New Ignition Interlock Device Law Zeroes in on DUI Offenders

During the past holiday season, many people hit the roads after drinking a little too much holiday cheer. The result was needless tragedies on our streets and highways.

The California legislature decided it was time for another pro-active measure. It created a 66-month pilot project mandating ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for first-time DUI offenders in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare counties. California Assembly Bill 91, authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-West Hollywood), requires an IID to be installed on every vehicle that the offender owns or is allowed to operate. For a first offense that did not involve bodily injury, the IID must be installed for a mandatory five months. If the offense did involve bodily injury, the mandatory installation period is one year. The mandatory installation period is longer for subsequent offenses. The law is to take effect July 1, 2010 and is set to expire January 1, 2016.

The IID combines ignition interlock technology with an in-car breath-alcohol analyzer. Drivers would have to prove they are sober before their car's engine would start

Lawmakers point to New Mexico as a prime test case of the program's effectiveness. After leading the nation in alcohol-related traffic accidents for years, the state became the first in the nation to mandate an IID for every convicted drunk driver. The program worked so well that New Mexico is now ranked 25th in alcohol-related traffic accidents. In terms of lives saved, the state experienced a 35 percent drop in DUI fatalities from 2004 to 2008.

The IIDs also revealed some ancillary benefits. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that re-arrest rates decreased by 73 percent when an IID was installed. What's more, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that deaths dropped by 30 percent for convicted drivers who operated a motor vehicle equipped with an IDD.

The American Beverage Institute claims the measure would deny judges the ability to distinguish between a driver who is "one sip over the limit" and repeat offenders with high blood-alcohol levels. It further objected on the grounds that the new measure might eventually require ignition interlock technology in all new motor vehicles. Personally, I think this is a great idea.

The Deadly Ds -- Drunk Driving and Drowsy Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 36 road fatalities occur during any typical weekday. That number increases on a daily basis as the Christmas and New Year's celebrations ramp up. This is not surprising since people tend to get behind the wheel after enjoying one drink too many during the holidays. It's no wonder the number of road fatalities rises to 45 per day during the Christmas season and climbs to 54 per day around New Year's.

What many people may not realize is that the third major cause of traffic accidents is Drowsy Driving. Drivers who have been awake for 20 hours drive just as erratically as those with a blood alcohol level of 0.08, which is the legal limit in most states. The combination of alcohol and sleep deprivation can be a potentially lethal mix. Make sure you don't drink and drive. And be sure to get plenty of sleep -- experts recommend at least eight hours of sleep a night. During the holiday rush, it's often difficult to get enough sleep. All the more reason to watch for signs of fatigue -- reduced reaction times, irritability and being easily distracted.

BISNAR | CHASE Law Firm Receives Top Rating

It's never easy for any law firm to get the much sought after stamp of approval from peers and clients alike, but the Newport Beach personal injury law firm of BISNAR | CHASE has recently received the top "AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5" rating from Martindale-Hubbell. This is a trusted lawyer rating service, which professionals and individuals from all walks of life have come to depend on for more than a century. The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings help consumers to evaluate and select an attorney and a law firm, which possesses the highest ethical standards, strong professional ability and a team that is committed and dedicated to quality customer service.

How does Martindale-Hubbell rate attorneys and law firms? Lawyers are assessed and rated based on their experience, track record, professional accomplishments and peer review. Attorneys are held to the highest standard when it comes to ethical and professional conduct and the extent of their reliability and trustworthiness. BISNAR | CHASE partner, Brian D. Chase, received a perfect 5.0 score from Martindale-Hubbell whereas senior partner, John P. Bisnar, has been placed on the list of "Distinguished Lawyers" in the nation.

Established in 1978, BISNAR | CHASE lawyers have recovered $100s of millions on behalf of injured victims and has represented over 6,000 people in car accident, motorcycle accident, truck accident and other personal injury cases. The law firm has a 97.8 percent success rate and features the best client care in the industry and their No-Fee Guarantee: "If we don't win, you don't pay."

John Bisnar and his partner Brian Chase each have a perfect 10 "superb" rating on Avvo.com, a lawyer rating website. Both Bisnar and Chase have distinguished themselves not only through their professional achievements, but also their contributions to the community. Bisnar was named a "Community Hero" by the United Way, while Brian was named a top personal injury lawyer by OC METRO in 2009, "Trial Lawyer of the Year" in 2004 and one of the 2007 Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

Both Bisnar and Chase are also much sought after experts in this business. Bisnar has published the "The Seven Fatal Mistakes that Can Wreck your Personal Injury Claim" which serves as an excellent guide about the pitfalls to avoid while filing personal injury claims. Chase's expertise on the subject of auto products liability is evident from his recent book, "Still Unsafe at Any Speed." This publication tells readers about auto product defects and how they can have devastating consequences on people's lives.

