Car Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles

• Distracted driving. According to the NHTSA distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in recent years. Distracted driving is the number one cause of car wrecks. It can be in the form of texting, calling, eating, grooming, or applying makeup. Essentially anything that takes the driver’s attention away from the road.

• Drunk Driving. Any person who drinks and drives is not only a danger to themselves but to everyone else on the road. A drunk driver has slowed reaction time and a compromised decision-making capability.

• Speeding. Speeding is the second most common cause of auto crashes. Driving at high speeds can be dangerous because drivers have less time to respond to driving and road conditions. Most often. Speeding can lead to high impact crashes that result in catastrophic injuries and sometimes even death.

• Reckless Driving. Cutting off other drivers. Weaving in and out of lanes. Sudden breaking. These all represent forms of reckless driving, and each can lead to very serious accidents. Reckless driving is considered a moving violation and is punishable in California by fines, jail time, or license suspension or revocation.

• Improper Turns. Designated lanes, stop lights, and turn signals are all designed to prevent accidents. Unfortunately, careless drivers ignore the rules that are set in place and make improper turns that can cause major disasters and accidents. This is commonly seen when drivers fail to yield to traffic or a pedestrian’s right of way.

• Teen Driving. The likelihood of a teenager being involved in an accident is high simply due to their inexperience. Teenagers are often unable to recognize dangerous situations. Teenage drivers are also more likely to text while driving, speed, or drive under the influence. Car accidents are sadly the leading cause of death for teenagers throughout California.

• Running red Lights. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Red means stop, and unfortunately, people don’t always follow the law. Serious and oftentimes deadly accidents occur because someone was in a hurry and ran a red light. Understand that life is precious and not worth the risk.

• Highway Construction. Construction sites are often confusing because they are new and unknown. Driving slowly may be the key to staying safe. It is super important to drive slowly and cautiously to avoid even the smallest accident from occurring.

• Bad Weather. Although we are blessed in California with good weather most of the time, rainfall and wet weather conditions do affect us from time to time. If visibility is low drivers must proceed with caution. Rainwater can make our roads slippery causing cars, trucks, and motorcycles to skid, hydroplane or spin out when braking.

• Night Driving. Driving at night increases the risk of an accident by almost double. This is because, at night, lack of visibility makes hazards more difficult to see. Make sure to be on high alert when driving on the road at night and use your full lights when you enter a road with no streetlights.

• Unsafe Lane Changes. If you drive an automobile, the chances that you have been cut off by someone on the highway are high. It is important to remember that when you pass another vehicle, to make sure that you have plenty of room to get in front of them when you decide to do so. Making unsafe lane changes often leads to side-swipe accidents that could have been avoided.

• Wrong-way Driving. It is easy to turn the wrong way particularly if you are unfamiliar with an area or are heading down a one-way street. It can be especially dangerous if you enter a freeway and are headed towards oncoming traffic. Always obey proper right of way rules and look out for traffic signs before making any turns.

• Tailgating another driver at a high speed is a recipe for disaster. Many fatal car crashes occur as a result of tailgating. These deadly accidents can be avoided by giving the car in front of you a car length space for every 10 miles per hour driven.

• Tire Blowouts. When someone has a tire blowout, this will cause you to lose control of your vehicle and swerve. This can be especially dangerous if the car being driven is a larger SUV or a semi-truck. When this happens, try to stay calm and pull over to a safe area as soon as it is possible.

• Legal drugs such as marijuana can impair your ability to fully function and make decisions as a driver. It can also cause horrible car wrecks. If you are under the influence of drugs, regardless of prescription or not, do not take the chances of getting behind the wheel. It is not worth the risk.