Auto Accident
Study Shows Distracted Driving Still A Prominent Behavior Recorded In California
| November 11th, 2013
November 11, 2013 Distracted driving is a major problem on the highways of the United States today, especially in California. In fact, the California Office of Traffic Safety reports that as many as 80 percent of collisions list a driver’s distraction as a contributing factor. The California Car Accident Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers explain that the state has taken strides to reduce the number of these collisions by enacting several laws against the behavior of distracted driving. Unfortunately though, a new study is showing that the results of these efforts may not be paying off. According to The Sacramento Bee, researchers studied the behaviors of drivers at several different intersections in the Sacramento area. The team concluded that distracted driving is a common behavior in the city that has seen little reduction in rates of occurrence over recent years. The study showed an average of around 80 distracted drivers at each intersection, with some of the most common distracting behaviors being listed as eating or drinking and listening to music too loudly. The numbers leave many citizens wondering what can be done to keep distracted drivers off the road. Berg Injury Lawyers and their team of California Personal Injury Lawyers explain that most experts contend raising public awareness of the dangers of distracted driving as the best way to curtail the behavior. This means being a good example by never driving while distracted and encouraging others to do the same.California Car Accident Prompts Concerns Over San Francisco City Employee Driving Policies
| September 23rd, 2013
September 23, 2013 The California Car Accident Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers explain that drivers of motor vehicles must follow certain rules and regulations to ensure both their safety and that of others around them. Failure to do so may result in claims of negligence being made against a driver in the event an accident occurs that results in death or injury. One such accident occurred on September 5 in a San Francisco, California, park and has since sparked heavy debate on the policies city employees must follow when driving metropolitan vehicles on public property. According to an article from the San Francisco Gate, the crash happened in Holly Park. Reports indicate the 35-year-old victim and her 11-month-old daughter were lying in the grass in the park when a 57-year-old city gardener veered off of a pedestrian path he was driving on and ran the woman over. She was killed as a result of injuries she sustained in the accident. Regulations state that city employees are prohibited from driving on pedestrian paths and grassy areas. Now, a hearing is scheduled to be held in order to determine how the regulations should be implemented. Berg’s team of California Personal Injury Lawyers are aware of how devastating a death caused by a motor vehicle collision can be and would like to send their deepest sympathies to the family of the victim.Study Finds Distracted Driving Is Continuing to Increase in California
| August 12th, 2013
August 12, 2013 Despite California taking a stand against distracted driving five years ago by legally banning texting and driving, a new study has shown instances of distracted driving are increasing. An article from KPCC News explains that the Automobile Club of Southern California began surveying motorists on their behaviors behind the wheel of a vehicle in 2008. Researchers found that since the beginning of the study, the number of drivers reporting that they text using a cellphone while driving has increased 126 percent. The number is interesting considering the study began before the ban was enacted, yet the behavior increased after the ban took effect. These numbers leave many citizens wondering what is being done to solve the problem of California Car Accidents caused by distracted driving. Several organizations have partnered to produce a public service announcement explaining the risks of distracted driving and asking motorists to be aware of the dangers of cellphone use behind the wheel. Citizens can also hold motorists accountable for their actions by reporting incidences of texting and driving using the 1-800-TELL-CHP hotline. The caller must report the location and license tag of the vehicle in order for a warning letter to be sent to the distracted driver. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers are aware of the dangers distracted driving can pose and hope these efforts are successful in reducing the number of accidents caused by the behavior.San Leandro Car Accident Leaves One Dead And Two Others Seriously Injured
| July 29th, 2013
July 29, 2013 A 57-year-old woman was killed and two others were seriously injured as the result of a San Leandro Car Accident that happened over the weekend. Reports indicate the crash occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 21, along Washington Boulevard in Alameda County, California. An article from the San Leandro Patch explained that an officer had reported a vehicle traveling at more than 100 mph in the southbound lanes of Washington. Before the vehicle could be stopped though, the driver had veered into the oncoming lanes of traffic and collided head-on with another vehicle. The female passenger of the vehicle that was struck died at the scene. Luckily though, officers were able to pull the drivers of both vehicles to safety before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The men were then transported to a local hospital for further treatment. They were last listed in serious condition. The incident underscores the dangers that speeding can present. Experts say the behavior is involved in roughly one-third of all fatal accidents that occur in the United States today. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers recognize the risks speeding in a vehicle presents to not only the driver engaged in the behavior, but to all others who are sharing the road with them. That is why the firm asks that each motorist do their part to keep California’s highways and roads safe by always obeying the posted speed limit of the road you are traveling on.California Auto Accident Leaves Five Women Dead
| May 6th, 2013
May 6, 2013 A California Auto Accident that occurred over the weekend and involved a limousine was responsible for claiming the lives of five women. Reports indicate that overcrowding and defective design of the vehicle may have been contributing factors in the tragedy. According to an article from USA Today, the incident occurred this past Saturday night, in the westbound lanes of the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge spanning the San Francisco Bay. The women were riding in a 1999 Lincoln Town Car limousine as they traveled to a local hotel following a bridal shower. During the trip though, the rear of the vehicle burst into flames, trapping the nine occupants of the car in the inferno. Four of the women were able to escape the blaze; however, five of their companions, including the bride, died as a result of the fire. As experts search for clues to the cause of the incident, it has come to light that the vehicle may have been overcrowded at the time. State law allows such a vehicle to carry eight passenger or less. There were nine passengers in the limousine at the time the fire erupted. Also, the vehicle was only equipped with two rear doors, which is standard for a limousine of that age; however, new limousines come equipped with more doors for passengers. The California Personal Injury Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers would like to send their condolences to the family and friends of the victims.San Francisco Accident Leaves Two Pedestrians Seriously Injured
