Automobile Accidents | www.reinerinjurylaw.com

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 8:52 am

Ryan Sabalow of the Record Searchlight reported today that a deer warning system is being installed by CalTrans at a remote location of Highway 3 near Fort Jones for testing. The system is being placed in a location where approximately 60 deer a year are hit within a 5-mile stretch.

The system works with radar sensors that detect animal movements on or about the highway. If an animal (presumably even a pedestrian) is detected, lights are triggered at a warning sign to advise motorists of the potential hazard. Under these conditions, motorists would presumably slow down and increase vigilence.

This is a great idea and has apparently been employed in approximately 15 other locations throughout the United States. Those of us who regularly drive the rural mountain roads of “Far Northern California” know well where dear and other large mammals tend to cross the roads, and when. However, to be specifically advised of their presence ahead of time would clearly aid safety.

Hopefully this pilot project will work out well and other locations can be similarly outfitted. I am sure that other writers could advise Cal Trans of the specific highways and locations that could benefit from such a device. Perhaps the insurance industry could underwrite some of these installations, since they are the ones that could see a significant drop in property damage claims. That’s probably asking too much.

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Auto Accidents Down Since Photo Enforced Red-lights

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 9:39 am

Recent reports released by the Shasta County Grand Jury indicate that the number of traffic accidents in Redding have decreased since the advent of the photo enforced red-lights around town. According to the Record Searchlight, the Grand Jury has recommended that even more traffic lights be photo enforced in hopes of greater traffic safety.

According to the Searchlight article, intersection collisions decreased by 48% in the first half of 2008 where cameras were installed. Traffic collisions around town were down 21% during this same time period. The jury reported that the photo enforced intersections did not experience an increase in rear end collisions, as had been initially feared. These statistics prompted the jury’s finding that camera enforcement is a “phenomenal law enforcement tool.”

While we applaud the apparent decrease in intersectional crashes, we think that the decision to go forward with more cameras needs a bit more study. We believe that the reduction in crashes may be attributable to a heightened vigilance which attends the existence of the current selected photo enforced locations. This increased vigilance is a positive safety development. However, if photo enforcement becomes commonplace, a downslide in the level of vigilance can be expected. The decrease may also be attributable to other factors, such as the decrease in traffic due to the cost of fuel.

Further, as the article points out, the revenues generated by the photo enforcement has all gone to the private company that installed and maintains the cameras and programming. It was pointed out that $30,000 per year is absorbed by the City for part-time officers to review the camera data, but this is not where the costs end. There are also costs associated with processing and prosecuting the infractions, which by this method of enforcement, have increased dramatically. Hence a specific cost/benefit analysis should be conducted before buying into more equipment.

The personal injury lawyers at Reiner, Simpson & Slaughter greatly encourage the enhancement of safety on our roads, and therefore join the Grand Jury in appreciating the decrease in accidents at the subject camera-equipped intersections. However, further study is clearly needed before increasing the number of these devices to make sure that we do not experience a “reversal of fortune.”

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Suburban Rollover Kills Fortuna Woman

Posted under: Automobile Accidents, Rollover Accidents, Wrongful Death — tslaughter @ 1:21 pm

EUREKA, Calif. – On January 16, 2009 a 48-year-old Fortuna woman was killed when the 1992 Chevy Suburban she was riding in rolled over on U.S. Highway 101 just south of Eureka. According to the Times-Standard, the driver of the Suburban was attempting a lane change and was checking her blindspot when the vehicle drifted onto the median. When the driver attempted to steer back onto the highway, the Suburban flipped and rolled several times. The passenger was ejected to her death from the backseat. The driver and another passenger suffered injuries and were treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The investigation of this rollover is still pending.

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Third Fatal Pedestrian Accident in Northern California in Month

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 10:19 am

A fifth serious pedestrian accident in the last month occured in Red Bluff Monday evening. According to the Record Searchlight, the accident happened at the intersection of South Jackson Steet and Locust Street. A 78-year old Red Bluff man was struck and killed as he crossed South Jackson at about 6 pm. There is no crosswalk at this commonly used crossing. Alcohol was apparently not involved.

