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Can a Teen Drive with Minors?

Car Accidents

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Getting a driver’s license is an exciting time in a teenager’s life. However, California law is very specific about what teenagers are and aren’t allowed to do behind the wheel. Because driving effects everyone on the road, it’s very critical parent’s know all the rules and regulations pertaining to teenagers and driving. There are reasons why teenagers have a different set of driving laws than other drivers. Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers and after many studies, it’s been concluded that teenagers are more likely to engage in risky behavior.

In order to get a driver’s license, teenagers must have a parent/guardian signature, must pass all vision, traffic laws and sign tests, complete a driver training course, and follow all restrictions pertaining to who can ride with them and at what times.

Driving Laws for Minors

California uses a graduated driver’s license system. If you’re a minor in California, you must follow these rules:

  • In order to transport passengers under the age of 20, teenagers must be accompanied at all times by a parent, guardian or licensed driver over the age of 25 for the first 12 months of a provisional license. Teen drivers are not permitted to drive with other minors in the vehicle unless a parent, guardian or licensed driver over the age of 25 is also present.
  • While driving with a provisional license, teenagers must be accompanied by an adult when driving between 11 pm and 5 am.
  • Teenagers cannot be employed as drivers.
  • There are some exceptions to these rules such as medical, employment, school-authorized activities, and parental consent as long as a note is provided by the physician, employer, school or parent respectively.

Violations of Provisional License Restrictions

Teenagers who have provisional licenses may not drive other teenagers. Violating this rule and any other rule set out by the provisional license guidelines is a secondary offense. That means, if you are driving legally, a police officer cannot pull you over. However, if you are breaking any other driving offense, such as speeding, a police officer can pull you over and see if you are violating your license restriction and therefore issue two tickets.

Teenagers who are found violating license restrictions will not incur any points against their license. However, because a ticket for violating a license restriction is only given in conjunction with another driving offense, it is sometimes seen as a red flag.

License Violations and Insurance Companies

If a teenage driver gets involved in an accident while violating their license restriction, they may still be covered by their insurance company. Auto insurance companies look at a teenager’s license restriction violation the same as they do a minor traffic ticket. If a teenage driver is convicted of driving without a license, then an issue could come up with insurance, but for the most part, coverage will stay intact.

Talk to a Sacramento Accident Lawyer About Your Legal Needs

If you were injured due to the negligence of another, regardless of the nature of the underlying accident, it is important to contact an experienced Sacramento accident lawyer to discuss your legal options. The Weinberger Law Firm has the resources and expertise to aggressively litigate your case in court, fighting to get you just compensation for your injury. Call (916) 357-6767 today for a free consultation regarding your personal injury case.

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What They Don’t Want You to Know

What you must remember is that if you have paid your insurance premiums and the insurance company has accepted your money, the insurance company has entered into a contract to pay you when the proper conditions are met. This situation applies to car insurance, homeowner’s insurance, umbrella liability insurance or a business insurance policy. As a policyholder, you do have rights. The Weinberger Law Firm has protected the rights of claimants for more than 20 years by demanding fair treatment and compensation and by helping people achieve justice.

The Weinberger Law Firm has built a reputation in Northern and Southern California for hard work, effective use of medical and investigative experts and the ability to prove their cases. They have built their reputation on getting results for injured people. That is why their clients use their services and recommend them to family and friends.

Many people worry about the process of filing a personal injury claim against a defendant or against their own insurance carrier. The Weinberger Law Firm is ready, willing and able to spend the time discussing any concerns or questions that you may have so that there is a full understanding of the legal process and reasonable expectations for recovery.

If you were injured due to the negligence of another, regardless of the nature of the underlying accident, it is important to contact an experienced injury attorney to discuss your legal options. The Weinberger Law Firm has the resources and expertise to aggressively litigate your case in court, fighting to get you just compensation for your injury.

Talk to an Attorney About Your Legal Needs

Contact our office to discuss your injury claim. We offer a free initial consultation where you can get honest answers to your questions and learn more about your legal options. You can reach us by phone at (916) 357-6767 or send us an email to schedule an appointment.

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On Monday, March 20, 2017, a head-on collision killed two people in Folsom while they were driving on White Rock Road, close to the intersection with Prairie City Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at about 8:20 a.m. on White Rock Road, south of Highway 50, and involved three vehicles when it was all over. California Highway Patrol Spokesman, Officer Tommy Riggin, reported that a vehicle heading westbound and driven by a 41-year-old El Dorado Hills man was speeding into oncoming traffic when it collided with an eastbound vehicle being driven by a 21-year-old woman.

