Injury In The City

Unknown and Interesting Car Insurance Facts and Statistics

Anne Roberts — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:00:51 +0000

This guest post is contributed by Elvis Donnelly of The Hartford.

Going through some facts about car insurance and statistics is a good way to learn more about car insurance. Crunch through these statistics and you might find that knowing a few fun facts can help you save on auto insurance. And that’s even more fun.

Speed Limit

There’s a reason why drivers in the age group of 16 to 19 have to pay higher auto insurance rates. They are 3 times more likely to get a speeding ticket. If you’re looking for better insurance, you’ll have to wait until you reach the age of 25, when auto insurance rates will significantly decline.

Pull over!

Although all 50 states require drivers to have car insurance, only 16 percent of drivers are actually insured.

Yield! Insurance Rates Roller Coaster

The most expensive car insurance rates are in the states of Michigan, Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Mississippi.

In contrast, those living in the states of Massachusetts, North Carolina, Hawaii, Alaska and Oregon enjoy the lowest car insurance rates.

Park at Your Own Risk

There’s a myth going around that if you own a red car you have to pay higher insurance rates. But the truth is that red car owners can enjoy just as much green as any other car owner. The color of your car doesn’t affect your auto insurance rates one bit.

However, owners of cars that are black, blue, or silver/gray, should beware! Studies show that thieves go for cars with these colors and they are therefore, the most likely to be stolen!

Travelers on Business Can Take a Diversion

Auto insurance is tax-deductible if you’re using your car for business. You can either take a flat per mile re-imbursement or you can calculate how much of your car is used for business and deduct that percentage from your car insurance.

Safety Rules Apply

Ever since seat belt reminders became intelligent, visual and audible, the number of drivers and their passengers wearing seat belts has gone up. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Arlington, VA, 91 percent of drivers now fasten their seat belts.

Turn Right for Insurance Claims

If you’re wondering what type of car accidents lead to insurance claims, here’s a list of the most common violations that lead people to file for insurance claims:

•   Fender bender
•   Theft
•   Whiplash
•   Vandalism
•   Windshield damage
•   Back injuries
•   Animal collisions

How frequently does a driver make an insurance claim? Statistics show it takes 17.9 years on average for a driver to claim on a car accident.

Driving Up Your Car Insurance Rates

On average, Americans drive 13,476 miles a year, about 37 miles a day and spend around 34 hours a year in traffic jams. If getting to your workplace is a long commute you might want to consider moving closer to your workplace. This simple step could bring down your car insurance rates.

Drunk Driving Is Not Allowed

Every day, 30 people die of accidents caused by drunken amounting to 1 death every 48 minutes.

Seniors Can Enjoy Insurance Benefits

In contrast to teenagers, who are high-risk drivers, seniors have years of driving experience, are known to take less risks and therefore have earned lower auto insurance rates. Participants completing the AARP Driver Safety course can enjoy premium discounts on their auto insurance rates.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Elvis Donnelly is a father of two who works from home and lives with his wife. He is voracious reader and always looks out for happening topics related to personal finance. He specializes on subjects related to insurance and uses his spare time to write on topics related to auto insurance, personal injury insurance etc.

Renowned Burlesque Performer Killed in California Vehicle Accident

Anne Roberts — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:53:18 +0000

Image gives credit to NBC4 News.

On the early morning of May 26, a horrific vehicle accident had caught the attention of the entire Burlingame.

According to early morning news that day, a 39-year-old woman was killed from a vehicle accident caused by a drunken driver of party bus, while her husband was hospitalized and in critical condition. The identities of the victims were not immediately available.

Upon several follow-up investigations, many were surprised after recent news broke out claiming that the said female victim of the accident was the renowned Burlesque performer, Sarah Klein or also known as “Sparkly Devil” in the Burlesque world.

Recent reports have confirmed that the woman who got killed from the accident is Klein. Police reports have likewise revealed that the bus hit the victim’s car and went out of control and came to a stop facing the wrong way on San Francisco Bay Area highway.

The burlesque performer was the only fatality in the accident. Meanwhile, her husband still remains hospitalized in severe condition. On the other hand, the 18 occupants of the party bus who got injured from the incident are expected to recover soon.

Klein, during her lifetime was considered as one of the greatest comedic burlesque performers claimed by a car accident attorney in Los Angeles. It so sad to digest in mind that a life of such a respected and beloved person has to come to an end way too soon, he said.

Soulja Boy’s Car Used in Hit-and-Run Crash; Rapper’s Friend Arrested

Anne Roberts — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:33:08 +0000

Following a series of investigation, authorities have finally identified the suspect in the January 9 hit-and-run car incident that involved rapper Soulja Boy’s Bentley.