Read BISNAR | CHASE personal injury press releases.

Personal Injury Lawyer Is Like "Family" For One Couple

Gloria Levesque was the victim of an Orange County car accident on July 27, 2003. After her car accident, she wasn't sure where to turn. She didn't know who to trust to give her advice on how to get her life back.

That's when she found an Orange County car accident lawyer from the law office of BISNAR | CHASE.

"My first impression of BISNAR | CHASE is I really felt that they cared about me," Gloria said in a personal injury client video testimonial. "They made me feel special. I was confident in them. I knew they would help me."

The BISNAR | CHASE attorneys not only gave her advice, but fought for her rights and made sure that she and her family were not put through any more stress after the car accident. For example, Gloria said that because she could no longer drive after the car crash, BISNAR | CHASE lawyers would even pick her up to take her to the courtroom.

"They had compassion toward my wife and family," said Gloria's husband. "That really touched me. I didn't know what to expect from a lawyer. We've never been in a legal case in our whole lives." While dealing with a law firm was a new experience for the family, it helped that the BISNAR | CHASE team were like a family itself.

"They were very professional," Gloria's husband said. "One of the things that sold us on it is that they all seemed to be tied together, like a family. They all seemed to know what was going on. That every time we came here, whether it was Victoria or the receptionist or someone in the back, they always came out and made sure we were taken care of and we felt we were part of a big family."

Sustaining personal injuries in a car accident can be the worst experience of one's life. However, some law firms make the process of fighting for one's rights even more unpleasant and stressful. A law firm that genuinely cares about you will treat you not just as a number, but as a member of their family.

The victims aren't the only ones who are affected. The whole family must deal with the consequences. They all ask themselves, "How can we get our lives back?"

The Levesque family discovered this with the California personal injury law firm of BISNAR | CHASE.

While many law firms claim to have your best interests at heart, it is important to remember that a truly reputable law firm will offer a free consultation when they first review your case. The best law firms, meantime, will offer a no-fee guarantee. This means that you don't have to pay them unless they win your case.

Watch all of our client video testimonials.

In the California Injury Blog

Here are a few recent car accident stories that have been in the news, as covered on http://www.CaliforniaInjuryBlog.com ...

• January 5 - San Diego Car Accident Kills Man Eating Breakfast
• January 7 - Fatal Orange County DUI Car Accident
• January 15 - Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Car Accident Injures Bicyclist

Visit the California Injury Blog today to get regular updates on local injuries and accidents in California.

Lawyer Joke

Two lawyers who had decided to test their hunting skills suddenly came upon a pair of tracks. They stopped and examined the tracks closely, each carefully forming an opinion.

The first lawyer proclaimed, "Those are obviously deer tracks. It's deer season, so we should follow the tracks and find a prize deer."

The second lawyer disagreed, replying, "Those are clearly elk tracks, and elk are out of season. If we follow your advice, we'll waste the day."

Each lawyer prided himself on being the superior woodsman. Both bitterly stuck to their guns.

They were still arguing when the train hit them.

Do You Know The Seven Fatal Mistakes?

John Bisnar, founding partner of BISNAR | CHASE, is well known for his experience and expertise litigating personal injury claims. John's book, The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim, provides the guidance victims need to successfully settle a personal injury claim.

According to John, he wrote the book because "I don't like to see the average guy being taken advantage of by insurance companies, government agencies and other powerful entities."

Get a free copy of The Seven Fatal Mistakes That Can Wreck Your California Personal Injury Claim.

Are You Still Unsafe At Any Speed?

Did an SUV roll over? An airbag fail to deploy? A tire come apart? A fuel tank explode? A seat collapse? A roof sustain severe deformation and crush? A seat belt unlatch or otherwise pop open?

This book enables readers to evaluate an auto products liability case by offering valuable information of the specifics of common vehicle defects. To illustrate the traffic implications of defective autos in people's lives, real-life accounts have been included, reminding us that we are dealing with much more than statistical and technical information here.

Get your own copy of Still Unsafe At Any Speed: Auto Defects That Cause Wrongful Deaths and Catastrophic Injuries.

Be Prepared With Your Free Car Glovebox Accident Kit

BISNAR | CHASE has designed a car accident kit for your glovebox to keep your car documents organized and to assist you if you are involved in a car accident.

The organizer has a slot to put your automobile certificate of insurance, a place to put your car registration, an accident information form with instructions on what to do after a traffic accident and what information to collect at the scene of a car accident, a pen, a flashlight with batteries, a tire pressure gauge, and a note pad.

Get your Free Car Glovebox Accident Kit right now!