Sargent Law Firm

Carlsbad Personal Injury Lawyer Discuses Child Safety Booster Seats in Car Accidents

New for 2012 is a change to the California Booster Seat Law.  As of January 1, 2012, parents, guardians, or drivers transporting children under 8 years old on a highway in a motor vehicle must secure that child in a restraint meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.  The new safety seat laws have very severe fines including the possibility of child endangerment charges.

The reasoning behind the law is that seat belts are made for average adults and don’t fit children who are not at least 4’9” tall. Statistics show that using a booster seat reduces a child’s risk for injury in an auto accident by 59%.  So this new law begs the question, is Snookie required to be in a booster seat when she is in California? Snooki is only 4’9” and she would likely benefit from using a booster seat! However, lucky for her she is old enough that although it would be safer, she is not required to sit in a booster seat…

Our Carlsbad personal injury lawyer specializes in cases where people are injured in auto accidents through no fault of their own.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a an auto accident and need aggressive and compassionate legal representation give our Oceanside Car Accident Lawyer a call.  We offer a no obligation free consultation on all San Diego Personal Injury cases.  Contact us today.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2010 saw record low traffic accident fatalities. This record low for traffic accident fatalities in 2010 bested the previous record of 2009. While that year saw 33,808 deaths, 2010 saw a drop to 32,708.

Both the DOT and NHTSA credit public awareness campaigns and stricter law enforcement, with programs against impaired driving, distracted driving and even pro-seatbelt campaigns being lauded. Undoubtedly, safer vehicles and improved safety systems can also share some of the glory, but either way, we are pleased to see the statistic falling and hope that its a continuing trend in the future.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the number and rate of traffic fatalities in 2010 fell to the lowest levels since 1949, despite a significant increase in the number of miles Americans drove during the year.

“Last year’s drop in traffic fatalities is welcome news and it proves that we can make a difference,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Still, too many of our friends and neighbors are killed in preventable roadway tragedies every day. We will continue doing everything possible to make cars safer, increase seat belt use, put a stop to drunk driving and distracted driving and encourage drivers to put safety first.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) early projections, the number of traffic fatalities fell three percent between 2009 and 2010, from 33,808 to 32,788. Since 2005, fatalities have dropped 25 percent, from a total of 43,510 fatalities in 2005. The same estimates also project that the fatality rate will be the lowest recorded since 1949, with 1.09 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, down from the 1.13 fatality rate for 2009. The decrease in fatalities for 2010 occurred despite an estimated increase of nearly 21 billion miles in national vehicle miles traveled.

California saw nearly an 11 percent decrease in traffic accident deaths in 2010.

“The decrease in traffic fatalities is a good sign, but we are always working to save lives,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “NHTSA will continue pressing forward on all of our safety initiatives to make sure our roads are as safe as they can possibly be.”

NHTSA has also taken action to improve vehicle safety. The agency has urged automakers to swiftly and voluntarily report safety defects to keep the driving public safe. NHTSA has also encouraged the development and use of technologies to prevent crashes, such as electronic stability control, forward collision warning and lane departure warning systems. The agency also unveiled an updated 5-star rating system in 2010, which established more rigorous crash-test standards and began providing consumers with improved information about which cars perform best in collisions.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has also been encouraging the use of Safety Edge technology — which reduces drivers’ risk of running off the road by shaping pavement edge — on new road and highway projects. FHWA has also promoted the use of rumble strips and cable median barriers to separate opposing directions of traffic to reduce the incidence of crossover head-on collisions.

At the Sargent Law Firm, we are pleased to see the number or wrongful deaths and fatalities significantly decreasing over time due to numerous factors.  However, there are still thousands of people who lose their lives due to traffic accidents every year in California alone.  In San Diego, California, approximately 200-250 people lose their life in an auto accident ever year.  Many of these deaths are accidental, but there are a number of deaths in San Diego that are caused by negligence, recklessness, drunk drivers, and drivers driving under the influence.

If you have lost a loved one to a wrongful death, call the Sargent Law Firm to represent you in your San Diego wrongful death claim.  We understand that this is a difficult time  to go through and are here to help.  We charge nothing unless we win your case and offer free consultations.  Call now at 760.707.2721 or submit a free online case evaluation.

Every year people are seriously injured San Diego motorcycle accidents.  Motorcyclists are often not seen when driving down streets by drivers that pull out in front of them.  Cars sometimes do not see motorcyclists and make lane changes in to them, causing serious accidents.

It is very common for Motorcycle riders to be cited for the at fault party in an accident.  In fact, motorcycle accident lawyer Ryan Sargent has represented many injured motorcycle accident victims in San Diego that have been blamed in the actual police report.  However, sometimes upon further investigation into the facts of an accident, it is possible to establish liability on another party regardless of what the police report states.

The goal of both motorcycle riders and other vehicles on the road is to make sure everyone is safe and accident free.  This post is a reminder to be on the look out for motorcycles on the local roadways: I-5, Highway 78, Highway 76, and the 15 freeway.  If you are in a vehicle, you might get annoyed when you see motorcyclists sharing lanes.  Most of the time, the motorcyclists are lane sharing legally and doing so for the safety everyone on the road.

Motorcycle accident lawyer Ryan Sargent emphasizes with his clients and friends who ride to make sure to use a helmet. Helmets prevent serious life-altering head injuries.  We cannot stress enough the importance of wearing one if you ride a motorcycle.

And if you drive a car, please be sure you are aware of any motorcycles near you on the roadway.  Look before making lane changes, and be careful not to pull out in to the path of an oncoming motorcycle.  Your safe driving can prevent someone else from being seriously injured.

As a law firm that specifically handles the cases of injured people, we try to inform people of ways to make their lives safer.  If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact us at (760) 707-2721.  We may be able to help you, a friend, or a loved one.

We are writing to alert you to a potential problem with your automobile insurance. We have noticed recently that a number of our clients do not carry an uninsured or underinsured motorist policy in their coverage. This can be a huge problem if you are struck by a vehicle that is not insured or is underinsured. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage protects you in the event that you are involved in an accident with someone who is not insured or their insurance coverage will not cover all of your damages. Damages that are not always covered by the at fault party can include: property damage, rental car expense, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain & suffering.

Purchasing extra underinsured and uninsured motorists coverage will usually only increase your existing premiums a small amount. This extra coverage can make a huge difference if you are involved in an accident. Just because someone hits you does not mean you will automatically get paid for all of your damages even though you are not at fault. Purchasing underinsured and uninsured motorists coverage can help minimize your risk of losing money when involved in an accident. We are urging all people who have contacted our office to contact their insurance carriers and determine if they have this potentially vital coverage, and consider adding it if they do not.

As a law firm that focuses on auto accident injury cases, we try to inform people of ways to make their lives safer on the road. Minimize your risks by adding more coverage to your current policy. You can contact our office for any questions about underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage at (760) 707.2721 and speak directly with a car accident lawyer.