Redding Personal Injury Lawyer - Automobile Accidents

Cell Phone Causes Major I-5 Crash - Federal Government Employee not Following California Law

Todd Slaughter — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:30:44 GMT

We all know it is a bad idea to fool around with our cell phones while we are driving. One group of researchers at the University of Utah found that drivers on cell phones are more likely to cause an accident than drivers who are drunk. Many of us do it anyway, and often we cause accidents or even deaths.

California, since July of 2008, has been one of five states that ban the use of hand held cell phones while driving. Moreover, in California the ban is one of primary enforcement, meaning that law enforcement officers can pull a driver over simply for the use of the phone.

One might expect that if anyone should be obeying the law in California, it would be law enforcement personnel. And yet, this week we see undercover officers of the federal government involved in a serious accident. These officers somehow managed to not see an enormous highway maintenance truck, at least until they were slamming into it from behind. The driver, an undercover agent of the Bureau of Land Management told investigators that he was talking on his cell phone and simply did not see the truck. His passenger is currently hospitalized with major internal injuries.

So, for the sake of a momentary convenience, the agent's cell phone use seriously injured his passenger, caused two others to be taken to the hospital, closed down the I-5 southbound for more than an hour, and destroyed a Caltrans maintenance vehicle. Was this phone call important enough to justify all this?

With very few exceptions, no one should be making calls while driving. It’s not just a bad idea, in California it’s against the law. Law enforcement personnel, whether state or federal, should know the law and act as examples to others. More and more drivers seem to be ignoring the law passed just one year ago. For federal employees to refuse to obey California law is unacceptable. Moreover, the officer’s cell-phone caused inattention proved to be reprehensibly dangerous, pure and simple.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

The Deer Warns "I'm Here," Helpful?

Todd Slaughter — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:18:44 GMT

FORT JONES, Calif. - This summer Cal Trans is installing a deer detection system in a remote area of far northern California. The system involves the radar detection of deer and other large mammals (probably including humans, or Bigfoot) on the roadway. If an animal is detected, a warning sign posted near the location will begin to flash. Motorists seeing these flashing lights will presumably respond by slowing down and looking for the animals.

Cal Trans has selected a remote area of Highway 3 near Fort Jones to install this first system in California. There are 15 similar systems throughout the United States. This particular five mile stretch of road experiences approximately 60 deer hits per year. Presumably, if the pilot project is successful, it will be expanded to other locations. Our home website post on this subject elicits input from local motorists in Northern California to identify other locations and times when deer and other animals are dangerously prevalent on our roads.

The Redding Record Searchlight article on these detection systems notes that the device also detects the speed of the oncoming vehicles. Nothing is mentioned about using the device to enforce speed limits. Nevertheless, I would suggest that this not be considered. If speeding tickets were given at these very remote locations, I could envision some motorists or locals being motivated to damage or defeat that aspect of the device. Since the device must gather data about the oncoming vehicle to determine if a warning is necessary, such damage would defeat the entire system. The detection and warning system is a good idea, let's not overreach.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Cyclist Injured by Hit-and-Run Driver

Todd Slaughter — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:04:56 GMT

REDDING, Calif. - On the evening that the Shasta Wheelmen participated in the international Ride of Silence, a slow-ride of rememberance of cyclists injured or killed on public roadways, a 49-year-old Redding man cycling on Hartnell Avenue was struck at the intersection of Churn Creek Road by a vehicle that blew through a red light. The vehicle, described by witnesses as a Honda CRX hatchback, then sped away.

The Record Searchlight reported this morning, May 21, 2009, that the hit-and-run suspect was later arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and DUI.

The injured bicyclist was purportedly taken to Mercy Medical Center. He was not a participant in the local Ride of Silence, but the accident underscores the need for local motorists to be cognizant of bicyclists in our community. More and more of our community members are taking advantage of our wonderful year-round good weather, and beautiful surroundings to get their exercise through bike riding. The motoring public needs to be ever-vigilant to "Share the Road," as the slogan goes. Be safe out there!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Chico Police Crack Down on Cell Phone Use by Motorists

Todd Slaughter — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:00:27 GMT

CHICO, Calif. - Yesterday the Chico Police Department issued 44 citations in a single day crackdown on cell phones by motorists. It has been unlawful to use a handheld cell phone while operating a motor vehicle since July 2008. We applaud this act of open and visible enforcement of the cell phone restrictions.

Right after the law passed there was a noticeable change in the habits of cell phone users. No longer were drivers pulling out their phones immediately after pulling out of their garages. Over the past several months, however, cell phone users have reverted back to their old habits. I cannot drive home in the evening, a drive of 5 minutes, without seeing 3-4 handheld cell phones being used by drivers. Even texting is being seen, despite the clear dangerousness of such practice.

Perhaps a similar crackdown in other north state cities such as Redding or Red Bluff would "rattle the cages" of the cell phone users again, reminding motorists that use of cell phones while driving has been outlawed because it is dangerous.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Crash into Klamath River Kills Driver, Injures Passengers

Todd Slaughter — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:52:47 GMT

REDDING, Calif. - On Tuesday, March 21, 2009, a single car crash off State Route 96 in Somes Bar took the life of the driver and critically injured two passengers. According to the Eureka Times-Standard, the crash occurred at approximately 4 p.m. when a 41-year-old Yreka man traveling northbound on State Route 96 made an unsafe left turn, leaving the pavement, then tumbling down a 350-foot embankment, striking trees and rolling until coming to rest in the Klamath River. The driver was dead at the scene and a 27-year-old male passenger and a 37-year-old female passenger, both from Somes Bar, were critically injured. The two passengers were air-lifted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Their current status is unknown.

