Posts Tagged ‘auto accidents’

Top 5 Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

As the number one reason of fatality among children under the age of 21, car accidents are an extremely common case of injury and death across the country. However, car accidents happen every minute in the United States, yet many times they could be avoided. The following is a list of the top ten causes for motor vehicle accidents.

  1. Cell Phone Usage – With a reported average of 3 out of every 5 drivers either texting or talking while driving, the phone has become a dangerous utility to drivers, motorists, and passengers alike. As the number 1 cause of collisions, car accident attorney Emery Ledger advises that you keep your eyes on the road to avoid injuries or deaths to yourself and to other innocent drivers. In fact, in the State of California it is illegal to talk or text on the cell phone (unless facilitated by blue tooth or head sets). So next time, resist the urge and wait until you can safely talk or respond back to your message.
  2. Changing of CDs or Radio Stations – the temptation to take your eyes off of the road in hopes of jamming out to your favorite song could actually cost you more than what you are willing to give up. As the second most common cause for auto accidents, changing cd’s or radio stations causes drivers to take their eyes off of the road and make them incapable of keeping up with their immediate surroundings which can be dangerous for themselves and those around them
  3. Eating in the Car – Driver distraction is exponentially increased every single time a driver decides to indulge in his or her burger instead of focusing on the responsibility at hand: driving. Though your work schedule may only allow you to squeeze in a breakfast or lunch in the car, it is always best to take the few extra minutes to eat in the parking lot before you decide to get back on the road. As 80% of drivers have reported driver distraction (which eating does categorize under), the possibility of spilling your drink or spilling your food may create an uncomfortable inconvenience for you in the remaining time you have in your car. Moreover, some drivers feel the urge to address the matter right away, and risk their safety in the process.
  4. Drunk Driving & Illegal Drug Use – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (prescription or illegal) can firmly impair a driver’s ability while on the road. As one of the leading causes to car accidents, alcohol causes thousands of innocent deaths each year as a result of drivers who lost control and irresponsibly drove while inebriated.
  5. Speeding – Speeding and other displays of reckless behavior may give drivers a quick thrill, but it can make it very difficult for drivers to stop or react to situations that appear in front of them. If they are unable to determine the traffic flow ahead of them and are unable to stop, or are taken by surprise by a car changing lanes, then a driver  speeding above the designated limit could cause a disastrous collision.

In order to avoid this kind of incident from continuing, drivers must practice safe driving. Keeping your eyes on the road can avoid mild or severe injuries, even death, in many cases. For any additional questions or information, please contact California car accident lawyer Emery Ledger of Law Offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit his website www.LedgerLaw.com.

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Driver Fatigue, A Stealthy Suspect

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Driver fatigue is a major factor in up to 20% of fatal car accidents in the United States each year. Although there is strong debate that driver fatigue is under represented in accident statistics each year.  With distracted drivers on their cell phones or eating in the car and reckless drivers terrorizing drivers and pedestrians alike, it seems that driver fatigue may not be a legitimate claim for causation of car accidents. However, drowsiness hinders driver perception and reflex responses making driver fatigue a leading cause for auto accidents every day.
There can be a multitude of symptoms that let drivers know their bodies are tired. Car accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates has seen the devastating affects of car accidents in California and across the country. It is very important for car drivers to learn auto accident prevention techniques against driver fatigue – for in the aggregate, it may save thousands of lives every year.
In more extreme cases, it is always safest for a driver to pull over to the side of the road, stretch, for a few minutes, before getting back on the road. In extreme cases of driver fatigue, the driver should pull over, take a few minutes to rest or nap, and then proceed driving once feeling refreshed. In fact, many major highways provide rest stops for this very purpose – as to avoid any unnecessary or unintentional vehicle accidents as a result of driver fatigue, distraction, or negligence. If you are involved in an accident with a driver who was fatigued or sleeping, immediately contact a car accident lawyer who can help you to pursue a case against the responsible party. Possible bodily and vehicle injuries that should not have to be covered with out of pocket expenses if you were not at fault.
Driver fatigue is comparable to distracted driving behavior. When fatigued, drivers have much slower reaction rates to immediate situations and are more concerned with staying awake while driving than with their surroundings. If you try to fight off the sleep, you may actually in fact fall into a microsleep and briefly lose consciousness when on a road or freeway. The thought of not having control of a vehicle weighing in at thousands of pounds is an extremely scary thought that could potentially lead to a wrongful death of yourself or another innocent driver in a vehicle crash or trucking accident.
To avoid such situations from occurring, there are some tips to follow:
1.    Do not drink while driving – as recent studies have shown that alcohol consumption can be correlated with stronger tendencies for drowsiness and fatigue
2.    Try to get adequate sleep or rest prior to any car rides
3.    Be alert, attentive, and safe when driving so as to minimize any reckless behaviors that may lead to car accidents by other drivers
4.    If all else fails – pull over and sleep it off!
Inability to properly address your driving fatigue may require further medical attention. If you or a loved one has been in a car accident with a driver who practiced negligent driving behavior, contact California car accident lawyer Emery Ledger who can help you receive the full and comprehensive compensation you deserve. Call (800) 300-0001 or visit the website at www.LedgerLaw.com

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“Hey! You Aren’t Fully Covered”

Friday, June 18th, 2010

If you own a car, you probably have insurance as well. Unfortunately, approximately 14% of American drivers do not have any type of car insurance. The reasons may vary, from beliefs that it is unnecessary to simply not being able to afford it. Regardless of why some motorists choose not to have insurance, it is still a hassle to get involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist. In this case, uninsured motorist laws come into play when these people are involved in an accident, and the best way to make sure you receive coverage for damages to your car is to speak to a car accident attorney.

