“Learn from other’s mistakes” – the age-old saying that still rings true today. But if you’re a parent, you may already know that teens insist on learning from experience. Often times, though, there are lessons in life that could never be afforded to learn from experience, such as a DUI car accident.

But what if you could teach kids about the dangers of drunken driving without the negative repercussions?

Students at Sweetwater High School in San Diego were afforded that exact opportunity when they were exposed to a horrifying accident outside of their school campus. Of course, the accident was fortunately staged, but students were unaware of it until they were told later in the day.

The scene was convincing. A teacher was sprawled on the hood of a white SUV, simulating a typical accident scene when students choose to drink and drive – a sobering reminder to all students that DUI car accidents are real and deadly.

Firefighters and law enforcement officers were also on scene of the simulated accident.

The program is called “Every 15 Minutes” and aims to spread drunken driving awareness. The program got its name from statistics: somebody tragically dies of an alcohol-related car accident every 15 minutes.

The goal of the program is to remind teens of the real consequences of drunken driving, especially during the summer months as teens use the roadways more often.

OTHER WAYS TO KEEP YOUR TEEN SAFE

There’s no doubt that programs like these help spread awareness about a critically-important subject: teen drunken driving. When it comes to ongoing teen safety, here’s what you can do to help keep your teen accident-free.

Parent-Teen Contract

Your teenager needs to earn his or her privilege to drive – not only with the DMV but with you as well. A parent-teen contract ensures that you and your child have a firm, indisputable, no-wiggle-room agreement in place. As the parent, you can establish policies and curfew times for your teen including those that center on drinking, texting or racing.

Text-Free App

A quick Google search will render hundreds of smartphone apps that will disable texting while driving. Make sure to install one on your child’s phone to ensure that cell phone use is never an issue when he or she is behind the wheel.

Defensive Driving Courses

Teens must practice with an adult for a prescribed number of hours in order to qualify for the DMV driver’s test. But it’s an excellent idea to consider buying additional defensive driving courses for your teen since more practice behind the wheel can significantly reduce your child’s risk for getting into a car accident. Or, make it a point to conduct your own driving lessons well beyond the minimally-required amount required by the DMV.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

Driver’s tests required by the California Department of Motor Vehicles ensure that an individual is ready to drive. It isn’t by chance that if you fail the test, you are probably not yet ready to navigate our roadways. But despite this so-called common knowledge, some teens that don’t pass their driver’s test still get behind the wheel – it’s completely dangerous and can result undoubtedly in a car accident, pedestrian injury or even fatality.

One teen is learning that reality as she copes with a recent car accident in Rolando, San Diego – a neighborhood just slightly north of El Cajon – after she accidentally lost control over her vehicle, hitting a mother and two children.

The teen, needless to say, is distraught over the accident according to reports at NBC 7 San Diego.

Authorities say Shanisha Smith, 18, an unlicensed teen driver, was reaching for a coffee cup that fell into the foot area of the driver’s seat, ending up beneath the foot pedals of the vehicle. This nightmarish situation resulted in a pedestrian accident as the teen’s BMW careened into a sidewalk, hitting several people including a mother and two children.

Fortunately, there were no fatalities. As for injuries, one of the children – a 6-year-old female – sustained a fractured femur and was treated at a local hospital.

The teen’s uncle spoke to San Diego’s NBC 7.

“She can’t sleep this morning. She was having chest pains. She’s saddened. She’s terribly saddened,” Brian Ritchy, Smith’s uncle, told the news source.

There’s no doubt that an accident like this can truly change the teen’s perspective on safe driving.

“She’s not the bubbly little girl we know. She’s just sitting there, tearing up. She’s more scared than anything,” Ritchey said.“She feels sorry for them and wants to do something for them. At least buy them a new stroller,” he added.

Smith cooperated with officials and was cited for driving without a license.

According to Ritchey on behalf of NBC 7, “Smith didn’t take her driving test seriously, and failed the exam not once but two or three times before the accident.”

The DMV Driver’s Test: Info You Need to Know

Passing the DMV driver’s test is no easy feat – but you MUST pass the test before you can drive. And even then, if you are a young driver, it’s important to stay prudent and continue to drive slowly and safely, especially in the first few years with your license.

The DMV wants you to pass your test. It is their goal to ensure all drivers are properly licensed before getting behind the wheel through driver competency.

