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How Senate Bill 1107 Affects Car Insurance Claims
If you’re a California driver, Senator Bill Dodd’s new auto liability insurance reform bill could have a big impact on your life. Signed into law by Governor Newsome on September 28, 2022, Senate Bill 1107 will dramatically increase the minimum levels of auto insurance coverage available for accident victims.
Are Roundabouts Safe?
A roundabout is an alternative to a traditional intersection. Using a roundabout can be confusing because it has no traffic lights or stops signs. Also known as a traffic circle, the traffic in a roundabout flows continuously in a counterclockwise direction.
Roundabouts are common in Europe, and they are growing in popularity across the United States, including in Santa Barbara. Roundabouts reduce traffic congestion, but they can be dangerous for drivers who aren’t used to them.
Tips for Maximizing Your Car Accident Injury Claim
Financial compensation can’t take away the pain, stress, and upset of a serious car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. It can make it easier to receive the medical care you need and ease the stress of being forced to take time away from work because of your injuries. Our experienced Southern California personal injury lawyers can help you maximize your compensation for a car injury claim.
Popped Tires and Liability in Auto Accidents
No driver is a stranger to the concept of a popped tire. As the part of the car that maintains contact with the road, tires are one of the most commonly replaced auto parts. If overused or damaged, they can easily pop and cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. However, even though they are commonplace, there are several different groups you can hold liable for a popped tire. A tire that suddenly pops could easily cause a severe accident, leading to further property damage and serious injuries. When that happens, you would often assume it was the driver’s fault, but it can actually be far more complicated.
Do You Know the Most Dangerous Intersections in Santa Barbara?
When you first learned to drive, getting to an intersection likely seemed like a nightmare. Who had the right of way? When can you make a turn? Will the other drivers stop for you in time? While you may have grown out of this nervousness as you become more experienced on the road, the truth is that intersections, especially in a place as populated as Santa Barbara, are incredibly dangerous.
The Most At-Risk Groups in California Auto Accidents
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) recently released their 2019 traffic report detailing the ways that California’s traffic has improved, as well as the statistics from the year’s traffic collisions. From this document, we are able to get an idea about who is in danger on California’s roads and who should be taking extra precautions in order to keep themselves, and others, safe.
Filing a Claim as “Just” a Passenger
When you picture a car accident, you may assume that you are in the driver seat. However, it is just as likely that you are a passenger who does not have any control over the situation. A passenger can suffer serious injuries in a car collision, particularly when a vehicle is T-boned on the passenger side. If you have been hurt in a car crash when someone else was driving, you are entitled to file a claim for compensation.
As a passenger injured in a car collision, you have a strong claim, as it is clear you were likely not at fault for the accident that caused your injuries. You also have the advantage of being able to recover compensation from the driver of either vehicle involved in the crash. It is essential to seek damages to cover your medical expenses and time away from work, and to compensate you for all your losses, including pain and suffering.
Spring-Cleaning Your Insurance Policy
While many people may be using this time of isolation to catch up on spring-cleaning, it’s also the perfect time to take a closer look at your insurance policy. Specifically, you may want to pay attention to how much uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured (UIM) coverage you have. This important safety net can protect you when a negligent driver’s policy (or lack thereof) fails to cover the full extent of the damages they caused you.
How to Avoid the Dangers of Driver’s Fatigue
The term driver’s fatigue is used to describe when a driver becomes overly tired and has a hard time driving safely. While there are currently no specific laws that prohibit driving when overly tired, if you drive fatigued and subsequently cause an accident, you may be opening yourself up to criminal or civil liability.
Furthermore, according to California Vehicle Code Section 23103 VC, if a tired driver is driving negligently – as in not following the rules of the road – they can be tried for reckless driving.
Will Blind Spots Be a Thing of the Past?
In November 2019, 14-year-old Alaina Gessler won a $25,000 prize for her brilliant and innovative solution for eliminating blind spots on vehicles. Alaina was determined to solve this problem after she noticed how her mother was fearful when driving their SUV, primarily due to the large pillar on the corner of the cab that blocked a significant portion of her mother’s view, creating a blind spot. Though she was unable to drive herself, Alaina understood the hazards associated with blind spots and took it upon herself to solve the problem.