Car Accidents

Teens Need to Speak Up About Distracted Driving

Whether they view it as a part of their culture or just simply feel they are invincible and “able to handle it,” teens still seem the most prone to try to use their smartphones while driving. Even though this is a problem regarding all age groups, California does have additional laws that target younger teen drivers. For example, teens under the age of eighteen are not even allowed to use hands-free solutions for their tech while driving. The idea is to create the least distractions for someone who is still just getting used to driving.

If you are a teen yourself, how can you help your peers to drive safely and avoid the serious injuries that occur every year due to distracted drivers?

• Don’t get in a car with someone whose driving habits make you feel uncomfortable.
• Speak up if you believe the driver is taking dangerous, illegal, or unnecessary risks.

Keep in mind that about half of the deaths caused by distracted teen drivers are their own passengers, so advocating for yourself may save your life or a friend’s.

If You Have Been Injured by a Distracted Driver

Approximately 400,000 injuries occur every year due to distracted teen drivers, and other distracted drivers add many more injuries to that statistic. Petrov Law Firm is here to help if you have been injured in a car accident in southern California. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360, and let our experienced attorneys deal with the insurance company to ensure that you get what you truly deserve.

3 Ways to Reduce Smartphone Distractions While Behind the Wheel

Smartphones are not the only distraction for drivers, but they are the one that gets the most attention. Perhaps this is because nearly every person has one, and we seem to find it difficult to stop looking at them over and over throughout the day. Have you ever taken your phone out of your pocket to check the time and then put it away a few minutes later and then realized you still don’t know what time it is? Then you understand what we mean.

But when driving, smartphone distractions can become deadly, so here are a few ways to stay focused:

• Use Bluetooth – Making a hands-free call or having your phone read a text over the car stereo system is still distracting, but at least you don’t have to take your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel. If you absolutely need to make calls while driving, this is the best way to do it.
• Use DND mode – Most phones have a do not disturb, focus, or driving mode. Use these settings to limit what your phone will notify you about while driving. Some settings even allow you to reply with an autoresponder that lets the person know you are driving and will check their message when you arrive.
• Turn it off – This is the safest and most effective method of avoiding distraction.

If You Have Been Injured by a Distracted Driver in CA

California is a tort state which means the at-fault driver is on the hook for all damages caused. Petrov Law Firm can help you to get the best settlement from a car insurance company to cover your medical bills and other expenses. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get started.

How to Keep Alert When at the Wheel

We often talk about how important it is to avoid distractions when driving, but it is also essential to stay alert. Driving while drowsy slows reaction times and can cause a person to make a bad decision that leads to a dangerous accident. Here are a few tips to help you feel more awake while behind the wheel.

• Try to avoid driving at times you would normally be asleep – We know that schedule changes sometimes occur. However, these adjustments take time for the body. If you just decide one day to take a road trip and drive overnight to your destination when your body is used to being asleep during those hours, you may end up fighting an irresistible urge to close your eyes.
• Pay attention to how medications affect you – Some medications may cause drowsiness. Often these drugs impact people in different ways. Therefore, when starting a new medication, you should take some time to see how it impacts your alertness. Keep in mind that some medications could result in a DUI if you drive while taking them, so be sure to know the law.
• Take regular breaks – On a long drive, take breaks every couple of hours. If you have another driver in the car, be sure to change drivers when one of you is tired. If you have to, it is better to find a place to pull over and take a nap than to drive with your abilities impaired by drowsiness.

Car Accident Attorneys in San Diego

If you have been injured in a car accident in southern California, the personal injury lawyers at Petrov Law Firm can help. Call 619.344.0360 today to schedule a consultation.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents?

The NHTSA (National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration) has reported in the past that most car accidents occur due to human error, making the subsequent injuries avoidable. Poor decision-making accounts for more than 90% of crashes, which means that in a tort state like California, there is usually evidence to place blame on one of the drivers. Here are three of the main reasons accidents occur.

• Distracted driving – Smartphone use may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a distracted driver. However, drivers found ways to be distracted long before modern technology. A driver may be too busy fiddling with the radio, smoking, eating, or applying makeup to pay attention to the road, and that can lead to an accident in the blink of an eye.
• DUI – This term is most often associated with drinking and driving. However, it can also refer to someone driving while under the influence of any type of drug, either legal or illicit. And while it doesn’t count as DUI, driving while drowsy can also significantly slow a person’s reaction time.
• Driving too fast – Speeding is the top cause of serious injuries. The faster a driver is going, the more likely they are to cause serious damage to any vehicle they collide with.

Car Accident Attorneys in San Diego

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in southern California, contact the personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm. We can help you to maximize the settlement you receive from the insurance company. Call 619.344.0360 to get started today.

Dangers to Watch Out for When Sharing the Road with Trucks

California is a tort state, so if you are in an accident with a truck and it is the truck driver’s fault, their insurance should cover your medical bills and other losses. However, no one in a car ever comes out of an accident with a truck in perfect shape, so we wanted to share a few things to look out for to help you stay alert when you have to share the road with trucks.

• A sleepy driver – Truck driver shifts are regulated to try and avoid someone being on the road for too long. However, you may still meet a sleepy driver. You can tell because they may often hit the rumble strips or weave into the other lane. Or they may vary their speed a lot. Try to stay as far away as you can!
• A reckless driver – Truck drivers are generally pretty careful since their livelihood depends on maintaining a good driving record. However, you may run into a driver who is having a bad day on occasion. If a truck is speeding, tailgating, or performing other aggressive moves, it is best to let them go by and maintain a healthy distance.
• A wide turn – Don’t forget that trucks don’t have a great turning radius, so if a truck has to make a turn while you are at a light or stop sign, make sure to give the driver plenty of room.

