Orange County CA Wrongful Death Law Blog

As this blog has reported before, distracted driving is a continuing problem in Orange County and the rest of the Golden State. However, at least according to one study, California actually fares pretty well relative to other states, at least when it comes to the frequency of fatal car accidents involving the misuse of a cell phone.

According to the report, California experienced a rate of 1.03 fatalities, per 10 billion miles driven in the state, which could be blamed on a driver's being distracted by a cell phone. This ranked California 33rd among the 50 states, with the state ranking 50th having the lowest fatality rate.

A previous post here talked about how many truckers who drive around or just pass through Orange County, California, are required under the law to, from time to time, pull off of the road for a few hours and take a rest. The idea behind these rules is to make sure drivers get the sleep they need so that they don't experience truck driver fatigue.

A fatigued driver, after all, is very dangerous even if the driver manages to stay awake. Someone who is too tired can easily lose focus on the road and may not respond promptly to changes like a car that slows down suddenly. However, some truckers in California, particularly those who suffer from a condition called "sleep apnea," may experience fatigue even if they think they had enough rest.

Previous posts here have either mentioned punitive damages or have reported on juries awarding punitive damages. Indeed, there are some circumstances that seem to suggest that just paying someone compensation for their losses simply is not enough. For example, car accidents that are caused by a drunk driver, a driver who is going far in excess of the posted speed limit or a driver acting in a fit of road rage are situations that are entirely avoidable. To prevent these sorts of accidents, a driver need only show a minimal amount of courtesy and care for their fellow motorists.

As the name implies, punitive damages, which some may also call exemplary damages, serve to punish drivers who have gone beyond simple carelessness and have actively disregarded the rights of those with whom they share the road.

Motorcycle enthusiasts often talk about the sense of freedom they feel when riding on their bikes. However, if you are a rider, you know that that freedom comes with its fair share of risk. Here in California, though the mild weather may make this an ideal area for motorcycle riding, authorities say there has been a significant rise in the number of motorcycle fatalities over a 22 year period, especially in SoCal.

While there aren't as many motorcycle riders on the roads at this time of year, law enforcement warns that fatalities always rise in the summer. They also say that climate change may even cause a rise in fatal motorcycle accidents, since it has the potential to increase the number of days during the year that people will want to ride.