Whether your child attends a school in San Marcos or a nearby area in San Diego County, you may already be aware of various safety risks that often impact kids who ride or are waiting for school buses, as well as those who are regular pedestrians in areas where school buses drive. While school-age pedestrians are at greater risk of injury around school bus pick-up areas and in school zones than other pedestrians, it is also important to know about specific risks associated with the area immediately around a school bus itself. Researchers often point to the hazards children face while waiting for a school bus, but there is also something known as a “danger zone” around the school bus where collisions are most likely to occur. 

What do you need to know about the danger zone? And what should you do if your child is injured in a school bus accident?

The School Bus “Danger Zone”

Traffic crashes occur in various spots in Encinitas and throughout Southern California more broadly: at intersections, on neighborhood streets, on highways, and even in parking lots. While the area in which a car accident occurs can sometimes point to potential causal factors, there is one common cause for all of these kinds of accidents, which is texting while driving. Although all drivers should now be absolutely certain about the serious risks associated with texting behind the wheel, motorists continue to do it anyway, and in so doing, to cause accidents and injuries. What are some of the key things you should know about car accidents caused by texting while driving? Consider the following information.

Texting While Driving is Unlawful and Negligent

First, you should know that any driver who causes a collision by texting while driving has broken the law by texting while driving and has behaved in a negligent manner for which they can be liable in a civil lawsuit. Under California law, texting while driving is unlawful, and it is a primary violation for which a motorist can be stopped and fined. Making the decision to text while driving is also negligent for purposes of a civil lawsuit — texting while driving is not what a reasonable person would do and is not what a reasonable person would consider to be reasonably safe under the circumstances.

While pool and beach time tends to be at its highest during the summer months in Vista, residents of San Diego County and visitors to the area alike enjoy swimming and spending time on the water year-round, thanks to the climate in Southern California. While swimming in pools and in the ocean can be a fun and exciting recreational activity for individuals and families regardless of age, swimming and being near the water can also be dangerous — especially for very young children and adults when alcohol is involved. According to a recent study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning deaths have risen notably in recent years, and thousands of people are dying annually because of drowning. 

What do you need to know about drowning risks based on the data in the new study, and who is responsible? An experienced Vista drowning accident attorney at our firm can provide you with important information.

Understanding the Increase in Drowning Rates

Consumer products that are designed for children, as well as those that are commonly used in Carlsbad households with young kids, can pose serious dangers when they have defects. Given that there are several different kinds of product defects, consumer and household products can have a very wide range of flaws. In some cases, there is something wrong with the product, such that anyone using it could get hurt. Yet, in other circumstances, products may not have appropriate warnings for parents and caregivers concerning risks to young children. Product defects are responsible for many kinds of child injuries, and kids can sustain debilitating and life-threatening harm. If your child was injured by a defective product, it is important to seek legal help right away.

Common Types of Defective Products That Harm Children

Nearly any type of consumer product with a defect could cause injuries to children, although some types of products with defects are more commonly associated with child product liability cases than others. Some examples of common types of defective products and injuries that harm kids include but are not limited to:

California has one of the highest rates of pedestrian injuries and deaths in the country, and a majority of these collisions involve negligent motorists. Whether you are walking in Oceanside or elsewhere in Southern California, it is critical to be aware of the risks and to know about steps you can take in the event of a serious or deadly crash involving a car or truck. Given that pedestrians have no significant protection when they are struck by an automobile, these collisions can frequently be deadly, resulting in fatal injuries. Deadly pedestrian accidents are devastating to surviving family members and friends, and it is important to take steps to hold the at-fault driver accountable.

Our experienced Oceanside pedestrian accident attorneys can provide you with information about some of the most common causes of pedestrian fatalities, and we are here to assist you with all aspects of a wrongful death claim arising out of a deadly pedestrian accident.

How Pedestrian Accidents Happen in California

From neighborhood streets in San Clemente to larger and more urban roads in other parts of San Diego County, it is likely that e-bike and electric scooter accidents and injuries are occurring more often than they have in the past. According to a recent report in the San Francisco Examiner, a new study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) reveals that, over the last five years alone, the rate of e-bike and e-scooter crashes and injuries has risen significantly. 

With more teens out of school during the summer, and with more visitors to Southern California, these numbers could ultimately show spikes over the summer months. Who is responsible when these accidents occur? And how can an injured person seek compensation? Our San Clemente e-bike accident attorney can provide you with more information.

Surge in E-Bike and E-Scooter Popularity

Dog bite injuries are common in California, whether you are in Valley Center or elsewhere in Southern California. A recent article in the Los Angeles Times emphasized the particularly high rate of dog bites in the state of California and how injuries in attacks appear to be increasing. Indeed, the article reports that “dog bites are sending record numbers of Californians to the emergency room.” Data from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information shows that emergency department visits due to dog bite injuries rose by about 12% between 2021 and 2022, the last year of available data in which almost 50,000 people sought emergency treatment for dog bites. 

Yet, as the article underscores, it is actually quite uncommon to have a situation where a dog that is known to be vicious is loose and attacks a stranger. Rather, most dog bites happen in circumstances where the dog is known to the person bitten and in situations with “animals being put under stress and humans not understanding their signals.” Does this information have any bearing on liability? In other words, if you misread a dog’s signals, can the attack be your own fault? In short, the answer is usually no. California follows a strict liability law, which tends to hold a dog owner responsible for most bites. Our Southern California dog bite injury attorneys can explain.

Owners are Liable for Dog Bites in Most Circumstances

BestOfNorthCountyLogo-001-300x300 We are thrilled to announce that Walton Law Firm / North County Injury Lawyers has been named the best personal injury law firm in North County San Diego, winning the prestigious Best of North County competition. This honor reflects the trust and support we have garnered from our community, as well as our unwavering commitment to excellence in personal injury law.

Why Walton Law Firm is a Leader in Personal Injury Law

Walton Law Firm’s success is built on a foundation of dedication, expertise, and a client-centered approach. Here are the key factors that make us the top choice for personal injury cases in North County San Diego:

Children and young adults can sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in various ways, from motor vehicle collisions and bicycle accidents to recreational activities and sports. TBIs and concussions, in particular, are notably dangerous because they can have long-term consequences, especially when kids sustain multiple concussions. While TBIs in various types of accidents are always preventable (meaning that they can be avoided if all parties drive safely and avoid negligent behaviors), many safety advocates emphasize that there is a clear way to prevent concussions in youth sports: ban tackle football. Recently, there was a legislative effort in California to ban tackle football for children under the age of 12, which was ultimately rejected.

Should younger kids be able to play tackle football? Data from the CDC suggests that it is especially dangerous. Our Rancho Bernardo personal injury attorneys can tell you more.

Proposed Legislation to Ban Tackle Football in California

Whether you are in a car accident in Poway or injured as a result of a slip and fall accident on hotel property elsewhere in Southern California, you could be at risk of sustaining a head injury. Many recent studies on traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have focused on both youth athletes as well as adults who have played contact sports and sustained repeated concussions over time. However, a new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that older adults are also suffering from TBIs at a high rate, and there is an imminent need to consider injury risks among seniors. 

What should you know about the recent study? And can older adults seek compensation by filing a brain injury lawsuit? Our Poway brain injury attorneys can tell you more.

High Rate of TBIs Found in Older Adults

Contact Information