Wrecks involving pedestrians and vehicles are among the most deadly. Of course, this is simply because a pedestrian is so significantly outweighed by a vehicle. It’s likely that any pedestrian that is struck by a vehicle is likely to suffer some degree of physical injury. In these cases, it’s possible to pay your medical costs through a lawsuit against the negligent driver.

Right-of-Way

In the vast majority of cases, pedestrians have the right of way over vehicles. Unfortunately, in areas where vehicles and pedestrians are both thick, vehicle drivers sometimes tend to get so frustrated with waiting for pedestrians that they do foolish things. If someone violated your right-of-way and caused you injury as a result, contacting a lawyer is a good idea.

Racing

Sometimes, drivers will attempt to race through any intersection to avoid having to wait for a pedestrian to cross the road. When a pedestrian is in the crosswalk, they have the right-of-way. If somebody actually sped up to try to avoid having to stop for you, and they struck you and injured you, contact an attorney. There’s no reason that you should have to pay the cost for this type of negligence.

At Night

When you are out and about at night, it’s particularly important to be aware of drivers. This does not mean, however, that you give up your right-of-way in any regard. Even if you are wearing a lot of black and are out for the evening, drivers are obligated to slow down and to accommodate you when you are crossing in a crosswalk. In many cases, claiming that they didn’t see you is not going to hold up in a court case over negligence on their part.

Festivals and Events

The spring and summer has its fair share of festivals and events and, when they are in full swing, they can be very crowded. For this reason, it’s important to make certain that you’re careful of people in parking lots. If they strike you, however, don’t think that you don’t have a right to speak to an attorney. The injuries that they caused you are not the types of things that you should have to pay for if it wasn’t your fault that you got hit in the first place.

Contact a Dallas car wreck attorney. They may want to serve as your car accident lawyer in a situation where a vehicle struck you when you were a pedestrian.

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The main concept behind negligence involves what you can expect of a person. An average person who has a driver’s license, for example, can be rationally expected to exercise a certain amount of care and skill in their driving. When they do not, the people those negligent drivers can sometimes sue with the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. Here are some scenarios where you may want to hire a Dallas car accident lawyer:

Distracted Drivers

Distracted drivers are very dangerous. With GPS units, cell phones, mobile Internet devices and many other consumer products vying for people’s attention, it’s important to remember that people are very likely to be distracted when they’re on the road. Driving while allowing yourself to be distracted by these types of devices and causing someone harm because of it is certainly likely to be regarded as negligent by a jury. A lawyer very well may advise you to sue such a driver that causes you harm.

Drunk Drivers

Drunk drivers sometimes end up in jail for a long time, but that doesn’t do a thing for the people they harm. A good lawyer may want to file a lawsuit against a drunk driver for you to help you get compensation.

Aggressive Drivers

Aggressive driving is certainly not good driving. Most aggressive drivers take actions that demonstrate that they vastly overestimate their skills behind the wheel. When they hurt people, there is a chance that the injured parties may be able to get compensation by suing for damages.

Tired Drivers

Whether they’re semi drivers behind the wheel of a big rig or drivers behind the wheel of a passenger car, tired drivers are very dangerous. It’s been demonstrated in studies—and even on the show Mythbusters—that driving tired is every bit as dangerous as driving drunk. Getting behind the wheel when you’re barely awake is most certainly negligent.

Racing Drivers

People sometimes take to the streets at night to race their cars. This sometimes ends up causing injuries or deaths. It’s also incredibly dangerous and negligent. Be sure that you talk to an attorney if you’re hurt by someone who decided that the roads where there to race on and who didn’t watch out for the people around them when they were taking on other cars.

There’s not always much benefit in suing, but an attorney can let you know if there is. You should at least see if there is a chance that suing could get you some relief from the financial and personal injuries you’ve suffered. Lost time at work and physical impairment can have serious effects on your life, particularly in this economy.  Speak out if you need assistance after being injured in a car crash.

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Our Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. recently created a graphic on the state by state motorcycle helmet laws to visually display the helmet law requirements in every state. The idea behind the graphic was to aide bikers in their travels across Unites States.

Visit http://bit.ly/MIMotorcycleAccidentLawyers to view the “Motorcycle Helmet Law” Graphic.

