Our car accident lawyers urge everyone that plans to drive long distances — either for pleasure or business — make sure you are rested before your trip.  Drowsy driving leads to hundreds of preventable car accidents every year, which in turn causing serious personal injury and wrongful death.

Driver fatigue found to be a cause of a bus accident that caused five deaths.

According to investigators, drowsy driving played a role in this bus crash that injured the driver and four French tourists. (SOURCE: AP)

A representative for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said that further investigation, including passenger interviews, revealed Egnew was fatigued and may have led him to make the unsafe turn that caused the bus accident and killed four French tourists as well as the driver himself.

Egnew’s drunk-driving test was negative in a preliminary report, and investigators did not find any mechanical problems or design defects in the year-old bus.  Bad weather and road conditions were also ruled out as causes in the fatal crash.

Wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against the Orion Pacific Bus Company by the French tourists who claim they were injured or killed “as a result of negligent handling of the bus by the Orion Pacific bus driver who is the sole cause of the accident.”

If there are causes of car accidents that you can prevent on your own, our California car accident attorneys advise you to take those steps.  By getting enough sleep and having a designated driver, you can prevent auto accidents and save a life every time you’re behind the wheel.

Please contact us for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in San Diego — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585.  Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review.  No fee if no recovery.

Report: Drowsy Driving A Cause In Fatal Bus Accident is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Our Alpine accident attorneys know that automobile accidents aren’t just tragic, but they can be quite horrifying, to say the least.  Such was the case as reported in the San Diego Union Tribune of a head-on collision that occurred on Interstate-8, trapping two motorists on the side of the road in East County.

This auto accident took place on Sunday around 9 p.m. when a Westbound driver was speeding at 75 mph on the I-8 in a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina when the driver lost control of the car for some unknown reason.  The Lumina then slid off the south side of I-8, through an unpaved divide, and into the eastbound lane of traffic.

That, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer Brian Pennings, is when the head-on car crash took place, creating a direct impact on a 2007 Honda Accord while also hitting a second car as well.  The 66-year-old Lumina driver and the 27-year-old Honda motorist were both trapped in their vehicles until authorities could get them out.  A helicopter transported the Lumina driver to a hospital for medical treatment of her broken ankle and internal injuries.

For the car accident attorneys at our law firm, this is an instance where we want to look at the crash from all angles and show you ways to avoid accidents such as this one.  Though the causation has not been discovered, here are our attorney’s thoughts:

This accident happened at night time and driving in the dark can be dangerous due reduced visibility.

• Possible solution: when you can, avoid night driving and travel during daylight hours and turn on your headlights when the sun starts to go down instead of when it has already set.

The speed of the Lumina was approximately 75 mph.

• Possible solution: even if the speed limit displays a higher number than usual, it probably doesn’t hurt to take it a little slower rather than faster, especially at night time. Remember, that number is only telling you the maximum speed allwoed by law and you don’t have to necessarily go that fast.

9 p.m. is the time when most people are ready to go to bed and drowsy-driving can start to happen.

• Possible solution: if you are tired, don’t push yourself to try and make it home. Pull off to a safe area, like a rest stop or a gas station and close your eyes.  A little nap can refresh you and get you in the right frame of mind for driving.

Our personal injury firm would rather see you and your family safe and auto accident free rather than in the hospital and needing our car accident lawyer’s help.  Crashes can be terrifying, but being prepared for the worst can help you stay in calm if you do find yourself in an accident.

If you were injured and believe that you deserve compensation, then call our bilingual law offices right away at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced Alpine car accident attorney and find out how we can help you.  We look forward to providing good advice for your case.  There is no fee if no recovery.

Your Take

What can you do to stay safe while driving at night?  Do you feel it is safe to drive in the day time and why?

Two Trapped After Head-On Car Accident East Of Alpine is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released information regarding the investigation into the crash.  Their information concluded the driver, Roberto Garcia, fell asleep at the wheel, then drifted off of U.S. Route 59 near Victoria, Texas.  The bus was then hit by a pickup truck.

