Motor Vehicle Accidents

Published on: April 3, 2025

California Court Rules on Left Hand Turn Auto Accident Claim

Left-hand turn accidents often occur when the driver making a left turn fails to watch for oncoming traffic before proceeding. In Drury v. Ryan, Cal. Ct. App. Case No. G063080, the Court of Appeal considered whether a trial court judge committed a prejudicial error when he failed to instruct the jury on the defendant’s per se negligence in violating the left-hand turn statute.

Factual and Procedural Background

Kathy Ryan was preparing to turn left into a grocery store parking lot after traveling north on Highland Springs Avenue in Beaumont on Aug. 10, 2018, at 4 pm. The southbound roadway had three lanes she needed to cross, and the area did not have any traffic lights. The drivers in the two lanes nearest to her yielded and motioned for her to turn. She stated she didn’t see any vehicles in the third lane and turned left across all three lanes to enter the parking lot.

Published on: June 27, 2024

The Dangers of Head-On Collisions in California

by Steven M. Sweat

Head-on collisions are among the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. In California, a state known for its extensive network of highways and roads, these accidents pose a significant threat to drivers and passengers alike. Understanding the causes, consequences, and preventive measures of head-on collisions is essential for promoting road safety. This blog post delves into the dangers of head-on collisions in California and offers practical advice on how to avoid them.

Understanding Head-On Collisions

A head-on collision occurs when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions crash into each other frontally. The force of impact is often immense due to the combined speed of both vehicles, making these accidents particularly catastrophic. Several factors contribute to the occurrence of head-on collisions, including driver error, road conditions, and environmental factors.

Published on: February 21, 2024

Why You Need a Skilled Accident Attorney in California: Navigating the Aftermath of a Car Accident

by Steven M. Sweat

Introduction

Navigating the aftermath of a car accident in California can be a daunting journey filled with complex legal, medical, and insurance challenges. With the bustling highways and streets across cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, the state sees a significant number of vehicular accidents each year. These incidents range from minor fender benders to catastrophic collisions, leaving many to deal with severe injuries, financial burdens, and emotional trauma. This post aims to underscore the importance of securing a skilled accident attorney to guide victims through these challenging times, ensuring they receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Understanding California’s Traffic Laws and Legal System

Published on: October 19, 2023

California Traffic Laws

by Steven M. Sweat

California’s vast roadways are guided by the California Vehicle Code (CVC), which sets the standards for how drivers should behave on the road. Let’s dive deeper into some essential sections of the CVC to better understand California’s traffic laws.

1. Cell Phones and Distracted Driving

Hands-free Only: Per CVC §23123, drivers are prohibited from holding and using a cell phone unless it’s set up for hands-free use. This includes activities like texting and calling.

Published on: May 1, 2023

California Traffic Accident Statistics for 2022

by Steven M. Sweat

Driving on California’s highways can be an exhilarating experience, but it can also be very dangerous. Every year, there are thousands of traffic accidents in the Golden State, many of which result in serious injuries and even death. In this article, we’ll take a look at the latest traffic accident statistics in California for 2022.

Overview

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), there were 216,366 traffic accidents in the state in 2022, which resulted in 3,854 fatalities and 165,978 injuries. This represents a decrease of 6.5% in the number of accidents, a decrease of 5.2% in the number of fatalities, and a decrease of 7.3% in the number of injuries, compared to the previous year.

Published on: February 6, 2023

Dynamics of a Rear End Collision

by Steven M. Sweat

Auto accident involving two cars on a city street

Rear-end accidents occur when a motor vehicle collides with the rear of the vehicle in front of it. These types of accidents happen frequently, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports they are the most common type of collision, accounting for 29% of traffic accidents. Knowing what happens in rear-end collisions and why they cause common types of injuries can help you understand the reasons why these accidents can be serious.

Understanding Rear-End Accidents

Published on: September 27, 2022

California to Increase Auto Insurance Minimal Policy Limits

by Steven M. Sweat

Despite the fact that the costs involved with medical treatment and car repairs following motor vehicle accidents have dramatically risen over the past five decades, California’s mandatory minimum liability insurance requirements have remained the same for more than 50 years. Recently, however, the California legislature passed a bill that would increase the minimum mandatory liability insurance requirements for motorists in the state, which is a move that is long overdue.

California’s Current Liability Insurance Law

Under Cal. Veh. Code § 16056, all motorists in the state are required to carry minimum liability insurance in at least the following amounts:

Published on: January 11, 2022

New California Traffic Laws for 2022

by Steven M. Sweat

Californians should be aware of several new laws that are effective in 2022. Multiple laws that were passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Newsom affect motorists and pedestrians, and most of them were effective as of Jan. 1, 2022. Here are some of these new laws and the changes that you can expect during the new year.

Reduced Speed Limits in Certain Situations

Assembly Bill 43 was passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Newsom on Oct. 8, 2021. This law amended several statutes and added some new statutes to the California Vehicle Code. Under AB43, local authorities have been granted the authority to reduce speed limits on state highways in areas where doing so is necessary to protect bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable populations from being injured in collisions with cars.

Published on: May 24, 2021

California Vacation Car Accident Attorneys

by Steven M. Sweat

Each year, millions of people visit California for vacations and sightseeing. According to data from the California Travel and Tourism Commission, an estimated 42 million people visited California in 2018 alone and added $140.6 billion to the state’s economy.[1] Many people who vacation in California rent vehicles and try to navigate their way around the state’s interstates, freeways, highways, and streets. Unfortunately, some visitors to California sustain serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents during their visits. If you have suffered injuries in a car accident in California while on vacation that was caused by another driver, you might not know how to handle your claim. Since California’s laws differ from those of some other states, retaining an experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles at the Steven M. Sweat Personal Injury Lawyers might be a better choice than hiring a lawyer in your home state. Here is some information about how to handle car accident claims for collisions that happen when you are vacationing in California.

Jurisdiction and venue for accident claims while vacationing in California

Car accident injuries that happen while you are vacationing in California are more complex because of issues of jurisdiction and venue.[2] Before a court can hear a case and award compensation to a plaintiff, the court must have jurisdiction over both the victim and the negligent party. The court where the claim is filed must also be convenient for all of the involved parties and be the proper venue.

Published on: October 14, 2020

Construction Zone Flagger Held to Have Duty to Motorist After Rear End Accident in California

by Steven M. Sweat

In California, road construction zones can be dangerous to motorists and construction crews. While most accidents that happen in road construction zones are caused by motorists, it is possible for the road construction companies to be responsible. In

Shipp v. Western Engineering, Cal. Ct. App. Case No. C087371, the California Court of Appeals considered a case in which a motorist alleged that the road construction contractor owed him a duty of care to safely control traffic traveling through a construction zone.[1]

Factual and procedural background