Hayward Legal Blog

What is the best high-visibility color?

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Auto-Pedestrian Accidents on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.

You know the dangers of jogging and walking near traffic. Even when you have the right of way -- in a crosswalk, for instance -- you can get hit by a driver who does not yield and perhaps never sees you at all. This is especially a problem at dusk and dawn, when it's still fairly dark and you can blend into the shadows.

To protect yourself, you decide to wear high-visibility clothing when you know you'll be around cars. But should you wear orange or yellow? Which gives you the most protection and stands out to drivers?

Should you wear headphones while walking when you are near traffic?

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Auto-Pedestrian Accidents on Tuesday, December 4, 2018.

You decide to walk to the grocery store. It is a half hour walk, so you grab your headphones, plug them into your phone, and turn on your favorite playlist while you walk down the sidewalk. It's a great way to give yourself a bit more time to relax and enjoy the music while still running an errand.

It may also be very dangerous. Studies have linked auto-pedestrian accidents and headphone use. They have also tied it to pedestrian accidents involving trains. Having those headphones on could make you more likely to be struck and seriously injured or even killed in an accident.

Sharing the road with a big truck? Be sure it keeps its distance

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Truck Accidents on Monday, November 26, 2018.

There's not much more frightening on the road in California than looking in your car's rearview mirror and seeing a huge truck barreling toward you as you wait in traffic. Just in the nick of time, the truck stops. Sigh of relief.

Commercial truck drivers must be extra-aware of tailgating, or driving too closely. It takes a long time for a truck to come to a complete stop, so drivers must leave plenty of room between their truck and the car in front of it.

Motorcycle accidents and post-traumatic stress disorder

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage on Sunday, November 18, 2018.

Motorcycle accidents do not often end with riders walking away without serious injuries. Many collisions cause victims to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD does not always show up right away. It can take weeks, months and in some case, years. Immediate and follow-up medical treatment is necessary to mitigate the seriousness of any physical trauma. Ongoing self-observation can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of PTSD to improve the overall outcome.

Many people find the emotional stress of motorcycle accidents just as hard to manage as the physical injuries. PTSD ranges in severity. Though many people who end up with the condition eventually recover, some accident victims do not. PTSD causes behavioral, emotional and sleep disturbances and can make it more challenging for accident victims to recover from any physical injuries they may also have.

Only qualified employees should work with electricity

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Construction Workers' Accidents on Friday, November 16, 2018.

California job sites are filled with hazards - too many to list. Each poses a danger for employees. One of the biggest risks occurs when electricity comes into play.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cautions that any tasks on the job site that have to do with electricity should be performed only by workers who have been completely trained and are thus "qualified."

Study reveals likelihood of truck drivers and crashes

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, November 9, 2018.

A study by a California-based company that uses video recorders to track the actions of truck drivers has provided eye-opening information about how companies can predict which drivers are more likely to have an accident.

The company analyzed the data collected by 116,000 recorders to determine its findings about the potential for accidents. Which truck drivers are more likely to have an accident?

Those who have been in an accident before
Those with a blank stare
Those who drive while drowsy
Those who aren't wearing a seat belt
Those who exhibit delayed or late response
Those who merge in too tight without giving themselves a way to get out of a jam
Those who have a near-collision that could have been avoided
Those who have a near-collision that couldn't have been avoided
Those who drive aggressively
Those who fall asleep behind the wheel

Stay aware on your motorcycle on California roads

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, November 2, 2018.

There's nothing better than riding a motorcycle on a lovely fall day in California. Safety gear is essential, and bright colors on your helmet help drivers see you. Before you hit the road, be sure that your bike is in tip-top shape and that you've got all of your essential accessories.

Before you leave, take a look at this list of common causes of motorcycle accidents. Some of them can be avoided. The list is a great reminder of what you're facing on the road when you pull your motorcycle out of the garage.

10 tips for safe operation of a forklift in California

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Construction Workers' Accidents on Tuesday, October 30, 2018.

Several hazards exist on California construction sites, and among them are forklifts.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has estimated that each year, there are 62,000 nonserious injuries and 35,000 serious injuries related to the operation of forklifts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 96 American workers were killed in forklift-related accidents in 2015, the most recent statistics available.

What is a car's stopping distance for pedestrians?

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage posted in Auto-Pedestrian Accidents on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.

You're about to cross the street, but you wonder if the cars will be able to stop in time to avoid striking you. Whether you have the right of way or not, you do not want to put yourself in danger. What sort of stopping distance does a driver typically need to avoid hitting you?

If the car is traveling 35 mph -- a typical speed limit in cities and urban areas -- the vehicle needs about 138 feet to stop. This means that the driver needs to see you about 3.6 seconds before impact in order to hit the brakes and stop in time.

Motorcycle accidents: Safety gear prevents catastrophic injuries

On behalf of Law Offices of Patricia Turnage on Monday, October 15, 2018.

Most motorists in California are aware of how dangerous motor vehicle collisions can be. Knowing those dangers does not stop some motorcyclists from taking to the streets without proper safety and riding gear. Because motorcyclists have considerably less protection on the roads than do drivers of cars and trucks, they are less likely to walk away from their motor vehicle collisions without serious injury.

What some bikers fail to realize is they never know when that next ride could be their last. Even if an accident does not take them completely out of commission, there is still the possibility of broken and fractured bones, severe lacerations, disfigurement and other critical ailments that could cut their lives short. There is no way to eliminate the hazards that bikers and their passengers face entirely. However, the following pointers on motorcycle gear can help reduce the likelihood of serious and life-altering injuries and death.

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