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The PCH: One of the Deadliest Roads in America?
The scenic vistas that can be viewed from the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) are among the most beautiful anywhere in the world. Visitors flock from all over the country and from beyond our nation’s borders to see the view from the PCH. However, in poor conditions it can be among the most dangerous roads in California, including where it passes through Santa Barbara.
Drive Safely: Look for Poor Road Design and Conditions
Driving safely does not just mean maintaining control of your vehicle and traveling at reasonable speeds. It also means remaining aware of road conditions that can put you at risk. One of the best ways to avoid accidents is through defensive driving, which means you need to remain aware of your surroundings, anticipate potential dangers, and act responsibly to stay safe.
Tips to Stay Safe on Wet Roads
Driving in rainy and wet conditions is far more dangerous than many California drivers appreciate. We are not accustomed to driving in the rain. People often fail to show the proper caution in inclement weather, which leads to collisions.
By keeping a few simple tips in mind, you can greatly reduce your chances of striking another vehicle on the road. Driving defensively is always a good idea, but when the roads are slippery, it becomes even more important. Remember to:
Do You Know the Dangers of Dehydration (and Driving)?
While the dangers of driving under the effects of alcohol or sleep deprivation are well documented and publicized, there is another risk factor that is rarely talked about: dehydration.
Be Careful When Driving Around Santa Barbara
Driving anywhere in California presents numerous dangers, though Santa Barbara offers some specific risks that you should keep in mind. Be especially careful when driving on many of the narrow and steep roads that traverse the mountainsides and hills around the area. In particular, watch out for “Painted Cave Road” as the lack of guardrails and frequent use by cyclists can make it especially dangerous.
Calling an Uber on New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is often a night when people indulge themselves with food and alcoholic drinks. Often times people who have consumed alcohol think that they can drive safely, which often leads to dangerous situations for all. We absolutely discourage drinking and driving. Instead, please consider other designated driver options for your safe return home.
Driving Safely During the Holidays
Holiday shoppers in Santa Barbara County probably have checklists, gift lists, and shopping lists in their minds as they head to the malls and shopping centers. With other things on their minds they may not be driving safely. Some practical tips to keep drivers safe during the holiday season include:
Does Poor Driving Make Me Liable For a Crash?
In California, like many other states, liability for a vehicle crash really comes down to whether a driver acted negligently and to what extent such actions or inactions contributed to the accident. Unsafe or negligent behavior does not necessarily make someone liable for damages after an accident, and sometimes there are mitigating factors that alter how much someone is at fault. Ultimately, it depends on the specifics of a case and an experienced California vehicle and personal injury lawyer can help you understand your situation.
While dangerous driving habits often contribute to an accident, they may not be a direct cause and therefore do not necessarily establish negligence. For example, driving at excessive speeds and being distracted by texting are both very dangerous habits that can certainly cause a crash with serious consequences. On the other hand, if someone is speeding and another driver swerves suddenly into that person’s vehicle, then it may be hard to prove that the high rate of speed contributed to the cause of the accident.
When It Comes to Teen Driving Habits, the Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree
Teens are always an easy target when it comes to talk about unsafe or distracted drivers.
Of course, the statistics seem to bear this out. In 2011, teens accounted for 10 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report in 2012 that indicated that the risk of a 16 to 17 year old driver being killed in a crash increased with each additional teen passenger. The risk actually quadruples with three or more passengers.
And teens continue to have the highest crash rate of any group.
But, according to research studies also conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teenagers learn by example and the more parents work with their teens on driving before they go solo, the better and safer those teen drivers will be. Parents teaching teens safe driving techniques in a wide variety of situations tends to rub off.
Two injured in Downtown Santa Barbara Collision
The Santa Barbara automobile accident attorneys at the Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand have learned that a sedan and a taxi cab full of tourists from Florida collided in downtown Santa Barbara, leaving two injured and some questions as to who was at fault.
The accident happened at Haley and Santa Barbara Streets when one of the vehicles allegedly ran a red light. What is definitively known is that a sedan plowed into the driver side door of the taxicab, leaving the taxi driver trapped until firefighters using extricating tools were able to free him from the wreckage.
One of the people in the cab told a Keyt.com reporter that the oncoming vehicle hit the taxi hard. “I saw it coming, “ she said, “but I thought we were not going to get hit.”
While the trapped driver first told rescue workers that he wasn’t injured, he complained of pain after he was extricated and firefighters put him in a c-spine brace as a precaution. He was then taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment. The driver of the other vehicle suffered only minor injuries.
The kinds of automobile accidents on Santa Barbara’s roads and highways are as diverse as the vehicles involved in them. That’s why it’s important to seek legal representation from a law firm that understands that each kind of accident is unique, and each may involve a different type of negligence and cause a different degree of harm.
The Law Office of Renée J. Nordstrand has the legal team with the resources and knowledge you will need to recover fair compensation for your injuries after an automobile accident. To learn more about your legal rights, contact our office in Santa Barbara at (805) 962-2022 or fill out our online contact form today.