Preliminary investigation suggests that alcohol was involved and questions have been raised about the use of seat belts. This is a very windy and isolated area of roadway along the Klamath River. Accidents along this stretch of road seldom have a positive result. The highway sees increased use during fishing, hunting and vacation seasons. Let's be safe out there!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Head-On Collision on SR 299 Kills Arizona Man

Todd Slaughter — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:16:36 GMT

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Last night a 50-year-old Arizona man was fatally injured when his Chevy S-10 pickup drifted across the centerline of Highway 299 and collided with another vehicle. According to the Redding Record Searchlight, the tragic crash occurred in the mountaneous area between Bella Vista and Ingot. The other driver, an 18-year-old Montgomery Creek man, was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Redding with moderate injuries. It appears he was kept overnight.

The California Highway Patrol has not released the results of its investigation and could not say whether drugs or alcohol were involved. Weather and road conditions do not appear to have been a factor.

Highway 299 has had an unusually high rate of serious crashes over the last couple of years. Let's hope that this trend does not continue. Be safe out there.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Crash Kills Woman on South Market

Todd Slaughter — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:02:54 GMT

REDDING, Calif. - Yesterday I was driving up So. Market street at about 11:30 a.m. when I observed numerous emergency vehicles crowded together in the southbound lane. There were scores of people out on the street and sidewalks. As I passed by the emergency vehicles I could see a small gray sedan on the west curb with the passenger side completely bashed in. I had just passed by this location minutes earlier and no emergency was apparent. I learned today in the Record Searchlight that the crash caused the death of a 77-year-old Redding woman. I feel sick about having come upon the scene and my sincerest condolensces go to her family.

According to the Searchlight the accident happened when the vehicle that the deceased woman was riding in made a left turn from the northbound lane of Market onto Grange St. A southbound Jeep Cherokee driven by a 22-year-old Douglas City man struck the passenger side of the car. The woman died shortly thereafter.

The Redding Police Department is asking for witnessess. 530.225.8217.

The location of the accident is particularly troublesome. This area of So. Market has seen numerous serious accidents, including pedestrian fatalities, in recent years. The Good Will Mission is on this block, and there are often many people milling about. Motorists seem to habitually travel at relatively high speeds down this 4-lane stretch of highway. Warning signs have been posted in the last few years, as well as a pedestrian activated flashing light, but these may not be adequate in light of the speeds involved and the potential for distractions. A signal light has been discussed as an option, but apparently has been resisted by motorists and commuters. I would suggest, at the least, that the speeds be reduced to the usual speeds for a business district, 25 mph. Something should be done.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Fatal Rollover on I-5 near Willows

Todd Slaughter — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:42:23 GMT

WILLOWS, Calif. - A Wednesday morning rollover of a 2008 Chevy Suburban killed a 24-year-old Oregon woman and seriously injured three others. According to the Chico Enterprise-Record the rollover occured on Interstate 5 north of County Road 57. The driver apparently failed to negotiate a curve, drifted off the road, then overcorrected back onto the road. After re-entering the road, the Suburban apparently flipped and rolled. The young woman that was killed was ejected. Officers speculate that she and another occupant that was ejected, were reclined in the back and not wearing restraints.

The other occupants were all from Oregon and suffered serious injuries. Initially, they were taken to Enloe Hospital in Chico. One or more may have been subsequently transferred to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. Their current status is unknown.

Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Our sincerest condolences go to the family of the young woman that was killed.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Two Drivers Seriously Injured in Head-On I-5 Crash

Todd Slaughter — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:23:22 GMT

ANDERSON, Calif. - A mid-afternoon crash on I-5 yesterday sent both motorists to Mercy Medical Center with major injuries. According to the Redding Record Searchlight, the crash occurred on I-5 near Balls Ferry Road when a vehicle driven by a 29-year-old Red Bluff man lost control in the northbound lanes and crossed the center median. The vehicle then crashed into a southbound car driven by a 63-year-old Red Bluff woman. Both are reported to be stable at this time. It was not raining when the crash occurred, but the roadway was wet.

Several road closures have been occuring throughout the Northern California with the recent batch of cold storms that have crossed the region. It has also been reported that many vehicles have lost control on I-5 north of Redding as they passed through the Sacramento River canyon. There are no specific road closures at this moment, but motorists should be checking ahead for closures and chain requirements through the President's Day holiday. Be safe out there.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Woman Thrown from Vintage Seatbeltless Vehicle - Killed

Todd Slaughter — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:16:08 GMT

CRESCENT CITY - Calif. A 65-year-old Cloverdale woman was killed after being ejected from a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria that had drifted off the road, struck an embankment and overturned. The passenger door flew open during the accident sequence and the woman was thrown onto the street. A passing semi-truck then struck the woman, killing her instantly.

According to the the Eureka Times-Standard, the CHP investigated the fatality and stated that the vintage Ford vehicle did not require seatbelts due to its manufacture date. Motor vehicles manufactured before January 1962 are not required to have seatbelts. (Vehicle Code 27314).

When the new seatbelt laws were being adopted in the Sixties, the car industry objected to the retro-fit of cars that had been manufactured before the seatbelt requirement. The retrofit would have encompassed millions of cars. Today, however, the number of these vintage vehicles on the road is small. Many owners have seatbelts installed out of concern for their own safety.

Though we are not faulting the owner of the vehicle for not having seatbelts in a car where they were not required by law, we are sorry that they were not available when this crash happened. We would urge owners of vintage cars to rethink their position concerning the installation of belts, as they certainly make the car safer at a relatively low cost. There are so few "stock" cars on the road today to justify not installing the safety device today.

Our condolences to the family.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter