The accident involved alcohol on the part of Faustina Vega Xicohtencati, who was driving the Ford pickup truck that struck the victims Mercury Mountaineer.  The woman and baby are expected to recover, and the baby’s father sustained only minor injuries in the crash.  Xicohtencati was extremely intoxicated when officers arrived at the scene of the crash, and has been arrested on charges of felony DUI, as well as driving without a valid license.  He had picked up a hitchhiker before the accident occurred, who he insists was driving although the hitchhiker fled the scene.

With spring around the corner, California car accident lawyers and law enforcement expect that the incidence of driving while under the influence will increase.  Many high school and college kids consider spring break party time, which means more people on the roads will be put at risk of being seriously injured in an accident involving alcohol.  Law enforcement agencies are at heightened alert during this time of year, and are ready to enforce the law when it comes to these young men and women who decide to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks.  Partiers are only concerned about having a good time, and not the risk they put themselves and others at when they decide to drive in an intoxicated condition.  MADD is getting involved across the country in various cities, and parents are encouraged to talk with their children about the dangers of drunk driving.

How Alcohol Contributes to Accidents

Those who have had a few drinks often feel carefree and invincible.  They decide to get behind the wheel because they feel that they are in perfectly good condition to drive, and any caution they would feel if sober is abandoned.

Alcohol contributes to recklessness and loosens inhibitions, which is why California accident lawyers often witness those who are intoxicated behind the wheel participating in risky driving practices such as speeding or other unsafe behavior.  Alcohol also impairs reflexes and sense of judgment, which may lead to an accident due to the drivers inability to determine distances or slow a car down in time to avoid a crash.  Drunk drivers react slower to an emergency, simply because their response is delayed due to alcohol consumption.

Drunk driving is all too common, and is one of the most risky behaviors young people can participate in.  Driving while under the influence puts the driver at risk, as well as other motorists, pedestrians or bicyclists who may be on the road.  Severe injury or even death may be the result.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California and is dedicated to representing personal injury victims, including victims of drunk driving accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

The woman driving the Toyota veered off to the right, striking a white Honda after being unable to stop when she noticed traffic had come to a halt on the freeway.  She then struck a Cadillac, which was sent rolling on top of a Mercedes.  So far in the investigation, California Highway Patrol do not believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident, which left one person on advanced life support and three others with back, shoulder and neck injuries.

Multi vehicle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries and deaths, so the victims in this incident were very fortunate.  In this accident, it appears that the woman was driving at speeds that were too fast for traffic conditions, or driving at excessive speeds in general.  Observing the speed limit is essential, but some conditions require that motorists drive even slower than limits posted to avoid serious accidents.  Motorists should pay close attention when driving on the freeway, particularly when weather conditions are bad or traffic is congested.  Tailgating in conditions like these is especially risky.

California car accident lawyers know that excessive speed plays a major role in car accidents every day.  A motorist doesn’t necessarily have to be exceeding posted speed limits to cause a serious accident; driving too fast for weather or traffic conditions put the driver and other motorists at risk.  Peak times of heavy traffic such as rush hour should be observed as well, and adverse weather conditions often leave roads slick and hazardous.

Other factors that frequently cause serious auto accidents is driving while distracted or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  While increased efforts are made to educate motorists on the dangers of drunk driving and law enforcement is cracking down harder on those who drive under the influence, it still appears to be a growing problem in our country.  In California, more than 1,000 people are killed in accidents involving drunk drivers every year.  Lawmakers and law enforcement agencies are taking huge steps to educate and inform motorists, and numbers seem to be decreasing as motorists who are repeat DUI offenders have their rights to drive taken away.

In recent months, distracted driving has been making headlines across the country.  Motorists talk on cell phones, text, eat, apply make up, search for CD’s and engage in conversation with other passengers, which all take the motorists mind off of the road.  Distracted driving contributes to thousands of serious accidents each year.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California and is dedicated to representing personal injury victims, including victims of auto accidents.  If you need an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, contact The Reeves Law Group.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing, and California Highway Patrol states that it was drizzling lightly when the crash took place.  There are several factors that can lead to a pile up involving several vehicles.

