Feds seek to broaden cell phone bans
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is seeking to broaden the ban on cell phone usage by drivers after a new study entitled “National Phone Survey on Distracted Driving... Read More
An interview with Impact Teen Drivers Director Kelly Browning
Impact Teen Drivers is everywhere. Preaching the importance of eliminating distracted driving online, in video and print, in the halls of power and in the halls of our local... Read More
Winter Charity Contest Week 1 Wrap Up
Our Winter Charitable Donation Contest (click link to vote!), which highlights five of the finest street safety advocacy organizations in California, is off to a great start! Next week... Read More
FDA commissioner: Manufacturers of Yaz, Yasmin birth control pills hid risks
Pharmaceutical giant Bayer has come under fire after an Illinois court made the accusations of former FDA commissioner David Kessler, MD, public. Kessler’s expert opinion, filed in a federal... Read More
Takeda could face thousands of lawsuits over Actos bladder cancer claims
A tide of negative news is rising against Takeda Pharmaceutical, makers of the diabetes medication Actos. The world’s best-selling diabetes medication is prescribed, along with diet and exercise, to... Read More
DUI arrests up over Thanksgiving weekend
The holiday season is a happy and relaxing time, but at times it can also be stressful and busy. Between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve, millions of Americans hit... Read More
Map of all US road accident casualties from 2001-2009
This incredible map was put together by The Guardian and ITO using data from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. In the US, 369,629 passengers, drivers, pedestrians and... Read More
Would eliminating sidewalks and curbs make pedestrians safer?
Here’s a revolutionary idea: what if walking on the street was safer than walking on the sidewalk? That’s the hypothesis of a new movement that started in Europe and... Read More
Winter safety tips: Do snow tires matter?
Winter is just around the corner, which for many means icy, slick roads. Safety is paramount for drivers, but does that mean buying special snow tires for the winter... Read More
Tragic Oregon case reinforces importance of pedestrian vigilance at crosswalks
An excellent article in The Oregonian profiles the heartbreaking case of two young women who were killed at a crosswalk in Southeast Portland, and the disturbing difficulty that prosecutors... Read More
Concord Police Department receives anti-Drunk Driving grant
The success of highly visible and publicly announced DUI checkpoints has been successful enough in California for the Concord Police Department to receive a new traffic safety grant for... Read More
Update: Link Between Autism and SSRI Antidepressants Requires Further Research
Lawsuits against manufacturers of anti-depressants have been filed in all 50 states following a study that found children whose mothers took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Paxil and... Read More
Contra Costa: Dirty DUI investigation uncovers crooked cops
At least 20 DUI and vice cases have been dismissed in Contra Costa county as a sordid and shocking tale of corruption involving three local police departments unravels. Christopher... Read More
Important bicycling safety measure now before the Governor of California
Just last week we wrote about an unfortunate accident involving a cyclist and a San Francisco Muni bus that left the cyclist with a badly crushed arm. The incident... Read More
Fatal San Francisco Muni Bus Accident Highlights Dangerous Left Turns
We've written a lot on this blog about the tragic result of San Francisco bus accidents. In the past, fatal Muni bus accidents have cost the city millions in... Read More
Oakland Crosswalk Update Could Improve Pedestrian Safety
Here in the Bay Area, we’re lucky to live in or near cities that are well known for their walkability. The website WalkScore, for example, recently ranked the country’s... Read More
San Francisco Hit-Run Accident Victim Ryan White’s Condition Improving
By now, you’ve likely heard the story about 9 year-old Ryan White, a Philadelphia tourist visiting San Francisco to see the Phillies play the Giants. After the game, White... Read More
Pleasanton Adopts Microwave Technology to Reduce California Bike Accidents
When it comes to cities that put a priority on bike safety, you can’t do much better than California’s Alameda County, the East Bay bicycle mecca that includes Berkeley.... Read More
Can Distracted Driving Reduce Car Accidents?
The short answer to the question above is a definitive “no.” With the rise of technology, distracted driving has become a serious problem on US roadways, contributing to nearly... Read More
List of Fatal San Francisco Pedestrian Accidents – 2011
The thought of being killed as a pedestrian in San Francisco is terrifying. Fatal pedestrian accidents happen far too often in the Bay Area, especially considering that San Francisco... Read More
San Francisco & Oakland Ranked Walkable, But What About Pedestrian Accidents?
As a proud San Francisco resident, I’m excited when organizations or magazines rank the city as a great destination for anything and everything. That was my initial reaction when... Read More
California Train Accident Ruling Disappoints Metrolink Victims
In September 2008, a train accident near Chatsworth California killed 25 passengers and injured more than 135. Since commuter Metrolink was so clearly at fault for this accident, observers... Read More
Will Bike Lanes on Oak & Fell Reduce San Francisco Bicycle Accidents?
It’s no secret that biking on San Francisco’s Oak and Fell streets can be incredibly dangerous. In fact, the cross-town city arteries have proven dangerous for motorists as well,... Read More
Report: Volvo Technology Reduces Low Speed Car Accidents
How great would it be to drive to work without having to think about accidental low-speed car accidents? For years now, car companies have been researching collision avoidance systems,... Read More
Fatal San Francisco Big Rig Accident Raises Octavia Blvd Safety Questions
Yesterday morning, a big rig truck collided with a UCSF shuttle van, killing 52 year-old Dr. Kevin Mack and injuring three other passengers. The accident occurred on Octavia Boulevard,... Read More
Distracted Driving Technology Not Enough to Reduce Car Accidents
Automaker Ford has rightfully been praised in recent weeks for supporting New York legislation to ban distracted driving. This week, the auto giant became the first of it’s industry... Read More
Prozac and Zoloft During Pregnancy Linked to Autism
A new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry indicates that mothers who were prescribed popular antidepressants during pregnancy are twice as likely as mothers who did not... Read More
PG&E Dodges Blame in San Bruno Pipeline Explosion Lawsuits
After flubbing their initial response to last September’s massive San Bruno pipeline explosion, utility Pacific Gas & Electric seemed to take responsibility for the accident, and even bought full-page... Read More
Biker Suffers Fatal Motorcycle Accident During Helmet Protest
The debate on mandatory motorcycle helmet laws is forever complicated by a familiar question: should individuals have the right to put themselves in grave danger? Many motorcycle advocacy organizations... Read More
California Bike Passing Law Masters Major Milestone
As the number of cyclists throughout California continues to rise each year, the state has consistently taken incremental steps toward improving bicycle safety on city streets and highways. This... Read More
San Jose Traffic Sensors Could Improve Bike & Motorcycle Safety
We’ve all had moments where it feels like the traffic light will never change to green. Many intersections have sensors underneath the concrete that alert the traffic light when... Read More
Cars 2 Targets Distracted Driving (VIDEO)
As part of the new advertising campaign for this summer’s Pixar animated film Cars 2, Disney has released a public service announcement that warns about the dangers of distracted... Read More
Court Shields Google Maps from Pedestrian Injury Lawsuits
We’ve all used Google Maps to find the best route to our desired location. What originally began as a resource for drivers has since expanded to include directions suggestions... Read More
Zimmer NexGen Knee Implant Recalls Spark Lawsuits Nationwide
When implant devices fail, it is often difficult to tell whether the implant manufacturer or the doctor who performed the implant surgery is at fault. That’s the case for... Read More
Bike Helmet Safety Survey Results: Helmet Laws Should Cover Children
As the number of California cyclists continues to grow, the debate surrounding bike helmet laws is likely to come front and center. Last year, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa... Read More
Teen Driver Safety Week & Summer Safety
This week is the National Safety Council’s Teen Driver Safety Week, and it comes right in time for summer, the most dangerous set of months for teens behind the... Read More
DriveCam Technology Reduces San Francisco Muni Bus Accidents
It’s always fun to write about good news related to traffic safety in San Francisco. That pleasure comes this week as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency reports that... Read More
California Judges Debate Social Media Use
Social media is a great way to stay connected with friends and family members. But as a professional development tool, the purpose of social media platforms like Facebook and... Read More
Anti Distracted Driving Accident Campaign Targets Auto Technology
Everyone knows that distracted driving is dangerous. There’s simply no safety replacement for staying focused on the road at all times. But when it comes to improving road safety,... Read More
Contra Costa County Named Most Dangerous for Bay Area Bike Accidents
Since The Bay Citizen began publishing local news little more than a year ago, their Bike Accident Tracker app has been one of my favorite features. First, the app... Read More
California Teen Drivers Face Daunting Summer Safety Statistics
We’re constantly reminded that teen drivers are the demographic most likely to cause car accidents. Scientific studies on teen brain development show that the brain doesn’t even reach full... Read More
Would Automotive Black Boxes Clarify Car Accident Lawsuits?