The Motorcycle Helmet Law graphic is a map of the United States, with a color key that defines the helmet laws in each state. The map is displayed on the back of biker’s black-distressed leather jacket. There are five different variations in motorcycle helmet requirements; including Free Choice (no helmet restrictions) to NO CHOICE (everyone riding a motorcycle must wear a bike helmet).

Michigan currently passed a new helmet law, Senate Bill 291, which allows motorcyclists to choose to wear a helmet if they are at least 21 years of age, carry additional insurance, and have passed a motorcycle safety course or have had their motorcycle endorsement for at least two years. This is displayed on the graphic, as you will see Michigan labeled as a state with requirements of “21 and older with Provisions.”

The Motorcycle Helmet Law graphic also shows which states have the highest fines and maximum jail time for violating their bike helmet law. This information is uniquely displayed on the motorcycle’s rear-view mirrors. George is toughest on violators, with a $1,000 fine and 12 months of jail time, and Nevada comes in second, with a $1,000 fine and a maximum six months of jail time.

To learn more about the State by State helmet laws and to see the State by State Motorcycle Helmet Laws Graphic, visit http://bit.ly/MIMotorcycleAccidentLawyers. The biker injury attorneys also make this graphic available on a plastic wallet card for easy reference during road trips.

Share this graphic with other bikers who may find this topic interesting or are planning on taking a road trip this summer by embedding the graphic on your own site, emailing fellow motorcyclists, family, friends, motorcycle chapters and biker clubs, etc., and sharing on all social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

This information is also offered on a FREE wallet card. Don’t take a road trip this summer without this information in your wallet. To request your FREE wallet card, email helmetcard@gmail.com and type “Helmet Law” in the subject line. Just provide your mailing address and the Michigan motorcycle accident lawyers of Buckfire & Buckfire will send one out right away!

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As a society we are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Beyond just cell phone usage, there have been safety steps taken to reduce the distractions through laws and cars made with hands-free technology. However, despite the advances distracted driving is still being cited in hundreds of accidents that result in injury or death. Drivers who choose to drive distracted are acting as negligent as those who get behind the wheel when intoxicated. That is why speaking with skilled car accident attorneys in Elizabeth is necessary following an accident caused by a distracted driver.

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a study showing that people who are passengers are even reluctant to speak out about distracted driving. Their poll surveyed more than 6,000 drivers and what they found was that drivers aged 18 to 24 were the least likely to say something to the driver of the car they are in should they be using a cell phone while operating the vehicle. The study revealed that while 90 percent of all who were surveyed said they felt using a cell phone while driving was dangerous, only one-third of those 18 to 24 would say something. As for older drivers, 65 years or older, the survey showed 50 percent would speak up.

In New Jersey, we are no strangers to the damage these negligent actions can cause as in 2010 nearly 23 percent of all fatal traffic accidents (including car, pedestrian, bicycle, bus, and truck accidents) had driver inattention listed as a contributing circumstance. This information, compiled by the New Jersey State Police, highlights just how out of hand this epidemic is getting. It has come to the point where the laws banning distracted driving are not deterrents enough to stop it. Passengers need to become more proactive with speaking out to someone they are driving with about their careless behavior.

Drivers seem to forget sometimes how quickly an accident can happen, and how much your life can change as a result. It takes only seconds for a crash to occur and that can translate into years of suffering and hardship. Drivers who make the choice to operate their vehicle in a negligent manner should be held responsible for any damage they cause. Speak with experienced New Jersey car accident lawyers today and hold these drivers accountable for the harm they have caused you.

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Tonight, Thursday, May 3, is going to be a mad(d) night in more ways than one, and you won’t have to go far to take part. Sacramento accident attorneys are encouraging people to get out tonight and have some great food with family and friends, while at the same time lending their support to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

A great night out for a great cause

Dozens of restaurants are taking part, and you can click on this link to find the one nearest you. Some of these restaurants, which include such well-known chains as Chili’s and The Old Spaghetti Factory, are starting their MADD night out as early as 11 a.m., and many others are staying open till late.

Here’s how it works:

• Click on the link above or go to the MADD website, www.MADD.org.
• Find the restaurant you’d like to go to for dinner among the list of participating outlets.
• Print out the flyer for that restaurant.
• Present the flyer to your server at the end of the meal.

That’s it! The participating restaurants will donate 15 percent of your entire bill to MADD, to help fund their non-profit victim services and local support programs. There may never be a more enjoyable way to make a donation to a great cause.

