Auto Motorcycle and Truck Accidents

Sleepiness and fatigue brought on by not getting enough rest at night are key causes of car, truck, and other serious accidents, as many San Diego car accident attorneys have seen.  Sleep is so important to preventing motor vehicle accidents that the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently revised its hours of service rules for commercial drivers to reflect the human brain’s need for uninterrupted sleep.

How can you and your family help protect yourselves from vehicle accidents? One way is by celebrating Better Sleep Week.  According to a study published last month by the Better Sleep Council, most Americans know what they need to do in order to get better sleep – they just aren’t doing it.  Better Sleep Week, May 5-13, is a great time to start.

Here are just a few ways in which you can improve the quality of your sleep, making you more alert at home, in the car, and at work:

• Choose the right mattress.  Your mattress forms the foundation of a good night’s sleep by providing the comfort and support your body needs to deeply relax.  On average, a mattress should be reevaluated after five to seven years of use. Check for sags, lumps, broken springs, and other problems that suggest it’s time for a replacement.
• Create a sleep sanctuary.  Reserve your bedroom for sleeping and sexual activity only.  Choose sheets and bedding that feel good to you.  Create a relaxing bedtime routine that doesn’t involve TV or computer screens, and stick to it.  Choosing lighting and colors that you find soothing can also improve your sleep.
• Pay attention to how you feel when traveling.  If you feel fatigued or drowsy, avoid driving, or find a place to take a short nap before driving.

The U.S. National Safety Council recently released statistics which revealed that motor vehicle accident deaths increased by 5% in 2012. The same 5% spike has been seen in the percentage of accident victims who seek medical help after a motor vehicle accident. The cost of all these accidents and related injuries rang in at the tune of $276.6 billion last year.

At Intraligi Law Firm, we were curious as to the reasons behind these increases, which are the first in the last seven years. This led us to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, Americans are among the world’s most notorious users of cell phones while driving. Sixty-nine percent of survey responders indicated that they had talked on their cell phone while driving at least once in the last month, and 31 percent said they had texted or sent e-mails in that same time frame. As we can imagine, the problem is of even greater concern because these percentages are a lot higher among younger drivers, and we get the distinct feeling that unless something is done to change the texting/calling while driving culture, it will become more and more common.

Many distractions are listed which existed before the advent of modern technology such as eating, grooming or reading, but of particular importance seem to be the currently growing epidemic of distractions such as calling, texting, use of navigation, and use of mp3 players among others.

According to distraction.gov, you are 23 times more likely to crash if you are texting while driving. They say that sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds, enough to blindly travel the distance of an entire football field at 55 miles per hour.

We car accident lawyers in Toronto are used to Ontario law which makes it illegal to use a cell phone for calls or texting while driving. We and our friends at Jurewitz Law Group both encourage all drivers to focus on the road and to avoid all types of distractions for your safety and the safety of others.

Mr. Intraligi is a personal injury lawyer in Toronto, and also offers consultations as an injury lawyer in Ottawa to all victims of car accidents, slip and falls, and all other type of personal injury related matters.

This blog post brought to you by Stephan Intraligi, Hon.B.A., J.D., Esq.

According to Prevent Blindness America, each year there are about 6,000 eye injuries caused from auto batteries. That does not even take into account skin burns, hand injuries, and other possible injuries from improper use of car batteries. To bring awareness of the dangers of car batteries and share important tips to prevent fatal injuries, October is dedicated as Auto Battery Safety Month.

In our October 2012 Newsletter, we briefly discuss a simple version on how to safely jump-start a car battery. Let’s recap the proper steps and go more in-depth:

1. Have both cars turned off and close together. That also includes the interior lighting and radio. It is important to note that both cars should not be touching in any way and should have the same battery voltage. Check the jumper cables to make sure that they are clean, untangled, and not damaged in any way before using. Using damaged jumper cables can cause injuries.
2. Connect one red (+) clamp to the positive (+) labeled post on the dead battery. Make sure there is a strong and secure connection to the post of the dead battery. If there are visible signs of grease, dirt, or corrosion on the battery terminal, remove cables and clean properly. Try starting the dead car since sometimes batteries only need proper cleaning to function again. If car still doesn’t start, then continue using jumper cables.
3. Connect the other red (+) clamp to the positive (+) post on the good battery. Again check to make sure that the connection is strong and secure. To be safe, make sure that all the clamps are separated from each other and not touching.
4. Connect the black (-) clamp to the negative (-) labeled post on the good battery.
5. IMPORTANT: Connect the last black negative (-) clamp to a clean, solid, and unpainted metal surface in the engine of the dead car to ground the circuit. Do not connect the black (-) cable to the dead battery itself, but as far away from the dead battery as possible. Connecting the clamp onto the battery can cause a devastating explosion.
6. Start the car with the good engine and wait 2 to 3 minutes, then start the dead car. Wait longer if the car has not been used for some time to allow the battery to recharge properly. If the dead car does not start even after several minutes, refrain from trying over and over again because further damage to the starter can be done.
7. Remove the cables in reverse order: Black dead car, black working car, red working car, and finally red dead car. Once the dead car is started, it is safe to remove the jumper cables while the cars are running. Be careful to not let the clamps touch each other or fall down into the engine.
8. Keep stalled car running for at least 30 minutes to recharge battery properly. If the engine is not left on for a longer duration after being dead, then there is a chance that the car will need to be jump-started again. It is recommended to take the car to a repair shop to ensure that the battery gets fully recharged.
9. Drive away happy!

