Earlier this week, we discussed the fact that California leads the nation in bicycle accident fatalities. We noted that with the sole exception of Florida, no other state even comes close to matching California’s rate of fatal bicycle accidents. This information is valuable, as it should inspire state and local lawmakers to embrace reforms designed to keep bike riders safer in the future. However, this statistic alone is not enough to understand the roots of the problem itself. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, over 700 cyclists were killed on American roads in 2012 alone. More than 120 of those fatalities occurred in California. The [...]

California is arguably the most versatile state in the nation. Within its borders, California boasts snowcapped mountains and scorching deserts, beaches that are warm year-round and waters that are generally never warm enough to swim in comfortably. If you love any particular outdoor activity, you can likely find a place to do that activity in California. And this is just one of the reasons why so many cyclists can be found on California roads and trails at any given time of the year. Unfortunately, while California may lead the nation in versatile outdoor experiences, it also leads the nation in some of the most devastating consequences [...]

Over the past several years, corporate giant Google has been testing a small fleet of vehicles that are self-operating. These vehicles have been designed in ways that Google hopes will eventually lead to a significantly diminished number of car accidents occurring on U.S. roads annually and reduced traffic congestion. Such goals are lofty. In order to account for the seemingly endless number of variables that motorists encounter every day, the Google fleet has been tested extensively. And apparently, the Google fleet has encountered some pretty bizarre findings during the testing process. For example, TopTechNews.com reports that the Google fleet once encountered an elderly woman chasing a [...]

We have previously written about many efforts undertaken by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on behalf of American travelers. This federal agency is directly tasked with preventing auto accidents when possible and improving auto safety generally. The NHTSA has initiated many valuable programs, including those aimed at curbing distracted driving practices, and many valuable investigations into defective auto parts. These efforts have almost certainly saved American lives. However, the NHTSA has also recently come under fire for failing to execute its authority properly during the recent General Motors defective ignition switch scandal. Dozens of injurious and fatal auto accidents have been linked to the scandal [...]

Two federal agencies are working together to better ensure that American travelers remain safe while they navigate the nation’s roadways. One of the most pressing concerns affecting roadway safety today is drowsy driving. When overworked or generally overtired Americans get behind the wheel, they place themselves and everyone around them in a state of danger. It is vitally important that motorists only drive when they are rested enough to operate their vehicle safely. Adequate rest and attention span are arguably even more important for commercial truck drivers, as their massive vehicles are capable of causing a staggering amount of damage. In a recent “quick tips” report [...]

It is not news that car accidents can cause lifelong, debilitating injuries. These injuries can lead to people having to find new careers, or even stop working all together. Others will find themselves being billed for tens of thousands of dollars worth of medical services. These are services and treatments that, in many cases, were needed to save their lives — and are continuously needed try and improve or maintain their quality of life.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published a report highlighting the financial damage caused by motor vehicle accidents. The results may be shocking to some of our California readers.  [...]

In January, Gov. Jerry Brown declared that California was in an emergency drought situation. The need to conserve precious and dwindling water resources in the state prompted the “drive a dirty car” campaign. The public awareness push challenges residents to go an entire month without washing their car.  The campaign has received more of a favorable response than some supporters originally may have expected. In fact, since January, water usage has dropped by 5 percent — although the statistic doesn’t specifically factor in the no-wash movement. “We had no idea how this would go down,” said Nancy Broschart, management analyst at Ventura Water.  The campaign is [...]

Auto accidents can be devastating. They can be destructive, injurious and even fatal. Severe accidents may make headlines, but even seemingly minor accidents can result in enough property and bodily damage to be noteworthy. If you have recently been involved in a fender-bender, you may feel disoriented. You may have questions about whether or not your accident is “significant” enough to contact an attorney about. In general, it is better to be safe than sorry. What does this guidance mean practically? It means that in the wake of all kinds of auto accidents, individuals find themselves in need of an attorney’s expertise. Whether it is to [...]

Every individual ages in different ways. For example, some individuals start to need glasses once they reach the age of retirement, even though their vision has been perfect for their entire lives before this point. Other individuals maintain perfect eyesight well into their 90s. Because there is no master formula for aging, it is inappropriate to treat all elderly drivers as either capable or disadvantaged in the same ways. Instead, it is important for all elderly drivers to seek regular medical checkups in which their capacities for safe driving are assessed. Some individuals will pass these checkups with flying colors for the remainder of their lives. [...]