We think of the winter holidays as the most festive time of the year, blending family, food, and fun. For a great many of us, though, holiday gathering also include imbibing alcohol. If we were all living in a Currier & Ives painting and riding in sleighs, whether the person holding the reins had had a few too many spiked eggnogs might not be much of a problem. With a large percentage of the population speeding down our country’s highways from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, however, we have more than enough cause to be worried about being involved in drunk-driving accidents.
We all remember how we were when we were teenagers. The sky’s the limit, especially when it comes to being able to drive yourself to places. Safety wasn’t always our first priority when it came to driving. However, that’s exactly why you should give your teenage child all the safety resources, skills, and tips you can to help them prioritize keeping themselves and their passengers safe.
As personal injury attorneys, we have represented far too many teenagers whose lives are forever changed by simple driving mistakes. We have also represented too many families whose teenagers lost their lives due to easily preventable decisions made by inexperienced or inattentive drivers.
In car accidents, much of the attention is focused on the drivers. However, passenger injuries in car accidents are worthy of attention, too, as passengers often suffer just as severe, if not more so, injuries than their passengers. If you were a passenger in a car that was involved in an accident and you sustained injuries as a result of that accident, you likely have many questions about whether you can sue and who you can sue.
At J&Y Law, we have represented many clients who were injured while riding as passengers in others’ cars.
In car accidents, much of the attention is focused on the drivers. However, passenger injuries in car accidents are worthy of attention, too, as passengers often suffer just as severe, if not more so, injuries than their passengers. If you were a passenger in a car that was involved in an accident and you sustained injuries as a result of that accident, you likely have many questions about whether you can sue and who you can sue.
At J&Y Law, we have represented many clients who were injured while riding as passengers in others’ cars.
Everyone tells you to make sure you get the other driver’s insurance information when you’re involved in a car accident. What happens when the other driver doesn’t have insurance? More importantly, what if the other driver is at fault and you suffer significant property damage or injury to your person as a result? How will you get the compensation you deserve? In California, an estimated 15 percent of drivers are uninsured, meaning it entirely possible that you could be involved in a collision with an uninsured motorist.
Most people have heard that the vast majority of lawsuits that are filed never go to trial. That’s generally true, with one of the most common claims being that more than 90% of cases are resolved outside of a courtroom. But the actual statistics can vary widely depending on a number of factors, including what kind of claims are involved and where the relevant incidents occurred. These variables make pinning down exact statistics on how often car cases go to trial difficult, but California tracks and publishes data that can be helpful for creating an estimate.
What causes wrong-way collisions?
Recently, four people were killed in two different wrong-way car accidents in Los Angeles. The first accident occurred on the 118 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley. Authorities report that a 30-year-old man was heading east in the westbound carpool lane after midnight. He collided with another vehicle, killing the driver and critically injuring a passenger.
A short time later, another wrong-way crash occurred in the southbound lanes of the 605 Freeway in Irwindale. Officials report that a 35-year-old woman entered the freeway using the off-ramp and drove north,
How can I help if I witness a car accident
Famed actor Harrison Ford recently became a hero in real life when he reacted quickly to assist a driver in distress. Ford was driving east on a Freeway near Santa Barbara when the driver in front of him lost control of her vehicle and swerved off the road, hitting an embankment. Ford stopped his vehicle and ran to the car. He and other good Samaritans pulled the driver from the car. Paramedics swiftly arrived and the driver was transported to the hospital.
Although Los Angeles is known for its sunny weather, the city and the rest of California have occasional periods of heavy rain and rough weather which makes for dangerous driving. In short, rain reduces your visibility, response time, and ability to control your vehicle, which increases the risk of car accidents.
At J&Y Law, we are dedicated to keeping the roads and highways safe for all motorists. Here are some important safety tips for driving in the rain:
- Check the Tires —
Even the best driver can be hit by a driver who is out of control or not paying attention. This is an irritating fact of life when the only damage is to your car, but it becomes substantially more of an issue if you’re injured. And if you’re injured by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, it can really become a problem. In situations like this, it’s imperative that you know what your rights are.
Understanding Your Insurance Policy
One option if you have been involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist might be to simply pay for everything yourself.