We want to do our part in bringing awareness of the importance of auto battery safety. To make sure that you and your loved ones will always know how to properly jump-start a car, Prevent Blindness America offers a free battery jump start sticker in both English and Spanish on their website. The sticker can be placed under the engine hood or garage for future reference.

Throughout the month of October, we will be posting important safety tips and facts on auto battery safety on our Facebook page and Google+ profile. Make sure to “Like” our Facebook page and for gmail users to add us on Google+ to receive these tips!

59-year-old Juanita Mullin was killed in a rear-end crash that occurred on May 7, 2012, around 10:46 a.m. along Interstate 15 (I-15) deep in the Mojave Desert. According to San Bernardino County coroner’s officials and California Highway Patrol officers, a 67-year-old trucker driving a 2008 International momentarily diverted his attention by looking inside his cab and slammed into the car, causing the Impala to overturn and the big-rig to run off the freeway and end up in an embankment.

At the time, Mullin was either stopped or driving extremely slow with the vehicle’s emergency flashers on. From the present facts, it is clear that the truck driver’s negligent driving contributed to this fatal California motor vehicle crash. At this time, the victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Bernardino County car accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights.

If it is found that the truck driver was distracted, then the victim’s family may be entitled to compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love, care, and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our law office sends a sincere condolence to the victim’s family members and friends.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in San Bernardino County rear-end traffic collisions and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in car accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident in Mojave Desert due to a negligent driver, please order your free copy of the The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

Five people suffered moderate injuries in a two-vehicle wreck that took place on April 11, 2012, around 12:30 p.m. on Highway 79 (SR-79), south of Beaumont. According to Cal Fire, this two-car crash happened just south of the county dump on Lamb Canyon Road.

The injured victims were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment following this Riverside County auto accident. From the present facts, it is unclear as to how this traffic collision occurred. Was there a loss of control? Was one of the drivers distracted or speeding?

At this time, the victims’ family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County car accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. If any of the drivers were negligently driving or even under the influence, then they may be legally required to compensate the victims for medical costs and treatment, loss of wages, loss of earning capacity, and other accident related damages.

Our law office sincerely hopes that the injuries sustained by the victims heal soon.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in Riverside County traffic collisions and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in car accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident in San Jacinto due to a negligent driver, please order your free copy of the The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

A woman was struck and killed in a severe pedestrian wreck that occurred on February 24, 2012, around 12:29p.m. on Arlington Avenue, west of Fairhaven Drive in the far western end of the city. According to Lt. Eric Charrette, a black pickup crossed the double-yellow line, causing the driver of another truck to veer off the road to avoid the collision. Unfortunately, the driver instead ran into a female pedestrian walking east along the south edge of the street.

Paramedics responding to this serious car wreck treated the victim at the scene and later transported her to Riverside Community Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

Police are now searching for the driver of the black truck, who didn’t even stop. The victim’s family members may file a wrongful death claim against the pickup driver to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.

Our law office sends sincere condolences to victim’s family members.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in Riverside County truck accidents and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California based personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a pedestrian accident in Riverside due to a negligent motorist, please order your free copy of The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

One person sustained moderate injuries in a serious DUI car crash that occurred on February 23, 2012, around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of East California and North Santa Fe avenues. According to San Diego County sheriff’s Sgt. Glen Twyman, 25-year-old Robert Jarquin rear-ended the vehicle while driving under the influence and continued on his way until he slammed into a light pole.

The motorist in the vehicle that was rear-ended by Jarquin’s vehicle complained of pain and was immediately transported to Tri-City Medical Center for treatment. Jarquin was later booked into the Vista jail on suspicion of hit-and-run and driving under the influence.

Jarquin will most likely be found to have violated California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a) which states that “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.”

At this time, the victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced San Diego DUI accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights.

