Los Angeles Top Attorneys Blog: (310) 826-6300 » motor vehicle accidents

DMV Doubles Its Efforts to Crackdown Los Angeles “Curbstoners”

Los Angeles Lawyer — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:11:06 +0000

If you are serious about becoming a responsible motorist in Los Angeles, here is a new word that you should know:.“curbstoner.”

According to the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), a curbstoner is a car dealer selling unsafe and substandard used vehicles to automobile purchasers.

DMV officials are now doubling their efforts to crackdown curbstoners in Los Angeles to ensure the safety of consumers and motorists. According to a news report by KTLA, the modus operandi of curbstoners often include purchasing unlicensed and low-grade vehicles from dealers, auctions, and salvage facilities, and sell them to unsuspecting purchasers.

Furthermore, the report also revealed that certain curbstoners advertise their services and products in free online classified ads websites like Craigslist. DMV officials are warning consumers that they should be aware about the methods of the unscrupulous businesses in order to prevent buying unsafe vehicles. Officials have advised car buyers to verify the ownership of the vehicle and to conduct history checks before deciding to make a buy.

According to DMV, about 160 undercover agents of the Department have targeted curbstoners in 50 cities in California, and have issued at least 120 citations since the start of the investigations.

Los Angeles has been experiencing almost countless of motor vehicle accidents annually, and the practice of curbstoners may add more road injuries and fatalities if they are not apprehended. DMV officials together with certain government agencies really need to address the issue in order for Los Angeles drivers to have better and safer roads.

For more information about car accidents in Los Angeles, you may consult with a California personal injury lawyer. Your attorney will guide you throughout the process of litigation. You may dial our toll free number at 1-866-772-2889, or email us at info@mesriani.com for free case analysis.

5 Fastest Roads in the US: What Slowing Down Speeding Violators?

Los Angeles Lawyer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:35:54 +0000

If you think citation tickets or fatal crashes can deter reckless motorists from racing through roads, think again.
It’s neither the penalty nor the fatality that can slow down over-speeding violators –-it’s the economy.
Unbelievable, but true. According to INRX, a company that provides traffic data used in GPS, high gas prices, poor economy and high unemployment rates have kept young drivers – those who tend to speed and engage in risky road behavior – off the road.

INRIX has also recorded the fastest car on the fastest road in the US which clocked in at 94 mph in Arizona’s Route 79 between Saguaro National Park and Phoenix. The company drew information from GPS data used by nearly 5 million drivers from January to June 15 this year.

The second road where motorists are more likely to hit the gas is the Oklahoma State Highway 33 with the fastest driver going at 87 mph. California State Route 73 is next where the top speed was recorded the 85 mph in both directions between Moulton Parkway and Bear Street. Eastbound MI-5 Michigan Highway has motorists going at top speed of 83 mph while the fifth fastest road is Arizona State Route 77 where INRIX has recorded the top speed of a motorist at 81 mph.

Despite this record, INRIX has noted this year’s records were a bit tame compared to last year. This year’s average speed across the fastest roads was 81 mph while last year it recorded an average speed of 85 mph.
This year’s fastest drivers are going a bit slower across the board: The average speed across the 10 fastest roads in America was 81 mph, compared to an average of 85 mph during the same period in 2010.
INRIX believes younger drivers – those between the ages of 16 and 25 – are saving money on fuel and leaving the road to older, thus slower, motorists. Another factor is good law enforcement which helped discouraged motorists from over-speeding.

Over-speeding is one of the main causes of injuries and death in major roads and highways across the country. This road behavior constitutes negligence which is a legal basis for liability in motor vehicle accidents.

If you are a victim of a vehicle accident caused by an over-speeding motorist, consult with our experienced Los Angeles vehicle accident attorneys. Call our toll free number at 1-866-772-2889 or email us at info@mesriani.com for a free case analysis.

LAPD Motorcycle Officer Injured in Crash

Los Angeles Lawyer — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:47:22 +0000

Motor vehicle accidents can happen at any place, at any time and to anyone – even to a Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), an off-duty motorcycle officer was involved in a solo vehicle crash on the 405 Freeway in Long Beach where the unnamed officer sustained an elbow injury.

The crash which is under investigation has caused considerable traffic in the area. The LAPD officer was allegedly on his way home and was riding a Department-issued motorcycle at the time of the accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 80 percent of all motorcycle crashes result in injury or death. The high rate of injury and death is mostly attributed to the fact that motorcycles offer virtually no protection in a crash.

Unlike seatbelts, airbags, sturdy roofs, and door beams of cars which offer a measure of protection to its occupants, the best protection motorcycle riders have against death and injury in case of a crash is a motorcycle helmet.

Also, motorcycles are more likely to crash than any other motor vehicle.

Because motorcycles are designed to have high performance capabilities such as maneuverability, agility, ability to stop and swerve quickly, it has sacrificed the stability and protection offered by other vehicles such as a passenger car. Its size also makes it less visible to other vehicles on the road.

No matter how good or skilled a person is in riding a motorcycle – whether as a new rider or someone who rides it for a living, for many motorcycle riders, an accident is pretty much inevitable.

The only thing that would tip the scale between life and death in a motorcycle crash is a helmet. Wearing a federally-approved helmet would decrease the chances of serious head or neck injury by as much as three times.

No Speeding in the S-Curve

Los Angeles Lawyer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:46:36 +0000

The new S-curve on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge which just opened last September 8, has taken a turn for the worst.

After more than 42 non-fatal car accidents since it opened, a big-rig truck took a big plunge (more than 200 feet) and killed its driver. The 56-year-old Hayward man was allegedly speeding when he lost control of his truck.

According to the investigators, the truck, loaded with pears, was traveling 10 mph over the speed limit when it tipped over the 3-foot-high rail and fell down onto Yerba Buena Island. It is also suspected that the load shifted when the driver hit the S-curve which helped tip the truck over the side.

The driver died immediately after the accident.

Despite the numerous accidents and complaints about the S-curve’s “dangerous” design and the recent fatal accident, the California Highway Patrol believes that it’s safe. They maintain that there is no design flaw and that if people merely followed the posted speed limit, they can make it through the S-curve safely.

Nevertheless, Caltrans will be adding more safety measures and warning signs to get drivers to slow down when approaching the notorious S-curve. 6-inch-wide reflective strips on the barriers will be added as well as a large overhead sign with flashing beacons warning about the speed limit.

According to the CHP, the accident could have easily been prevented as speed has always been a factor in every traffic collision which occurred in the S-curve.

While a lot of drivers would point fingers or play the blame game after an accident, from road defects to faulty designs – most of the time, it is not always the case.

Driver error is still the leading cause of motor vehicle accidents and speeding is a bad driver habit common to most Americans. In fact, more than 1,000 Americans are killed by speeding every month.

Speeding may save time or get you to work promptly but saving your life is more important than shaving a few seconds off your travel time.