The frequency of these serious pedestrian accidents in Northern California is disturbing. The City of Redding is reviewing the pedestrian crossings on Court Street where two of the accidents occured last month. Pedestrians must be ever vigilant for their own safety, and motorists need to be cognizant of pedestrian travel, particularly at dusk and early evening. As the population of our northern cities continue to grow, and people are walking and biking more to economize on fuel consumption, we all need to maintain an increased awareness of the potential movement of others on our roadways.

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Mis-starting Van Lurches Forward Fatally Pinning Man Against Wall

Posted under: Automobile Accidents, Wrongful Death — tslaughter @ 12:01 pm

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. – The Crescent City Police investigated a tragic accident on December 27, 2008 when a man was pinned between his own van and the wall of the Walgreens store. According to the Triplicate, the man had been having difficulty starting his van when he went to the front of the vehicle to work on it. His son was positioned behind the wheel and his wife was in the passenger seat when the vehicle suddenly lurched forward and slammed him against the wall. Whether the vehicle’s behavior was attributed to a mechanical defect in the vehicle should be investigated. The local authorities have not offered an explanation of the cause as of this date.

Our condolences go out to this tragically striken family.

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Flurry of Pedestrian Accidents Dim Holiday Season

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 11:21 am

In less than one week four pedestrian accidents have led to two fatalities in Northern California. We posted on the Redding accident on Court Street that ended the life of a 53-year-old employee of the Sheriff’s office, and another Redding accident on Eastside Ave. later that night which also resulted in a fatality. Just yesterday, we posted on a Susanville accident involving a Sheriff’s unit striking a woman in a crosswalk on Main Street. And then last night a 5-year-old boy was hit in a crosswalk while crossing Court Street with his mother. The boy was taken to Mercy Medical Center with a broken leg, dislocated thumb and various contusions and lacerations.

As we wrote yesterday in our Injuryboard.com blog, everyone needs to be a bit more circumspect and vigilent during this time of year to prevent these types of accidents. People are out and about a bit more than normal during this season. The weather and early darkness needs to be factored in. And, motorists and others are sometimes pre-occupied with the hustle and bustle of their schedules.

Let’s have a Happy Holiday season by being safe out there!

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Motorcyclist Severely Injured in Highway 32 Crash

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 3:29 pm

CHICO, Calif. – A 30 year-old Chico man was severely injured last night when a vehicle turned left in front of him on Highway 32 at its intersection with Yosemite Drive. According to the Chico Enterprise Record, the investigating CHP has still not determined fault. The investigating officer wanted to assess the speed of the motorcycle before making this determination. No mention was made as to why the left turning driver did not see the motorcycle’s oncoming headlamp.

The cyclist was transferred to Enloe Hospital with a serious leg injury. Highway 32 was apparently closed for several hours.

The motorcycle injury lawyers at Reiner, Simpson & Slaughter want to remind drivers to keep a watchful eye for motorcyclists. The predominant cause of motorcycle versus vehicle collisions is the violation of the motorcyclist’s right of way. Travel safely this season to assure a happy holiday!

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Safety Around School Buses

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 1:05 pm

A few mornings ago, a Redding, California high school student was tragically struck by a pickup truck while crossing Eastside Road to board her school bus. It was probably dark at 6:30 a.m. that morning. According to the police, the Shasta Union High School District bus followed all the proper protocol for the stop and had its flashing red lights and extended stop sign displayed at the time of the accident.

Reports of the incident indicate that the driver of the pickup truck believed he was approaching a construction zone instead of a school bus stop when he saw the flashing red lights. The 16 year-old student was taken to Mercy Medical Center with critical injuries. She remains in serious condition to this date.

This event reminds us all to be ever mindful of children near school zones and school bus stops. California law requires that motorists approaching from either direction of a school bus with red lights flashing and stop signal arm engaged (if so equipped) stop immediately and not proceed past the bus until the lights and signal have ceased operation. The only time a motorist may pass a stopped school bus is if the motorist is on the opposite side of the road from the bus and is on a multiple lane or divided highway. A multiple lane highway is any highway that has two or more lanes of travel in each direction. A divided highway is a highway that has been dividied into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings. Eastside Road in the location of this accident is a two-lane undivided highway.

Throughout the school year, the Redding lawyers at Reiner, Simpson & Slaughter would like to encourage all motorists to take special precautions when they see the flashing red lights on a school bus. It can sometimes be hard to differentiate a school bus from other roadway distractions. For this reason, we also encourage our readers to proactively look for school buses in the mornings between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and in the afternoons between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should also become familiar with the bus stops in their neighborhoods and work locations.

A few extra precautions may save a lifetime of heartache and regret.

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Another Cell Phone Related Fatality

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 9:58 am

The Redding Record Searchlight reported that another cell-phone related traffic fatality occurred over the last weekend. This time the tragedy befell a 57 year-old grandmother when her driving granddaughter diverted her attention to her phone charger while proceeding down the mountaneous Highway 299 near Oak Bottom. When the girl looked back up, she had drifted off the highway. She overcorrected, lost control, and slid down an embankment until slamming into a tree. The grandmother died at the scene and the 17 year-old girl was taken to mercy Medical Center in redding with moderate injuries.

The Redding lawyers at Reiner, Simpson & Slaughter have been monitoring serious cell-phone and text messaging related crashes for the last several years. This case is a terrible example of a simple innocent moment of inattention that lead to catastrophe. We strongly urge drivers to put away the cell-phones while driving. Even glancing at a text message could have catastrophic consequences. Let a passenger deal with the phone. Get your messages after you arrive at your destination. Don’t let bad “habits” control the operation of your vehicle. No message or conversation is that important!

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Proposed Law Prohibits Driver Texting

Posted under: Automobile Accidents — tslaughter @ 7:55 am

To close an apparent gap left by recent legislation prohibiting California motorists from utilizing hand held cell phones while driving, the Legislature has now proposed to ban text messaging while operating a motor vehicle. The new law will reach the Governor’s desk next week, but the Governor has vowed not to sign any legislation until the State budget has been passed.

While restriction of texting seems obvious, we have noticed that since the passage of the new cell phone law, drivers appear to be even more distracted by their electronic communication devices. It is still common to see drivers traveling down our highways with cell phones held to their ears. It is also common to see drivers holding their phones in their hands at steering wheel level, looking down at the phone while talking, apparently utilizing the “conference call” feature. We also have observed several young drivers manipulating electronic devices, presumably texting or reviewing text messages.

Several severe and deadly crashes have occurred in Northern California over the last two years involving both cell phone use and texting. We have previously made several recommendations about the use of these portable communication devices. Unfortunately, the message apparently isn’t getting out over the air waves. That is, these devices impair a driver’s ability to drive as much as intoxication. See our prior post.

Getting or giving immediate messages is not as important as being a safe driver. We applaud the proposed law.

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Blog

June 23, 2009

March 20, 2009

Auto Accidents Down Since Photo Enforced Red-lights

January 20, 2009

Suburban Rollover Kills Fortuna Woman

January 13, 2009

Third Fatal Pedestrian Accident in Northern California in Month

December 29, 2008

Mis-starting Van Lurches Forward Fatally Pinning Man Against Wall

December 16, 2008

Flurry of Pedestrian Accidents Dim Holiday Season

November 26, 2008

Motorcyclist Severely Injured in Highway 32 Crash

October 22, 2008

Safety Around School Buses

October 17, 2008

Another Cell Phone Related Fatality

August 25, 2008

Proposed Law Prohibits Driver Texting