Greyhound buses like these and other passenger buses have come under scrutiny by the National Transportation Safety Board because of the investigation into a January 2008 bus accident. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Our car accident lawyers want to remind all drivers — those who commute and those who get paid to drive — that getting enough sleep before you drive is extremely important.  Drowsy driving can be just as hazardous as drunk driving because both cause feelings of fatigue and a loss of focus.  Truck drivers and commercial bus drivers are especially vulnerable to driver fatigue because some drivers have to drive all day and all night to get to a destination at a specific time.

The National Transportation Safety Board called on other federal agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the Federal Motor Coach Safety Administration to communicate better efforts to weed out buses and other coaches that don’t meet U.S. standards of safety.

“When we looked at the specific chain of events that led to this tragic accident, we also found numerous holes in the federal regulatory environment that allows a non-compliant motorcoach to be registered and operated on U.S. roadways,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.

Our car accident attorneys believe that all government agencies need to do everything in their power to prevent fatal car accidents.  If one agency believes that steps need to be taken to solidify driver and passenger safety, then all other agencies should cooperate and make things better for you and the other drivers on the road.

Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585.  Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review.  No fee if no recovery.

Agency Calls For Changes After Fatal Bus Accident is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

N.C. State football player Nate Irving was injured in a car accident.

Irving is now recovering from the personal injuries the car crash caused and is charged with reckless driving as it was presumed he fell asleep while driving.  Driver fatigue is a major cause of car accidents as drowsy drivers are unable to adequately perceive, react and respond to situations on the road.

Our car accident lawyers want to warn you about the dangers of drowsy driving.  If you’re on the road, and you start to feel as if you are dozing off, pull over.  Call a friend and have them pick you up and get your car in the morning after a full night of rest.  If there’s another licensed driver in the car, have them drive.  Sleeping in your own bed is much more comfortable than sleeping in a hospital bed after a car accident.

The hospital Irving was taken to after the car accident said that he was in good condition after surgery.  Irving was hospitalized with a broken leg and a collapsed lung after running his vehicle off the road at 4:40 a.m.

It’s unknown if Irving will be able to play this season after sustaining numerous personal injuries.  The junior was an honorable mention all-Atlantic Coast Conference player last year despite missing one-third of the season because of injuries.

We as car accident attorneys, know that the risk of auto accidents goes up at night as car driver fatigue becomes one of the major issues at hand.  Luckily Mr. Irving only suffered minor personal injuries as a result of drowsy driving but more than less drowsy driving leads to significant injuries such as whiplash or traumatic brain injuries.  Be careful.  Driving a requires your full attention and the simplest thing such as pulling over when you are sleepy could prevent a car accident.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced car accident lawyer.  We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.

College Football Player Recovering From Car Accident Injuries is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Pilots who do not sleep enough can cause the same event a driver can without sleep: a plane crash or car accident that leads to personal injury or wrongful death.

The pilot of a plane flying to Buffalo may have been fatigued causing wrongful deaths in a plane crash.

Our car accident attorneys know fatigue can lead to car accidents that can cause personal injury or wrongful death.  Drowsy driving leads to hundreds of car accidents every year.

The trucking industry can be responsible for some of these types of auto accidents.  Truckers can sometimes work long shifts (sometimes overnight), and these truckers are vulnerable to driving without enough rest or falling asleep at the wheel.

Car accidents or semi-truck crashes can lead to personal injury like whiplash or traumatic brain injuries like concussions.  Wrongful death can occur in severe auto accidents.

Federal investigators have a reason to believe fatigue played a role in the Buffalo crash.  The first officer flew all night from her home in Seattle to Newark where the Buffalo flight started.  The pilot flew in from Florida and showed signs of fatigue on the cockpit recorder.

The airline industry has been hesitant to change the rules that govern flight and hours, but because of the recent Buffalo crash, the Federal Aviation Administration may be more willing to change their regulations.

Doing this would make pilots more rested while they are in the air transporting hundreds of commuters every day.  These men and women are responsible for many lives, and they should take every step necessary to ensure their safety … including getting the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep every day.

