Car Accidents

Tips for Drivers to Avoid Smartphone Distractions 

California drivers need to watch out for distractions. Not only can they lead to dangerous accidents, but even if you manage to avoid an accident while driving distracted, you could still get a ticket if you are breaking the law. For example, California has a number of regulations regarding smartphone use while driving. Here are some tips to help you avoid smartphone distractions while you are behind the wheel.

• Turn it off/silence your phone – If you don’t know messages or calls are coming in, you won’t be tempted to look at your phone until you reach your destination.
• Have your passenger navigate – If you need to use GPS, make sure you have the volume up so you don’t have to look at the phone. If you have a passenger, let them be the navigator.
• Use hands-free or Bluetooth – If you are 18 and over, you can still make calls in a hands-free manner. If your car has Bluetooth, this feature can allow you to reduce distraction and obey the law. If you are under 18, you can’t use a smartphone for any reason while driving, even hands-free, so don’t even bother connecting your phone to the car’s Bluetooth. Refer to the first suggestion on our list.

Car Accident Attorneys in San Diego

If you have been in an automobile accident, especially if the other driver was distracted, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills and other losses. Contact Petrov Law Firm at 619.344.0360 to get in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney today.

Wrongful Death Suits in Southern California

One of the worst tragedies a family can face is when a loved one’s life is suddenly ended in an avoidable accident. If your family is experiencing such an injustice, we want to express our sympathies. Please, know that you are not alone and that your family may be able to receive compensation for your loss. Just a few of the ways that wrongful deaths occur include:

• Medical malpractice – Doctors and medical facilities must meet a minimum standard of care for patients.
• Defective products – Products must include instructions for safe use and must be recalled if the manufacturer learns of a danger to consumers.
• Workplace accidents – Workplace deaths can be avoided by proper training and safety equipment. However, not all employers provide these necessary things.
• Motor vehicle accident – Lives are ended every day by drivers who are involved in unsafe practices such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or by driving while distracted due to mobile devices and other factors.

While money cannot heal the wounds your family is dealing with, proper compensation can help you to cope with the financial loss. Gaining justice can also begin the healing of emotional wounds, knowing that the court system recognizes that your family was wronged by what happed.

Compassionate Wrongful Death Suit Assistance in San Diego

Don’t allow grief to result in your family being cheated by a low settlement. Before you sign anything, call Petrov Law Firm at 619.344.0360 to speak with a compassionate and experienced attorney to help you maximize any compensation that your family may be due.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians in Southern California

The weather in southern California is great for pedestrians just about any time of year. Unfortunately, drivers can make going for a walk an extremely dangerous activity. As a pedestrian, you need to be your own advocate and keep yourself safe. Here are a few tips:

• Always look both ways when crossing – You learned this in school. You heard it from your parents. It is still the number one safety tip for walking. Don’t assume drivers are looking for you. You have to look for them.
• Use a crosswalk when available – Sometimes, in rural areas, you may not have his option, but in a city, you always have to use the crosswalk. Drivers are more likely to be looking out for pedestrians when they cross at designated areas. Plus, it will help your case if you are injured in an accident.
• Avoid distractions while walking – Just like drivers get into trouble when they are looking at a phone while in motion, pedestrians can have the same problem. There are no laws about texting and walking, but you better believe an insurance company is going to bring it up if you try and sue their client for hitting you.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident as a pedestrian, then you need the help of qualified personal injury attorneys to get what you deserve from the insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 and speak with an experienced lawyer from Petrov Law Firm today.

Please Don’t Drive Drowsy San Diego

The CDC has estimated that about 6,000 fatal accidents occur each year due to drowsy drivers. This is a huge increase from a 2013 report that stated 800 deaths and 44,000 injuries occurred in that one year alone. Up to 3% of all motor vehicle accidents may involve a driver who is too tired to be behind the wheel. Consider the following reasons to pull over and take a nap if you are sleepy.

• Lack of sleep affects attention span – While drowsy driving makes up a small percentage of accidents, distracted driving leads to far more. If you are tired, you are more likely to let yourself get distracted in an effort to remain alert.
• Diminished cognitive ability – You just can’t make good decisions when you are beginning to fall asleep. Therefore, you may pull in front of a car that is driving to fast or is too close, or in other ways make a disastrous driving decision.
• Reduced reaction time – Being sleepy slows your reaction time, just like driving intoxicated would. If you don’t hit your breaks, swerve, or speed up in time, you may end up having an accident that an awake and alert driver could have avoided.

San Diego’s Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured in a car accident, especially if the other driver was drowsy, distracted, or otherwise at fault, Petrov Law Firm can help. Our experienced attorneys are ready to fight to help you get the settlement you deserve. Call 619.344.0360 to get started.

Cycling Safely in Southern California

The US experiences a shocking amount of loss due to motor vehicle accidents involving bicycles. The fact is that when someone on a bike is struck by a car, there are almost always going to be major medical expenses as well as missed workdays. We’ve compiled a few of the best safe riding tips to help you bike safely around southern California.

• Always assume drivers won’t see you – A person operating a car should always be looking for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorbikes. Unfortunately, most people are too distracted, either by their own thoughts or something external. Therefore, you have to advocate for yourself and yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.
• Use hand signals – While some drivers may not know what they mean, you should still always use hand signals when turning. Of course, it is even safer to invest in some turn signal lights for your bike, especially if you ride a lot or at night.
• Wear something reflective – You need to have lights on your bike (some are required by law in California), but you should also wear reflective clothing to increase your visibility to other drivers after dark.

Help for Injured Cyclists in San Diego

If you have been injured by a driver while riding your bike in southern California, you need the help of an experienced personal injury attorney to get the full compensation that you deserve from the insurance company. Call Petrov Law Firm at 619.344.0360 to learn how we can help.