Truck Driving Accidents in San Diego

If you have been injured in an accident with a truck in southern California, Petrov Law Firm can help. Call 619.344.0360 to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney.

How to Handle Medical Expenses Due to Injuries

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall, a dog attack, or in some other preventable way, the most important thing to do is to get the proper medical care. However, you may find that the bills are starting to pile up. Maybe the injuries were more extensive than you thought at first, or perhaps you were taken to a facility that this not covered by your insurance due to the location of the accident.

So how can you handle the medical expenses? The number one thing is to track all of the expenses closely. These bills prove that you experienced damages as the result of the accident. Now, it is time to hire a personal injury attorney in the state where the injuries occurred. This is vital because you will most likely be dealing with an insurance company.

Insurance companies hire people who are very friendly and charismatic as their adjusters. This gives you the sense that they are working for you and trying to get you the best payout possible to cover your losses. But remember: the adjuster works for the insurance company. Their job is to pay out as little as possible, so you should have someone who knows the law helping you to get what you truly deserve.

San Diego’s Personal Injury Attorneys

At Petrov Law Firm, we are committed to helping our clients receive the proper compensation for their losses. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to have an experienced attorney handle your settlement.

Health Concerns Following a Motor Vehicle Accident

If you have walked away from a motor vehicle accident without any major injuries, you are very lucky. However, you should still see a doctor just to get checked out. This is true even after an accident that didn’t seem so bad. The fact is that you can end up with whiplash from a minor fender bender, and that neck soreness may be your only symptom for now, but things can change in the days, weeks, or even months after an accident.

You should be especially alert to changing symptoms if you hit your head or if your neck got whipped around fast enough to have caused a concussion. Go back to the doctor immediately if you begin to experience any of these symptoms:

• Chronic daily headaches or migraines
• Vertigo, dizziness, or lightheadedness
• Mood changes such as sudden irritability
• Concentration or memory issues
• Difficulty sleeping
• Blurry vision
• Ringing in the ears
• New sensitivity to light or sound

Fortunately, California allows you to file a case up to two years after most personal injuries, so you don’t have to worry your medical bills will pile up without compensation. You should, however, start your case as soon as you can by hiring a personal injury attorney in the state.

San Diego’s Personal Injury Attorneys

Contact Petrov Law Firm today to get your case started if you have been injured in southern California. Just call 619.344.0360, and one of our experienced lawyers will help you to maximize the settlement you receive from the car insurance company.

Safe Driving Practices to Protect Your Family

In the state of California, you never want to be the one at fault in a motor vehicle accident because this is a tort state. However, you have an even better reason to drive as safely as possible. You want to protect your family and others both in your vehicle and in others on the road. Here are a few safe driving tips.

• Follow the laws of the road – These laws are in place to protect drivers and passengers. One of the most vital laws to obey is the speed limit. The worst accidents and injuries occur when one or more drivers are moving at high speeds.
• Don’t drive angry – Road rage is responsible for many unsafe driving behaviors. Even if another driver cuts you off, drives too close, or flies by at high speeds, you need to think about what is best for the people in your car. That means remaining calm and continuing following the traffic laws to the best of your ability.
• Remove distractions – There are so many things that can distract a driver. The fewer distractions you allow for yourself, the more you can stay focused on the road. While your phone is the worst distraction, but there are many other things to avoid doing while driving.

When You Have Been Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident

Petrov Law Firm is here to help car accident injury victims in southern California. Contact our San Diego office today at 619.344.0360 and get in touch with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.

3 Things to Know After a Car Accident in California

If you have experienced a car accident in the state of California, you need to understand the rules that apply. This is true whether you are a resident or were on vacation. Here are three essentials when it comes to receiving proper compensation after a car accident in California.

• California is a tort state – This means that the insurance of the at-fault driver is on the hook for the settlement. If you are from out of state, this may be new to you since many US states are no-fault states (meaning that each driver’s insurance covers their own liability regardless of who was at fault).
• Any lawsuits filed must be in the state of California – Again, this means that all California state laws apply. You need to know what the statute of limitations is for your type of accident so that you don’t wait too long to make a claim.
• You need a California attorney – This is true in any state. You need an attorney who can practice in the state where your case is. And that makes sense because laws are different from state to state, so a local attorney is going to know best anyway.

Personal Injury Attorneys in San Diego

For experienced attorneys in southern California, car accident victims choose Petrov Law Firm. Our lawyers can help you to get what you really deserve from the insurance company. Give us a call today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started right away!

Three Myths About Car Accidents Settlements

Car accidents are one of the most common reasons to begin a personal injury case. After all, injuries can lead to medical debt, missed work, or even long-term health issues. Here are a few myths you should know are untrue so that the settlement you receive adequately compensates you for your losses.

• Myth 1: You only can receive compensation for medical bills – Compensatory damages should include any tangible and intangible losses. For example, you may have had to use some sick days or vacation days while recovering from the accident, or you may have had to change your job due to the extent of the injuries. Lost benefits and future wages also count.
• Myth 2: The insurance company will make sure I am fairly compensated – The insurance company’s business is based on paying out as little as possible. If you just wait for a settlement and take what they give you, there is no way you received what you truly deserve.
• Myth 3: It is too expensive to hire a lawyer – Actually, the reverse is true. Without a lawyer, the insurance company may take advantage of you. The fee for an attorney is nothing compared to getting the settlement you actually deserve.

Personal Injury Attorneys in Southern California

Petrov Law Firm has experienced personal injury attorneys to help maximize your settlement. Don’t let the insurance company decide what you deserve for your injuries. Let our team of experts help you get what you truly deserve. Call 619.344.0360 to get started.