If you’re wondering whether or not there’s a restaurant near you taking part in the MADD night out, those participating include:

• BJ’s Restaurants at Natomas and Roseville
• Centro Cocina in downtown Sacramento
• Chevy’s in Sacramento, Elk Grove and Roseville
• All Chili’s restaurants, except Roseville
• Esquire Grille in downtown Sacramento
• Joe’s Crab Shack in Old Town, Sacramento
• Mimi’s Cafe in Arden, Elk Grove and Natomas
• Paragary’s Bar and Oven in downtown Sacramento
• The Old Spaghetti Factory in Elk Grove and Roseville
• Spataro Restaurant in downtown Sacramento

The need is great

MADD was founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver. The organization has since become the largest non-profit foundation in the country. Its sole aims are to protect families from drunk drivers and to warn against the dangers of underage drinking. In addition, MADD offers support to victims and survivors of drunk drivers, and they don’t charge a penny for the service.

Sacramento drunk driving accident attorneys are all too aware that the services of MADD are in great demand in this area. California sees more than its share of drunk driving fatalities and underage drinking, and recently released statistics show that while the problem is slowly improving, there’s still a long way to go. Some of the disturbing facts include:

• In 2011, there were 310,971 DUI offenders arrested for the third time!
• An incredible 44,210 five-time offenders were caught driving under the influence.
• The number of people who lost their lives in California DUI accidents in the last year was a staggering 791.
• That figure means 29 percent of all traffic deaths in the state were DUI-related.
• The cost to the state of drunk driving fatalities was a shocking $4.98 billion.
• No fewer than 1,265,000 people aged 12 to 20 drank alcohol in the past month.
• Of that number, an incredible 821,000 people under the age of 21 admitted to binge drinking in the last month alone (five or more drinks on the same occasion, within a few hours)

On a positive note, the percentage of DUI traffic deaths has fallen by 14 percent from the previous year. This may be down to the fact that four counties—Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare–with a combined population of 13 million people now require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Sacramento drunk driving accident attorneys like those at Demas Law Group whole-heartedly support the MADD Night Out and they acknowledge and appreciate the good work done by the organization. Too often, these personal injury attorneys see the devastation left behind by the selfish and stupid people who believe it is all right to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks.

Drunk driving is a crime, and people who are caught risk losing their license and/or spending time in prison. In addition, when a drunk driver injures someone in an accident, they can and should also be held civilly liable. No one should have to pay for their medical care or suffer a loss of income if they’ve been injured by a drunk driver. Serious injuries can mean years of pain, suffering and ongoing expense, all of which can have a devastating impact, not just on the victim, but on their families as well.

If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, don’t suffer in silence. Contact a firm of reputable and experienced drunk driving accident attorneys for a free consultation. They will explain your rights and guide you through the process of claiming the compensation you and your family deserve.

The Demas Law Group has been providing the highest quality of legal services to Californians for nearly twenty years. We take great pride in meeting our clients’ needs while working together to win your case and obtain the maximum compensation allowed by law. We are here to help you during this difficult time. Call our team of Sacramento personal injury lawyers at 888 776 0977 to speak with an attorney. To learn more about why you should hire us click here.

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If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, contacting an attorney is a very good idea. A car accident lawyer Dallas drivers use for personal injury claims will be able to handle these cases, as well. Drunk drivers are particularly dangerous and, because of that, the cases that involve them oftentimes end up being very painful in terms of what happens to the family after the wreck and the expenses that they face. A good attorney can make sure you’re not facing all of this alone.

Setting the Amount

In order for you to file a lawsuit, you’ll have to come up with a specific amount you want to seek in damages. This can be very hard to do, particularly if you lost a loved one in the accident. It can almost feel wrong to put a price tag on such a loss. The thing to understand is that you’re not putting a price on the loss of someone’s life. You’re taking responsibility for your family’s financial well-being by working with an attorney to set the dollar amount that realistically reflects your needs.

Medical expenses, property damage and lost wages are easy to figure. Your attorney will take care of this for you and make sure you’re happy with the number you’re seeking. Your attorney will also need to come up with a figure for pain and suffering, which is more subjective.

Investigating the Accident

Attorneys can recreate accidents using the data collected at the scene, police reports and other information. This provides them with a way to establish how the drunk driver made it impossible for you to avoid the wreck and how they were the direct cause of all of your hardships because of that. Your attorney will go through all of this with you and make sure that they get everything right before you go to court.