According to media sources, thousands of hidden cameras surrounding Los Angeles wherein the hit and run took place have confirmed that the red Bentley that was involved in the incident belongs to Soulja Boy.

Initial reports following the incident have claimed that the incident begun when a motorcyclist T-boned a red Bentley in Hollywood, leaving the biker seriously injured. Subsequently, the driver of the Bentley, who caused the car crash by making a dangerous turn, fled the scene.

Several witnesses from the scene were able to identify and told the cops that it belongs to Soulja Boy. They knew it for a fact since that latter was reportedly frequent in the area.

Consequently, the cops started to access each hidden camera installed on police cars, buildings and private vehicles within the vicinity. According to law enforcements, the cameras took photos of cars all over the place.

Shortly thereafter, the cops got the vehicle’s plate number and found out that the same indeed belongs to the rapper.

At present, the Bentley is already smooth and polished without any marks from the accident. Far from the damaged Bentley that was showed in a bunch of photos taken by the cameras. The authorities suspect that the rapper had the car repaired to conceal the incriminating proof of the incident.

Police later identified that the driver of the vehicle during the time of the accident was one of Soulja Boy’s friends, Abrahim Mustafa. He is a rapper by profession who goes by Arab. He was subsequently charged with felony hit-and-run.

According to a Los Angeles injury attorney, such secret networks of camera have actually solved hundreds of crimes in LA. Therefore, you cannot keep on hiding something, particularly a crime that you have committed in public since the cameras will definitely betray you.

George Michael Airlifted to Hospital after Motorway Crash

Anne Roberts — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:01:10 +0000

This is a guest post from Ben Magee of Hugh James Solicitors.

The British singer George Michael sustained ‘superficial cuts’ after falling out of his vehicle on the M1 motorway in Hertfordshire, England.

After the incident, in which the former Wham star was found covered in blood on the busy road at rush hour, it was initially unclear what exactly happened. Fortunately, there were no other vehicles involved or passengers hurt in the said vehicle accident. However, details began to pour claiming that the singer fell from the passenger seat of his Range Rover as he tried to close its door.

The British pop star, whose real name is Georgios Panayiotou, was travelling with friends, when fell onto the tarmac at a speed of around 70mph, hurting his head and ripping his clothing. Hertfordshire Police had to close the carriageway of the road while dealing with the ‘fallout.’ The singer was then airlifted to a hospital where he is still receiving treatment.

Katherine Fox, 23, was the first driver to reach the singer on the road and reversed her own vehicle against the rush hour traffic to allow him to make his way to the shoulder of the road. She later told the media sources that he was “lucky” to still be alive.

Two other people were in the Range Rover at the time, including the driver, but no arrests have been made. Afterwards, a spokesman for the star, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since performing Wham in the 1980s, said “George is being treated for superficial cuts and bruises but is fine.”

After hitting his head, the British pop star would definitely be very grateful that he only suffered minor injuries to what is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body, the head. Meanwhile, George’s driver would also be thankful that the damage wasn’t as a result of his error – meaning he can’t be pursued for brain injury compensation by head and brain injury lawyers.

What Are The Worst Cities For Car Accident Reports?

Anne Roberts — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:39:34 +0000

This is a guest post from Lauren B.

Planning to hit the road? Before you hop into your vehicle and head out, consider your driving environment since in some cities car accidents are relatively prevalent. Hence, it is in your best interest to mind your driving environment whenever going for a car ride.

A recent report produced by renowned insurance company Allstate has ranked the 200 of the largest cities in the United States with respect to car accident frequency. In order to establish the rankings, Allstate considered how often the average driver may have an accident and how that compares to the national average. While the average American car driver gets in only one accident every ten years, if you’re unlucky enough to be driving out on one of these roads, you’re more likely to be involved in a crash.

If you wish to play it safe out on the roads, it may be best to avoid the capital – as Washington, D.C. ranks number one; it’s the worst city for car accidents. Drivers in Washington, D.C. are involved, on average, in a car accident every 4.8 years. This startling statistic is more than twice as often as the national average. Coming in second place, is Baltimore, where you’re 88.7 more likely to get into an accident and have 5.3 years between every collision. For number three is Glendale, CA, you’re 80.8 percent more likely to end up in a collision and have 5.5 years between accidents. Newark, NJ takes the forth position – you are 70.8 percent more likely to get into an accident and generally have only 5.9 years between collisions. Meeting the middle is Providence, RI, your 66.7% more likely to get into an accident and average 6 years between collisions.