Our San Diego personal injury law office hopes that the injuries suffered by the victim heal soon and do not prove serious.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in San Diego County hit-and-run auto accidents and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in DUI accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a hit-and-run car accident in San Diego due to a drunken driver, please order your free copy of The Ultimate California Car Accident Book.  It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

19-year-old Ronald Cole died in a serious multiple vehicle wreck that occurred on February 22, 2012, around 9 p.m. on Highway 74 (SR-74) east of Lake Elsinore. According to the authorities, Cole and his passengers were headed west in a 2004 Honda Civic on Highway 74 in the unincorporated Meadowbrook area when Cole, for unknown reasons, crossed into oncoming traffic.

The driver of another 2004 Civic tried to steer out of the way but the two cars collided head on. The other Civic, driven by 23-year-old Cody Testi, of Riverside, spun across the westbound lanes and came to rest on the shoulder. A Chrysler 300 that was behind Testi’s Civic and the Pathfinder struck debris from the initial crash.

Cole was immediately transported to Inland Valley Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his fatal injuries.

Both the passengers, 19-year-old Sydni Adame and 19-year-old Josh Webb, suffered major injuries and were immediately transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The Chrysler driver, 58-year-old Zina Harris sustained minor bruises and scratches and was treated at local hospital.

From the present facts, it is unclear as to how this traffic collision occurred. Was there a loss of control? Was one of the drivers distracted or speeding?

At this time, the victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County car accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. If Cole was negligently driving or even under the influence, then he may be legally required to compensate the victim’s family funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love, care and companionship, and other related damages.

Our law office sends sincere condolences to the victim’s family members. We also hope and pray that the injuries suffered by the victims heal soon.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in Riverside County multiple vehicle collisions and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in car accidents. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident in Lake Elsinore area due to a negligent driver, please order your free copy of the The Ultimate California Car Accident Book. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents.

Suzanne Tuberville, wife of the Texas Tech University head coach Tommy Tuberville, is under investigation for a car wreck in Lubbock back in November 2011. Suzanne allegedly ran a red light at 57^th and Slide and crashed into a car carrying 73-year-old Nelda Purdy and her husband 87-year-old Ira Purdy. After spending the last 4 months in intensive care, Ira Purdy died this past Friday.

At the time of the accident, Nelda and Ira sustained critical injuries. According to the Purdy’s family attorney, the man never recovered from the significant head injury, broken leg, and broken ribs, which resulted in his death last Friday. Sources say that he was in good condition and very active before the accident. However, with such significant injuries, it is hard to fully recover at that age.

The investigation is still open due to the extent of the injuries that one of the passengers sustained and the recent death of Purdy. Suzanne Tuberville could ultimately face charges such as criminally negligent homicide or vehicular manslaughter, depending on the results of the Lubbock Police Department’s investigation and autopsy of Ira Purdy. This is a common charge for people who run red lights resulting in a death.

Wife Nelda Purdy has almost fully recovered from her injuries and is hoping to seek action for her husband’s death and her hospital stay. So far, the Purdy family has been disappointed with LPD’s investigation, especially since no citation was issued to the driver at the time of the accident. It was only 6 months after the wreck that a citation was issued.

Our personal injury law firm gives our deepest condolences to Nelda and the Purdy family. We hope that justice is served and that she recovers compensation to pay for her medical bills and her husband’s wrongful death.

If you or someone you love has been severely injured in California by another driver who ran a red light, contact the San Diego car accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group at 1-888-233-5020. 

81-year-old Barbara Fritschel was struck and injured in a serious pedestrian wreck that occurred on February 21, 2012, around 8:30 a.m. on a Thousand Oaks sidewalk. According to the authorities, Fritschel and 79-year-old Martha Bielke were walking on a sidewalk in the 1400 block of Calle de Oro. Both of them stumbled and fell while trying to move out of the path of a motorist backing out of a driveway.

The driver, 63-year-old Marsha Mann, did not see the pair and continued backing up. He drove over Fritschel. Immediately afterward, Mann stopped at the accident to call for help. Fritschel was treated at the scene and was later transported to Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center. She is in stable condition but remained in intensive care. Bielke suffered minor injuries and was treated at the accident scene.

From the present facts, it is unclear how this pedestrian accident occurred. Officials believe that Mann accidentally drive over Fritschel. In situations such as this one, where a pedestrian is the victim of a serious car accident, the family members of the victim may benefit from speaking with a Ventura pedestrian accident lawyer.

Our personal injury law office hopes that the injuries suffered by the victim do not prove fatal.

Ross Jurewitz represents people injured in Ventura County pedestrian accidents and is the managing lawyer of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California based personal injury law firm dedicated to representing families of people injured or killed in car accident. If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident in Ventura County, please contact the pedestrian accident attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group at 1-888-233-5020.