Negotiating Settlements

You may have seen car accident articles that detail settlements before. Settlements are offered by the defendant so that they can avoid going to court, particularly if they’re convinced that they’re going to lose their case. A good attorney will help you negotiate a good sum if the other party offers a settlement, but don’t take it behind the attorney’s back. If you do, you’re likely to end up taking far too little.

Attorneys can make sure you’re not saddled with all of the financial burdens that a drunk driver imposed upon you through their own negligence.

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Although it’s fun to listen to music over headphones while walking down the street, it has definitely become a dangerous habit.  According to one recent university study, injuries to pedestrians distracted by their music have “more than tripled in six years.”  In fact, pedestrians are killed in about three-fourths of these cases. One author of the study noted that many of those who are injured are wearing ear buds, the least invasive form of headphones.

In addition to this one particular mistake, many pedestrians continue making other safety errors. By reviewing the following list, you may be able to stay a bit safer than others who have forgotten that walking outdoors in today’s world requires significant concentration.

Remaining Top Nine Pedestrian Safety Errors

• Jaywalking.  No matter how tempting it is to save a little time by doing this, you’ll not only increase your chances of being hit, you also leave yourself open to tickets and fines in some jurisdictions;
• Ignoring Traffic Signals.  While you may find those blinking lights telling you when to walk and went to wait a bit annoying, they’re designed to help increase your safety. Just remember to only step out when the light signal first changes in your favor – otherwise,  you may not have enough time to scoot out of the way of an inpatient driver who’s determined to hit the gas once the light changes;
• Carrying Too Many Bags or Packages. If you can’t easily see over the bags or packages you’re carrying, it’s not safe enough for you to walk down the street.  Make two trips or more so you can live a lot longer;
• Wearing High Heels, Boots or Other Unstable Footwear. It’s still wise for most workers to change into sneakers or tennis shoes while walking to work – the added traction can greatly help you keep your footing when the sidewalks are crowded and the cement layers are uneven;
• Distracted Walking. Mainly keep your eyes on the street ahead of you, occasionally making quick glances over your shoulder so you can spot a car or truck that may have suddenly turned in your direction. Avoid eating while walking or becoming so embroiled in conversations with others that you fail to use your eyes and ears to protect yourself;
• Failing to Hold a Child’s Hand. Don’t forget to always carry your smallest child who may be unable to maneuver quickly to get out of the way of a speeding car. Also, make sure your kids hold hands with you and each other – and that they know to wait until you tell them that it’s safe to start crossing any street;
• Failing to Keep Any Pet You’re Walking on a Tight Leash.  Giving any pet too much leash can allow him or her to suddenly start chasing another animal, possibly pulling you right in front of a passing car. Always keep the leash rather taut and “short” so you can keep your pet by your side as you walk down the street or try to cross any road;
• Failing to Carefully Board Buses or Hail Taxis. It may be hard for a somewhat aloof driver to see you if you suddenly dash out into the street to catch a bus or hail a taxi. Be as careful when walking in and near curb areas as you are while walking down sidewalks;
• Refusing to Walk On Designated Sidewalks. While you may be able to squeeze between the traffic and a construction site on one side, you are greatly increasing your chances of being hit accidentally. Keep in mind that many areas under heavy construction often close down one side of the street. Those managing such projects have every right to ask you to walk only on the sidewalk on the one side of the street that remains open.

One final, rather obvious warning is in order. Always walk and don’t run – you greatly increase your chances of falling or tripping when you run. Furthermore, your added speed makes it much harder for drivers to apply their brakes in a timely manner to avoid hitting you.

The Demas Law Group has been providing the highest quality of legal services to Californians for nearly twenty years. We take great pride in meeting our clients’ needs while working together to win your case and obtain the maximum compensation allowed by law. We are here to help you during this difficult time. Call our team of Sacramento personal injury lawyers at 888 776 0977 to speak with an attorney. To learn more about why you should hire us click here.

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Motorcyclists who hit their head against the pavement or another vehicle as the result of a collision are at risk for suffering traumatic brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain caused by some type of impact such as a fall or a car accident. Traumatic brain injury after a Michigan motorcycle accident may cause long-term physical, emotional and behavioral issues for the victim and his or her family. A brain injury can place significant emotional and financial burdens on the victim’s family. The cost of a traumatic brain injury can add up to millions of dollars over the victim’s lifetime. Motorcyclists are approximately 14 times more likely than occupants of passenger vehicles to die in a crash and three times as likely to be injured.

