Distracted Driving

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.

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.

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.

Changing Teen Driving Culture to Save Lives

About 4,000 teenagers are killed on US roadways every year due to distracted driving. This makes the number one cause of death for teens completely preventable. It’s not enough to create more laws about distracted driving. There are laws in place nationwide, and it keeps happening. This is about changing the culture of teenage drivers in the United States.

California realizes this and has signaled out young teenage drivers with heavier laws and penalties for phone use. However, it is not enough of a deterrent just to pass laws against distracted driving. Teen passengers need to advocate for themselves.

• Tell the driver if you believe they are taking risks while driving
• Don’t get in the car with a driver who uses their phone or allows other distractions

This is essential because half of the deaths due to distracted adolescent drivers are their passengers. Don’t become the next victim!

Injuries Are Also Common Among Distracted Teen Drivers

There are about 400,000 injuries caused each year by distract adolescent drivers. If you or a loved one has experienced such an injury, you need the help of a personal injury attorney. California is a tort state. The at-fault driver’s insurance should cover all of your medical expenses and other damages. You need an experienced California attorney to help maximize your settlement.

Petrov Law Firm in San Diego can provide you with the assistance you need at this difficult time. Call 619.344.0360 today and get what you really deserve from the insurance company.

Tips for Avoiding Distractions While Driving

There have always been potential distractions for drivers. From conversations with passengers to flipping through radio stations to dashboard dining, anything that pulls your eyes off the road puts you and other drivers at risk. However, the smartphone has emerged as the single deadliest distraction on the road. Here are a few ways to keep yourself from being distracted while driving.

• Turn your phone off while driving – This is the best way to avoid distractions while driving, especially for those under 18 in California who are not even legally allow ed to use a phone hands-free while on the road. Unfortunately, it is often not possible because many of us use the phone for directions.
• Place your phone in do not disturb mode – This is another good option. You can use your phone for things like GPS but won’t receive an alert when a text or call is coming in. This way, you won’t be tempted to look at your phone or respond. Some mobile operating systems will allow you to automatically go into DND mode while driving and will reply with an autoresponder.
• Connect your phone to your car via Bluetooth for hands-free use – While still distracting, some states allow you to use your phone while driving in this way, and it is certainly better than taking your hands off the wheel.

Car Accident Injuries in Southern California

Petrov Law Firm is here to help if you have been injured by a distracted driver. Give us a call at 619.344.0360 and let us help you to maximize the settlement you receive from the auto insurance company.

Most Car Accidents Are Human Error

According to a report by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, nearly all motor vehicle accidents are avoidable. Human error and poor decision-making contribute to more than nine out of every ten auto accidents. What are some of the most glaring mistakes that drivers make?

• Driving under the influence – Whether under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or legal drugs, the results are the same. Intoxicated drivers can’t make good decisions and can end up in serious accidents leading to injuries and even fatalities. Never get behind the wheel if a substance is dulling your reactions.
• Speeding – The speed limit may sometimes seem like a nuisance when you are late or don’t see any other drivers around, but speeding plays a role in nearly every major traffic accident. The laws are in place for a reason.
• Distracted driving – Since the invention of the cell phone, distracted driving has become a bigger issue than ever before. However, reading a text is not the only thing that could cause you to get into an accident. Eating, applying makeup, and even taking your eyes off the road to change the radio station can all result in a dangerous crash.

California Car Accident Attorneys

If you have been injured by a driver who was involved in reckless behavior, you are certainly entitled to compensation. California is a tort state, so the at-fault driver’s insurance should cover your medical bills and other losses. Petrov Law Firm can help you to get the settlement that you deserve, rather than the pitiful offer most insurance companies try to get away with. Call 619.344.0360 to learn more.

Shocking Statistics About Distracted Teen Drivers

Did you know that the number one killer of adolescents in America is also 100% preventable? Teens driving distracted or in a reckless manner results in numerous car accidents each year, many of which are fatal. Here are a few shocking statistics to encourage your teen to drive safely.

• 4,000 teenagers die each year due to distracted driving.
• 50% of deaths due to distracted teen drivers are passengers.
• 400,000 are injured every year by distracted teenage drivers.