Here are some ideas for preparing for your driver’s test – and not only for your test, but as you continue to drive. It’s also what the DMV will look for when you’re ready to take your driver’s test.

Practice with a parent or guardian. One of the main reasons people fail their test is because they haven’t practiced enough. Always practice with another licensed adult or guardian. Remember, you must complete at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training with at least 10 hours of night driving before taking the test. It doesn’t hurt to practice even more if you can. Take practice tests with your adult supervisor. This will give you some idea of how the real test will go when you’re ready to take it.

Steer and accelerate smoothly. Practice the fine art of the accelerator pedal and the steering wheel. Drive slowly, and practice turning gently with the supervision of an adult at all times. Avoid jerking the vehicle around if at all possible. Keep fine-tuning your skills until the car ride is smooth and error-free.

Drive the posted speed limits. Don’t even think about going any faster than the posted speed limit. Your adult supervisor will ensure that you are driving at a safe speed. Don’t drive “with the flow of traffic.”

Defensive driving skills. One of the best skills to master while behind the wheel is being a defensive driver. Look ahead, scan the road, and be cognizant of other drivers. Check your mirrors frequently and always use your signals to indicate a turn or lane change.

For more information on the California DMV driver’s test, click here.

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About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

When it comes to indoor safety, detectors can be truly life-saving. Most all households have smoke detectors – an essential safety device to prevent fire accidents. But did you know that only 1 in 10 homes have a carbon monoxide detector according to Cal-Fire? Incredibly, many households go without essential protection against one of the leading causes of accidental death in the United States – carbon monoxide, the silent killer.

According to Cal-Fire, an average of 500 people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning with an nearly 20,000 people visiting emergency rooms for injuries resulting from carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is a serious risk to all households since it can be caused by stoves, furnaces and generators – common appliances used in everyday homes across the United States.  It is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that can injure or kill a person in very little time. Injuries can vary depending on length of exposure and personal resistance, but harm can range from nausea, vomiting, and headache to the more severe brain and nerve damage, and even wrongful death.

Carbon Monoxide Accident Claims Local Lives

Just north of San Diego in Fresno, Calif., two men are dead, with one woman hospitalized in critical condition due to carbon monoxide poisoning after running a generator Tuesday in an empty warehouse. According to reports, the warehouse was a safehaven for the homeless in the area.

After allowing a group of three to take shelter in the warehouse, Darrell Pretzr, landlord, said he checked on them Tuesday morning only to discover a catastrophe inside.

“I looked in back and I saw [one of the men] lying down on the ground in the back,” Pretzr said. “Went back and I touched him and shook him and he was stiff. I knew he was gone.”

Pretzr told news channel KMPH Fox 26 he instructed the group to keep the generator outside after PG&E recently turned off power supply to the warehouse building.

California Law: Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Did you know that as of January 2013, carbon monoxide detectors are required in multi-unit residences like condos and apartments? Be sure to check with your landlord or apartment manager to get a carbon monoxide detector for your unit as soon as possible.

For homeowners in California, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act (Senate Bill – SB 183) says you should already have a carbon monoxide detector installed.  If you don’t already have a one, carbon monoxide detectors are relatively inexpensive to buy, ranging from $20 to $40. When installing your carbon monoxide detector, be sure to:

• Install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home
• Place additional detectors around sleeping areas
• Install a carbon monoxide detector near your garage area

For more information on carbon monoxide safety, visit CA.gov.

If you have been injured in a carbon monoxide accident, you may be entitled to legal rights. To understand what options you may have, call us at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

The old saying goes, “better safe than sorry.” One dog lover has taken that sentiment to the next level after petitioning for legislation that would require car safety harnesses for all pets if passed.

Although the bill has yet to make its way into California, lawmakers in the state of New Jersey have to make a decision on whether it will be illegal to ride with unsecured pets.

In an interview with ABC News 7, pet activist Lindsay Wolko explains her motivations behind pet safety.

“It was horrific the sounds that came out of her, as a consumer I was furious,” she said, referring to a car accident that caused her dog Maggie to become trapped in a so-called vehicle safety harness.

“She went sailing in the car and what I didn’t realize at the time was that the tether had wrapped around her back legs and when she went flying it stopped her and she was hogtied form the back,” Wolko said.

After the car accident, Wolko decided to take action, and she began to independently test dog safety equipment using an animal crash test dummy.

