Traffic Accident News

This is the fourth in a series of five articles that will focus on traveling safely during the summer. Read the other posts here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Before hitting the roadways this summer, it is critical that drivers take a few minutes to check the condition of their tires. Not only do well-maintained tires keep your car safer and help it last longer, but it also helps you save money. It is especially important during the summer travel season that motorists pay attention to aging or degraded tires, particularly when they decide to embark on a road trip.

Tire Failure Statistics

According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2004, tire life was estimated to be 44,700 miles accumulated over 3.6 years. This means that one of the first things you should do when buying a used car particularly from a private owner is to determine the age of the tires. What you do not know may seriously hurt you. NHTSA estimates that about 400 fatalities a year are caused by tire failures. In terms of aging, tires exposed to heat and the sun are likely to wear out quickly.

Tips for Tire Safety

Here are some tips to help keep your tires in good shape and your travels safe all summer:

• Pick your tires carefully: Tire selection should be based on the right size recommended for the vehicle and its loading recommendations. It is important to consult with a knowledgeable tire or auto dealer about selecting the right tire for your typical driving patterns. It is also important to buy a tire gauge and keep it handy in your car at all times.
• Checking tire pressure: This should be done at least once per month and especially before a long trip. Under-inflation can cause tire damage, which could in turn lead to tire failure. Use the manufacturer's recommended air pressure listed on the sticker of your vehicle's door jamb or the owner's manual.
• Slow down during wet weather: You reduce the risk of hydroplaning when you drive at a slower speed.
• Rotate your tires: Tire rotation should be done every 6,000 miles. Any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem will be noticed before tires are rotated.
• Vehicle alignment: It is important to have a mechanic check your vehicle's alignment, especially when you notice that your car is pulling to one side when you are driving.
• Check your tire tread: Inspect and measure your tire tread. This is easily done by placing a penny in the tread groove. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, then it is time to change your tires. Also, check the tire sidewalls to ensure that there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or other damages.
• Do not overload your vehicle: Doing so can create excessive heat inside your tires causing damage and leading to tire failure.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective tire, an experienced auto product liability lawyer can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please stay safe this summer!

Eriber Lopez, 25, was killed in a Los Angeles area car accident, which officials say involved a head-on collision. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the fatal collision occurred the evening of April 24, 2012 on Pacific Coast Highway. Police say Lopez was driving a Buick Regal south on the coastal route when the car swerved into a northbound Honda Accord near Tuna Canyon. Lopez’s car ignited following the collision and he died from his injuries. The driver of the Honda was treated for head and back injuries, but he is expected to survive. Officials are looking into what caused this fatal crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Eriber Lopez for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My thoughts and prayers are also with the other driver who was injured. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Man Killed in Fiery Malibu Car Accident" »

A man was fatally injured in a Los Angeles car accident when his Chevrolet Blazer struck a bridge, the night of April 17, 2012. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the car crash occurred in the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway at Burbank Boulevard in Van Nuys. Officials say the victim died when his SUV struck the bridge. It is unclear at this time what may have caused the accident or if any other vehicles were involved.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the man killed in this tragic Los Angeles car accident. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Man Killed in Van Nuys Car Accident" »

Joe Alikhan, 59, was killed in a Victorville motorcycle accident after he lost control of his cycle and crashed. According to a news report in The Victorville Daily Press, the fatal motorcycle accident occurred the afternoon of April 10, 2012 on Hesperia Road between Green Tree Boulevard and Nisqualli Road. Police say Alikhan lost control of his motorcycle. He was tossed onto the roadway. Alikhan was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries the following morning. Some friends of Alikhan have told police that the incident involved a hit-and-run driver. Officials are still investigating the cause of this fatal crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact Victorville police at 760-241-2911.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Joe Alikhan for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Man Killed in Victorville Motorcycle Accident" »

Six people were injured, one critically, in a Los Angeles car accident after a flat-bed tow-truck hauling a pickup truck crashed through the front of a Yoshinoya restaurant. According to an ABC news report, the injury collision occurred the morning of July 28, 2011 at the intersection of Normandie Avenue and Beverly Boulevard. Police say the driver of the truck lost control of his brakes, ran a red light at the intersection, and struck several cars, before crashing into the restaurant. Six people were taken to area hospitals. One of them sustained life-threatening injuries. An investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to the injured victims of this crash. It is indeed fortunate that this truck accident did not happen during peak lunch hour when the restaurant may have been more crowded. I wish all the victims very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Six Injured after Tow Truck Crashes Into Los Angeles Restaurant" »

Just when the topic had started to die down, another horrific product liabilityaccident hits the Internet. A woman was killed on Wednesday morning when a trailer detached from a truck and hit her car on Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, police said. The area of Indian Canyon Drive from Tramview Road to just south of Interstate 10 was closed for a majority of the day.

