Approximately 300+ travelers lose their lives in accidents. Approximately 40% of wrongful death accidents will involve alcohol. On that note, we offer some helpful safety recommendations to help keep you and your family safe through the holiday weekend:

Abstain from using your cell phone when behind the wheel – leave your phone alone when driving.
Make sure all passengers in your vehicle are buckled up and children are in age-appropriate safety seats.
Children 12 and under should always be seated the back seat.
Allow plenty of travel time to avoid frustration and diminish any impulse to speed.
Always drive defensively, stay alert, and exercise caution, especially during bad weather.
Never drive when drowsy. Pull over to rest often as needed in order to drive safely.
Designate a non-drinking partner to drive when appropriate.
Keep in mind even moderate consumption of alcohol impairs reaction time and driving judgment.

We urge all drivers to stay alert, drive defensively, and stay safe.