Speeding and driving under the influence are two of the most common causes of serious multi-vehicle crashes.  In California, speeding is a serious problem.  Speed limits are meant to be observed, and motorists driving above or below these limits can increase the risk of a multi-vehicle crash.  Driving at excessive rates of speed leads to loss of control of the vehicle, which can result in crashing to other motorists.  Speed related accidents often cause the most serious injuries and even fatalities.

Drunk driving also increases the chances of a serious crash.  Alcohol does several things to a person, which puts not only himself but other motorists at risk:

*  Alcohol impairs good judgment and the ability to reason
*  Someone who is intoxicated is more likely to take risks
*  A person under the influence is more likely to speed, which is often the case in alcohol related accidents
*  Alcohol dulls a persons ability to stop quickly or make decisions in a split second, such as in the case of an emergency

While driving under the influence is usually regarded as someone who has imbibed in alcohol or taken illegal drugs, those taking prescription drugs are also involved in a high number of crashes.  Certain medications leave people feeling drowsy or disoriented, which can lead to a crash.  Certain medicines used to treat heart disease and hypertension have adverse effects on an individual’s ability to drive safely.

Another major contributing factor in the instance of multi vehicle accidents is distracted driving.  Engaging in conversations with passengers in the car, texting, talking on a cell phone and even billboards and highway signs can distract drivers, which can lead to a serious accident.  Los Angeles accident lawyers know that motorists have been driving while distracted for years.

Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at The Reeves Law Group have offices across California and is dedicated to representing personal injury victims, including victims of auto accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

There were 669 deaths in traffic accidents involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 in California in 2007.  Of this total, 238 of the victims were the drivers.  Passengers riding with teen drivers accounted for 199 of the deaths, and out of these 199:

15 were under 15 years old
127 were between the ages of 15 and 20
57 were over 20 years old

Other than passengers of the teen drivers vehicle, occupants of other vehicles that were involved in these accidents accounted for 157 deaths, and 75 deaths resulted in those not riding in a car such as pedestrians.

Teen motor safety is still a huge concern, especially in light of these statistics and the high rates of fatalities occurring in teen accidents.  Statistics from FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) which were used in the data show that:

*In 2007, drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 made up 9 percent of the population and 6 percent of licensed drivers.  Drivers of this age made up an alarming portion of the accident fatalities.  19 percent of traffic fatalities nationwide were due to accidents involving young drivers in 2007.

*There were 7650 deaths in 2007 in accidents involving these motorists.

*The majority of the time, those who died were the drivers or a passenger in their car.  2029 fatalities nationwide in 2007 were passengers between the ages of 15 and 20.

*67 percent of passenger fatalities were in the same age group as the driver, between 15 and 20 years old.

*The highest accident rates in teen drivers occur on rural roadways.  About 57% of accidents involving the death of a teen occur on rural or country roads.

Most teenage motorists enjoy traveling with passengers in their own age group, which explains why young motorists and their passengers are the most likely age group to die in traffic accidents.

There are many suspected reasons that more fatalities occur on country roads, and California auto accident lawyers know that rural roads often have higher rates of speeding and reckless driving than other roads.  Drunk driving is more common on the rural and back roads as well.  Country roads are often rougher and not as well designed as other roads, which may account for the increased risk of accidents in these rural areas.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California and is dedicated to representing personal injury victims, including victims of auto accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

Several of the passengers aboard the bus were injured when bus number 92 crashed according to the LAPD, who say that at least 10 suffered serious injuries.  One passenger is reportedly in critical condition, and the others injuries were not life threatening.  The cause of the accident is being investigated by police.

Most people would be under the impression that riding in a bus is safer than riding in a passenger vehicle, due to the fact that a bus is much larger and heavier, and elevated to a point where complete vision of your surrounding is increased.  Even with all of the advantages, there are numerous bus accidents that result in multiple injuries each year in California.

People who are injured in bus accidents may qualify for compensation, however this requires identifying all parties responsible for the accident.  California bus accident attorneys identify the responsible bus company in most accident lawsuits.  Responsibility may be placed on certain companies because of defects in the bus; for example parts that do not work correctly, such as brakes, tires or headlights.  Blame may also be placed on the bus company because of its negligence in hiring and supervising individuals who are properly qualified, or do not have the proper training or experience.

A bus maintenance company may also be held responsible in the claim if the accident is related to malfunctioning parts or improper maintenance.  Additionally, highways and other roads that are dangerous or in disrepair may be to blame for a bus accident, in which case the city and county agencies are held responsible.  If the vehicle in question is a government-owned transit bus, state and local governments may be held liable in a claim.  School bus accidents that are caused by the negligence of the driver may leave the school district or board liable.

