Otus Law Group Blog

Michigan makes helmets optional for some motorcycle riders Comments Off

Legislation passed by Michigan lawmakers recently gave motorcycle riders in the state the option to forgo wearing a helmet if certain requirements are met. Currently 30 other states allow motorcyclists the right to choose whether or not they wear an approved safety helmet while operating their motorcycles. Under Michigan’s new safety regulations, motorcyclists with at least two years of riding experience who have passed a special safety course and are at least 21 years of age decide whether or not they want to wear a safety helmet while riding their motorcycles, provided the rider carries at least $20,000 of additional medical insurance.

The new law was passed with support from both Republican and Democratic representatives in the Michigan state legislature. A motorcyclist advocacy group called the American Bikers Aiming Toward Education issued a statement supporting the new legislation, citing statistics suggesting that helmet laws do not actually increase the safety of motorcyclists, nor do they lower the auto insurance premiums for motorists in states enforcing such laws.

The state of Michigan originally instated a mandatory motorcycle helmet law in the 1970s when federal highway regulations demanded states seeking federal highway funding require motorcyclists to wear helmets at all times. This federal legislation is no longer in effect.

As a personal injury attorney Burlingame, I hope motorcyclists and motorists take all the necessary steps required to ensure safety on our roadways. If you or someone you care for has been injured in a motorcycle or automobile collision, please consider discussing your case with a car accident lawyer in Burlingame.

 

 

Posted on: 04-13-2012
Posted in: Motorcycle Accident, Safety

24 percent of car crashes involve cell phones, study says Comments Off

Approximately 24 percent of all traffic collisions involve a driver distracted by cell phone use, according to new study results released by the National Safety Council. The safety organization’s report goes on to offer suggestions for reducing the number of distracted driver related motor vehicle accidents by utilizing advanced law enforcement techniques in conjunction with legislation banning the use of cell phones while driving, and business and cultural restrictions on the use of handheld communication devices while behind the wheel.

Three years ago, the National Safety Council suggested that all kinds of cell phone use should be prohibited while behind the wheel of a moving automobile, and the newly released report offers support for that suggestion. In the report, titled State of the Nation of Cell Phone Distracted Driving, estimates than more than one million motor vehicle collisions can be linked to the use of portable communication devices by at least one of the drivers involved. Three percent of all traffic accidents, the report estimates, involve a driver who was composing or reading a text message at the time of the collision.

As a personal injury attorney in Sacramento, I have seen the damage that drivers can do when they stop focusing on the road ahead of them. If you have been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, please consider discussing your legal rights with a car accident lawyer in Sacramento.

 

 

Posted on: 04-13-2012
Posted in: child safety, distracted driving

Single Vehicle Crash in Escondido Claims Life Comments Off

Another life was taken far too early along a California road yesterday.

This time, the incident took place in Escondido just before 1 o’clock in the morning.  A Ford Mustang was traveling east along Route 78 when the driver entered the ramp that connects that road with the southbound Interstate 15.  That was when the vehicle careened across the freeway.

The passenger side of the vehicle crashed into a guard rail along the highway before smashing into a concrete wall that ran along the left side of the interstate.  The driver, who the California Highway Patrol has said was not utilizing a seat belt at the time of the accident, suffered fatal injuries as a result of being partially tossed out the passenger window.

Because the lanes heading south are separated from the opposing lanes by a large open gap, the concrete wall was the only thing that stopped the vehicle from going over the edge of the freeway and crashing to a street beneath.

I think it’s terribly sad that yet another person passed away while traveling along a California highway.  It seems like that’s all I read about as a Roseville car accident lawyer.  My heart goes out to the family of the victim in this crash, and as a personal injury lawyer in Roseville, I hope that everyone in the state uses every possible safety precaution when heading out on the roads.  You never know when a hazard could present itself.

Posted on: 04-13-2012
Posted in: car crash, News, Safety

Thermalito Two Car Collision Sends Woman to Hospital Comments Off

Another accident, this one in the area of Thermalito, sent people to the hospital on Thursday.

The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 in the afternoon yesterday, with a hail storm affecting driving conditions around that time.  A Ford Escort was headed west along Grand Avenue when the driver reportedly flicked on his turn signal to show that he was about to turn left onto 14th Street.  The vehicle slowed to make that turn.

