Two Bystanders Help Pittsburg Mom After Crash
I’m Ed Smith, a Pittsburg car accident lawyer. Two local dealership employees helped a woman and her child after they reportedly were involved in a Pittsburg rollover accident. News reports indicate that the employees heard the screeching of tires and acted quickly to help the victims involved.
Photos of the accident show that the events could have been far more tragic. While first responders did take the mother and child in for medical evaluation, the scene showed heavy damage to the motorist’s SUV. It had slid down the embankment and heavy front end damage was apparent. In spite of that, reports indicate that the injuries were limited to minor cuts and bruises.
Common Causes of Pittsburg CA Rollover Crashes
No official investigation has demonstrated what caused the driver to plow through a guardrail and leave the highway. However, one common cause of car accidents in Pittsburg and throughout the country is distracted driving. While many of these cases involve cell phones, it is also possible that some of these accidents occurred as a result of a driver’s children or other distracting passengers.
Technology can have positive and negative consequences for Northern California drivers. In the case of motorists with children, for example, the use of tablets or smartphones that have educational apps may provide a way for a child to focus on these devices rather than distracting their parents who are trying to keep their eyes on the road. A new law that took effect January 1st of this year may also play a role for motorists who struggle not to use their own Apple or Android devices while they’re behind the wheel and moving.
California Law Targets Potential Distracted Drivers
Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that would enforce the use of cell phones properly by people who are operating a motor vehicle in the Golden State. There are two key components of the new law. First, drivers must either mount their cell phone or other mobile device to either the dashboard or the windshield in order to not have to look down to read any notifications.
Secondly, they must take advantage of voice commands or other handsfree ways of interacting with their devices to ensure that their hands remain on the steering wheel. Currently, the fines are relatively light, costing just $20 for the first offense and $50 thereafter. Still, the numbers show that, when trying to reduce California distracted driving accidents, any little bit can help.
Statistics Show the Problem is a Deadly Issue
According to the state Department of Motor Vehicles, roughly a dozen crashes caused by distracted driving and cell phones resulted in fatalities. What is more troubling is the number of accidents involving cell phone use in Pittsburg and throughout the state that lead to injuries. Some 500 accidents, where someone was hurt, were reported to the DMV, likely a low estimate, out of 700 in total. That’s more than 70 percent of California car accidents where people are hurt. All because of smart phones and drivers unwilling to take a break from them while they’re on the road.
Pittsburg Car Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a Pittsburg car accident lawyer. If you, or someone in your family has suffered injuries in an auto, motorcycle or pedestrian collision, please call me at (925) 428-5220 for free, friendly advice. Or, call me toll-free at (800) 404-5400 if calling from outside of Contra Costa County.
For more than 34 years, I’ve helped families in Contra Costa County recover compensation for their personal injury and wrongful deaths claims.
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Image Attribution: Wikimedia Commons
:jc