An alarming number of car accidents each year are recorded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accidents occur unexpectedly like a natural disaster. However, it could be avoided with proper management and precautions.
As their campaign to avoid car accident, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety launched its own competition for automakers to provide the safest vehicles.
In order to qualify for the IIHS’ 2012 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must pass many safety categories first. Vehicles are assessed through a series of test crashes to determine its strengths and weaknesses.
All leading automakers have at least one winner this year. The automaker with the most number of winners is the Toyota with 15 winners, General Motors is the second in line with 14 winners, next is the Volkswagen with 13 winners. and then followed by Ford and Honda with a tie of 12 winners.
A total of 115 winners were chosen by the administration. The car industry’s best selling – Toyota Camry and Honda Accord qualified in the safe vehicle ranks for the first time.
However, it is noticeable in the winning line up that trucks are not included. This is probably because trucks and buses are the most often causes of fatal injuries not only to a single individual but in most cases, it also victimizes groups of people.
A detailed list of the 2012 Top 115 Safety Pick Winners can be seen at the IIHS’ news page on their official website.
The IIHS has launched a very good competition. This will definitely make the automakers to be more inspired in producing safe cars in the future in order to at least lessen vehicle accidents.
car accidents
12/17/2011
2012 Top 115 Safety Pick - IIHS’ Campaign Against Fatal Car Accident
11/26/2011
Claiming Your Car insurance Without the Insured’s Knowledge – Possible?
For an example, a teenager from a family or the wife had got into an accident and doesn’t have the courage to tell the primary insured. Do you think they are possible to claim the car accident insurance without the knowledge of the main person insured?
To tell the truth, many car accident insurance companies have done a lot of serious mistakes in allowing other family members of the insured to file the car accident insurance claim.
An insurance expert explained that, when a person driving the insured car has the permission of the person named in the insurance, then they have the right to file for a personal injury claim or property damage claim in behalf of the insured.
However, the main fact here is that though insurance claims can be filed by other family members, it can never be processed nor released without the knowledge of the main person insured.
Most car accident insurance companies have a strict compliance regarding third party claims. They usually contact the main person named in the insurance to confirm if they really had given the driver who is filing the claim an authority.
Assuming that the primary person insured wasn’t informed about the car accident, in some other ways, the news will definitely reach the policy holder’s knowledge, like through a phone call or an e-mail.
Now, there’s no sense of hiding the incident since it will soon be disclosed to the main policy holder of the car accident claim.
11/19/2011
Hybrid Cars Have Lower Chances for CAR Accidents
From the recent report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, it reveals that the chances of getting involved in a car accident is twenty – five percent (25%) lower compared to the common fuel – powered car.
Nowadays, fuel prices are pretty high. Therefore, people are seeking for alternative ways to avoid using too much fuel. In addition, as an answer to their prayers, hybrid cars were made.
A hybrid car is a vehicle that uses two or more different power sources to power its engine and over all technical system. It is commonly referred as hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) because it is powered by electricity wherein no fuel is required.
Initial studies agree that hybrid cars are economically refined. However, the big problem they determined about this is that it is smaller and lighter than the non – hybrid ones making it less safe.
On the other hand, in a new study conducted, hybrid cars’ high - tech batteries are too heavy. Researchers found out that though hybrid cars are smaller, they are ten percent (10%) heavier than non – hybrid ones. That extra – weight of the hybrid definitely means that they can stand up better in car accidents.
A member of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that the chances of being injured in a car accident in hybrid cars is twenty – five percent (25%) lower than those which are not.
That’s quite a good news for hybrid car owners. However, if there is good news, there would always be a corresponding bad one. The bad news here is that because hybrid cars are less noisy than the non – hybrid cars, people often do not hear them coming, so there is a huge possibility of hitting a pedestrian.
This means that if hybrid cars are twenty – five percent (25%) safer and causes less personal injuries from car accidents, on the contrary, they are twenty percent (20%) more dangerous to pedestrians.
