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Bus Accident Lawsuits | What You Should Know

In lieu of the recent bus accident in Palm Springs in October, our car accident attorney wanted to examine what happens should someone need to file a lawsuit after a bus related accident. Bus accident injury claims can oftentimes present challenges that most car accident claims do not. Here are just a few things to consider when it comes to filing a bus accident claim:

Bus accidents are not entirely different from your regular traffic accident. Accidents can range from low-speed fender benders to an even more catastrophic collision and the injuries that are sustained from bus accidents fall across the same serious spectrum, from whip-lash injuries, to serious head trauma and broken bones.

110 Freeway Accident: Driver in Serious Condition

The driver of a box truck is in serious condition after the truck drove off the side of the 110 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles earlier this morning. at this time our truck accident lawyer is unsure whether drugs or alcohol were involved. for more on this developing story, go to ABC7 News. If you need an accident lawyer, contact us today!

In Need of an Accident Lawyer? Contact Us Today!

Suffering from injuries due to an accident can be difficult. Especially when you are dealing with insurance companies on your own. That is why, as an accident lawyer, we always suggest that you seek representation right away. Your attorney knows the ins and outs of the legal system. We also have many years of experience dealing with insurance adjusters. We are very aware of how they will try to make this time of your life more difficult than it already is. They do this by either rushing you into settling, or even denying your claim altogether.

Hit & Run: is It a Misdemeanor or Felony?

Whether a hit-and-run is classified as a misdemeanor or a felony, it is still a crime. Unfortunately over the weekend in Santa Ana, there was a hit and run collision that left a homeless man injured (see more of the story at ABC7 News). The young man behind the wheel return to the scene of the accident to turn himself in. However, because he initially fled the scene, he may be looking at hit-and-run felony charges.

Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

Halloween is the start of the Holiday Season; or so it seems. Though Halloween is not technically classified as a holiday, it is a day that many look forward to all year. the candy, the costumes, getting dressed up and going door-to-door with friends and neighbors, and watching our children laugh and play with their friends; it’s a very fun and exciting time of year. Our injury attorney has put together some safety tips for this Halloween season. As an injury attorney, we wish you a happy Halloween!

What to Do When Brakes Fail

Brake failure is quite possibly one of the most terrifying incidents that can occur when you are driving. Most people, myself included – until now – may not know what to do in case their brakes fail. After doing a little research, I wanted to share some interesting tips and “know-how’s” if you ever find yourself in a situation where your brakes fail.

1. First thing is first – try to remain calm. Though this seems like almost impossible, the way that you react can have an impact on whatever happens next.
2. If you can, try to find a safe place as soon as possible and make sure your hazard lights are on.
3. Take your foot off the gas and if you have cruise control, go ahead and turn it off at this time.
4. Pay attention to how the break pedal feels
   • If the break pedal goes to the floor, that means that you are low on break fluid.
   • If your brake pedal is hard and does not move, something in your brake system may have broken or you may have an obstruction under the pedal. Try to feel with your foot if at all possible.
5. Pump the brakes!
   • Pumping your brakes several times may help to rebuild enough pressure in the braking system of your vehicle and may help you get your car to a complete stop. Please note : this may take a while, so keep trying!
6. Shift into neutral or any other low gear
   • shifting to another low gear (including neutral), will help your engine to slow the car down.
   • If you have an automatic transmission, downshift one gear at a time
   • If you have a manual transmission, it is possible to downshift two gears at a time
   • Either way, you will feel the car slow and as it continues to slow down, repeat to downshift until the car comes to a complete stop.
7. Pull the emergency brake
   • The emergency brake or the parking brake can usually help get the car to come to a complete stop, although, it will take a little bit longer because it only stops the rear wheels.
   • Pull the brake slowly and steadily – remember, to stay calm and not move to fast, because if the emergency brake is applied too hard or too fast,  your back tires can lock, especially if you are traveling at an accelerated speed
   • If you hear or feel your tires lock, release some pressure from the brake and hold it there.
8. If you were not able to pull over to the side, keep your eyes on the road and continue to steer.
   • Continuing to steer sharply from time to time as turning creates the friction you need in order to slow the car down naturally. **DO NOT due this at high speeds – if you try to turn the wheel too sharply at a high speed, you may end up flipping your car or spinning your car**
9. Once you have successfully gotten your car to a complete stop, do not attempt to drive it! Have the car towed to a nearby mechanic
10. One last thing – do not turn your car off until you haves come to a complete stop. Turning the engine off will disable the power steering and will make it nearly impossible to maneuver the vehicle.

We hope these tips are helpful if you or someone you know ever find yourselves in a situation where your brakes fail or go out. of course we hope that you will never need to use these tips, but it is always best to know what to do – just in case.

Lightning Advisory for Orange County

A storm advisory was issued for all of South Orange County this afternoon due to thunder and lightning up and down the coastline. According to the Lake Forest Patch, “The National Weather Service is warning residents to avoid the beach until the danger has passed. Scattered showers are expected to move through the region from San Diego County throughout the afternoon.”

With that being said, we here at Silverthorne Attorneys want to remind you all to please be careful on the roads. the highways and side streets will most likely be slick and with rain coming and going, it may difficult to see a great distance in front of you. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to get home and be the cause of or a part of an unnecessary accident.

Car Seat Safety

Children are one of the most amazing gifts life can give us. That’s why it is so important to do everything we can to make sure that our babies are safe. Injury lawyer Silverthorne Attorneys’ topic this week will focus on car seat safety. Not only how to properly pick out the right car seat for your child, but also how to install the car seat correctly.

Types of Car Seats

Your child will need a different type of car seat depending on their age, weight, and height. Generally there are four types of car seats for each stage for your child’s growth (see chart below):

Deadly Hit-and-Run Caught on Tape

A deadly hit and run of a pedestrian was caught on tape, according to ABC7 News. As our car crash lawyer reports, the victim, whose identity has yet to be released, was discovered at around 5:50am on Monday morning. the 54-year-old victim was pronounced dead by the time the police arrived to the scene.  Nearby surveillance cameras caught what looked to be a single-cab, four-wheel-drive truck hitting the victim – it is said that the vehicle in question would likely have damage to the front end and perhaps a buckled hood. If anyone has any information on the vehicle, they are urged to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227.

Motorcycle Accident Kills One

The body of a motorcyclist that died on Thursday morning has been identified as that of 23-year-old Matthew Limas of Whittier, according to the Lake Forest Patch. The motorcycle accident occurred in the early morning when Limas crashed into a truck going southbound on the I-5 Freeway. According to the CHP. the pickup truck’s rear axel veered slightly into the HOV lane and Limas was ejected from his motorcycle and pronounced dead on the scene. Our condolences go out to the friends and family of Matthew Limas.

Dangers of Defective Car Batteries

A news story out of Osceola, Florida from June brought up some concerns about the dangers of defective car batteries. According to the article, Latifa Lincoln and her young daughter died when they were involved in a single-car fender-bender along Florida’s Turnpike. What had the authorities baffled, was that there was no evidence in the vehicle to suggest they had sustained any injuries. When the officers arrived on the scene, a strong odor that was permeating from the vehicle and drew them back. Months of investigating determined that they died from Hydrogen Sulfide Intoxication, that was likely a defect from the car’s battery.