High Winds.

High winds are an overlooked danger to drivers and cause many crashes out on the road each year, making them one of the top causes of car accidents. High winds are usually defined as sustained winds of at least 40 mph or gusts over 58 mph. They cause drivers to lose control of their cars as they can be pushed off the road.

Drivers that live in “Tornado Alley” in the South and Mid-Western states are in very high risk areas for extreme winds, but any area could be in danger of high wind caused auto accidents.

Our firm’s experienced car accident lawyers would like to give you some helpful hints to keep in mind for driving in high winds:

1. Be on the lookout for tornado warnings. Tornadoes produce high winds sustained well over 100 mph which can toss cars for several miles up into the air. Unless you are a storm chaser, we recommend that you drive in the other direction of a twister and seek immediate shelter.

2. Maintain a safe distance from other cars. By staying as far away from other cars as possible, you can avoid an auto accident if another car is blown in your direction. Remember that larger automobiles are usually more susceptible to being blown over.

3. Never drive over downed power lines. Even though they have been knocked over by the wind, these high-voltage wires may still be alive and very dangerous.

4. Avoid driving through water. Water may appear shallow, but it may be quite deep, and the current, with the help of high winds, may be able to carry your car away.

5. It is also important to be aware of a sudden calm after a period of high winds. You may have found your way into the eye (or the middle) of the storm. Just because it is quiet does not mean the storm is over.

If you keep these safety recommendations in mind, you should be able to avoid high wind-related car accidents. There is a still a chance that you can get into a car accident if you drive in a risky situation like this. When in doubt, avoid driving in these dangerous conditions. If there is no way around driving in high winds, keep in mind these safety tips as they may help you arrive safely at your destination.

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If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by a police chase then call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. Since 1992, our San Diego law office has been geared primarily towards auto accident claims. We know how the insurance companies work, so let our insider knowledge help you in your time of need.

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[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.