Our car accident lawyers believe responsibility of drivers to not get behind the wheel of a car is just as important as pilots getting behind the controls of an airplane.  Both methods of travel are used by millions of Americans every year, so everyone must do their part to ensure safe travel without personal injury or wrongful death.

Please contact us for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced car accident lawyer — in either English or Spanish — at (800) 655-6585 or click here to submit your case for a Free Review.

Possible Pilot Fatigue Leads To Wrongful Death is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Each year, over 60,000 people suffer a wrongful death and 100,000 are personally injured in pedestrian accidents in the United States.  Car, truck, taxicab and motorcycle drivers are usually to blame for pedestrian accidents, but oftentimes it is distracted or drunk drivers (DUI) that cause pedestrian accidents.  This is not alright with our pedestrian accident attorneys.

Car accidents were the 10th-leading cause of death in the world in 2004, behind lung cancer and ahead of diabetes, and they are on track to become the fifth-leading cause by 2030.

The report found that high-income countries, such as the United States and most of the nations in Europe, have about 52 percent of registered cars but only 8.5 percent of car accident deaths.  Shockingly low income countries have 9 percent of the world’s cars but account for almost 42 percent of traffic deaths.

No matter where you live pedestrian accidents result in the wrongful deaths of many people each year.  In addition to causing wrongful deaths, a pedestrian accident can cause a loved one or you personal injury and pain and suffering.

Our pedestrian accident attorneys know that auto accidents happen, but there are always ways of preventing them in the future.  Car drivers can be as careful as possible but still never see a pedestrian.  The easiest way to avoid a pedestrian accident is to make sure that car drivers can see you.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer.  We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.

Pedestrian Accidents A Leading Cause Of Wrongful Death is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

When people drive while they are tired, drowsy or sleepy, this is commonly referred to as driver fatigue or drowsy driving.  This is a major cause of car accidents, since drowsy drivers are unable to adequately perceive, react and respond to situations on the road.

Our car accident attorneys understand the dangers of drowsy driving, and have handled numerous cases caused by driver fatigue.  Fatigued car drivers often have a difficult time perceiving and processing information.

In the United States alone, the National Sleep Foundation estimates that around 20% of car accidents may involve fatigued drivers.  Car accidents that occur as a result of a drowsy driver behind the wheel can cause a loved one or you numerous personal injuries or even wrongful death.

The new proposed rules, and the speedy timetable for implementing it, are an indication that, the Aviation Administration considers commuter pilot fatigue to be among the agency’s top safety concerns.

Fatigue is also a top safety concern when driving an automobile as a drowsy driver is more likely to get into a car accident and cause a personal injury to a loved one or you.  The risk of auto accidents goes up at night as car driver fatigue becomes one of the major issues at hand.

Our car accident lawyers believe that a well-rested driver is a safe driver.  If you feel sleepy or if your eye-lids begin to feel heavy it is safer to pull off the road than to continue driving.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced automobile accident lawyer.  We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.

New Laws To Prevent Drowsy Driving Auto Accidents is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Not getting enough sleep frequently can cause personal injury such as cardiovascular (heart vessel) disease, diabetes and obesity.  Lack of sleep also diminishes cognitive function, memory and the immune system as well as leading to more than 100,000 car accidents every year.

As car accident lawyers, we know the importance of the right amount of sleep.  Drowsy driving can cause car crashes that lead to many different personal injuries.  A car accident can cause whiplash, spinal cord injury resulting in paralysis (i.e. paraplegia & quadriplegia) and traumatic brain injury like concussions.

Getting the right amount of sleep every night can prevent these car accidents and increase your level of health in your daily life reducing the possibility of personal injury.

A lot of people do not know that time in bed does not mean quality sleep.  Many people do not get enough of the sleep phases that restore body functions.  REM, the Rapid Eye Movement phase where dreaming occurs, is important for memory, learning, creativity, problem solving and emotional balance.

