Archives : 2010 : September

CHP Budget Constraints Could Impact Safety of California Motorists

A new order to end overtime for California Highway Patrol officers could place motorists, and emergency workers at risk. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has directed state agencies, including the California Highway Patrol to immediately cease paying overtime hours.  The governor has made an exception in emergency cases, but even in these cases, the emergencies must be first approved by the governor. California car accident attorneys are very concerned that such budgetary cuts could impact the way the California Highway Patrol functions, and affect motorist safety.

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Increased Use of Car Seats Leads to Fewer Child Accident Deaths

Fewer children are dying in accidents compared to previous years because of increased use of child car safety seats.  Child safety seat use is at record highs around the country, and this has contributed to more children’s lives being saved in accidents every year.  That information comes from statistics released by federal administration in time for Child Passenger Safety Week.  However, automobile accidents continue to be the number one cause of sudden unintentional death for children aged below 14.

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Pedestrian Auto Accident Victim’s Family Tries to Prove His Innocence

The family of Santa Cruz resident, Federico Philippe Morales is hoping that when the dust settles around the fatal <strong>pedestrian auto accident</strong>, the record will show that he was not at fault.

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Santa Ana Man Killed in Freeway Car Accident

A couch that apparently fell off a truck or some other vehicle is being blamed for a fatal freeway car accident in Orange County that killed a Santa Ana man.  The accident occurred on Sunday when a Toyota Corolla struck a black couch lying on the southbound 5 freeway.  The Corolla collided with a GMC Safari, causing the van to roll over.  One of the passengers in the van was ejected from the vehicle, and sustained fatal injuries.  The van driver sustained minor injuries.

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New York 15-Passenger Van Accident Underscores Design Risks

Last week, six people were killed in an accident involving a 15-passenger van that rolled over on a New York State Thruway.  The accident remind California auto accident lawyers and the public about the dangers of these passenger vans and make us question why they still continue to operate on the roads.

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Utah Accident Investigation Indicates Driver Had Marijuana in System

The driver of a tour bus that crashed on a highway in Utah last month killing four people, had traces of marijuana in his system, but was not legally intoxicated.  Tests show that the driver, Yasushi Mikuni had smoked marijuana heavily in the days leading up to the accident.  However, investigators believe the main cause of the accident was driver fatigue.

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DOT Considering Cell Phone Ban While Driving Trucks Carrying Hazardous Materials

The Obama administration has proposed a cell phone ban while driving that prevents texting while driving a truck carrying hazardous materials.  These rules would be complementary to a new set of rules being finalized by the Transportation Department that would prevent drivers of commercial trucks and buses from sending text messages while on the job.  The rules would also place restrictions on the use of cell phones by train operators.

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Teenage Drunk Driving Accident Points to Dangerous of Drunk Driving

A teenage drunk driving accident last week that killed a 15-year-old high school and injured three other teenagers, is bringing attention to the tragic problem of teenage drunk driving in California.

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Lawmaker Seeks to Raise $200 Million Metrolink Accident Liability

A Simi Valley Congressman has introduced legislation in Congress that would increase the $200 million liability cap in certain train accidents.  The legislation has been sponsored by Representative Elton Gallegly, and it will increase the cap from $200 million to $500 million.  If this bill becomes law, it would be retroactively impact the Metrolink accident in Chatsworth near Los Angeles in 2008 that killed 25 people.  Metrolink earlier this month agreed to pay a maximum of $200 million in settlement of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits arising out of the accident.

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Investigators Probe Sewer Link in San Bruno Gas Pipeline Explosion

Investigators including the National Transportation Safety Board are specifically looking at whether repair work on a sewer pipeline close to a gas transmission line was responsible for a deadly explosion that shook a San Bruno neighborhood last week.  According to the Los Angeles Times, the sewer that was repaired back in 2008, had been repaired in an unsafe fashion that possibly caused damage to pipelines in the area.

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