Clearly, this has become a part of teenage culture in America. Whether it is driving while using the phone or performing other activities, such as eating – teens need to be educated on how dangerous it is to be distracted while behind the wheel.

It is no wonder that California has enacted additional regulations for drivers under 18 when it comes to phone use. For example, if a driver is 18 or over, they can use a mobile device in a hands-free manner. However, drivers under the age of 18 cannot use a phone at all while on the road, even with voice commands.

What can you do if you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted or reckless driver in the state of California?

Personal Injury Law Firm in San Diego

Petrov Law Firm is here to help! Don’t try and go up against an insurance company alone, and don’t accept an offer without seeking counsel first. Call 619.344.0360 today so we can help you to get what you really deserve as compensation for your losses.

The Top Phone Settings for Safer Driving

Avoiding distractions from your phone while driving is about more than just the potential for a ticket. You want to be a safe driver for yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. Here are the top phone settings to use when you are on the road if you want to stay as safe as possible.

• Turn it off – Of course, the best way to avoid distraction is to have your phone off altogether. However, we will consider several other options since this is not always a viable solution. For example, you may need to use your phone as your GPS.
• Manual Do Not Disturb – You can also turn the DND mode on your phone on manually. Make sure that it is set not to alert you for calls or texts. When you arrive at your location or stop for a break, you can check your phone and respond as needed.
• Driving Do Not Disturb – Most phones will allow you to set an automatic DND mode for when you are driving. This mode will alert the person who calls you that you are currently driving and will respond when it is safe to do so.
• Bluetooth – Many cars now allow you to link your phone via Bluetooth, which permits you to perform some functions legally, such as answering calls or having texts read to you.

If You Have Been Injured By a Distracted Driver in San Diego

Petrov Law Firm is here to help car accident victims maximize insurance company settlements. If the other driver was distracted, this gives you valid cause to seek compensation. Call us today at 619.344.0360 to learn more.

Common But Dangerous Things People Do While Driving

When we talk about dangerous things that drivers do, we often focus on using smartphones, being too tired, or operating a vehicle under the influence. However, there are many other common things that people do behind the wheel that are also dangerous. Here are a few other things to avoid.

• Speeding – This is at the heart of most car accidents, especially when there is a fatality involved. The faster that vehicles are moving, the more damage that will result from a collision.
• Tailgating – This term means that the driver is too close to the vehicle in front of them. As a result, if the car in front needs to stop short, the tailgating driver is likely to rear-end them. A good rule of thumb is to leave a car length between you and the vehicle in front of you for every 10 miles per hour that you are driving.
• Eating – Keep your hands on the wheel! Eating while driving is distracting, and you simply don’t have time to drop a burger and grab the wheel when a crisis arises.
• Road rage – Driving angry causes people to do dangerous things behind the wheel. A normally safe driver may take reckless risks out of sheer frustration with other drivers. If you can’t get your rage under control, it’s time to pull over and walk it off.

If You Have Been Injured By a Dangerous Driver

Whether the other driver was involved in any of these activities or something else that is dangerous, you may be able to get your losses covered by his or her car insurance. The personal injury attorneys at Petrov Law Firm can help to ensure that the insurance company includes everything that you deserve in the settlement. Call us today at 619.344.0360 to get started.

California Wants You to “Put Down Your Phone”

Public service announcements regarding distracted driving are not new in the state of California. The latest initiative encourages motorists to “Put Down Your Phone. Just Drive.” The effects of distracted driving can change lives in an instant. From serious injuries to fatalities, it is difficult to imagine how anyone continues to drive while using a phone in an illegal manner.

However, for those who just haven’t gotten the point yet, they may soon start to get a different kind of point – the ones that go on your license and lead to increased insurance fees. That’s right, in 2021, California is going to start applying points to distracted driving infractions if more than one occurs in a 36-month period. Each infraction will add another point, and those can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year in insurance premiums.

Will hitting drivers in the wallet finally encourage them to put down the phone and just drive? Only time will tell. But for now, it is just a reminder of how dangerous distracted driving can be and how important it is to quit this bad habit.

If You Have Been Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident

Petrov Law Firm is here for you if you have been injured in an accident with a distracted driver. Contact us today at 619.344.0360 to get your case started. We have the experience you need when going up against an auto insurance company to get the settlement that you deserve.