How to Protect Your Family from Car Accident Injuries

You can’t account for what other people on the road are going to do, so the best way to protect your family is to avoid risky behaviors when driving. Here are three situations that cause most accidents on the road.

• Driving under the influence – Whether it is alcohol or a prescription medication, driving under the influence of any substance that can dull your senses is dangerous. Also, avoid driving while drowsy because this can have similarly dangerous effects.
• Distracted driving – California has laws regarding the use of handheld devices while driving for this very reason – it is dangerous. However, it can also be distracting to smoke, put on make-up, or eat while driving. Avoid anything that can take your eyes off the road or slow down your reaction time.
• Driving too fast – This is actually what is responsible for the highest percentage of car accidents that result in serious injuries or fatalities. Driving the speed limit (or even slower if circumstances dictate it) is the best way to keep your family safe on the road.

Car Accident Injury Attorneys in Southern California

If another driver has caused an accident that has resulted in injury for you or a family member, consult the personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm in San Diego. We have the experience that you want in your corner when dealing with car insurance companies to try and maximize your settlement and get what you really deserve. Call 619.344.0360 to see if you are eligible for compensation.

Read This Before You Take Your Bicycle on the Streets of San Diego

Riding a bicycle can be a fun pastime or a great way to get to the office without sitting in traffic and wasting gas. However, you have to be safe when you take to the streets, especially if you don’t have a car surrounding you to protect you from others on the road. Here are a few of the most important tips to keep you safe while riding your bike around San Diego.

• Wear the proper protective gear – A helmet may not always be a fashion statement, but it gives you much better odds of surviving if you are in an accident while riding your bike. Wearing something reflective is also important, especially if you are riding at night.
• Have lights on your bike – While only certain lights are required by California law, the more visible you are to drivers, the safer you will be. Lights on the front and back of your bike during the daytime and at night will increase your visibility.
• Watch for right-hand turns – Cars turning right will have to cut through the bike lane. Always assume that the driver doesn’t see you, even if you are sitting next to him at a red light. If you both start going the second the light turns green, it is going to go much worse for you than the car.

Personal Injury Attorneys for Bicycle Accidents in San Diego

If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in southern California, call the attorneys at Petrov Law Firm to get the help you need seeking a settlement. Dial 619.344.0360 to schedule an appointment now.

Dangerous Road Conditions That Lead to Motor Vehicle Accidents

Driving a car always calls for exercising proper caution. However, there are some circumstances that make it even more important to protect yourself and your passengers, even if that means driving slower than the posted speed limit. Here are a few road conditions that cause problems for many drivers.

• Construction – Road work poses extra dangers both when it comes to road conditions as well as proximity to the workers. Be sure to follow the posted road signs, which should provide you with instructions for safe driving such as a lower speed limit or lane usage restrictions.
• Inclement weather – While California is known for beautiful weather, there are still rainstorms and other conditions that may make roadways slick. Remember that wet roads mean that you will need more time to stop, so leave extra room between you and the car in front of you.
• Driving at night – There are many hazards that are presented when driving after dark. Visibility is lower, you need to be sure to shut your high beams for oncoming traffic, and there is always that pedestrian crossing the street who isn’t wearing reflective clothing. Plus, road hazards, such as potholes, may not be visible until the last moment.

San Diego’s Trusted Personal Injury Attorneys

When a person is injured in a car accident, they need help from professionals who know what compensation is due. At Petrov Law Firm, you will meet trusted attorneys who are experienced with personal injury settlements. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started.

These Statistics Are the Reason California Is Still Telling Us to Put Down Our Phones

California has had hands-free laws in place for several years now. The restrictions are even more stringent for those under the age of 18. So why are there continued campaigns to try and get people to put their phones down while they drive? Here are some telling stats.

• In just one year, about 2.2% of drivers were busted breaking hands-free laws.
• The younger a driver is, the more likely they are to violate hands-free legislation. The same study showed that 4.9% of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 were guilty.
• In rural areas, people are far more likely to try and get away with using a phone while driving. While there may be fewer cars, there is also often less visibility on old country roads, thereby increasing the danger.
• At least parents are driving safe. The category of drivers that had the fewest infractions in the study were those who had a passenger age 8 or younger.

During the same year that these statistics were taken, 391,000 accidents occurred as a result of distracted driving. These accidents caused numerous injuries and ended 3,450 lives. Distracted driving is a serious matter, and no one should think they are immune to having an accident, regardless of their age or where they live.

If You Have Been Hurt by a Distracted Driver

In Southern California, the personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm are here to help if a distracted driver causes you harm. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started.

California Urges You to Put Your Phone Down and Drive

Due to the terrible effects of distracted driving, the state of California has had some public service campaigns to encourage less phone use while operating a vehicle. The current campaign is called “Put Your Phone Down. Just Drive.” and you have probably heard that mantra repeated in ads.

What are the current laws in California regarding smartphone use in a car?

• It is never permitted for someone under the age of 18 to use a smartphone while driving. Don’t spend your money on hands-free devices like a Bluetooth headset until your turn 18 because you can’t use it in the car anyway.
• If you are 18 or older, don’t pick up your phone while driving. If you are going to use your phone, it should be in a hands-free manner only. Of course, this also means no reading and responding to texts while driving. If your phone is connected to your vehicle via Bluetooth, you may be able to have the car read a text to you, and you may even be able to respond verbally. But don’t be tempted to pick up the device to make sure your dictated text was correctly formatted.

San Diego Attorneys for Car Accident Injuries

Petrov Law Firm is here to help if you have been injured by a distracted driver in a car accident. Contact us today to learn how we can help you to maximize the settlement you receive from the insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 to get your case started now.