There are certain procedures that car accident attorneys use to learn the full story of a collision. An investigator typically speaks to the drivers involved and eye witnesses, accident... Read More
California Motorcycle Events Stress Safe Summer Rides
Summer is a great season for motorcyclists. Having more daylight hours and better road conditions assures that motorcyclists can take long drives up the California coastline or through the... Read More
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Injury Highlights Urgent Need For Street Safety
Early this morning, Wednesday May 25, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on the corner of Pierce Street and Lombard Street in San Francisco’s Marina District.... Read More
GJEL Accident Attorneys Recognize National Bike Safety Month in May
Orinda, CA May 19, 2011 As part of National Bike Safety Month, GJEL Accident Attorneys, a catastrophic injury and wrongful death law firm in the San Francisco Bay area,... Read More
Senior Drivers May Cause More Car Accidents
Taking away the keys from senior drivers is a difficult decision that often causes conflict between family members and friends. But scientists and safety advocates have repeatedly shown that... Read More
Infrastructure Spending Could Reduce California Car Accident Costs
California is broke, and with budgets stretched thin across the board, it’s difficult to make an effective argument for increasing spending, even if the result is increased safety on... Read More
5 Great California Bicycle Safety Plans
There's no doubt that National Bike Month has been a resounding success here in California. The extended May cycle-centric holiday has lead to major safety campaigns statewide. But the... Read More
National Youth Traffic Safety Month Prepares Teen Drivers for Summer Safety
As we’ve learned in past weeks, May is an important month for traffic safety nationwide. May marks National Bike Month, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and National Youth Traffic Safety... Read More
Bike to Work Day Events in San Francisco, East Bay, San Jose & Contra Costa County
May is National Bike Month, which means that bicycle advocates and lawmakers throughout California are boosting efforts to increase bike ridership and improve bicycle safety. Thursday May 12 marks... Read More
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Death Proves Need for Masonic Avenue Safety Plan
Last Friday, 61 year-old James Hudson was killed by a drunk driver while crossing San Francisco’s Masonic Avenue, one of the city’s busiest and most dangerous arteries. The suspect,... Read More
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Targets Motorcycle Accident Injuries
We’ve been writing a lot about National Bike Month. The cycle-centric holiday, hosted by the League of American Cyclists, has placed a large emphasis on increasing ridership and teaching... Read More
California Bike to Work Day Benefits San Francisco’s Market Street
San Francisco is getting serious about reducing bicycle accidents. The upsurge in bicycle and pedestrian fatalities in past months has lead the city’s Municipal Transportation Authority to improve safety... Read More
National Bike Month Supporters Get Serious on Sacramento Bicycle Accidents
Both here in California and nationwide, residents and lawmakers are boosting bicycle safety awareness during May, National Bike Month. Many of these initiatives take aim at helping children learn... Read More
National Bike Month Focuses on Reducing Youth Bicycle Accidents
As National Bike Month rolls around, we’re reminded that too many cyclists currently on the road maintain bad habits on city streets. Many adult cyclists don’t wear helmets, obey... Read More
GJEL Accident Attorneys Reveals Five Worst Road Safety States to Highlight Distracted Driving Awareness Month
GJEL Accident Attorneys Reveals Five Worst Road Safety States to Highlight Distracted Driving Awareness Month Orinda, CA In recognition of April 2011 Distracted Driving Awareness Month, GJEL Accident Attorneys... Read More
Parents: Congress Considers Sidewalk Safety Bill For School Zones
There’s no question about it: when it comes to reducing car accidents, pedestrian accidents, or bicycle accidents, states and local governments have been proposing the most interesting plans to... Read More
Reducing California Pedestrian Accidents Saves Lives (And Money!)
