Law Office of Michael D. Waks

Los Angeles has long been an automobile-focused city, but trends may be shifting.  As the LA Times reports, city leaders have endorsed a sweeping policy designed to rework some of the main boulevards to make them more accessible for buses, bicycles and pedestrians.  This, in turn, will leave less room for motor vehicles. The new mobility plan is creating controversy.  Transit advocates and the growing bicyclist and pedestrian community are excited about the changes, but opponents … [Read more...]

New studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have some good news and some bad news.  While the number of drivers with alcohol in their system has declined since 2007, the number of drivers with marijuana or other drugs has gone up.  The mixed results from the study show there is still a very serious risk that some motorists are driving while impaired. Drunk Driving Accident Risks in Long Beach The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has conducted a … [Read more...]

After an auto accident, the insurance company may pressure you to sign a release of liability.  Whether you are making a claim with your own insurer or against another driver's insurance, you could find yourself with an insurance adjuster putting a release of liability form in front of you. Before you sign this form, or any other paperwork from an insurer, you should talk with a Long Beach car accident lawyer.  Releasing the insurer and the other driver of liability too soon … [Read more...]

Many people wrongly assume they are not entitled to compensation if they are partly at fault for an auto accident.  Just because an accident victim shares the blame for an accident does not mean he or she cannot pursue a case for monetary damages. California has what is called comparative fault rules that allow injured accident victims to receive compensation even when they are partially to blame for a car crash. Cases where an injured victim is partly at … [Read more...]

Drivers who are serious about road safety can reduce their risk of a motor vehicle accident, but they cannot control the behavior of others on the road.  Car accidents can happen anytime and anywhere if a driver violates safety rules or makes careless choices that endangers everyone. Recently, Forbes published an article taking a closer look at just how often an individual driver is likely to become involved in a car accident.  These statistics can help you better understand your … [Read more...]

Senior drivers may experience physical declines, mental declines, and other changes that go along with aging.  The changes many people experience as they age can negatively impact their driving skills.  As a result, drivers aged 70 and older are the demographic group with the second highest rate of motor vehicle collisions.  Only teen drivers cause more auto accidents than senior drivers. The number of senior drivers is growing as more aging baby boomers are on the road, which means the risk of … [Read more...]

While much of the focus on preventing distracted driving is centered on cell phones, a driver who eats while driving can also be a menace on the roads.  A motorist who eats while driving takes a hand off the steering wheel to hold the food, and eyes off the road to consume it.  A University of Leeds researcher discovered, in a 2012 study, that driver reaction time slows by 44 percent when a driver is eating. Many drivers may be surprised to learn that, because … [Read more...]

California's fault laws allow car accident victims to file lawsuits against those who were responsible for accidents. Passengers are never at fault for causing a crash, because they are not driving any of the vehicles involved. When a passenger is injured, it can become complicated to determine who should be sued. An injured passenger must make an informed choice about who to sue in a car accident so the passenger maximizes the chances of recovering full and fair compensation. There may be … [Read more...]

The Los Angeles Times reported on three car accident victims who addressed the court after a man was found guilty of second-degree murder, hit-and-run and multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon.  The man had driven intentionally onto the sidewalk, around pedestrian barriers, and into a crowd on Venice Boardwalk after he was angered by a botched drug deal.  An Italian newlywed couple died and 17 other people were injured because of his actions.  Three of the victims spoke at his … [Read more...]

Due to their inexperience, teenagers are the demographic group with the greatest likelihood of being in motor vehicle accidents.  Unfortunately, teen drivers face risks not just because they have not driven for very long. They also tend to engage in activities that make driving more dangerous.  One of the riskiest things teenagers do on the road, is become distracted by their smartphones or other electronic devices. It is not legal for teens to use a handheld cell phone, or to … [Read more...]