car crashes

July 21, 2023

New Study Addresses Muscle Car Driver Fatalities

Are the vehicle type and its safety features (or lack thereof) to blame when a collision results in a fatality in San Clemente, or should we be placing a greater emphasis on the behavior of the driver who causes the accident? Numerous studies have addressed injury risks in smaller vehicles, suggesting that it is more dangerous to be involved in a crash in a company car or a sports car than in a larger sedan or SUV. Yet a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests that the type of driver may be more significant than the individual model of a vehicle when estimating the likelihood of a fatal accident.

The study is important because it underscores that driver behaviors are often the cause of serious and deadly collisions. Our San Clemente auto accident lawyers can tell you more about the study and its potential implications for car accident claims in Southern California.

Muscle Cars Associated With Highest Death Rates in Crashes

October 28, 2022

How Can I Prove Drowsy Driving in San Clemente?

by Walton Law Firm

Motor vehicle accidents in Oceanside can be devastating under any circumstances, whether they result from another driver’s negligence or because of a hazardous condition on the roadway. When another party is responsible for a traffic collision that causes injuries, it is critical to work with a lawyer to find out about seeking compensation and to gather evidence to prove fault in the crash. Depending upon the cause of the collision, fault is easier to prove in some cases than in others. For example, in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, the police might have administered a breathalyzer test and arrested the drunk driver, and any accompanying police reports and records can make up the majority of a civil lawsuit against the drunk driver.

However, fault can be more difficult to prove in other kinds of traffic collision cases. In particular, drowsy driving might seem as though it would be difficult to prove. What do you need to know about proving fault in a drowsy driving case?

Understanding Drowsy Driving in Southern California

January 8, 2021

What are My Options if I Was Injured by an Uninsured Motorist in Vista?

by Walton Law Firm

Nobody expects to get hurt in a car accident in Vista or elsewhere in Southern California, yet negligent motorists routinely cause serious crashes that result in significant and debilitating injuries. When someone is injured in a collision, they should be able to have the option of filing a third-party claim through the at-fault driver’s insurance or filing a first-party claim through their own insurance. As you may know, California is an at-fault state or a “tort” state when it comes to auto insurance, and motorists are required to carry liability coverage to compensate others who have been injured in collisions.

What happens when an uninsured motorist causes a car crash in Vista or in another part of San Diego County? What options does an injured party have for seeking financial compensation?

Determine if You Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage

August 7, 2020

Avoiding Summer Auto Accident Dangers in Carlsbad

by Walton Law Firm

Whether you are on the road heading to or from work, or you are driving up the California coast with your family for a weekend vacation, you should know that some types of accidents tend to happen more often in the summer than during other months. Winter weather collisions are not typically an issue in Southern California given that the weather is temperate year-round, but many of the summer and warm-weather accident hazards that exist throughout the country are certainly present in San Diego County and throughout the state in the summer. Travelers Insurance identifies some of the most common causes of car crashes from June through September. The following are tips for avoiding a summer auto accident.

High Temperatures can Pose Dangers to Your Vehicle

High temperatures can wreak havoc on an automobile if it is not regularly and properly maintained. For example, if tires are underinflated and the weather is particularly hot, you could be at risk of a tire blowout while you are driving. Engines can also be at increased risk of overheating during the summer. Most of the vehicle-related risks that come with hot weather can be avoided if you have your vehicle serviced regularly.

February 21, 2020

Driving in San Clemente: Are You at Greater Risk of an Accident Than You Think?

by Walton Law Firm

When you are driving in San Clemente or elsewhere in Southern California, are you at greater risk of being involved in a car accident than you think? Most San Diego County or Los Angeles County residents do not get behind the wheel with the expectation of suffering injuries in a serious motor vehicle collision. Many drivers have a false sense of security when it comes to driving and auto accident risk. According to a recent article in the Patch, a high percentage of Southern Californians are “in denial about safety” based on information from a recent study. We want to tell you more about the study and discuss actual car crash risks in Southern California.

Driving is King in Southern California

More than in most other major urban areas of the U.S., driving remains the preferred mode of transportation in Los Angeles County and San Diego County. Indeed, in Los Angeles County, according to the article, “private vehicles are used at more than twice the rate of the second-most popular transportation mode, ride-hailing.” To put it another way, more than double the number of people drive than use Lyft or Uber.

September 23, 2016

AAA Report on Automatic Brakes and Car Accidents

by Walton Law Firm

Do automatic emergency braking systems actually prevent car accidents? In other words, if you purchase a new vehicle with an automatic emergency braking system, can you simply stop worrying about paying attention to the car that is in front of you on the freeway or in your neighborhood? According to a recent news release from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, not all self-braking cars are made in the same way, and they do not all work at the same levels as one another. In other words, not all automatic braking systems have the same rates of success, and thereby the same accident-prevention abilities. The news release indicates how “new test results from AAA reveal that automatic braking systems—the safety technology that will soon be standard equipment on 99 percent of vehicles—vary widely in design and performance.”

What else should drivers in San Diego know about the recent AAA test and the future of automatic braking systems?

What Drivers Think Versus What Automatic Braking Systems Actually Do