For some reason, the fact that nearly 650 people are killed in pedestrian accidents each year in California alone, has not prompted state lawmakers to get serious about cutting... Read More
Ray LaHood to Expand Auto Safety Laws After Distracted Driving Awareness Month
As Distracted Driving Awareness Month comes to a close this week, it’s helpful to look back at what lawmakers and safety advocates have accomplished over the past few years,... Read More
Drop in Motorcycle Accident Deaths Looks Optimistic
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is clearly doing something right. Earlier this month, the Department of Transportation boasted a major drop in car accident deaths in 2010, the... Read More
California Distracted Driving Editorial Misses the Point: Just Put Down the Phone
No one ever said the law was simple. That’s a tense subject for Silicon Valley Mercury News columnist Gary Richards, who penned an editorial yesterday on California’s “confusing” distracted... Read More
Police Cite Obstacles to Reducing Distracted Driving Car Accidents
When it comes to distracted driving, laws have come a long way in a short time. Just two years ago, states were just starting to ban handheld devices, and... Read More
5 Great Cell Phone Apps to Prevent Distracted Driving
With the rise of distracted driving, cell phones are often cited as villains that facilitate dangerous driving practices. But while distracting phone calls, text messages, and games are certainly... Read More
San Francisco Pedestrian Accident Highlights Urgent Need For Action Plan
Jogging across San Francisco’s busy Masonic Avenue Monday, a pedestrian was blindsided by driver going 30 miles per hour, sending the jogger flying through the air and later to... Read More
Distracted Driving Highlights Major Problems with San Francisco Muni Bus Accidents
What would you do if your bus driver was texting while driving? If you’re anything like San Francisco resident Shawn Higgins, who saw a bus driver texting on the... Read More
Parents Rate Safest Cars for Teen Drivers
The discussion of what car to buy a new teenage driver is always touchy. Teens want something that looks cool and isn’t too slow, while parents want something affordable... Read More
Texas & North Dakota Join California to Reduce Distracted Driving Car Accidents
Since it’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we’ve been writing a lot about efforts to curb distracted driving here in California. Statewide, 225 local police agencies have teamed up with... Read More
DOT Boasts Drop in Car Accident Deaths
Based on preliminary data, the Department of Transportation estimated last week that 32,788 people were killed in car accidents in 2010, the lowest number in more than 60 years.... Read More
Distracted Driving Awareness Month Ignites Driver Safety Debate
As April and Distracted Driving Awareness Month rolls around, you can expect safety advocates and lawmakers to discuss the many dangers of distracted driving. But despite reports that distracted... Read More
California Boosts Driver Safety Laws For Distracted Driving Awareness Month
For years, the California Highway Patrol has done a fantastic job keeping our roads safe from dangerous drivers and reducing vehicle injuries and fatalities. That job has grown more... Read More
San Francisco MTA Continues Plan to Reduce California Bicycle Accidents
So far, 2011 has been a great year for San Francisco pedestrian safety and bicycle safety. Facing troubling pedestrian and bicycle accident statistics, city lawmakers have enacted programs that... Read More
States Boost Safety Laws Before Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April is distracted driving awareness month, which means that safety advocates and lawmakers will put the issue front and center, trying to find a solution to eliminating distracted driving,... Read More
PG&E Fined “Chump Change” Following San Bruno Pipeline Explosion
The California Public Utilities Commission fined PG&E $6 million last week for September’s devastating pipeline explosion, which many consumer advocates and San Bruno representatives call a major win for... Read More
Better Late than Never to Reduce San Francisco Pedestrian Accidents
Safety advocates throughout San Francisco have been pleased over the past few weeks with the city’s apparent goal to boost programs that would reduce pedestrian accidents in the coming... Read More
Can We Control the Distracted Driving “Arms Race”?
With just about every driving-related sector trying to make distracted driving less prevalent, is dashboard Facebook access necessary? Clearly, no. But that’s the newest development in a distracted driving... Read More
Pediatrics Organization Alters Car Seat Advice to Reduce Accident Injuries and Fatalities
One of the country’s foremost child safety organizations announced this week that it has changed its tune when it comes to child car seats. Previously, the American Academy of... Read More
Man injured in a rear-end car accident
$100,000 for man injured in a rear-end car accident Read More
Congress to Consider Federal Teen Driving Law
Teenagers here in California eagerly await their 16th birthday, that all-important landmark that means they can now drive a car. In South Dakota, the situation is much different, since... Read More
Distracted Driving Awareness Videos Stress Human Connections
Just about everyone knows that distracted driving is dangerous, but almost no one knows how to stop it. Technology is only growing more prevalent, and although cell phone and... Read More
Task Force Plan Intends to Tackle San Francisco Pedestrian Accidents
As pedestrians in San Francisco and throughout the country become more active, some increase in pedestrian accidents is inevitable. Especially when it comes to senior citizens, children, and people... Read More
Appeals Court Rules for Workers in California Personal Injury Lawsuits
Even when employers compensate victims for personal injuries, the legal battle often isn’t over. That was the case for California port workers suffering injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, reports... Read More
Senior Driver Safety Checklist Highlights Eyesight and Motor Skills
It’s fortunate for road safety that every state has a minimum age at which teenagers receive their drivers’ license. Before teenagers reach that age, they are simply not developed... Read More
Can National Bike Summit Reduce Preventable Bicycle Accidents?
Lawmakers, cyclists, and safety organizations nationwide traveled to Washington DC this week for the annual National Bike Summit, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists. In past years, the... Read More
DePuy Orthopedics President Resigns Following Hip Implant Recall Lawsuits
Since DePuy Orthopedics announced that it would recall its ASR hip implants last July, the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary as been barraged by bad news and even worse public... Read More
National Bike Summit Highlights Crossroads for Bicycle Safety
Bicycle use is in the midst of a major national resurgence. Due to crowded city streets, troubling environmental problems, and a call for healthier lifestyles, more people are choosing... Read More
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Talks Distracted Driving Laws & Enforcement
Consumer Reports is absolutely killing it when it comes to distracted driving coverage. Last week, I reviewed their April edition, in which Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, a tireless... Read More
San Francisco & Los Angeles Launch Plans to Reduce California Bicycle Accidents
As bicycle use continues to grow more popular, commuters remain vulnerable to bicycle accidents due primarily to the fact that city infrastructure for safe bicycle use lags far behind.... Read More
California DePuy Hip Implant Lawsuits May Come to San Francisco
Since DePuy Orthopedics announced a recall of one of its popular hip implant models last August, lawsuits have piled up against the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary. Most recently, it... Read More
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to Advocate Federal Distracted Driving Law
Like drunk driving and wearing a seat belt, avoiding distracted driving is becoming more and more of a no brainer. The Department of Transportation has reported that there were... Read More
Are California Traffic Tickets Too Easy on Dangerous Drivers?
Most penalties for dangerous driving tickets are designed to prevent the perilous behavior from reoccurring. If you’re fined for driving 80 miles per hour in a 60 mph zone,... Read More
What’s Happening at the PG&E San Bruno Pipeline Explosion Hearing?
The pipeline explosion sent waves of concern throughout the San Francisco Bay Area when it unexpectedly destroyed a San Bruno neighborhood, killing 8 people and injuring more than 50... Read More
SCOTUS Clears Way for California Defective Seat Belt Lawsuits Against Mazda
For the past twenty years, car manufacturers were faced with a choice: install lap-only seat belts, or “type 2” seat belts, which include a shoulder strap and have been... Read More
DePuy Hip Implant Short Approval Process Faulted for Major Recalls
Even after a heavy year for medical product recalls, medical device companies have vamped up their criticism of government regulation, and are actively seeking to undermine efforts to make... Read More
Legal Aid Clinics Spared in Obama’s Proposed Budget Cuts
Due to the ever-dwindling coffers of legal aid clinics over the past decade, and the “everything must go” approach to the national budget this year, most observers expected the... Read More
Motorcyclists and Pedestrians are Most Vulnerable on California Streets
Whether you’re driving a passenger car, a motorcycle, or simply walking on the sidewalk, individuals don’t have much control over whether they will be involved in a deadly car... Read More
Senators Join Plan to Reduce Car Accident Deaths
For the past decade, many states across the country have worked hard to implement auto safety laws designed to reduce the number of car accident deaths. On the national... Read More
Medical Companies Seek Lax Regulation on Devices Like DePuy’s Faulty Hip Implants
It’s true: regulation is often not good for business. The American food industry no doubt took a hit when the government decided to test products for poisons before they... Read More
Avoid Kissing and Driving on Valentines Day
Everyone knows that texting or typing on your cell phone while driving is very dangerous. Last year, distracted driving accounted for 5,500 traffic fatalities and nearly 500,000 injuries nationwide.... Read More
Plaintiff Law Firms Charge Ahead Despite Toyota Report
n what has widely been considered a rebuke to plaintiff law firms taking on Toyota for personal injury and economic claims resulting from the company’s unintended acceleration problems, a... Read More
Safety Record of Older Drivers Scrutinized After Freeway Accident
Have you ever turned the wrong way on a one-way street? How about entered the freeway going the wrong direction? That’s what happened to 83 year-old Clarence Kinney yesterday,... Read More