Orange County CA Wrongful Death Law Blog

Distracted driving is a serious problem in California and across the country. You know this type of behavior is both dangerous and irresponsible, yet many drivers continue to engage in distracted behaviors while behind the wheel. In order to combat this serious safety threat, state lawmakers are voting on a possible change to California laws.

Recently, a bill proposed making distracted driving a moving violation. This would increase the severity of penalties associated with this type of reckless driving. This bill passed the California State Senate, which means there is a significant chance that laws will adjust and bring harsher repercussions for drivers who operate a vehicle while distracted.

One of the things you can count on here in California is traffic jams. Stop and go traffic seems to be the norm, which means that you could easily become the victim of a rear-end collision. No matter how much you keep your eyes on the traffic behind you, you simply can't predict what another driver will do. You may tap your brakes to alert drivers behind you or use your turn signals well in advance of a turn, but that may not be enough.

In fact, every year, approximately one million rear-end collisions occur across the country, and many of them occur here in California, which makes them one of the most common types of accidents. The problem is that these accidents are largely preventable.

Few California residents can say that they haven't gone above the posted speed limit on at least one occasion. Whether you were running late, enjoying some music or just trying keep up with the flow of traffic, you ended up speeding. While you may not have suffered any adverse consequences on those occasions, you could end up with more than just a speeding ticket if you end up in an accident.

Of course, watching your speed doesn't mean that another motorist will. Traffic here in Costa Mesa is as unpredictable as it is in the rest of the state, and you may have to unexpectedly slow down or even stop. You could end up in an accident because a speeding driver was unable to stop in time to avoid colliding with your vehicle.

Many people in California and throughout the nation have gotten heavily into vaping. Although your reasons for trying e-cigarettes may be different from another person's, a lot of vape smokers say the thing that won them over to start was the lack of smoky odor. Not many people actually enjoy the smell of tobacco cigarettes. If your e-cigarette has any scent at all, it's likely only a residual aroma of the flavored vape oil you've put in your device.         

Vape users also cite other reasons for switching to e-cigarettes, such as they cost less, are apparently not as habit-forming and carry less potential for adverse side effects on your health. However, there's a growing concern among vapers regarding possible safety hazards having to do with spare batteries. The more you know about how to avoid battery explosions, the better. It's also good to know there are support networks in place to help you seek recovery for your losses if an injury occurs.