Hayward Legal Blog

When a driver drifts out of their lane, it puts everyone in serious danger. On a multi-lane road like an interstate, it can force other drivers off of the road. On a two-lane highway with oncoming traffic, it can cause a devastating head-on collision.

Even so, odds are that you have seen drivers drifting all over in their lanes and sometimes into the wrong lane entirely. Why does something so dangerous keep happening? There are a few different reasons, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, including:

• The driver is falling asleep at the wheel because they are simply too tired to drive. They may drift repeatedly as they doze off before finally causing an accident.
• The driver is having a medical emergency. For instance, they could have a seizure, a stroke or a panic attack.
• The driver has been using drugs or alcohol. They could pass out or black out on account of this impairment. Often, cars that drift all over the highway and seem to change lanes accidentally are one of the biggest red flags to law enforcement that the drivers are intoxicated.

Long-haul truck drivers have a difficult job. They spend hours on the road away from their families. As with all drivers, they can become distracted behind the wheel, which can lead to an accident.

These are some of the top causes of truck accidents.

1. Unfamiliar roadways: Some truck drivers travel up and down Interstate 5 for their entire career, while many have routes that take them to unfamiliar places. The latter could require inattention from truck drivers who must check their road navigation systems or they could find themselves on roads not built for travel.
2. Blind spots: Truck drivers must contend with blind spots that drivers of cars don't have and might not be aware of that.
3. Speeding: Because of the weight and size of a semitruck, the faster they go, the harder it is to stop. Staying within the speed limit allows drivers more time to stop.
4. Weather issues: California's beautiful weather can lead to drivers becoming uncomfortable when rain does fall -- and that can include truck drivers. Truck drivers should keep as much distance as possible between themselves and other vehicles on the road and be prepared to react to sudden stops by drivers.
5. Poor maintenance: Drivers should inspect their trucks regularly, including tires, brakes and fluid levels. By following a good maintenance plan, drivers can help prevent accidents.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data shows that there were 7,402 falling protections violations in 2015. There were 50,000 falling objects incidents reported that same year. While construction workers sometimes fell in these reported incidents, it's equipment and tools that came tumbling down on top of someone else's head the most. These events could have been avoided.

California workers can reduce their risk of falling by wearing a safety harness. Its line should be tied off at a certain connection point in proximity to where they're working for it to be most effective though.

One of the truisms in life is that one event leads to another. Unfortunately, that holds true of motor vehicle accidents as well, including motorcycle accidents. A recent example involved a California woman, 51, who died when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was hit at the scene of a prior accident.

The fatal collision that took the woman's life happened while she was on riding on the back of a 2008 Harley-Davidson driven by a man, 62. They were riding along Ortega Highway, also known as Highway 74. It's a very popular road for motorcyclists on weekends.