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An experienced Laguna Beach car accident lawyer understands that the unique personality of a city – in terms of it’s accident types and traffic problems – and can help in serving the needs of a client. Smart lawyers have learned through experience that Laguna Beach, California has a unique set of traffic problems, and that bringing these to bear on a car accident injury case can be important when it comes time to seek a fair settlement for injuries and losses.

Laguna Beach Accident Statistics Tell the Story

Knowledgeable Laguna Beach car crash lawyers are aware of the alarming car accident statistics of this resort town. In 2006, one person was killed and 128 people were injured in car collisions. Drunk drivers were responsible for 15 car crash injuries. Pedestrian accidents in the city killed one and injured 16. Bicycle accidents injured seven people and motorcycle accidents injured five.

Laguna Beach Has Special Traffic Problems

Savvy Laguna Beach car accident lawyers are also aware that Laguna Canyon Road is one of the deadliest in the country. Daily early morning and evening commuters who are overly familiar with this road tend to speed and tailgate newcomers. Unsafe passing into oncoming traffic has resulted in many collisions.

Another dangerous area, particularly for bicyclists, skateboarders and pedestrians, is Park Avenue at Third Street. Crossing there can be extremely dangerous. Still another accident-prone area is the section of Pacific Coast Highway that runs through the town. Tourists who are unfamiliar with this highway’s busy traffic, often try to jaywalk or ignore traffic lights and other signs.

For bicyclists, PCH can be exceptionally hazardous, since cars traveling at or above the speed limit leave barely enough room between parked cars for cyclists. As one cyclist noted, “If someone opens a parked car door at the wrong time, it’s all over.”

Consult an Experienced Laguna Beach Car Accident Lawyer

If you are injured in a car accident in Laguna Beach, you should seek the expert advice of a car crash lawyer who knows the city. A knowledgeable car collision lawyer who is familiar with the hazards and accident history of the city can advise you if your case is worth pursuing. The most trusted Laguna car collision lawyers offer free, no obligation consultations to accident victims. The best lawyers work on a contingency basis (you pay their fees only if they win your case or succeed at the settlement table).

By: J. Bisnar

At a time when gas prices are steadily increasing, commuting by motorcycle is a tempting notion. Increased motorcycle registrations (6,227,146 in 2005) reflect this rationale, but, tragically, high fatality and injuries statistics accompany this trend.

In 2007, 5,154 motorcyclists died in accidents. In 1997, there were 2,116 fatalities. In the last decade, fatalities have more than doubled. In just one year, from 2006 to 2007, there was a 7 percent increase in fatalities. Since the Highway Safety and National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 was enacted, approximately 142,000 motorcyclists have died.

In 2007, fifty percent of motorcycle fatalities resulted from collisions with another motor vehicle. The most common crashes involved a vehicle that turned left in front of a motorcycle which was travelling straight or passing the other vehicle. In about 78 percent of the fatal crashes, the motorcycle was hit on the front. A substantial number of fatal crashes occurred when both another vehicle and the motorcycle were travelling straight.

Motorcycles are more likely than passenger cars and light and large trucks to be in a single vehicle fatal crash with a fixed object. In 2007, 25 percent of motorcycle fatalities were from impact with fixed objects.

Caucasians suffered the majority (77%) of deaths, while African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans shared 17 percent of the fatalities.

Motorcycle crashes are two times as likely to happen on weekends versus weekdays. Ninety percent of the motorcyclists who died were operators and 10 percent were passengers.

Motorcycles with 501-1,000cc engines were involved in 41 percent of fatal accidents and 1,001 – 1,500cc size engines were involved in 38 percent. Of the motorcyclists killed in accidents riding 1,001 – 1,500cc motorcycles, two-thirds were over the age of 40.

Injuries sustained by motorcyclists have also been on the increase. In 2007, 103,000 motorcyclists suffered injuries, an increase of 15,000 from 2006.

The primary injury sustained in a motorcycle crash is a head injury. Studies have shown that wearing a motorcycle helmet, which meets the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218, is the crucial factor in whether a motorcyclist survives a crash. In 2007, helmets saved the lives of 1,784 motorcyclists. Another study revealed helmets are 67 percent effective in head injury prevention.

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration estimates 19,230 motorcyclists survived crashes from 1984 to 2006 because they wore a helmet. Another 12,320 people would have lived if they had been wearing a helmet. In 2007 alone, the NHTSA predicts 800 people would not have died if they had been using a helmet.

Currently, 20 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws that make helmet use mandatory for motorcycle operators and passengers. Another 27 states have helmet laws with varying stipulations, such as a certain age, a specified period of driving experience time and medical insurance coverage for injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Three states have no laws whatsoever regarding helmet use.

If you, or a loved one, has been involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important you contact an attorney experienced with motorcycle crashes and traumatic personal injuries to receive legal advice and information regarding limitation times for filing a lawsuit.

By: Richard Hastings

A knowledgeable Buena Park car accident lawyer will tell you that should you become injured in a car collision in this California city consulting with a lawyer who knows the city’s localized accident statistics and traffic concerns can be helpful. For example, experienced Buena Park lawyers know that in 2006, five people were killed and 459 were injured in car collisions. Drunk drivers were responsible for three deaths and 38 crash injuries. Pedestrian accidents in the city injured 19. Bicycle accidents killed two and injured 31. And motorcycle accidents injured 16. In 2007, there were five car collisions resulting in six fatalities. In 2008, four car collisions resulted in as many fatalities.

Understanding Buena Park Accidents

Smart Buena Park car accident lawyers combine this local statistical data with the city’s traffic problems to help them evaluate how and why a car crash occurred. For example, if one of their clients had been injured in a car accident along La Palma Avenue, savvy lawyers would know that this stretch of roadway had poorly coordinated traffic signals. This can cause some hurried motorists to run red lights, creating the potential for an accident. Car crash lawyers would study this site and determine how much of this problem still exists and if it might have contributed to this particular accident.

Likewise, accidents occurring at the busy intersection of Los Coyotes Drive and Beach Boulevard would also be closely evaluated. At one time, this intersection lacked a traffic signal, creating the potential for car accidents. Buena Park car collision lawyers representing clients who were injured at this intersection would evaluate car crashes that occurred before the traffic signal was installed there.

Similarly, Grant Circle, a cul-de-sac adjacent to Centralia Elementary School has been the site of traffic and safety problems in the past. Understandably, any accident occurring on this street would receive extra scrutiny by car accident lawyers representing a client injured there.

In cases like these, Buena Park car crash lawyers would use local traffic problems and accident statistics when building a case for their client–a case that would ensure that their clients would be justly compensated for their injuries and losses.

Consult a Buena Park Car Accident Lawyer

If you suffer a traffic accident in this city, your best course of action is to seek the advice of a Buena Park car cash lawyer. Initial no-obligation consultations are free to accident victims. In most cases, if you hire a lawyer, the fees they charge won’t be passed on to you unless they win your case.

By: J. Bisnar