A Mitsubishi Eclipse happened to be behind the Escort when the turning vehicle slowed down.  The Eclipse allegedly crashed into the back of the Escort.

Five people were involved in the two car collision, and according to the California Highway Patrol, all reported having some sort of pain.  One woman had to be transported to the nearby Oroville Hospital, although the nature of the injuries she sustained were not released.

That wasn’t the only accident to take place during the hail storm.  Two vehicles also crashed into each other around the intersection of Palermo Road and Highway 70.  There’s no word on what caused that crash, who was involved, or if the drivers suffered any injuries.

As a Sacramento car accident lawyer, I know how hazardous roads can be when inclement weather approaches.  Even on the best of days, California streets can be difficult to navigate, and something like a hail storm further compromises our ability to get to our destination safely.  It’s my hope as a personal injury attorney in Sacramento that all persons out there be especially cautious when dealing with low visibility and slick conditions.

Posted on: 04-13-2012
Posted in: accident injury, car crash, News

Alleged Wrong Way Driver Causes Crash Near Oxnard Comments Off

A collision that resulted from a vehicle driving the wrong way down the highway resulted in multiple injuries among many affected vehicles.

The incident took place Tuesday night along Highway 101 on the southbound side of the freeway between the cities of Oxnard and Ventura.  A Toyota Camry allegedly began traveling north on the southbound lanes around Oxnard Boulevard.  Shortly after 9 pm, the Camry sideswiped one automobile and collided head-on with at least one more vehicle atop the Santa Clara Bridge.

A total of five vehicles were involved in the crash.  The driver of the alleged wrong-way vehicle was arrested by police.  Two people had to be taken to nearby Ventura County Medical Center to receive treatments for minor and major injuries.  The occupants of the three other automobiles involved in the collision did not sustain any injuries, even though their vehicles incurred moderate damage.

The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene.  Portions of the road had to be closed, causing a traffic snarl along the 101.  Officials worked to move debris out of the roadway, including an SUV that had caught fire due to the wreck.

As a car accident lawyer in Oakland, I’m sorry to see another instance of alleged dangerous driving along our California roads.  The streets are hazardous enough even when everyone is following every possible safety precaution.  I once again urge everyone as an Oakland personal injury attorney to stay safe when heading out in a vehicle.

Posted on: 04-13-2012
Posted in: car crash, News, Reckless Driving

Faulty Suspension Forks Cause Recall of SR Suntour Bikes Comments Off

SR Suntour has issued a voluntary product recall for their GT, Giant and Trek bicycles that come equipped with SR Suntour suspension forks. Giant model bicylcles manufactured between 2011 and 2012 and GT and Trek models manufactured in 2012 are affected by the recall, which was announced following 12 reports of the suspension fork having an issue which could cause accident and/or injury.

Specifically, the internal support tubes on these units can break, preventing the rider from being able to control the bicycle.  Of the 12 reports of this occurrence, one person suffered a cut and another chipped their tooth.

17,000 bikes are affected by this recall.  The easiest way to check to see if your bicycle falls under the scope of the recall is to check the date code of the suspension forks.  Affected units fall between CK110301 and CK110731.  The bikes were sold at bike shops across the nation between April of last year and this past March.  They retailed from $400 to $600.

Owners are being advised to stop using affected models and return them to an authorized dealer to get the problem fixed at no cost to the consumer.

As a personal injury lawyer in San Jose, I know how important it is for a method of conveyance to function properly.  If a malfunction happens along hazardous terrain, the results could be catastrophic.  Just think if the rider were to lose control while riding alongside traffic.  I’ve seen far too many accidents occur for just that reason as a San Jose car accident attorney.

Posted on: 04-13-2012
Posted in: Bicycle Accident, News, Product Recall

Leaked Fuel and Fire Risk Prompt Baja Dirt Bike Recall Comments Off

The South Carolina-based Baja Motorsports has announced a recall of their DR50 and DR70 dirt bikes. A previous recall notice for these bikes was issued in March 2011, but since ten reported incidents of fire due to leaking fuel occurred after the recall, a second notice has been announced.  In total, there have been 16 such reports, two of which involved people suffering minor burns.

4,300 bikes are affected by this recall.  To identify if your bike is one of the defective units, then check the VIN where the body and the handle bars meet.  If the first three digits are L98, the tenth is B, and there’s a visible yellow dot or line, then your item poses a risk of the aforementioned fuel leak and fire.  The affected bikes were sold at Pep Boys and other stores around the country. Retailing between $450 and $650, they were available between December 2010 and January 2012.