Continue reading "Utility Trailer Kills Woman in Palm Springs" »

A Newport Beach personal injury accident can be a frightening experience. Seriously injured accident victims will have damages they will need to recover and some will seek medical treatment for their injuries. It is not only important to know what damages you can recover after an accident but what auto defects to look for. There are a number of vehicle defects which could have caused or contributed to your car accident.

Continue reading "Top Auto Defects To Look For After A Car Accident" »

Auto defects are one of the unseen dangers that affect every driver on the road. A number of drivers commute to and from work every day under the assumption that they are in a safe and reliable vehicle. With the advancements in technology and manufacturing most consumers probably believe that auto defects are a thing of the past. Even with these advancements, auto defects are not as uncommon as some might think.

Continue reading "What Causes Auto Manufactures To Produce Defective Vehicles?" »

Teresa Andrade, 71, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident the afternoon of December 20, 2009, after a fleeing hit-and-run driver struck her car. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, Andrade was ejected from her car when an SUV struck it on Wilmington Avenue near Raymond Street, in Compton. The SUV was going north on Wilmington when it struck a woman on a motorcycle who was traveling in the same direction. The driver of the SUV slowed down as if he were going to stop or pull over but instead made a U-turn and crashed into the vehicle carrying Andrade.

The driver fled the site of the crash, but his SUV's license plate had fallen off at the scene. Los Angeles Sheriff's officials traced the license plate to a Compton home where they detained three people. However, the driver was brought in to the Compton police station by family members shortly after the accident. Officials have not yet identified the driver.

Continue reading "Woman Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident" »

Ricardo Alcantar, 21, and Matthew Gibbons, 20, were killed in a Los Angeles car accident the night of December 12, 2009, after their car crashed near Long Beach Airport. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the small two-door hatchback driven by Alcantar was traveling east on Spring Street, when it crashed into a tunnel divider causing the vehicle to be sliced in two pieces. Both Alcantar and Gibbons were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials are looking into what caused this fatal car accident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Alcantar and Gibbons for their devastating loss. They will certainly be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Two Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident" »

Toyota Motor Corporation has offered to fix the accelerator pedals of up to 4 million cars in the United States, which are subject to the company's largest ever vehicle defect recall, a Kyodo news report states. Toyota has apparently reached an agreement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which includes the Japanese auto maker's assurance to voluntarily repair the accelerator pedals. But it is not clear yet how Toyota will repair these pedals.

Continue reading "Toyota Agrees to Repair Defective Accelerator Pedals" »

Goldie Williams Jr, 48, died in a San Bernardino car accident the evening of August 30, 2009 after he lost control of his car and crashed on the 215 Freeway. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, Williams was driving a 2004 Lincoln Navigator south on the 215 Freeway when he lost control of his vehicle while attempting to pass a tractor trailer. Williams apparently veered off the freeway. The Navigator rolled several times. Williams died at the scene while a passenger sustained minor injuries.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Man Killed in Rollover Car Accident" »

Benjamin Keil Allen, 26, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident early morning on August 12, 2009 when the Toyota Tundra pickup he was off-roading in Loma Linda, California, tipped over and crashed. Allen was driving the Tundra on Mountain View Avenue. He was ejected from the pickup truck and died when the truck ran him over, crushing his head and upper body. Loma Linda fire officials said Allen was not wearing a seatbelt. Three others, who were also in the vehicle at the time, were buckled up and did not suffer any injuries. California Highway Patrol officials are investigating this fatal car accident.

Continue reading "Fatal San Bernardino Car Accident" »

One person was hospitalized with injures in an Orange County car accident after an SUV overturned in a single-car accident, The Orange County Register reports. The car accident reportedly occurred on August 10, 2009 when the Dodge Durango hit a tree in the center divider on Edinger Avenue between Brookhurst and Euclid streets. The Dodge SUV flipped on to its roof. The SUV's driver sustained injuries and was taken to an area hospital.

Continue reading "Orange County Car Accident Involves Rollover" »

Three members of a family traveling home to Colorado from California, were killed in a rollover car accident on July 13, 2009 in Wyoming, according to a news report in the Littleton Independent. Dodi Arnold, 45, and her two daughters--24-year-old Kinni and 15-year-old Bailey--were killed. Jonathan Arnold, 43, the father and daughter, 16-year-old Dellen Arnold, suffered injuries but are recovering.

Wyoming State Patrol officials say this is one of the worst rollover car accidents they have seen in those parts. They say the fatal car accident occurred when a semi-truck caused Dellen, an inexperienced driver, to overcorrect the vehicle just east of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Dellen was driving the family's 2009 Chevy Suburban when a big rig began to change lanes. The Suburban may have been in the trucker's blind spot, officials say. Once the semi changed lanes, the Suburban's right tires were pushed into the inside of the rumble strip. Apparently an experienced driver may have been able to maneuver the SUV away from the semi, but the teen had problems controlling the vehicle. Police say drugs, alcohol or speed were not factors in this car crash.

Continue reading "Chevy Suburban Fatal Rollover Accident" »