Car Accidents

One person was transported with injuries after three cars collided at a Newport Beach intersection. The Daily Pilot reports that the injury crash occurred at the intersection of East Coast Highway and Newport Coast Drive the afternoon of March 15, 2013.

Fire officials say a majority of the vehicles’ occupants were unoccupied. Debris was scattered throughout the intersection and one person was taken to Hoag Hospital. The nature or extent of the victim’s injuries is not known. The investigation is ongoing. Read the rest »

A 52-year-old woman, identified by officials as Ana Ramirez, was killed and six others were injured after a pickup truck careened on to a crowded sidewalk and into a business. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal crash occurred in the 300 block of North Broadway Street in downtown Los Angeles the afternoon of March 10, 2013.

Officials say a man driving a Chevy Avalanche was heading south on Broadway and lost control. He allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic before running on to the sidewalk and hitting several pedestrians.

Officials say this incident occurred in a very busy part of the city. Witnesses say Ramirez, who was pinned under the truck, died even as her husband pleaded for help. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Of the six other victims, three were occupants of the truck. Four of those victims are reported to be in serious condition. Officials say although speed was not a factor but the driver has a medical condition that may have caused him to lose control. Read the rest »

Mohsen Mirfakhraie, 90, was killed in an Irvine car accident after he struck by a vehicle at a street intersection. The Orange County Register reports that the fatal collision occurred at the intersection of Trabuco Road and Monroe the evening of March 8, 2013.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian remained at the scene to talk to officials. No arrests or citations were reported. Traffic investigators are still looking into who had the right-of-way in this case. The investigation is ongoing.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2010 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 22 injuries reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in Irvine. In Orange County as a whole, 32 people died and 770 were injured due to pedestrian collisions during the same year. Read the rest »

Traffic fatalities among teenagers – 16 and 17-year-old drivers – increased by 19 percent during the first six months of 2012. According to an article in Forbes.com, this statistic becomes even more disturbing given the fact that the number of teen drivers on the roadway has declined dramatically in recent years.

A study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMITRI) last year suggests that only about 46 percent of 17-year-olds are licensed to drive, versus 69 percent in 1983.

The recent increase is of course an undesirable new trend which follows a 26 percent drop in traffic fatalities recorded between 2005 and 2011, which was credited to safer cars, stricter state DUI and seatbelt laws and licensing procedures for young drivers that placed increased restrictions and conditions on teen driving. Read the rest »

 A recent report outlines some of the facts about required car insurance coverage.  However, many people remain in the dark about the basic facts regarding required coverage or how their insurance will pay if they are involved in an accident.

Here are some tips for understanding basic coverage as well as optional products that may help you protect yourself and your family if you are involved in a car accident.

 The Big Three

California, like most states, requires that the owners of all vehicles driven or parked on state roads be able to prove financial responsibility.  This can be done in three ways:  through a cash deposit with the state, through a surety bond, or through liability insurance coverage purchased from a company licensed to do business in California.  Of the three, a liability insurance policy is by far the most common method of proving financial responsibility.

For drivers who choose to purchase liability insurance, the policy must meet minimum coverage requirements.  In California, these include:

• $15,000 in coverage for injury or death of one person
• $30,000 in coverage for injury or death of multiple people in a single accident
• $5,000 for damage to property

However, most vehicle owners choose to purchase more than the minimum amount of coverage and may add additional coverage to a policy to fully protect themselves and their families.

Why Should I Purchase More Car Insurance?

Purchasing more than the minimum amount of coverage for your vehicle is a wise investment if you have assets you would like to protect.  This is because the insurance company will only pay up to the policy limits; any amounts beyond that are the responsibility of the driver.

If you are involved in an accident and injure another person, the medical bills alone could easily exceed the $15,000 minimum set by the state.  In that case, you would be personally responsible for any amounts above the $15,000 policy limit.  A lawsuit could mean that your home, business or other assets would be placed in jeopardy.

From another perspective, it also pays to have uninsured motorist coverage.  With so many uninsured motorists on the road, there is a good chance that someone who hits you may not be covered.  If that is the case, your uninsured motorist coverage will pay for your costs up to your policy limits.

What If I Do Not Have Car Insurance?

Not having liability insurance is a serious offense.  If you are caught driving without proof of insurance, you can be fined and acquire points on your license.  Points are issued for various infractions and can cause your car insurance premium rates to go up.  Eventually you could lose your license if you acquire enough points.

Further, a person without insurance has no protection from litigation if he or she causes injury in a car accident.  Driving without insurance means that you would face the payment of whatever sums are awarded to the victim without the help of an insurance policy to pay these costs.

If you have been the victim of an accident involving a person with no insurance or limited insurance coverage, talk to a personal injury attorney about your options for collecting damages.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Bridgestone Americas are collaborating to release a series of safe driving public service announcements created by teenagers as part of the 2012 Teens Drive Smart Video Contest. According to a press release issued by Bridgestone, the program “empowers teens to create impactful videos that influence their peers to make smart, responsible decisions when they drive.” These public service announcements will then be distributed to television stations nationwide to help disseminate these messages.

Distracted Driving Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11 percent of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash in the year 2011. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted. Also, a Pew Research Center study showed that 40 percent of American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. Read the rest »