Uninsured Motorist Law (UM) varies from state to state, and insurance companies deal with it accordingly. In many cases, it is hard to make a claim against a person with no insurance, because their assets are not enough to warrant litigation. However, if you have uninsured motorist coverage, you can make a claim against your insurance to recover damages in case of serious injuries. This type of coverage generally accounts for:

  • medical expenses
  • loss of wages
  • pain, suffering and permanent injury
  • loss of the ability to keep earning in the future

If you find yourself involved in an accident with an uninsured individual, you should seek help from an experienced attorney. Uninsured motorist laws can be very complex because they deal with a specialized team on the insurer’s side trying to belittle or deny your claim. A lawyer with knowledge in the subject can provide assistance to help you get the compensation you deserve.

There is a range of car accidents that occur every day, from fender benders to full frontal collisions that end in fatalities. Furthermore, many times these auto accidents cause unintentional physical injuries that may go unnoticed – such traumatic brain injuries or back pains. Car accident attorneys strive to reach settlements for drivers in auto collisions, however, when you get into an accident with an uninsured motorists, it can create a much more complicated case.  Settlements are meant to cover wreckage done to the vehicle along with medical expenses for injuries. However, when the other driver is uninsured, you can end up paying for all of your expenses out of pocket. Therefore, it is crucial to seek out an experienced, well-prepared lawyer who is able to ensure that you receive the proper compensation for damage done to you and your vehicle. Furthermore, this will enable you to focus on your healthcare and facilitate a fast and successful recovery.

If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, for any additional information or question regarding uninsured motorists or insurance coverage relevant to a case, please contact California car accident  lawyer Emery Ledger of Law Offices of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit his website www.LedgerLaw.com.

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Have A Safe & Healthly Weekend – Drive Safely

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Dear Clients,

As summer approaches fast, the roads will start to crowd with drivers on vacation. These drivers are often from out of the area and thus are looking down at maps or GPS screens rather than at the road ahead. Be careful on the road this summer… I have seen so many lives completely ruined due to auto accidents. It is important to not only drive safe yourself but to be on the defense and lookout for those who aren’t.

I hope you all have a safe & healthy weekend!

In furtherance of our office policy against drinking & driving if you need a ride home from a bar please call our office at 800-300-0001…we will arrange a ride & pay for it.

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Which Form of Compensation Can I Qualify for After An Auto Accident?

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Millions of people figure into car accidents each year, resulting to personal injury and damage to property. Should the accident be minor, what most injured victims would do is simply to file police reports, contact their insurance company, but shoulder the losses themselves. But major accidents are a league of their own. If you sustained injuries under this category, you should be informed that you can be compensated not only for the damage to your car, but for other related damages as well.

If you suffered injuries from a car accident, you will most likely incur expenses that are connected to the accident such as medical treatment, rehabilitation, transportation expenses while the car is sent to repairs. It is common occurrence among auto accidents that victims’ expenses suddenly increase and you may lose potential earnings as a result of physical injuries. Moreover, you may find it difficult, if not impossible, to perform your daily activities, be it for a shorter or longer period. You may also experience pain and suffering on top of it all.

The good news is you can receive compensation for these types of injuries and expenses. On a general note, auto accident victims claim what is known as compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are intended to indemnify you as a way of ‘making you whole again,’ just like the way you were before figuring into an accident. This kind of damage comes in two types: economic and non-economic. The first is awarded to you for the expenses you incurred as a result of the accident while the second is granted as indemnification for any pain and suffering that the accident caused you. You can claim both if applicable.

Extreme accident cases also entitle you to punitive damages. These are available if the injury was on account of the driver’s recklessness or irresponsibility, or if the accident was caused by the car’s poor or defective condition which can be attributed to the manufacturer’s breach of warranty.

Compensation claims arising from auto accidents are beneficial but only if you know how to proceed. A good number of people do not opt for such claims either because they are not aware of it or granting that if they do, they do not want to get caught in a legal battle to get it.

But compensation claims arising from auto accidents are within your right and it would be a waste not to take advantage of that right. You are the victim—the one who has been inconvenienced by the onslaught of someone’s palpable mistake and you deserve to be indemnified of that inconvenience. Had the accident not happened, your life may have proceeded in the usual manner. And people who were responsible for this should own up to answer for their faults.