Safety advocates say that the best way to prevent a traumatic brain injury while riding a motorcycle is by wearing a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Studies indicate that the risk of brain injury in hospitalized motorcyclists is nearly twice that for unhelmeted motorcyclists ant motorcyclists riding without helmets had acute care costs three times that of helmeted drivers. In the state of California where the helmet law was enacted in 1992, there was a 37.5 percent decrease in motorcycle crash fatalities just one year after that law was enacted. Those likely to sustain TBI-related impairments decreased by 34 percent.

Some of the other precautions motorcyclists can take before riding includes making sure the motorcycle is in good riding condition. It would also help to wear protective gear such as boots and gloves. Safe driving habits such as maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and defensive driving can also help prevent motorcycle accidents and serious injuries.

If you have suffered a head injury in a motorcycle accident, it is important to get immediate medical attention. The most common symptoms of a brain injury include loss of consciousness, confusion, dizziness and memory loss. If your traumatic brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, an experienced Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options.

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Several recent studies show that the risks of bleeding and heart problems increase significantly in people who take the anti-clotting drug Pradaxa. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Pradaxa (generic name: Dabigatran), which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2008 to reduce the risk of stroke in patients in atrial fibrillation generated 932 serious adverse events reports just in the first quarter of 2011.

Our Las Vegas drug injury lawyers are extremely concerned about this particular report, which shows that of 932 adverse event reports, 505 reported cases involved bleeding, more than any other monitored drug such as Warfarin. The total number of events also included 120 cases of hemorrhagic stroke. This is particularly problematic given the fact that Pradaxa is supposed to prevent certain types of strokes. These incidents of bleeding were common among elderly patients, especially those patients over the age of 75.

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A warm summer day by the pool can quickly change from an enjoyable afternoon to one full of tragedy. Drowning happens so fast and 77 percent of the pool drowning-related deaths are children younger than five. Pool accidents do not always result in death as there are also high numbers of reports of pool submission injuries. Between 2007 and 2009 the non-fatal pool related injuries affected children much more than other age groups—54 percent of these injuries were sustained by children under the age of 15. If your child has suffered injury or death while in a pool contact knowledgeable personal injury attorneys in Camden County today.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a warning last week highlighting the potential risks of using a portable or inflatable pool this summer. They explained that each year the agency receives an average of 35 reports of deaths with children under the age of five in these types of pools. They wanted to remind the public that a portable pool is just as dangerous as a permanent pool and that parents should give the same attention to children no matter how deep it is.

These deaths are preventable and 11 percent of pool drowning deaths in children under the age of five occur in an inflatable/portable pool. Just as with any sort of permanent pool structure, the portable pools also need safety barriers in place around them. This will prevent children from entering the pool when not supervised by an adult or parent.
By taking added caution and care we can all work to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of these types of drowning.

Safety Steps for Your Portable Pool

1. When not in use: when you are not enjoying the pool you should empty and store the smaller, inflatable pools and put protective covers over the larger ones to prevent children from entering unattended.
2. Fences: Make sure that there is some sort of fenced structure around your pool, no matter the type. Many incidents of drowning occur when an unsupervised child is able to enter a pool that has not been properly fenced off. Also, encourage your friends and neighbors to take the same precautions with their pools. If you are unable to fence in your portable pool, opt for the smaller ones so that they can be emptied and flipped over or stored when not in use.
3. Never leave children unattended: Your child should never be allowed in a pool without adult supervision even for a short period of time. Drowning is known as a silent killer, and can happen faster than you think. Many of the reports of children drowning involved a parent or supervisor noting that they just turned their back for a minute.
4. Remove ladders: When your above ground pool is not in use, remove the ladders and store them away so a child cannot accidently wander into the pool.
5. Do not lose diligence because of swim lessons: Just because your child has taken swim lessons does not mean they are now able to swim without supervision. Of course you should teach your child how to swim as well as how to float and use safety devices, but this is not a hard and fast way to prevent drowning. Supervision is always the best method of prevention.

As parents, our greatest concern is always the wellbeing of our children. Sometimes tragedy strikes as the result of someone else’s careless actions and when that happens you may be entitled to compensation. Speak with skilled New Jersey swimming pool accident lawyers today to learn your legal rights and options.

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