The Department of Transportation is now working to find ways on how to make hybrid cars a little bit noisier to be safer from both car accidents and to pedestrians.
08/25/2011
Several Motorists Injured in 134 Freeway Chain Crash
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 40,000 cases of car accident occur in the United States each year. Most of the crashes cause secondary collision resulting to aggravated injuries of victims.
Consider the chain car accident on Monday at Burbank where a three-car pile up caused fender bender crashes among nearby vehicles.
According to reports, a SUV rolled over on the westbound lane of the 134 Freeway near Hollywood Way. The crash site caused two vehicles to collide, injuring several motorists. The three-car accident also caused fender bender collision among drivers near the scene.
Paramedics arrived and transported the injured victims to a local hospital, reports said.
Reports said Burbank and Los Angeles City Fire officials resumed operations on the westbound lanes of 134 Freeway around 7:00 p.m.
When a car is pushed forward by another vehicle at the rear, the car driver may not avoid causing a secondary collision. This may result to series of fender bender crashes or worse, a car fire. The scene is a source of catastrophe for vehicle drivers who pass the accident site.
To avoid getting involved in a chain crash, maintain sufficient distance from the car in front according to both of your speed levels and the road condition. Further, make it a habit to survey the intersection before entering it. By all means, check your auto parts before heading the freeway to prevent fixing it in the middle of the highway.
However, if your car got rear-ended by a reckless driver, you may file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages. Your attorney will help you assert compensation for your medical expenses and property loss.
11/18/2010
Suspected Drunken Driver Arrested after Fatal Pedestrian Accident in Anaheim
Drunk driving is a traffic violation which can be easily avoided by drivers, if only they take their own safety into consideration. But sometimes, they realize the drastic effects of drunk driving only after they are forced to face them and it is too late to correct the mistakes they have committed.
A suspected drunken driver had been arrested by police after he struck and killed a male pedestrian who was crossing Rio Vista Street in Anaheim.
According to reports, the 59-year-old male driver was moving southbound along the No. 1 lane of Rio Vista at around 5:30 p.m. when his white Ford Econoline van suddenly hit a man who was crossing the road 30, which is around 30 to 40 feet away from Hempstead Street.
The victim was crossing a part of Rio Vista which is boarded by an apartment complex on one side and a shopping center on the other.
Authorities said the pedestrian appeared to be in his 50s. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died after a short time.
The unidentified driver failed a field-sobriety test and was then arrested at the accident area.
Authorities were forced to close Rio Vista between Lincoln Avenue and Hempstead Street in order to give way for the investigation.
They are asking witnesses to come forward so that they will know all the facts that are related to the fatal accident.
This accident could have avoided if only the driver was able to control himself, especially his cravings for alcoholic beverages. He should have refrained from drinking if he is going to travel afterwards.
Hopefully, authorities will be able to finish the investigation immediately so that justice will be given to the pedestrian’s loved ones.
10/09/2010
Is the Anti-Texting Law Effective?
A large percentage of all car accidents in California are caused by distracted driving and one of the most common distractions is… you guessed it, cell phones.
This led the state government to implement a law that prohibits texting while behind the wheel almost two years ago.
But somehow, I think most California motorists have forgotten that the law even exists.
A recent test conducted by the Automobile Club of Southern California among 4,000 motorists in
Orange County revealed that 2.7 percent of those motorists were texting while they were driving.
You may say that 2.7 percent is not that big a number but we are talking about a small sample size of 4,000 people and is limited in Orange County only.
But if you think about it, out of nearly 4,000 motorists you encounter in Orange County more than 100 of them text while driving.
So the question remains, is the anti-texting law effective?
Data show that it is not very effective as there was even an increase in the number of texting related crashes in California after the law was passed.
The problem is that the law does not really punish drivers who violate the policy.
The current penalty is a $20 bill for a first offense and there’s not even a point added to the driver’s record.
Instead of fearing the penalty, motorists might even feel emboldened to violate.
Hey, it looks like if I have $20 I can text while driving as long as I don’t do it again when I am caught.