Consumers should stop using these models and contact Baja Motorsports, who are offering a repair of the bikes at no cost to the bike’s owner.  Even if owners previously had the bike fixed when the recall was first announced, the firm is still urging those persons to recontact them, as an additional repair might still be necessary.

As a car accident lawyer in San Francisco, I know that anything that uses fuel and has a motor can pose a hazard if not built properly.  I’m sad to see that even the supposedly fixed products might still be dangerous.  I hope as a San Francisco personal injury attorney that this issue gets worked out before more people get hurt.

Posted on: 04-13-2012
Posted in: Bicycle Accident, News, Product Recall

Companies offer high tech cures for distracted driving Comments Off

Several technology companies are offering products claiming to solve the problems created by distracted driving by removing the temptation to use a handheld communication device while operating a motor vehicle.

Software applications designed for smartphones, for example, utilize the device’s accelerometer to ascertain that the user is inside of a moving motor vehicle, at which time several potentially distracting functions of the driver’s cell phone, such as the ability to send an receiving text messages, will be disabled tfor the duration of the trip.

 A product offered by Cellcontrol includes a monitoring device that plugs directly into a commercial vehicle’s on board computer system. The device communicates with the driver’s cell phone via Bluetoot signal, disabling all but emergency calls while the automobile is in motion in accordance with the driving policy specified by the driver’s employers. The device can also report unsafe driving practices such as speeding to the company that owns the commercial vehicle.

Applications such as iGuardianTeen are designed with the parents of young drivers in mind. The program reports driving behavior, such as text messaging behind the wheel, to parents in real time and forwards all incoming phone calls to voice mail while the teen driver’s car is in motion.

As a Burlingame car accident lawyer, I hope these products are successful in lowering the number of distracted drivers on the roads. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by inattentive driving, please consider hiring a Burlingame personal injury attorney.

Posted on: 04-12-2012
Posted in: car safety, car technology

Feds to require emergency braking technology on future cars Comments Off

United States highway safety authorities are currently instating regulations that would require vehicle manufacturers to equip future vehicles with a brake throttle override system in an attempt to decrease the number of automotive collisions caused by sudden, out of control vehicle acceleration.

The large number of consumer complaints regarding unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, along with a widely reported collision involving a 2009 Lexus ES 350, have prompted the division of the Department of Transportation to announce the planned safety regulation change.

According to the report resulting from the accident investigation following the Lexus collision, an improperly placed floor may have ensnared the vehicle’s accelerator pedal, causing it to speed through

suburban San Diego at more than 100 miles per hour on California Highway 125 before becoming involved with a fatal collision that killed an off-duty officer of the California Highway Patrol and three of his family members. Approximately 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles were recalled due to this floor mat installation problem. Millions more were later recalled due to their accelerator’s propensity for becoming stuck. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an emergency throttle shut off brake override feature could prevent an accident resulting from a stuck gas pedal.

As a San Jose auto accident lawyer, I hope this effort leads to safer driving conditions for everyone on the road. If you have been injured in an automobile accident caused by a defective automobile, please consider contacting a San Jose personal injury attorney.

Posted on: 04-12-2012
Posted in: car safety, car technology

Study shows many car seats improperly installed Comments Off

A new child car seat safety study released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveals that parents of young children have trouble installing safety seats in their vehicles. The latch restraint system, required on most vehicles manufactured since 2002, complicates the installation process.
According to representatives from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety inadequate vehicle design, such as installing seat belt buckles in a position that impedes access to the anchor that holds the restraint in place, on the part of carmakers might be part of the problem.  The study also suggests that parents aren’t properly installing seats because they fail to utilize the tether extending from the top of the car seat, which safety experts from the institute say is absolutely necessary to securely fix the car seat in a proper position in the vehicle. Agents from local law enforcement departments and the California Highway Patrol offer free child car seat safety checks to parents of young children with questions about the car seat installation process.

As a highly experienced Roseville car accident lawyer, I hope that parents of young children do everything in their power to keep them safe on the road. If you or someone you care for has been injured in an automobile accident, please consider discussing the details of your experience with a licensed Roseville personal injury attorney to determine your best course of legal action.

Posted on: 04-12-2012
Posted in: car safety, child safety
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