Deep, or slow-wave sleep, when the body releases human growth hormone, is critical for development and physical repair.  Not getting this or any other type of sleep can lead to personal injury or wrongful death if you doze off at the wrong time.

As car accident lawyers, we like to remind drivers to always get a proper night of rest.  Not only will you wake up fresh and ready to handle a busy work day, but it can prevent hazardous situations (like car accidents) that can result in personal injury or wrongful death.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced car accident attorney. We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.

More Sleep To Prevent Car Accidents is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Lack of sleep can cause drowsy driving which can lead to car crashes because the driver lacks complete focus and concentration.  Our car accident attorneys are worried by this new information because of the hazards that come with fatigued drivers.

The information states sales of Tylenol PM, a medication that combines a sleeping pill with a pain reliever, have risen 16 percent compared to this same period last year.  Sales of the same pill have risen 6 percent every year at the end of the sales month on March 22.

One of the side effects of the drug includes severe dizziness.  A person taking this medication can have this lingering side effect and get into a car with diminished concentration and potentially cause a car crash that leads to personal injury or wrongful death.

Another notable medication available over-the-counter, NyQuil, has the same effects.  With both of these over-the-counter medications, a lasting feeling of dizziness and grogginess exists if the person taking the medication does not get a complete night of sleep.  These side effects lead to drivers getting into their cars with instincts and coordination not as sharp which can result in car accidents.

According to the National Institute of Health, 30 percent of Americans have trouble sleeping and 10 percent have some form of insomnia.  Our car accident attorneys believe it is our responsibility to communicate this information effectively to prevent car crashes as a result of drowsy driving.  Drivers should always be completely alert before the car gets turned on.

Please contact us for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney — we speak both English and Spanish — at (800) 655-6585.  Click here and you may also submit your case for a Free Review.  No fee if no recovery.

Rising Sales In Sleep Aid Can Create Dangerous Drivers And Car Accidents is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

Related posts:

1. Senior Drivers: 3 easy tips to avoid car accidents and stay safe on the road We recently reported on driving tips for teenage drivers, but...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Shockingly, at least one in three respondents reported that they had experienced swerving of the car and near car accident situations while driving in a drowsy state.

Our car accident lawyers believe these car accident statistics — although alarming – are actually not that surprising.  Drowsy driving is one of the major causes of car accidents, and yet in California like in so many other states, there hasn’t been any kind of attention paid similar to drunk driving, which is equally hazardous.

According to the auto accident study, the risks of driving in a drowsy state are highest in adults of the age group 15-24.  These young people are responsible for 50 percent of all drowsy driving-related auto accidents that occur every year.  The lifestyle that these people live is partly to blame.  These are young men and women who have exceedingly busy work and social lives. Very often, life for these people just becomes an endless whirl of work, socializing, and meeting friends.

Besides young adults, who work and party hard, there are other people who may be more prone to lack of sleep.  People who work different shifts throughout the week for instance, may miss out on essential hours of sleep.  Those who suffer from sleep apnea – a condition in which the airways become constricted during sleep, leading to the person waking up several times a night – can also suffer from lack of sufficient sleep.

People who are overworked and constantly stressed may also have difficulty sleeping.  Experts recommend that people who cannot get a full 8 hours of sleep at night grab power naps after lunch to feel refreshed.

Car accidents caused by drowsy driving are completely preventable, which makes it even more imperative that we begin to focus more on this silent killer.  Avoid driving at times when your body’s natural rhythm begins to slow down, causing eyelids to droop.  The hours between 1 and 4 in the morning and 1 and 4 in the afternoon are especially dangerous because the body’s natural ability to rejuvenate itself is at its lowest.

Our car accident attorneys believe that it is one of the most easily preventable on the road killer there is.  As long as we all refrain from driving drowsily, thousands and possibly even tens of thousands of lives could be saved every year from wrongful death car accidents.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or you can click here for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney.  We have a large bilingual staff that can assist you in either English or Spanish.  No fee if no recovery.

Preventing Drowsy Driving Car Accidents is a post from: San Diego Accident Blog

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.