Author: wmlawyers

It is rare for people to walk away unscathed after a highway car wreck, but crashes that involve entire families are especially tragic for survivors. This is even more devastating when car accidents leave young children behind without parents, which could very well change the course of their entire lives. A recent wreck in California demonstrates how a single accident can have terrible consequences.

According to authorities, two vehicles were involved in an crash on Highway 4 in Contra Costa County. A van carrying six family members was traveling westbound on the highway when an eastbound truck crossed the center line. The van tried to swerve to miss the truck, but was unsuccessful and the two vehicles collided. The van landed upside down in a canal beside the highway.

A bystander saw the accident, and helped the passengers out of the submerged van. Three children, ages 10, nine and two and a 24-year-old cousin were all taken to a nearby medical center with minor injuries. The mother and father of the children perished from injuries sustained in the crash. In addition, the truck driver suffered major injuries and was taken to a hospital.

According to a GoFundMe page, the oldest child of the couple stated that the children’s lives “were changed forever” due to this accident and blamed it on the truck driver falling asleep at the wheel. The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the cause at this time. Alcohol has not been listed as a contributing factor for the wreck.

After catastrophic car accidents such as this, it is vital that survivors and family members seek legal representation quickly. The surviving victims of such a terrible wreck may need financial support for mounting medical bills due to injuries sustained and potential lost wages. Likewise, the family of a deceased victim may need compensation to defray funeral costs or the loss of a financially providing family member. An experienced California legal representative can explain the options available.

Source: Martinez, Ca. Patch, “Martinez parents killed in crash identified; GoFundMe account set up to help children“, Dave Colby, March 17, 2016

So far, the "Google car" has enjoyed a seemingly impossible safety record. The company was long able to boast that its self-driving cars had never caused an accident while the software was in control. The only accidents caused by Google's vehicles occurred when humans had taken over.

Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be the case. According to Google, one of its autonomous vehicles recently caused a minor accident during road testing in Mountain View. The car reportedly tried to change lanes, and in doing so, sideswiped a public bus in a very-low-speed collision (just 2 mph). Although the accident was minor, it nonetheless raises concerns about the future of self-driving vehicles.

The accident seems to have been an issue of competing safety priorities. Google said that the vehicle sensed sand bags that had been placed around a storm drain, and changed lanes in response. It is unclear why the vehicle did not detect the bus as it moved over.

Although human drivers have a horrendous safety record, most would have no difficultly interpreting and responding to situations like this. It is unclear if computers can be programmed to make these higher-level judgments (even though they may be more reliable than human drivers most of the time). Google has taken the minor accident as a learning opportunity, saying that it was "a tricky set of circumstances that’s helped us improve an important skill for navigating similar roads."

No one yet knows how self-driving or partially self-driving vehicles will impact road safety overall. In the meantime, incidents like this car accident will provide researchers with valuable information.

Train travel is a relatively popular form of transportation across California, including here in the Bay Area. Whether using light rail to commute to and from work or more traditional trains to travel throughout the state, trains can be a good alternative to the congestion of automobile travel.

Unfortunately, when train accidents occur, they can be devastating. A single train accident often results in more injuries (and a higher likelihood of fatalities) than a comparable car accident. Earlier this week, Californians were given a grim reminder of the dangers trains sometimes encounter.

On Monday evening, a commuter train in Northern California derailed in a location about 45 miles east of San Francisco, sending its lead car into a creek. Of the 214 passengers aboard the Altamont Corridor Express train, nine suffered injuries.

According to news reports, the derailment occurred when the train struck a tree that was on the tracks. A mudslide appears to be what left the tree there in the first place.

Perhaps the most harrowing aspect of this accident was that the train's lead car plunged into Alameda Creek. Emergency responders reportedly "battled currents throughout the night to pull people from the car."

As far as train accidents go, the derailment earlier this week was a relatively minor incident. It could have been far worse. But even when train accidents are minor, injured passengers can be left with expensive medical bills and long periods of recovery, both of which have financial consequences. In such cases, they may wish to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney about their rights and legal options.

California is the nation's most populous state. Visitors and residents alike are drawn to the Golden State for its spectacular scenery and attractions.

Unfortunately, California's popularity and population density contribute to the high number of motor vehicle accidents that occur here. Let's take a look at some auto accident statistics.

Accident Frequency

California's fatal motor vehicle accident frequency is .92 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. There are 7.9 fatalities per 100,000 population.

Auto Collisions

In 2014, there were 162,711 auto collisions resulting in injuries:

• 49,388 were caused by speed
• 11, 472 were caused by drunk driving
• 2,473 were caused by trucks

In 2014, a total of 230,853 individuals were injured in auto accidents.

• 173,305 were vehicle occupants
• 13,147 were pedestrians
• 13,038 were bicyclists
• 12,372 were motorcyclists
• 68 were riding mopeds

Fatal Crashes

In 2014, there were 2,878 auto collisions resulting in fatalities.

• 482 were caused by drunk driving
• 455 were caused by speed
• 70 were caused by trucks

In 2014, a total of 3,121 people were killed in motor vehicle-related crashes:

• 1,604 were vehicle occupants
• 753 were pedestrians
• 516 were motorcyclists
• 142 were bicyclists

Counties With The Highest Number Of Auto Accident-Related Fatalities

In 2015, a total of 3,176 individuals were killed in motor vehicle accidents across the state. The counties with the most auto accident fatalities are as follows:

• Los Angeles County: 584
• San Bernardino County: 242
• Riverside County: 232
• San Diego County: 232
• Orange County: 162

These statistics were gathered from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute, the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites.

Free consultation: For personal injury accident representation across California, call the law firm of Winer, Burritt & Tillis LLP, at 800-652-6137 for a free consultation.

Uber, Lyft, and other app-based rideshare companies continue to rise in popularity.

Many passengers cite cost, convenience, and flexibility as reasons they prefer ridesharing to traditional taxi use.

One thing most passengers do not think about – until it becomes necessary – is the issue of liability in the event of an accident. What happens when a driver gets in an accident when passengers are in the car? Whose insurance covers the accident? Here's the protocol, in a nutshell:

• Uber and Lyft drivers are required to have their own auto insurance. This insurance applies when they are driving without the app on.
• Different insurance coverages apply depending on what stage of a passenger pick-up the driver is in. The driver is covered by a lower amount of liability insurance when the app is on but there is no passenger in the car.
• When a driver is en route to picking up a passenger, and when a passenger is in the vehicle, a higher amount of insurance applies.

Insurance coverage may vary depending on what driver was at fault and many other factors. It is important to thoroughly investigate every accident case and explore all insurance coverage options.

If you have been injured in an Uber, Lyft or other rideshare company accident, you may wish to speak to a personal injury attorney about your legal options. While you may be offered a quick settlement by the insurance company, it is important to ensure that your financial needs are adequately met.

Learn more by scheduling a free consultation with an attorney from Winer, Burritt & Tillis LLP. Call us at 800-652-6137.