While in many cases the accident is actually caused by the driver of the bus, their employer and their insurer are held financially responsible.  Bus manufacturers may also be responsible, if defective parts are found to be at fault in an accident.  Los Angeles bus accident lawyers sometimes name the operators of a tour service as the party responsible if the bus trip is part of a package.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California, and is dedicated to representing clients as Los Angeles personal injury attorneys, including victims of bus accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

The program is promoted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Ride like a Friend was the name given to the program all across the country, which focused on the distractions that passengers can cause, and how to lessen this occurrence.  Car accidents are the major cause of death in teenagers according to the CDC, and it is shown that in one out of three teenage deaths, car accidents are to blame.  While many may believe that alcohol is the main cause for these accidents, it is actually due to distractions.  In California, teens are forced to wait before they can drive with passengers in the car by a graduated license program that is in place.

Studies have shown that with teenage motorists, the more passengers that are riding in the car the greater the accident risk.  In fact, when a teenager drives with one passenger, the chances of having an accident is increased two-fold, while driving with multiple passengers seems to raise risk by 4 to 5 times.

Teenagers are encouraged to participate in numerous activities in the Ride like a Friend campaign in order to promote safe driving behavior.  They may work to produce public service announcements such as videos to encourage safe behavior by passengers.  Drivers and passengers work together to create radio, print, video and performance art PSAs, and also compete locally.  Since teenagers often use social networking sites, they are encouraged to spread the word on sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.  These messages are an effort to increase the awareness of passengers about distracting the driver, and how dangerous this can be.

Los Angeles car accident lawyers believe it is a good practice to educate teenage motorists about the risks of being distracted while driving, and encouraging passengers to be responsible and engage in safe behavior as well.  National Teen Driver Safety Week is one effort that is concentrated on developing our teenagers into safe, well informed drivers.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California and is dedicated to representing California auto accident victims, including victims of car accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

Ms. Petelski, according to the Los Angeles Times, was driving her vehicle on Glyndon Avenue after finishing her shift at work at a counseling center and was stopped at a stop sign.  This was around midnight, and according to a representative of the Los Angeles Police Department she pulled out in front of the cruiser. Two police officers who were inside of the cruiser were treated at the hospital for minor to moderate injuries.  Petelski died one day after the accident from her injuries.  Individuals in related accidents should contact a car accident attorney in Los Angeles.

The two officers have stated that they were not responding to a call at the time the accident occurred, according to the LAPD, and questions have been raised regarding the speed of the cruiser and whether negligence may have been involved.  The accident is still being investigated, and the cause of the crash is still uncertain at this time.

Residents who live near the scene of the crash suggest that the cruiser had no lights or sirens in use, and seemed to be traveling at a rate of speed between 50 and 70 mph.  Other witnesses seem to agree with these reports, and Captain Paul West had already admitted to reporters that as far as he knew, lights or sirens were not in use at the time.

Those near the area when the accident occurred reported that they heard no brakes screeching or sirens just before the crash took place.  These witnesses say that within a few short moments of the time that the cruiser hit Petelski’s car on the driver’s side, 10 more cruisers arrived at the scene and began blocking off the crime scene.  They also stated that emergency vehicles arrived more than 15 minutes after the crash took place.

Witnesses who saw the entire event unfold claim that the officers were indeed speeding without the use of lights or sirens, and that they are clearly at fault in the accidents.  Naturally, emotions are running rampant over this incident, and is very upsetting to Los Angeles wrongful death lawyers who respect law enforcement officials at the LAPD immensely.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California and are dedicated to representing personal injury victims, including victims of car accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

California is known as a motorcycle friendly state, and it is unfortunate that an out of town visitor has lost his life due to the negligence of a motorist under the influence.  California motorcycle accident lawyers see this frequently, but know that riding a motorcycle does not necessarily have to be a risky or dangerous activity that it often appears to be.  In the state, many people enjoy riding and it should be a safe and enjoyable activity if all were to wear helmets, drive the speed limit and avoid stunts.  However, this is not the case many times.  Other motorists often don’t pay close attention to motorcyclists, and are at fault for accidents that occur.  In the unfortunate death mentioned earlier, the driver of the motorcycle was obeying the law – it was the negligence of Roles that took his life.