Philadelphia, where you are 60.2% more likely to get into an accident every 6 years, ranked sixth in the list. Ranking number seven is Hartford, CT. – you’re 59.9% more likely to get into an accident and the average years are 6.3 between collisions. Getting the number eight position is Jersey City, NJ – where you’re 57.5% more likely to get into collision and average 6.4 years between each one. In the Golden State, San Francisco ranks number nine in the top-ten list. You’re 57.3% more likely to get into an accident in this city and on average, there’s 6.4 years between each collision. When it comes to the top ten, Washington D.C.’s neighbor Alexandria, VA ranks as number ten. Compared to the national average, you’re 55.9% more likely to get into an accident; on average, you’ll have an accident every 6.4 years.

So why exactly do these ratings matter? Well, the likelihood of an accident affects your auto insurance premiums – so if you’re considering moving, you may want to reconsider prior to committing, or chose a city with safer drivers. Play it safe, because human actions are the largest cause of accidents!

About the Author:

Lauren B. is a freelance copywriter working with Ford Dealers in NJ to warn you of the worst cities in the US for car accident reports. For more info, visit Beyer Ford website.

Rain Causes Multiple Road Mishaps in Southern California

Anne Roberts — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:46:57 +0000

A heavy flow of rain may have brought the entire Southern California much needed rain. However, the same caused a series of vehicle accidents and traffic jam on several freeways and roads across the area.

On the very first day of rain pour, several accidents have been reported. The first one was a jackknifed oil tanker along 5 Freeway and 134 Freeway interchange, while the others spun out on local freeways involving multiple cars. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported following the incidents.

Also, a six-car pileup was reported in the Cahuenga Pass reportedly caused by bad weather condition. According to police reports, six vehicles slammed into one another along 101 Freeway near Barham Boulevard in Studio City. It is yet unclear whether anyone was seriously injured in the incident.

On the second day of continuous rain pour, motorists had their bad day heading to work due to the early morning weather condition. Nothing can be seen dry as the heavy downpour hit the Southland stretching from Duarte to Long Beach, Northridge and Westwood.

As the rain further continues, a rockslide in the Mulholland Drive area took place and caused the motorists to dodge and maneuver around boulders not far from the area.

While some motorists were mindful about the road conditions during bad weather others simply just enjoyed the rain. Of course, people have different point of view, reminded by a Los Angeles car accident attorney. In addition, he also noted to always slow down in driving and to give each other enough space between cars when hitting the road ways.

Street Racing Resulted to Fatal Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident

Rodney Mesriani — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:49:36 +0000

Photo is a screenshot of a street racing scene from the movie, Fast and the Furious.

Street racing is pretty common in many public roads despite being illegal. Alarmingly, street racing often results in personal injuries and fatalities since the vehicles used in such activity were not designed and built for racing. Also, most drivers are not trained for high speed driving.

The worst part of it is that street racers may put innocent motorists and pedestrians at risk because they race on public roads rather than in private facilities.

Apparently, this is what happened to an innocent bystander who was killed in a fiery pedestrian accident in South Los Angeles a week ago. According to news reports, a suspected street racing driver struck the 57-year-old man who was then crossing the street near Compton Avenue and 56th Street last April 28.

According to police reports, the suspect’s car was seen racing with another car, southbound on Compton Avenue. Video surveillance records have revealed that after the suspect hit the pedestrian, the vehicle subsequently crashed into some parked cars within the area.

Following reports found out that the driver of the said vehicle is an 18-year-old driver, whom later confessed and was arrested following the incident. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter.

In a detailed report released by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), it was revealed that the victim admitted that he was driving over the speed limit at the time of the accident. When he saw the pedestrian in front of him, it was too late for him to avoid the collision. Nevertheless, skid marks found on the ground near the scene indicated that the driver still tried to avoid the pedestrian before it hit several cars and a pole.

Incidentally, the area wherein the tragic incident took place is infamous for being one of the favorite venues for street racing and a Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyer is quite aware with that since he seldom sees those disruptive motorists in some of his late night driving. So far, the authorities are still looking for the second car that the suspect was racing.

Walking While Being Distracted: A Risk Factor in Pedestrian Accidents

dyrah_seo — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:28:23 +0000

In the newest data analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some 32,267 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the United States in 2011. Of this number, 4.432 of them were pedestrians, a 3-percent increase from the previous year, in which the NHTSA recorded 4,302 pedestrian deaths.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, California, pedestrians accounted for about one-third of all traffic fatalities. In comparison, the national average accounts for only 11.4 percent of all motor vehicle accidents. This is according to a research study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).

Indeed, the so-called “City of Angels” is still a not-so-friendly city for pedestrians. Incidentally, around 20 percent of road activity there involves not only pedestrians, but also bicyclists.