| April 1st, 2013
April 1, 2013 A San Francisco Auto Accident was responsible for seriously injuring two pedestrians two weeks ago. The San Francisco Chronicle explained the collision occurred on Wednesday, March 20, at approximately 9:40 p.m., at the intersection of West Portal Avenue and Vicente Street. A spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department, Officer Gordon Shyy, explained a couple was attempting to cross Vicente in a marked crosswalk when they were struck by a vehicle traveling through the intersection. The driver of the car stopped to render aid and rescue crews were able to transport the injured to a local hospital for treatment. Doctors determined the female victim had sustained life-threatening injuries and remained hospitalized, while her husband was treated and released a short time later. Both the driver of the vehicle and the pedestrians told authorities that they had the right-of-way at the time the collision occurred. Detectives say they are looking into the patterns in traffic signals at the lights and crosswalks at the accident scene as part of their investigation. They have determined drugs or alcohol do not appear to have played a role in the crash. The San Francisco Personal Injury Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers point out it is vital that both pedestrians and motorists be aware of their surroundings at all times in order to prevent an accident from occurring. That’s why the firm asks all citizens to look twice in both directions before attempting to cross a street or intersection.Program Aims To Reduce Teen Fatalities In Car Accidents
| March 18th, 2013
March 18, 2013 Numbers from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association show the number of fatal teen motor vehicle collisions saw a 19 percent increase in the first six months of last year compared to the same time period the previous year. In an effort to reduce this growing number of deadly California Car Accidents, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has announced it will be offering two more sessions of its “Start Smart” traffic safety class. An article from KSBY News explains the classes will be conducted on the evenings of March 6 and 20 at the CHP’s Santa Maria office located on North Carlotti Drive. The course is free of charge and lasts approximately two hours. Participants in the program will receive instruction on how to safely operate a vehicle, as well as learning tips on ways to prevent an accident from occurring. Testimonies from officers who have investigated fatal accidents involving teens and families who have lost loved ones to such collisions will also be heard. Anyone wishing to participate in the program has been encouraged to get in touch with the CHP at (805) 349-8728. The California Injury Attorneys with Berg Injury Lawyers applaud the program being offered for its efforts in reducing the number of teenage accident fatalities. The firm is hopeful the campaign is successful in its mission!San Francisco Pedestrian Accidents Prompts Safety Task Force
| January 21st, 2013
January 21, 2013 Pedestrian accidents caused by motor vehicles are a serious concern today for many in San Francisco, California. In fact, some are so worried about being struck by a car or truck according to Mayor Ed Lee, they are afraid to walk along the city’s streets. These fears have prompted city officials to take action to combat the problem. CBS-San Francisco says a total of 876 pedestrians were hit by motor vehicles within the city limits last year alone. Furthermore, these California Car Accidents resulted in the deaths of 18 of the individuals who were hurt. Lee explained that 50 percent of these incidents occurred on five percent of the city’s streets, including major corridors such as 19th Avenue, Market Street, Van Ness Avenue, and Geary Boulevard. In an effort to eliminate these types of accidents, Mayor Lee announced this past month that he would be implementing a Pedestrian Safety Task Force that will focus on reducing speed limits, enhancing crosswalks, installing yield signs, improving sight lines at the 50 most dangerous intersections in the city. The hope is that the program will decrease the number of San Francisco pedestrian accidents by 25 percent in the next three years and slash the number of incidents in half by 2021. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers hope the campaign is successful in educating the public about the dangers of pedestrian accidents and reducing the number of these accidents across the city.California Law Enforcement Works To Eliminate Distracted Driving
| December 31st, 2012
December 31, 2012 Distracted driving is a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents across the United States, and in California, more than 200 Car Accidents were attributed to the behavior. According to the Daily Democrat, the state is battling the problem with the “Phone In One Hand. Ticket In The Other” campaign. Experts say that using a cellphone while driving, even if it’s a hands-free device, can still take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, or long enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 MPH. This can delay a motorist’s reaction times by as much as having a blood-alcohol limit of .08 percent. The campaign is being funded by a $600,000 federal grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and has allowed law enforcement statewide to participate in saturation patrols targeting drivers who are texting or talking while behind the wheel. The campaign is part of a pilot program that was launched in two other states in recent years and has already seen great success as well. Over the most recent ten-day enforcement period, more than 3,000 citations were issued to distracted drivers. The program was successful in other states in reducing the number of drunk drivers by as much as 72 percent. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers would encourage all motorists to stay safe by eliminating distractions like cellphones before hitting the road.Lawsuit To Be Filed In Connection To Northern California Car Accident
| October 29th, 2012
October 29, 2012 The Record Searchlight reports a lawsuit will likely be filed against Shasta County for a car accident caused by a defective highway design that left two young girls seriously injured The California Car Accident occurred March 16 at a bridge abutment along a highway in Cottonwood, California. Accident reports indicate the father of the two girls, ages 3 and 4, was driving while impaired and turned to check on his children in the backseat when he veered off the road and collided head-on with the concrete wall supporting the bridge above. One of the young girls was permanently paralyzed from the waist down in the accident, while the other child suffered traumatic brain injuries that left her with vision issues and persistent headaches. The lawsuit says that “substandard width lanes” required the county to install guardrails along the highway to prevent such an accident from occurring and that the accident would have been less severe had rails been in place. California Department of Transportation code calls for any bridge less than 60 feet wide to have guardrails running along the highway and a state trooper’s report of the accident says the bridge at the accident site is roughly 40 feet across. The California Personal Injury Lawyers with Berg Injury Lawyers encourage anyone who has been hurt in a car crash to contact an attorney to discuss your legal rights.
