The Basics of Road Rash Injuries

Biking accidents happen as often as ordinary vehicular accidents do. Every cyclist or biker will - at some point experience - this kind of accident at least once in their careers. There are three common types of skin injuries that a cyclist may acquire in an accident.

• Abrasion – This is a wound caused by the friction resulting from the contact between a rough surface and the surface of the skin. It is characterized by bright red blotches.

• Cuts – A cut is damage to the blood vessels beneath the skin’s surface, which eventually causes blood loss.

• Lacerations – Laceration is a deep wound on both the skin and a portion of the underlying tissue.

Abrasions often cause what is known as road rash. A road rash injury occurs when the bicycle crashes, causing the body to be dragged across the rough pavement. The dragging or skidding effect of the body to an asphalted road produces friction, which in turn brings about scrapes that do not reach the dermis.

The injured part of the skin is cracked and is tender to the touch. Road rashes do not bleed too much, but are really painful because the nerve endings of the skin are exposed. If the impact of the road and skin occurs at over 50 km/h, the degree of damage may be significant. Road rash injuries often affect cyclists, skateboarders, in-line skaters, and mountain bikers.

An example of an accident that may cause road rash is when the cyclist miscalculates a turn to the corner. In an angled position with significant speed, the cyclist is likely to slide out of the bicycle. Body parts that are at risk for a road rash injury are the outside part of lower leg, knees, palms, arms, shoulders, and even hips.

In case of an accident, decide whether or not you need urgent care for your road rash. Head to the nearest medical service provider that you can find if you’re not sure of the magnitude of the injury or if there is a significant amount of bleeding. If the rash is not so bad, you can clean it yourself, but take extra care to avoid making it worse.

Remove small figments that the wound may have gathered from the road but avoid pushing the dirt any further down the scrape. You may also remove the dead skin. If you need to, gently scrub the scrape before cleaning and putting on ointment and dressing.

Road rash is generally not fatal if handled with care. Avoiding it is not hard to do either.

Defective Tires Caused by Manufacturing and Maintenance Failure

Tire defects places motorists at serious risk. Scattered debris of blown up tires on highways may be run over by vehicle and accidentally send it flying to the windshield of the vehicle on its tail. Once this happens, the driver may lose his control over the vehicle and start a multiple car collision.
Aside from road hazards, blown up tires also mean drivers losing control over the vehicle after a tire blow-out. There are cases when these drivers accidentally hit a vehicle, a road fixture, or the vehicle tips to its side and flips over.
All these hassles and possible accidents can be avoided with proper tire manufacturing and maintenance.
Proper Maintenance
Owners of trucking companies must make sure that all their vehicles are well-maintained especially because they are carrying heavy cargos and trailers that exert much pressure on the tire.
When this happens, tires will easily be worn out and, thus, be more prone to tire blow-out. Also, proper inflation of each tire is important in making sure that the driver will not encounter any glitch along the way.
Making sure that tires are properly aligned is important in preventing accidents that may be caused by a malfunction or a defect. Also, tire pressure should be checked regularly, at least once a week, with a gauge to make sure that it has enough air.
Product Liability
Tire manufacturers are often named as the liable party in lawsuits alleging negligence which led to an accident. They have the responsibility to make sure that the tires they make can endure the expected amount of pressure that it will have to endure.

Once manufacturers start receiving complaints against their product, they must have it tested and determine if a recall is necessary. Issuing a recall and awareness of the product’s defect is important so that consumers will be warned in time and avoid accidents that would have to be compensated by the company.
Compensation often includes:
• Hospitalization, medications, and treatments needed by victims of an accident caused by a blown up tire

• Repairs or replacement of products damaged by the accident

• Hedonic damages that will compensate the victim’s inability to engage in life activities such as walking or talking

• Loss of income caused by the victim’s inability to work because of the injury sustained in the accident

Compensation for these damages will burden the liable party and should provide adequate replacement for the victim’s losses.