Pedestrians, too, can be distracted

The increase in pedestrian accidents on the federal and state level (in this case, the cities in California including L.A.) can be attributed to a lot of factors. One of them is distractions. Yes, even those who constantly travel on-foot to work or school can be distracted.

One such form of distraction is the frequent use of mobile phones, particularly smartphones. Such gadgets are often associated with distracted driving, where motorists tinker with their phones to text or call someone while behind the wheel. Apparently, this form of distraction also happens among pedestrians.

In fact, according to a study by the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center at the University of Washington, those who use such gadgets while walking are said to be four times more likely for pedestrians to ignore pedestrian traffic lights and fail to look left and right before crossing the road.

Moreover, the study also found out that aside from the use of such gadgets, some of the other common forms of distracted walking are talking to others, dealing with pets or children, and listening to music on their headsets.

What these pieces of information mean

These pieces of information only indicate one thing: distracted walking is as potentially dangerous as distracted driving. Also, with mobile devices such as cellphones and smartphones getting even more and more popular to the masses, it won’t be surprising that a lot of pedestrians may become distracted and be at risk of getting involved in an accident.

But then, it is never too late for regular pedestrians to hold off these distractions. Pedestrians should always be more cautious when they are on the sidewalk or waiting to walk on the crosswalks. On the other hand, a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer also suggests that motorists must also be very well aware of pedestrians, and that they should also hold off using gadgets while driving to avoid accidents.

Los Angeles Injury Lawyer: Distracted Driving among Teens Still a Big Problem

dyrah_seo — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:07:41 +0000

In time with the Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a Los Angeles injury lawyer herein calls anew to curb distracted driving problem among teens.

Based on a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car crashes are the number one cause of death among teenagers aged 15-20 and 60 percent of teens are likely to experience a car crash within a year upon receiving a driver’s license.

Meanwhile, in a statistic revealed by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was found out that distracted driving accounts for 25 percent of all reported causes of traffic accidents. Moreover, in a report released by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, California has the second highest fatality rate for drivers and passengers in car accidents involving drivers between the age of 15 and 20.

The lawyer herein urges parents that although they give their teenage sons and daughters driving privilege, at least they should put some precautions into their minds.

In fact, in a recent aim to curb incidences of distracted driving among teens, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) together with the non-profit organization, ImpactTeenDrivers.org, and Mercedez Benz Driving Academy, launched a live demonstration about distracted driving.

During the said event, the organizers put up safety cones in a driving range while a parent drives, the driving coach turned up the music loud, tries to distract the driver by making a call and screaming out since this is what actually teens experience after a Saturday night out.

Hopefully, parents would eventually come to realize the dangers that distracted driving can do to their children so that they can educate them about safe driving, the lawyer had anticipated. In that way, it precautions will start. Thereby, reducing the rapidly growing problem faced by the society on teenage distracted driving.

6 Fast Facts on Dog Attacks that You Might Have Missed

Anne Roberts — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:03:03 +0000

Dogs can be man’s best friend. However, improper care and handling of them can make them our greatest foe. When they feel threatened, dogs have this natural instinct of protecting themselves through biting.

Sometimes, dogs can feel agitated over reasons one average human being won’t know. Dog bites are no laughing matter, because 2011 statistics showed that such incidents have killed a number of Americans.

Did you know that…?

•   …in 2011, there were 31 recorded fatal dog attacks in the U.S.? Pit bulls led these attacks, accounting for about 71 percent even if they only make up less than 5 percent of the total dog population.
•   …adult victims of fatal pit bull attacks are more than twice as much of younger victims? Out of the 22 victims of pit bull bites, 15 (about 68 percent) of them were over the age of 32, while 7 (about 32 percent) of them were children ages 5 and below.
•   …there was a notable increase in pit bull pet owners getting killed by their dogs?
•   …pit bulls and Rottweiler breeds are the top two lethal dog breeds? In 2011, they accounted for 84 percent of all fatal attacks.
•   …pit bulls have killed an American once every 20 days while a Rottweiler killed one citizen every 88 days?
•   …California and Texas are the leading states with most fatalities in 2011? Both states recorded 4 dog attack deaths.

These very alarming statistics are based from the 2011 study by Dogsbite.com, a national group that aims to reduce serious dog attack occurrences in the country. Because of this, prospective pet owners need to better take care of their pet dogs, especially pit bulls and the Rottweiler breeds.

By taking better care of your dogs and understanding them better, you can avoid them from attacking. Unless you want someone hire a good Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to sue you for negligence, make sure that you help keep your dog from biting somebody else.

As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to take good care of your dogs to prevent them from attacking you or other people. So better raise your awareness now before things could get real nasty.