If you are concerned about the hassle of claiming for compensation, you need not worry further as it is easy. If you want to be spared from all the process this will bring, you can easily locate an experienced lawyer to handle this process for you. Go for the trusted lawyers who have established names as trustworthy and competent litigators who can help you get your claim in the most efficient and effective way possible.

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Accident Attorney, “But My Navigation Said To Turn Left Here…”

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

We all know by now of the couple recently stranded in their car because their navigation system erroneously took them many miles off course. Luckily for the couple, they had dried food to eat while waiting to be rescued. For many other, they will not be as lucky when their navigation systems fail them and provide wrong directions.

With the advent of satellite navigation, millions of Americans are beginning to depend on navigation tools to find their way both around town and across country, millions of Americans are beginning to depend on navigation tools to find their way both around town and across the country. This navigation technology is making for many confused drivers, who struggle to follow directions that do not make sense and do not square with the street names they see on local corners.

Is it possible that drivers will be able to bring an action against the makers of GPS tools? In the first instance, whether it is declared formally or not, GPS and satellite direction tools are meant to guide a driver to the destination. They are often not the end all, and be all to substituting a good old paper map of the area. Maps and formal directions are available online and in paper form. With so much technology, reading a map has certainly become passé. But it is a lost art worth taking up again, because frankly, the GPS system is not always correct.

Of course, if you read the instructions very clearly, and read between the lines and even the small print, you might find that the satellite navigational system will have a disclaimer clause. It will state somewhere in the materials that came with the tool, that the service is meant to be accurate, but that they will probably not be held responsible if the system fails. If the service is one that requires a subscription, is considered a paid service, or requires that the driver continually update his system after paying for materials or downloads from the internet – an argument might be made that the driver should be able to reasonably expect the service to perform accurate directions on demand.

Finally, even though a driver is relying on the GPS navigation system to give the correct directions, the driver is in control of the vehicle. The navigation tool is not a substitute for the careful driver who is supposed to realize that there are man-made obstacles such as construction or cars parked where the navigation is telling it to go. Or that there is a mud slide on the road, and that it is now necessary for the navigation system to “recalculate” the directions, to get around a hazard safely.

In the end, the driver is going to have responsibility as to how the car is driven, where it is driven and if it is driven safely. The navigation system cannot actually “see” the driver. There is a false sense of security since the navigation system is actually “talking” to the driver, and telling the driver to turn left or right at certain intervals. The same way my wife tells me, whenever I ask her which way we should go, she says “you’re the driver, driver,” the navigation systems are leaving the real driving up to the driver. And isn’t that the way it should be?

If you have been in an accident or have experienced a loss as a result of using a navigation system, you may want to talk to an expert at auto accidents. Give us a call at Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or email us at www.ledgerlaw.com. We are available to answer your questions for you and will review each case on the merits for real results.

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Teens Are More Prone To Car Accidents

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

The number of deaths caused by vehicular accidents has increased over the years. What makes it most unfortunate is the fact that teenagers dominate these statistics. This is not exclusively an United States problem, but on an international level.

In a year, approximately 5,000 teenagers raging from 16-20 years die due to fatal injuries caused by accidents. A projection of 400,000 teenagers of the same range will be injured. The risks of having car accidents are greatly higher in this age group. The rate is about four times higher compared to other drivers who experience a fatal crash.

It has also been observed that teenage male drivers are more likely to crash than females. They are also more likely to experience accidents in their first year of driving.

Numerous surveys have cited reasons why teenagers are more capable of experiencing accidents is because adults are more observant of situations. When they are about to face danger, they can more easily adjust. Teenagers tend to recognize the situation after it has already taken place. Speeding is another common denominator in the scope of these incidents. A significant number of teenagers who experienced a car crash were speeding, and a larger number were driving under the influence. Many reports show that teenagers in comparison to other age groups refuse to make use of safety gadgets such as seat belts.

Parents all over the world suffered from the loss of their children because of these accidents. So as to prevent the pain of losing those whom we love, it is best to keep ourselves safe on the road. Here are some ways to protect you from accidents.

It always makes sense to abide by the law. Laws were prepared for the safety and security of all the citizens of a community. They should be respected in order to protect ourselves and the people around us.

Take care of your car. Keeping your car in good condition may protect you and your family from accidents. Have your car serviced habitually. You should also be able to know for yourself when there is something wrong. When something does not sound right, bring your car to the nearest car service center.

Never drink and drive. As stated above, a large number of accidents result from high levels of blood alcohol concentrations. Accidents due to driving drunk are mostly fatal as alcohol affects our judgment, concentration and the ability to react quickly to sudden situations.

Alertness is a must when driving. Develop your own safe driving habits to protect yourself from accidents. Concentrate on the road, the signs, the lights, your destination, as well as the people on the road.

Do not call or text while driving. It can also ruin your concentration. The right time to do that is to make a stop. If your call is really necessary, then make a proper stop.

Lastly, never drive when you are angry or upset. Take some time to cool down and breathe. It is not safe to drive when something is bothering you. There is a tendency to divert your emotions on the road and may cause danger to others.

These are some basic safety rules that can work for anyone. Of course you know what works best for you so add any habits that cater to personal safety as well.

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