“We had a 100 percent failure rate on these products to protect both the consumer and the pet,” she said.

That’s no surprise considering that safety harnesses are completely unregulated by any government organization.

While the bill continues its circulation in New Jersey, Wolko is testing other pet products for their safety under her non-profit company, “Center for Pet Safety.”

“With my dogs, they just mean so much to me they’ve brought me so much joy that they deserve the work that we’re doing and I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile now,” she said.

Loose objects inside the car

Any loose object inside a vehicle can be dangerous – even if it’s a dog. Anything from CDs to umbrellas to purses can cause serious injury if you get into an accident because loose objects can fly into you or your passengers resulting in bodily harm.

According to a study from the University of Irvine, researchers found that of 12,513 children were injured by a loose object within the car’s cabin in a car accident, and more than 3,000 collided with loose objects, other passengers or both.

Another study in Canada found that “if you brake suddenly while traveling at [30 mph], groceries in the back seat will hit you with the same force as if they had fallen from a two-story building.”

Imagine the kind of injury that could cause to you or a child. It goes without saying that objects inside your vehicle – a pet or otherwise – can cause severe injury.

When it comes to keeping your car tidy, consider the following:

• Use bins to store your multiple, small items. Clear plastic bins with lids can safely be stored in the back seat at the passenger’s feet. Make sure to use a bin with a lid at all times. A clear bin can help you locate important items faster.
• Use mesh bags as alternatives. A mesh bag serves as the same concept as a bin, but can be a better option for items like shoes or backpacks. Look for mesh bags with elastic straps that allow the bag to secure to the back of a car seat.
• Install a back seat barrier. If your car design allows for it, get a back seat barrier. Prevent objects or a pet from flying into you, the windshield, or another passenger.
• Always use a pet carrier. Until safety harnesses are proven safe, it’s best to keep your pet in a pet carrier when traveling. Store the pet carrier in the front at the passenger’s feet if possible, or strapped in the backseat if you have a large breed.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC

If you have been injured in a car accident, a personal injury attorney at our firm can represent you with no out-of-pocket costs required by you. We will answer all of your legal questions free of charge, so give us a call at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation today.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

by Michael Pines

A San Marcos man is in critical condition after crashing his Lamborghini in what officials are calling a drunk driving accident on I-15. Officials say the 35-year-old man was traveling at speeds of up to 100 mph just before his car crashed near Mission Road.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident happened at 11:20 pm last Saturday. When the driver lost control over his vehicle, it collided into a center median, causing it to split in half and burst into flames. The man sustained serious injury including burns to the face and other areas of the body. He was immediately airlifted to UCSD hospital where he was treated, and where he currently remains.

There’s no doubt that accidents like these involving alcohol and high speed driving can be avoided. It goes without saying that drunk driving is irresponsible and reckless – so, the question is, why do people do it?

Why do people drink and drive?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), people who drink and drive certainly do not plan to. But, it happens nonetheless. The study concluded that social and environmental influencers ultimately lead people to drink and drive.

“Heavy drinking often arises in response to subtle overt encouragement from friends,” the study said. “For example, hosts may give the impression that they expect over consumption and do not appreciate moderation. Or, friends may promote heavy drinking to feel more comfortable in their own over consumption.”

The study added that, “about one fifth of the decisions to drink and drive come from within the individual.”

If you want to make a change, and help stop DUIs, you can:

-          Act as a responsible host. Do not encourage friends to overindulge and always prepare for some guests who may need assistance in getting home. Having cab rides prepared ahead of time is a good idea.

-          Cut off drinks an hour before the party is set to end. By serving non-alcoholic drinks before the party wraps up, you can help your guests reduce the temptation to over-indulge before driving home.

-          Serve food alongside alcoholic beverages. Help your guests get full on good food, not alcohol.

And, if it comes down to a decision from within, check out these stories on Faces of Drunk Driving for a dose of reality. It’s a sobering reminder when people realize just how dangerous drunk driving can be. Please – let’s work together to keep the road safe. Don’t drink and drive.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC

Michael Pines is a personal injury lawyer in San Diego with over 20 years of experience in DUI accident injuries. As an Accident & Injury Prevention Expert, Mike has partnered with other safety experts to help stop senseless accidents and injury. If you have been injured in a DUI car accident, call our offices at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation. You may be entitled to financial compensation, and there are no fees unless we win. Call us today.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.