Driving a motorcycle seems to put a motorist at increased risk for accidents in certain instances – for example, when drunk drivers are in the vicinity.  When motorists are impaired, it puts others around them at a higher risk of being involved in an accident.  Since motorcyclists are less protected, they are at a far greater risk of serious injury due to people around them who drive under the influence.

Motorists who drive over the speed limit may not be able to stop soon enough to avoid a crash, especially when weather conditions are dismal.  A motorcyclist is often in greater danger of being killed or severely injured than other motorists if struck by a vehicle traveling at excessive speeds.  While a helmet is always recommended, it cannot protect a motorists from serious injuries.  Many drivers do not obey traffic rules, which place all motorists at a great risk of being involved in a collision which could result in serious injuries.

Some motorists are very aggressive, and feel that motorcycles have no business being on the roads.  This attitude often leads drivers to follow a motorcycle too closely, cut him off in traffic or acting in other aggressive ways that can cause an accident resulting in serious injury or even death. If you are injured, make sure to contact a San Diego personal injury attorney to review your case during a free consultation.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California, and is dedicated to representing personal injury victims, including victims of San Diego drunk driving accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

At the time of the Ventura truck accident, it was not clearly evident who was at fault in the accident.  Since that time, it has been determined by investigators that the pedestrian, Herman, did indeed have the right of way, and that the teen driver was not paying close attention to his actions.  It is a well known fact that teens, as well as other motorists, often eat, fiddle with radio stations and perform other tasks that are not inducive to safe driving practices.

Ventura pedestrian accident lawyers see these types of incidents frequently.  When motorists fail to pay attention to their surroundings, accidents occur.  Cell phones are another huge cause of accidents, and in this particular tragedy there is no information on whether a cell phone was in use at the time.  Recently, driving while talking on cell phones or texting has been a popular subject in the news and other media.

A study was conducted in July by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute which strongly connected the use of cell phones for text messaging while driving and the incidence of accidents.  The study concluded that texting while at the wheel increased the likelihood of an accident by 23 times.  At the end of this month, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will be heading a summit to determine how to effectively deal with the dangers of texting while behind the wheel.

Other than lack of attention by drivers, other things that may cause an accident involving a pedestrian are speeding, driving while under the influence, failing to consider poor weather conditions and failure to yield the right of way.  Drivers, including teen drivers, must make the decision to drive safely, be cautious when nearing an intersection or crosswalk, and be extremely watchful at night or during inclement weather.  Tragic accidents like those in the case of Ms. Herman can often be avoided by taking extra precautions.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California, and is dedicated to representing Ventura personal injury victims, including victims of pedestrian accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.

The husband of the woman driving the SUV has now filed a lawsuit against four of the railroad companies in the Stanislaus County for the California train accident, as well as the county itself. He claims that the railroads neglected to maintain the crossing at Claribel Road and Terminal Avenue, where the accident occurred, and failed to make it safe for vehicles and pedestrians. The man’s lawyers also point out that, although the California Public Utility Commission recommended that Stanislaus County remove the stop sign from this particular crossing in order to make it more safe, the county has failed to do so. In rebuttal, Amtrak has filed a lawsuit against this man, claiming that it was his wife who was entirely at fault in the accident.

For whatever reason, the number of deaths that are occurring in the East Bay area due to railroad crossing accidents in increasing all the time. These accidents involve vehicles much of the time, but pedestrians are becoming particularly prone to injuries and death in these circumstances. Although the accidents are typically the fault of the vehicles or pedestrians involved, there are a number of ways in which railroad companies can create safer crossing areas to avoid these types of accidents and the resultant injuries. One of the most significant ways in which railroad companies can accomplish this goal is by creating greater awareness of the potential danger at railroad crossings. They can also so more to teach residents, especially those in the East Bay area, how to conduct themselves safely while in an area with railroad crossings.

For those with loved ones that have been injured or killed at railroad crossings, it is important for you to seek a personal injury lawyer. It is often difficult and tedious to determine who is at fault when a person is injured or killed at a railroad crossing. The fault could lie with the railroad companies, the city or state governments, or the victim himself. Los Angeles Personal injury lawyers work on these types of cases regularly and are equipped with the experience necessary to determine who is at fault in an accident at a railroad crossing.