Costa Mesa auto accident and product injury legal blog

California drivers know that being out in the early morning or late afternoon can be challenging because of the brightness of the rising or setting sun. Bright sunlight creates visual illusions, putting drivers at 16 percent greater risk for a fatal accident than if they were in normal weather.

The first step that drivers can take to protect themselves is to keep a good pair of sunglasses in the car. Sunglasses will reduce the brightness of the sun and protect the eyes from harmful UV rays. Drivers are also encouraged to use the sun visors when the sun is hitting the front windshield or the side windows. All sun visors are designed not to hinder the driver's vision.

Personal injuries range from traumatic brain injuries to medical errors. One type that easily can fall under the radar is burns. A burn may seem commonplace or not as serious as other bodily harm, but it can have lasting consequences beyond just scarring. Second- and third-degree burns can lead to infections, bone and joint issues, loss of fluid, development of too much scar tissue and other health problems.

Burns can occur anywhere, as well. Most happen at home or in the workplace, but they can also happen at public places such as restaurants or beaches. With the risk everywhere you go, it is important to know common causes to both prevent a burn injury and know when you have a personal injury claim against a negligent party.

• Motor vehicle accidents: Car crashes can cause all types of injuries, and one of them is burns from a flaming vehicle or skin contact with the road (friction burn).
• Hot liquids: Burns from hot drinks may receive the most media attention, but hot tap water is the number one culprit, reveals Stanford Children's Health. The majority of these injuries are avoidable.
• Electricity: Electrical currents can burn everyone from those in the construction injury to someone handling Christmas lights.
• Fire: Fire is common everywhere all year round in the form of candles, campfires, cigarettes, matches, grills, fireplaces and gas stoves. House fires increase during the holidays, as well, due to more risk factors.
• Appliances: Direct contact with hot surfaces on appliances such as ovens and curling irons is another common cause.
• Sun exposure: People who work in the sunshine without sufficient protection can receive severe sunburns, as well as experience heat stroke.

Federal data shows that the annual number of large truck crash fatalities increased 28 percent between 2009 and 2016. This has led safety advocates to urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to consider mandating crash avoidance systems on all heavy trucks. California motorists may be interested to learn that those pleas have received attention from several members of Congress.

For example, one senator said that Congress should take meaningful action so that the safety concerns of truckers and others on the road are not left to market forces. The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended the mandating of crash avoidance tech on at least 10 occasions since the late 1990s and criticized NHTSA back in 2016 for not proposing any regulations along these lines.

Hit and runs happen far too frequently. One cyclist in Costa Mesa recently fell victim to a hit and run driver. Fortunately, thanks to involvement from the local community, police were able to arrest the suspect. 

While this particular incident resulted in an arrest, many hit-and-run accidents do not have the same kind of luck. It can be challenging to find the perpetrator of the accident, and that is why the victims of such occurrences need to follow these steps immediately after a collision: