By the Stats: U.S. Pedestrian Deaths May Continue to Rise as the Population Ages

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Pedestrian accidents are one of the most common mishaps in major and minor roadways in the United States. Although there have been various road developments that decrease the likelihood of pedestrian mishaps such as crosswalks and footbridges, such unfortunate occurrences still happen. In fact, for over a decade, pedestrian accidents accounted for around 13 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States, from 2001 to 2010, according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report.

Within the said time period, a total of 47,392 pedestrians were killed in America’s roadways. Additionally, the per capita pedestrian fatality rate in the U.S. was almost 14 deaths per 1 million people in 2010. In comparison, the rates in both the United Kingdom and Germany were 6.7 and 5.8, respectively.

The CDC also reported that not everyone is affected equally by dangerous walking conditions in U.S. roadways. However, the risk of a pedestrian injuries or deaths is greater among the elderly and the minority populations. Moreover, all men, regardless of demographic, were found to be two and one-half times more likely to be killed by a moving vehicle while walking than women.

In terms of age, the elderly, particularly men over 85 years old and women between 75 and 84 years of age suffer a disproportionate share of pedestrian fatalities, making them three times more likely to be killed than those between 15 to 24 years old. That being said, experts from the CDC believe that as the population of the U.S. ages, the likelihood of pedestrian accident death rates increasing.

Finally, pedestrian fatalities kill more people of color, particularly Native American, Hispanic, and African-American populations. This is due to the fact that they live in urban areas where residents walk more and get exposed to traffic violence.

Alarming as these statistics may be, it is important for pedestrians, regardless of race, color, or age, to be on the lookout for speeding vehicles, as well as take advantage of crosswalks, footbridges, and other infrastructures that would help those who regularly travel on foot. For a Los Angeles injury lawyer, meanwhile, motorists in general must also steer away from making driving decisions that could potentially kill pedestrians.

Who’s to Blame for Accidents Caused by Poorly Maintained Roads?

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In the United States, tens and thousands of accidents happen on the road for a number of reasons. Some are caused by distracted drivers, others by DUI drivers, and other factors like road and weather conditions among others. Over the years, driver error has been the main reason as to why road accidents happen in the US. This however does not change the fact that the condition of the road is also one big contributor as to why such accidents happen.

The roads in California and everywhere else in the United States are mostly in good condition. Because of the state and federal governments’ agencies, main thoroughfares across the country are kept in the best possible condition. On the other hand, there are also some roads that get damaged. While some are poorly maintained, there are others that just get broken due to a lot of reasons.

Last week, the management of the Golden State (5) Freeway closed sections of the road for emergency repair jobs on the thoroughfare. This is after motorists have called the agency, asking for a quick solution to repair the potholes immediately. According to reports, around 13 drivers got some of their cars’ tires burst after they passed by the 5 South at Indiana Street in East Los Angeles area where the potholes are. Some situations turned out so bad that the vehicles of those who got their tires blown had to be towed off the freeway.

Drivers of the said vehicles have also shown fears that their vehicles’ underpinnings might have been damaged due to the potholes but were also thankful that none of them got hurt in the accident. Things like these may get you completely surprised. At times you will be able to steer your vehicle away from these nuisances. However there are times that you will not have enough time to react in time, leaving you with no choice but to run over potholes like these.

When these things cause huge repair bills for your car or hospital bills for those injured, a
personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles believes that one can sue the freeway management for failure to put up the appropriate warning signs or promptly repairing that portion of the freeway that nearly caused an accident for the 13 vehicles that got flat tires due to the pothole. If you believe that any incident close to this has been caused by one person’s or agency’s negligence, you can file a personal injury claim against them. This could help you seek damages to pay for your treatment, cover the earnings that you might have missed because of your temporary disability, among others.

Suffering Fractures in a Car Accident: Implications in Both Health and Law

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Getting your car totaled in a collision on a roadway in California is a difficult situation you don’t want to get involved into. Aside from dealing with the repair costs you need to cover for your damaged vehicle and determining the liability of the accident, you’ll also have to deal with injuries, especially if you suffered one.

In any personal injury accident such as a motor vehicle collision, injuries to the skeletal system are quite common. When the accident is either a minor fender bender or a major, more severe one, resulting bone fractures may also be either mild or serious. As it is, bone fractures resulting from a car accident are said to be traumatic in nature. A forceful outside force damages the structure of the affected bone in the human body.

Moreover, fractures can either be categorized as open or closed. It is an open fracture when a part of the bone structure snaps and punctures outward of the skin tissue. On the other hand, a closed fracture happens when the fracture took place inside the muscle tissue. Symptoms involve swelling, bruising, and, pain to the injured part of the body.

In car accidents, bone fractures may occur when the driver or the passenger is not restrained with a seat belt. The traumatic impact of the crash makes it possible for the person to experience bone injuries, especially on the chest area and the head. Pedestrians are much more susceptible to fractures in the lower extremities.

Meanwhile, if you suffered a bone fracture as a result of a car accident, you may actually be entitled to compensation in the form of damages. As long as you establish a personal injury claim proving that the liable party is responsible not only for the accident but for your injuries, you may be able to receive compensation that will be used to cover for your extensive medical treatment.

Before anything else, it is important that you first consult with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer. Through the experience and expertise of the attorney, you may have the opportunity to obtain the justice you deserve, as well as the rightful amount of compensation that will help you to recover from your fractures and other injuries.

NHTSA Announces “SaferCar” iOS App

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In an effort to utilize mobile technology in promoting safety in both buying and driving vehicles, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced in its press release last Thursday a free iOS app that contains real-time information on vehicle safety from the SaferCar.gov website of the agency.

Called the SaferCar app, it is the mobile version of the NHTSA website in which iPhone and iPod Touch users can access valuable information related to vehicle safety that will help them not only become informed consumers but also help them make decisions. Basically, the features of the app are the following:

• 5-star safety rankings. For those who are planning to purchase a car or any other vehicle, they can use the app to look at how different car models and makes are likely to crash through crash test ratings.
• Recall updates and complaint submissions. Through the app, users can register their vehicles for the latest NHTSA notifications and updates with regard to their vehicles’ safety issues. Also, the app also allows them to file a safety complaint easily.
• Child seat installation help. This feature allows users to obtain assistance on how to properly install car seats and boosters by locating them to the nearest child seat inspection station.General news and updates. The app provides consumers information-filled news from the NHTSA, as well as push notifications on recalls and about the users’ vehicles.

While the SaferCar app is only available in iTunes Store, the same app is currently being developed to cater for those using Android-based devices and will soon be available in Google Play. The said launch of the free mobile app is just one of the NHTSA’s initiatives to provide consumers easy access to information about vehicle safety.

Coincidentally, along with the launch of the app was the NHTSA’s release of the Application Programming Interface or API. It is a new way to provide safety data through the creation of a more accessible data for analysis and integration into web and mobile apps.

Meanwhile, every Los Angeles car accident lawyer believes that promoting vehicle safety can be realized with the use of alternative means, including the use of mobile technology.

Recent Study Reveals How Music Can Greatly Affect Driving

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Playing music while behind the wheel is a great way to avoid boredom. As it is, what you listen on your car stereo sets your mood while driving, which would then translate into how you approach the traffic situation on the road and how you perform efficiently while doing so.

In fact, it is believed that the type of music a driver listens to can either make him or her either a safe or dangerous driver, and rightfully so. A new research study recently reported by the Daily Mail claimed that listening to recording artists who are under the easy listening genre were far safer to listen to. Additionally, drivers who listen to music that is noisy and upbeat are influenced to practice dangerous driving maneuvers while on the road.

The study was conducted with the help of eight participants (four males, four females). They were asked to drive about 500 miles, with the first half without music and the other with music. While the experiment made use of different music genres, it very much showed that these affected the way they drove their vehicles.

According to the study, any song that is fast in terms of beats and tempo can cause drivers to speed up on the road without them even knowing it. Also, songs that drivers don’t like tend to become distracted and stressed, which could negatively impact their driving.

Take classical music, for example. While the genre is known for its calm and serene movements, the experiment showed otherwise. One female and one male driver from the experiment uncomfortably drove their vehicles while listening to the music genre more than when they didn’t listen to any music.

Moreover, the study also showed that the ideal music for driving is any artist whose songs possess a 60 to 80 beats-per-minute (bpm) average. Certain artists such as Norah Jones (“Come Away with Me”), Coldplay (“The Scientist”), and Radiohead (“Karma Police”) are among those who are safest to listen with while driving.

Incidentally, legal experts, including a Santa Monica personal injury attorney, believe that while listening to specific tunes would influence safe driving, it would still be dangerous if played too loud. As it is, loud music causes distractions while behind the wheel, therefore increasing the chances of an accident.

Fourth of July: Car Accident Prone Holiday in the Country

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The yearly celebration of the Fourth of July draws local and foreign tourists to different spots in the country. However, despite the jubilant atmosphere during the Independence Day celebrations, horrific traffic accidents know no holidays.

According to statistics, from 2000 to 2009, there are more people who died due to car accidents on July 4th than any other day of the year. It was reported that the night of Fourth of July is the most common time for accidents to happen, and that alcohol consumption is the top reason for road accidents on Independence Day. Furthermore, Fourth of July is the second most plagued day in the United States in terms of alcohol-related deaths – second to New Year’s Day.

Incidentally, intoxicated driving is among the leading causes of traffic deaths in the country. According to data, in 2009 alone, more than 33,800 people were killed due to alcohol-related road accidents. Moreover, holiday celebrations, like Independence Day, are magnets for such type of traffic accident, which is why it is necessary for motorists to refrain from driving while drunk this coming Fourth of July.

In the State of California, traffic authorities are expected to double their efforts in preventing alcohol-related accidents and cracking down intoxicated drivers. Under the California Vehicle Code, any driver with blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent and above is not allowed to operate their vehicle. Consequently, non-complying drivers may be ticketed or be fined.

California motorists must mind their actions; they should never go behind the wheel if they are intoxicated not only to avoid traffic tickets, but also to avoid injuring themselves and other people. Under the tort law, drunk drivers who injure another person are liable for the accident. They may be charged with personal injury lawsuit and may be required to pay their victim with injury compensations.

In this regard, California drivers and pedestrians who get injured in a Los Angeles car accident are advised to consult with a Los Angeles car accident attorney to know the legal actions they have to take, and to get the injury compensations that they deserve.