Defective Tires Caused by Manufacturing and Maintenance Failure

Tire defects places motorists at serious risk. Scattered debris of blown up tires on highways may be run over by vehicle and accidentally send it flying to the windshield of the vehicle on its tail. Once this happens, the driver may lose his control over the vehicle and start a multiple car collision.
Aside from road hazards, blown up tires also mean drivers losing control over the vehicle after a tire blow-out. There are cases when these drivers accidentally hit a vehicle, a road fixture, or the vehicle tips to its side and flips over.
All these hassles and possible accidents can be avoided with proper tire manufacturing and maintenance.
Proper Maintenance
Owners of trucking companies must make sure that all their vehicles are well-maintained especially because they are carrying heavy cargos and trailers that exert much pressure on the tire.
When this happens, tires will easily be worn out and, thus, be more prone to tire blow-out. Also, proper inflation of each tire is important in making sure that the driver will not encounter any glitch along the way.
Making sure that tires are properly aligned is important in preventing accidents that may be caused by a malfunction or a defect. Also, tire pressure should be checked regularly, at least once a week, with a gauge to make sure that it has enough air.
Product Liability
Tire manufacturers are often named as the liable party in lawsuits alleging negligence which led to an accident. They have the responsibility to make sure that the tires they make can endure the expected amount of pressure that it will have to endure.

Once manufacturers start receiving complaints against their product, they must have it tested and determine if a recall is necessary. Issuing a recall and awareness of the product’s defect is important so that consumers will be warned in time and avoid accidents that would have to be compensated by the company.
Compensation often includes:
• Hospitalization, medications, and treatments needed by victims of an accident caused by a blown up tire

• Repairs or replacement of products damaged by the accident

• Hedonic damages that will compensate the victim’s inability to engage in life activities such as walking or talking

• Loss of income caused by the victim’s inability to work because of the injury sustained in the accident

Compensation for these damages will burden the liable party and should provide adequate replacement for the victim’s losses.

ATV Recalls: Preventing Accidents Caused by Defective ATVs

If you are fond of outdoor adventure, you will definitely be familiar with All-Terrain Vehicles or ATVs. ATVs are often composed of three or four wheels and are ideal for recreational and outdoor activities. Unfortunately, ATVs are also known to cause accidents and injuries. One of the most common causes of such situations are defective ATV parts. The following are some of the components that usually become dangerous for ATV drivers:
• Weight problems – Obese people aren’t the only ones who should worry about their weight. Some ATVs also have this kind of problem. ATVs that are too heavy have a higher risk to be involved in a rollover accident.
• Small and narrow wheels – Wheels are crucial in an ATV because they support the weight of the entire vehicle. If wheels are too narrow or too small to support the upper part of the vehicle, it may rollover when making turns.
• Insufficient safety components for ATV drivers and passengers – Manufacturers should be aware that there will always be risks of rollover accidents. That is why it is advised that they install more components that will protect ATV occupants in case of an accident.
• Absence of instruction manuals and/or labels – Labels and instructional manuals are very important especially for owners who are having an ATV for the first time. If manuals and labels do not contain enough information, the owner may be at risk to encounter an accident.
• Steering problems – Steering is very important especially when the ATV is used off-road.
• Brake system problems – Owners should make sure that their ATVs have reliable brakes. This applies whether the ATV is used off-road or on a concrete pavement.

If you have your own ATV and it has at least one of these defects you may contact its manufacturer and request an ATV recall. Once a recall has been made, the manufacturer will be responsible in carrying out the necessary repairs to ensure the safety of its consumers. While the safety of ATV owners and drivers depend on the vehicle’s safety features, there are also some accidents that have nothing to do with defective parts. Below are some factors that may also contribute to an ATV accident:

• Driver negligence
• Lack of proper training in ATV driving
• Loading too many passengers or cargo
• Driving the ATV in public

All-terrain vehicles are modes of transport that are ideal for people who love the outdoors. However, owners should make sure that their ATVs are free from any defects. If you found a possible risk to cause injury, call the manufacturer immediately and request a recall or repair for your ATV. Once an ATV recall has been made, you can be sure that you or your child would not be in danger.

Most common Dangerous Road Conditions that could cause Car Accidents

Did you know that more than thirty percent of major crashes in the United States have road design or road condition as a contributing factor for the accident?
That is right; although the road and its environment usually do not directly cause a car accident, it may have influenced the primary cause.

For example, a car rolled over because of speeding.

However, you know that speed alone cannot cause a vehicle rollover, it needs a trigger and usually that is a sharp curve that is difficult to negotiate.
You should know that dangerous roads and car accidents usually come hand in hand so you should always be prepared.

Here are some of the most common dangerous road conditions:


• Fixed objects – These are permanent objects that are placed on the roadway such as trees, light posts and fire hydrants.

• Curvy roads – Roads with sharp curves and turns is one of the major cause of SUV rollovers. Adequate warning signs should always be placed to warn motorists.

