Orange County CA Wrongful Death Law Blog

A previous post on this California blog talked about how the newest transportation trend, electric scooters that pedestrians can pick up and drop off as they travel through crowded areas, poses hazards to riders and those with whom these scooters share the roads and sidewalks. This post mentioned that several people had been injured by these devices, often because they were not equipped with a helmet or because they did not receive instruction about how to operate the device.

Now, it seems that some of the victims of these accidents are taking action, as a group of nine of them have filed a class action lawsuit in Los Angeles County. The lawsuit names both the manufacturers of the scooters and those companies which distribute them as defendants.

Our state is one of a few states that has a law which goes beyond just prohibiting texting and driving. In addition to forbidding instant messaging, checking email and searching online, the law of this state also prohibits drivers even from making conventional phone calls with a handheld device like a smartphone. However, even under the threat of fines, many drivers in this state still cannot resist the occasional phone call or quick check of a text message, even though they are driving. According to one report, Californians typically spend between 16 and 18 percent of their total driving time on their phones.

This means that an average driver is spending about 11 or so minutes per hour multitasking by trying to both drive and use a phone. Of course, multitasking, particularly when it involves taking one's eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, is never a good idea and can lead to very serious car accidents.

A bus accident on Interstate 405, in the Los Angeles area, left 40 people, including the driver and several passengers on the bus, with injuries. The California bus accident happened in the middle of the day and involved the bus careening into a median after it went out of control. While spinning, the bus also struck at least one other vehicle.

Of those injured, a total of 25 had to be transported to area hospitals. Five victims were listed in critical condition, but at this point, no one has died in connection with this crash. Police kept the highway closed for hours in order to clean up and investigate the crash.

Distracted driving is a serious problem that plagues California roadways and those across the country. Many drivers allow themselves to take their minds off driving, and even when this distraction lasts only momentarily, that moment can easily result in a serious car accident.

Because you want to make sure to remain a safe and conscientious driver, you likely do your best to remain focused while behind the wheel. However, you may put yourself at risk of succumbing to distraction without even realizing. Therefore, you may want to take the time to assess your situation before getting into your vehicle, and determine how you could lessen the possibility of distraction.