California Car Accident Attorney's Blog

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.

Tire Problem Causes Car to Rollover near Coalinga

Drivers are advised to maintain the good working conditions of their vehicles because accidents can happen as a result of neglecting this simple task. In addition, if they noticed that parts of the vehicle are already overused, they should avoid using them until these parts are replaced.

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.

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.

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.

Driver Suffers from Medical Condition, Hits Off-Duty Davis Police Officer

Drivers should be physically fit because there is a high chance that they will be involved in an accident if they suddenly suffered from a medical condition while driving.

In fact, a male van driver with a medical condition lost control of his vehicle and rear-ended a Ford that was being driven by a male off-duty Davis police officer along Interstate 80.

According to reports, the Chevrolet van was moving westbound in the middle lane when hit the police officer. The van then ran off the road, hit a light pole, flipped numerous times, landed along a grain field, and suddenly exploded.

Authorities said the driver was able to get out of the damaged van on his own shortly before the vehicle caught fire.

Both the police officer and van driver were brought to UC Davis Medical Center to receive treatment for minor injuries. The police officer complained of back and neck pain while the van driver reported overall pain.

Villaraigosa Urges Drivers to Stop Texting while Driving

Cellphone use while driving a vehicle can result in accidents because it can cause drivers to suddenly lose control of their vehicle. In fact, statistics from the Los Angeles Fire Department revealed that around 28% of the 100 accidents that are reported daily are caused by texting while driving.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently warned drivers against the danger of texting while driving, though everybody is aware that he does not drive anymore.

Reports stated that the mayor joined the campaign promotion being done by Fire Chief Millage Peaks, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, AT&T officials, and school board member Nury Martinez.

According to AT&T California President Ken McNeely, over 88 billion text messages were sent out in 2009.

The main purpose of this campaign is to discourage people from texting while they are operating a vehicle, said reports. People are free to do it if they are not driving. 

Aside from texting while driving, other actions that drivers should avoid doing while on the roads include eating, listening to loud music, applying make-up, and reading.

Elderly Driver Dies after Colliding with Pickup Truck

Getting old is a part of life that no one can avoid. As for most drivers, if they feel that their age is already affecting their driving skills, they should stop sitting behind the wheel in order to avoid being involved in an accident, which can end their own life.

An 81-year-old male driver recently died after he suddenly pulled up in front of a pickup truck, thus triggering a collision.

Reports stated that the Toyota Camry driven by Michael Highberger, from Santa Maria, collided with a pickup truck driven by Jay Webb, 45, from Sacramento, along an intersection in Santa Maria.

Police said Highberger was stopped at a stop sign at Highway 246 when he suddenly pulled into the intersection and moved in front of the pickup, which was moving eastbound along Highway 154 at a speed of 55 mph.

He was announced dead while Webb only sustained minor injuries, which were treated by paramedics at the accident area.

Sacramento Kings Tyreke Evans Cited for Reckless Driving

Sacramento Kings forward and NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans lost his reasons to celebrate his title after he was detained, cited, and released for reckless driving.

According to reports, the 21-year-old player was shortly detained at gunpoint after a California Highway Patrol (CHP) air unit spotted him driving along Interstate 80 near Antelope Road at over 100 mph.

Authorities followed and intercepted the rookie’s 2010 Mercedes Benz S550 near Burgess Drive and Bell Avenue.

A felony stop was performed because the vehicle’s windows were heavily tinted, which prohibited authorities from seeing the people inside it.

Good thing Evans cooperated with the police. It was then determined that he was not drunk at that time.

Reports said he was cited for reckless driving and was then released.

Evans will be required to appear in court due to allegations that he was speeding.

It is sad to say that he is just one of the many athletes who have been arrested or cited due to different traffic violations like speeding, DUI, and reckless driving. Hopefully, they will realize their mistake and become a good example to drivers who idolize them.

Car Hits Broken Down Vehicle, Passenger Killed

Car defects and mechanical failure are usual problems we encounter while driving. So, drivers must be aware of what they should do during these situations and know basic steps to avoid accidents in case  they got stuck in a defective vehicle as this presents a serious risk not only to the occupants but to other motorists as well.

A passenger died recently when the broken down vehicle he was in was rammed by an approaching vehicle in Sacramento early Tuesday morning.

The accident occurred along the westbound lanes of Highway 50 when a vehicle was disabled and was hit by another vehicle near Interstate 5.

The driver of the stranded vehicle was taken to a hospital while the driver who collided with it appeared to be fine.

It is unclear what the problem of the vehicle was or how long they’ve been stationary on the road, but, drivers should immediately try to get the vehicle off the road onto the shoulder lane while it’s still working, or if it’s not, they can push it or put early warning device for the convenience of other motorists.

Sleeping Driver Hospitalized after Collision

Driver fatigue is known as one of the leading causes of car accidents today. When a driver is suffering from it, he will have a hard time concentrating and might make irrational decisions while driving.

In fact, a young female driver who may have been sleeping recently sustained injuries in a pre-dawn crash in North County.

According to reports, the driver was moving east along state Route 78 when her Toyota sedan suddenly crossed the double-yellow lines and crashed into a Ford Explorer that was moving west.

She was reportedly rushed to Palomar Medical Center where she was required to undergo multiple surgeries. 

Police said the driver is expected to live.

Meanwhile, the Explorer’s two occupants were not injured in the incident.

Accidents caused by driver fatigue are more rampant during 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., which is the time when people usually sleep. These accidents can be avoided if drivers will do the following:

•    Stop driving if they feel sleepy or drowsy
•    Ask their passenger to drive the vehicle if they are already tired
•    Make sure that they are well rested before driving for long hours