• Extremely narrow roads – This is most especially dangerous for converging traffic where vehicles might race each other to get through the narrow lane.

• Uneven lane divisions – Each lane should be able to fit a truck. If the lane is narrower than that, a motorist may miscalculate the distance with the vehicle on the other lanes.

• Potholes – These are holes on the road caused by missing pieces of asphalt, which could cause a vehicle to lose control, especially those running in high speed.

• Oily road – Not only from spilled petroleum, oily roads can also be a result of resurfacing a road with a petroleum solution. As the time deteriorates the filler, the road becomes more slippery because of the presence of oil.

• Un-resurfaced roads – These are roads that have not been resurfaced for a long time. These roads pose a high risk of hydroplaning, especially for vehicles going 40mph or higher.

• Icy roads – Strips of ice can form on roadways during cold climate. These patches of ice are almost invisible so it is almost impossible to spot them until it is too late.

• Wet roads – The roads can become slippery after rain or snow.

• Inadequate safety measures – the adequate guardrails and proper line stripping prevents most head on collisions.

If you have been injured as a result of the above dangerous road conditions, then you may have a case against the city or the state since they are the ones responsible in ensuring that these public roads are safe.
Make sure that you have an expert car accident attorney by your side when you file your personal injury claim.

Cell Phone Use While Driving: Statistics and Prevention

In May 2010, Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin officially signed the law that makes reading, typing, and sending text messages while driving illegal. Typing on computers would also be banned under this law. It was only last April when this legislation was passed as a bill. The signing of the law turned Wisconsin into the fifth state that implemented a total ban on cell phone use or texting while driving.
People caught disobeying the law will be fined, ranging from $20 to $400. Exceptions will be that of emergency situations and GPS devices. The offender will also be required to attend lessons regarding text messaging and driver education classes. The ban will take effect on December 2010.

Cell phone use while driving is pointed out as one of the leading reasons behind vehicular crashes, since doing such is considered a driving distraction. In fact, according to the study conducted by the psychologists at the University of Utah, having a cell phone on the driver’s ear is as just as deadly as the driver being intoxicated. That is because when the driver is distracted by the conversation, he tends to “drive slower, brake slower, and is more likely to crash.” David Strayer, the study's lead author said that the level of impairment between a drunk driver and a driver using a cell phone is “very similar.”

In a 2008 survey by Nationwide Insurance, 67 percent of respondents admitted to using cell phones while driving, while almost 6,000 people died due to driving distractions. Half a million were injured. These statistics pushed countries like Australia, China, France, and Japan to ban texting while driving.

To avoid texting while driving is understandably hard, but there are a few steps that the driver can take to resist the temptation of reaching for the mobile phone.


• Turning off the phone – Pressing the off button is a sure way to avoid using the phone while driving. With the phone turned off, the person won’t have to answer any calls or messages received. However, this is not advisable if the driver is in the middle of an emergency that needs to be addressed.


• Carpooling – In case there is a passenger in the car, ask help from him or make him take the call or message. If the passenger knows how to drive, the driver can switch places with him.


• Opting for a mass transit – If a person chooses a public transportation, he has a lower chance of getting into an accident caused by cell phone use. That way, he can also talk or text as much as he needs to.

How Auto Defects Reduce a Vehicle’s Crashworthiness

Every car manufacturer has the responsibility to ensure that its products are capable of securing their passengers in the event of a car accident. This ability is commonly called “crashworthiness”, meaning the vehicle is “worthy” to be in a car accident. There are several ways how to determine the crashworthiness of a certain vehicle, and one of them is by identifying if it has auto defects. Some auto defects that would reduce a car’s crashworthiness include:


• Airbag malfunction – Airbags should have perfect timing. Car passengers may suffer fatal injuries even with a one-second delay in airbag deployment.

• Defective head and neck restraints – Car seats should have sturdy neck restraints to prevent serious head and neck injuries.

• Seatbelt defects – The purpose of the seatbelt is to ensure that the passengers remain seated in a vehicle collision. If the seatbelts have defects, passengers may hit the vehicle’s interior.

• Tire and wheel failure – Tires and wheels that have defects may get the car out of control, resulting to an accident.

• Fuel tank and engine defects – These defects include leaks, defective engine combustion components, and faulty wirings.

• Door latch failure – Doors should be stable enough to prevent passengers from being discharged off the vehicle.