As a car accident law firm we should not even be complaining about it (hey more clients for us right?) but road safety should be everyone’s concern and if we see a problem, we should aim to fix it before it gets worse.
08/18/2010
CHP Conducts Zero-Tolerance Patrol against Cell Phone Use Violators
Cellphone use while driving can lead to fatal accidents because it distracts drivers and draws their attention away from the road. In fact, California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officers said that cell phone use is one of the primary causes of more than 1,200 collisions in the state within two years after the official ban on drivers from using handheld cell phones was declared.
CHP and a number of city police departments in Sacramento conducted zero-tolerance patrols in order to reduce accidents caused by this violation. This means that they will not tolerate drivers who will be seen texting or calling someone while they are behind the wheel.
According to reports, officers from Rancho Cordova, Galt, Roseville, West Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Sacramento will participate in the crackdown.
Authorities said they have given all motorists enough time to comply with the law and to buy a hands-free cell phone.
Through this crackdown, drivers will be forced to realize that using their cell phone is a violation of traffic rules and they may be punished for doing it.07/30/2010
Tire Problem Causes Car to Rollover near Coalinga
At least one person was killed and two others were injured when a van rolled over due to worn-out tires.
According to reports, the accident occurred near Coalinga. The three were traveling northbound on Interstate 5 near Highway 145 when they encountered the problem.
The van driver who was identified as Jimmy Sanpakit, 68, from Arleta, stated that he refrained from pressing too hard on the brakes. Instead, he chose to drive right into the center divider, thus causing the vehicle to rollover.
Both Sanpakit and a passenger Kunagrudee Klaharn, 71, from Van Nuys, only sustained moderate injuries.
The other passenger was not as lucky as them. The 68-year old man, from North Hollywood, died in the accident. His identity is being withheld pending notification of his family.
In this case, the driver may be held liable for Klaharn’s injuries and the other passenger’s death if it was proven that the tire problem resulted from his failure to replace an overused tire.
07/23/2010
Suspected Drunk Driver Slams SUV into Condo in San Diego
A suspected drunk driver crashed his SUV into a condo in the College Area in San Diego in the early mornings of Tuesday.
The car accident happened near Collwood Boulevard and Montezuma Road at about 1:45am
There were no information about how the driver lost control of his vehicle but he was arrested by police after the incident on suspicion of DUI.The woman who lives in the unit was there but was unhurt during the accident.
She should be able to file for a property damage claim against the SUV driver.This is not only for the repairs of the unit but for other valuables that has been destroyed by the crash including consumer products like appliances and furniture.
She should also check her own homeowner’s or rental insurance to see how much the policy would be able to cover in case the liability coverage of the driver will not be enough.They should also consult with a property damage attorney to help them in their claim to avoid being underpaid by the insurance company.
07/02/2010
Lexus Recalls 17,000 HS 250H Hybrid Cars for Possible Fire Hazards
Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, has just announced the recall of about 17,000 2010 HS 250H hybrid sedans due to possible fire hazards from excessive fuel leakage.
The NHTSA found the vehicle to be non-compliant with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards after some tests to the vehicle.
The agency said that the excessive fuel leakage happens after a rear-end crash and could result in fire if ignited.Lexus, though disputing the test results, halted the sales of the hybrid car and issued the recall right away.
A spokesperson from the company said that cars were tested with the same protocols so they would like to identify the reasons for the difference in test results.They are now in the process of trying to duplicate the non-compliance issue that the NHTSA identified.
If you own one of these models, you will be sent with a notice from Lexus with more instructions about the recall.As of now, no injuries or deaths were reported in connection with the recall.
However, it is still wise if you stop using the car and just comply with the instructions given by Lexus.Keep documentation on everything as well.
If there are repairs to be done on the car, make sure that the repair order indicates the defect that they are fixing.If the car gets returned and you have to return it for more repair attempts for the same problem then you may have a lemon car in your hand.
If that is the case, you may be entitled for some compensation from the manufacturer of the vehicle.Consult a car accident attorney for more details.