• Roof caving – This happens when the materials used to manufacture the vehicle roof are not strong enough to prevent roof caving, especially in rollover accidents.

• Underride accidents – This type of accident happens when the rear bumper of a car causes another vehicle to go under it, trapping its occupants inside.

If your vehicle has one or more of these auto defects, and it caused you or other people property damage and personal injuries, you can sue the manufacturer for their non-crashworthy car. There are several points you have to prove before you file a crashworthiness and auto defect lawsuit.

• The vehicle has a defective component that made it dangerous.

• The defective parts of the car made the injuries of its passengers worse.

• Your car sustained the defect the moment it left the manufacturer or dealer.

Winning a crashworthiness and auto defect lawsuit would be easier if you have a product liability attorney with you. His experience will definitely help determine possible arguments and counter-defenses against the other party.

If you have a defective car, do not hesitate to file a lawsuit against its manufacturer. Vehicles are supposed to secure their passengers in a car accident, not make their injuries worse.

Overview of Violations that could Result to Driver bans and other Suspensions

California is one of the US states that enforces a point system that decides driver bans and other suspensions.

Continuous violations of traffic laws can lead to accumulation of traffic tickets.
If that happens, you can be considered as a negligent driver and your driving privileges may be removed.

Once you are considered a negligent driver, you can be placed in probation for at least a year that comes with 6 months or you can completely lose your privilege to drive.

To be considered negligent driver, you have to accumulate these many points:


• 4 points in one year

• 6 points in two years

• 8 points in three years

Major offenses usually earn you two points automatically and it will stay on your record for 10 years, while less serious offenses earn you a point that will stay in your record for three years.

Some of the most major offense that results in driving ban and suspensions are:


Lack of financial responsibility
You can get your license suspended or revoked and even get your car impounded if you are caught without proof of financial responsibility.

Under state law, you are required to have liability coverage before you drive a vehicle.

Most of us choose to get car accident insurance policy to meet the requirement.
The minimum liability coverage required in California is:


• $15,000 for one injured party or death

• $30,000 for all injured parties or death in one car accident

• $5,000 for property damage

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

California has one of the strictest DUI laws in the United States.
Even on your first conviction, your license could get suspended for at least 6 months and the suspension duration will get longer in the succeeding convictions.
If you are under 21 years old, being caught with an alcoholic beverage can get your driving license suspended for one year.

If you do not have a license yet, being caught with an alcoholic beverage will delay your privilege to drive for one year.

Reckless driving and hit-and run

Convictions on reckless driving and hit-and-run can lead to an automatic revocation of your driver’s license, especially if your actions lead to physical harm or death.
California has strict laws against aggressive driving and those who leave an accident scene – even a minor one – can be prosecuted by the District Attorney.

So aside from losing driving privileges, it could also lead to criminal liabilities.

Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorneys: Putting the Case in Safe Hands

Truck collisions are among the most dangerous vehicle accidents on the highway. Every year, thousands of drivers, car owners, and even bystanders are killed because of these unfortunate events. Although people try their best not to get involved in one, they still could not keep themselves away from such a traumatic experience. Just in case it happened to you, what steps would you take to lessen the damages it can do to your financial situation?

Getting insurance is one of the common preparations car owners do to ensure all their possible expenses would be covered. However, in most cases, insurance companies fail to fulfill their responsibilities mainly because they do not set your interests at best. In this case, you need to seek a more reliable source of help.

There are lawyers who specialize in providing assistance to car owners to prove the liability of the truck driver and company. They would often send investigators to examine other factors that suggest probable evidences of fault on the truck driver’s part. They usually investigate the truck, the driver’s mental state, manner of the collision, and other important details to be used in the trial. Even the minutest details may turn the tables on your favor. Here are some of the factors that may help you win the case:

• If there was an engine malfunction on the truck when the accident happened.
• If the driver was under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug.
• If the witnesses are on your side.

Getting these pieces of information would just be a piece of cake if you ask help from experts. If you are living in Los Angeles, you can choose among several law firms to assist you in your case. You may search online for the best lawyers in your location. Remember to verify if they are indeed attorneys specializing in truck accidents. You may find out later on that they are as clueless as you are in your case.

Los Angeles truck accident attorneys will certainly make you win the case much easier. Just make sure to gather all the initial evidences you can find right after the accident so they will have something to start with. The money that you will pay for their services will surely be worth it once you have secured your finances and received the payments due to you.