A third vehicle was also involved in the collision when the woman operating the vehicle came upon the collision, spun out of control and barreled into the crash. CHP reported that the wrong-way driver and the 21-year-old woman were killed and pronounced dead on the scene. The third driver, identified as a female, received moderate injuries.

The driver at fault was identified on the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office website as Christopher Haynes. The deceased woman’s name has not been released and is pending notification of her family.

CHP Lt. Brandon Straw said that a report of a wrong-way vehicle traveling at 80 to 100 mph came into dispatchers one minute before the fatal accident occurred. CHP says that this was an avoidable tragedy and that they are thankful the vehicles involved did not have any passengers as they likely would have sustained life-threatening injuries as well.

According to Straw, there will be an investigation, “We will have to do interviews with people who were close to him, friends and family, we will want to see what his mindset was. Driving on the wrong side of the road at the speeds he was going was a tragedy waiting to happen. And it did happen. An innocent person lost her life this morning.”

The road was closed for about four hours following the incident.

Case for Wrongful Death?

When an individual’s death is caused by the negligence or wrongful act of another, the surviving family members, or other eligible parties, can bring a wrongful death suit and attempt to recover damages caused by the negligent act. Compensation to the plaintiff could include costs associated with the death, such as medical bills or funeral costs, and can also include compensation for labor/services/ support that the decedent will no longer be able to perform and provide.

The most important part of a wrongful death case is establishing negligence. We don’t like to comment on the prospects of a situation before knowing all the details, but it looks like a case for negligence could be made with regards to the above situation.

After negligence is proven, experienced wrongful death auto accident attorneys in Sacrament CA would begin to establish and prove, the amount of damages.

Call a Sacramento Accident Attorney at the Weinberger Law Firm Today.

Wrongful death cases are incredibly complex and determining the proper damages to seek can make or break a case. It may seem obvious to you that the death of your loved one was the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongful act, but what you may not understand is that winning your case will be dependent on far more than proving negligence. Call our Sacramento accident lawyer for a free consultation at (916) 357-6767 today!

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On Monday, September 19, 2016, Traffic Was at a Complete Stop and Backed up for Miles Due of Major Vehicle Crash Involving Two Vehicles and a Tractor Trailer Big Rig Vehicle.

According to the news reports, the collision occurred just after 4:00 p.m. in the westbound lanes of traffic of Highway 50, in Rancho Cordova near Sunrise Avenue. The big rig struck the vehicles and burst into flames, and engulfing another vehicle. The responding emergency personnel shut down all westbound lanes of traffic, including the eastbound fast lane of Highway 50. Firefighters put out the fire by 4:30, but the lanes continued to be closed for clean up late into evening hours.

No major injuries were reported and all lanes of traffic have since been reopened.

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Some vehicles, especially larger vehicles such as SUVs, pickup trucks, and semis, have higher centers of gravity. This leads to an increased likelihood for rollover incidents. Because rollover incidents may not necessarily involve a collision, it is possible that airbags will not deploy. This means individuals in the car may incur injury from being thrown against the inside of the car. If an individual is not wearing his or her seatbelt, the likelihood of injury increases, especially if ejected from the vehicle. Additionally, windows may break and the roof may collapse, increasing the severity of an injury.

Ejection from the vehicle causes most injuries and fatalities in rollover incidents. Most people who are killed are not wearing seat belts. If you or someone you know has been injured from a rollover accident, speak with accident attorneys in Sacramento to get legal advice.

In many instances, the initial cause of a rollover incident is driver negligence or poor road conditions. Individuals that incur injury or damage to property due to the occurrence of another driver’s rollover is likely to have a strong case for compensation or coverage of medical costs.

Other possible causes for a rollover include:

  1. A high-speed collision with another vehicle
  2. Taking a sharp turn too quickly
  3. A tire blow out at high speeds
  4. Running into a curb or another object in the road at high speeds
  5. Over-correction when a car is drifting out of its lane

Additional Considerations

Rollover incidents can be catastrophic with complex causes and multifaceted consequences. An attorney will complete a thorough investigation and might consider the following elements of the incident:

  • Speed or recklessness of the driver during the incident
    • If the driver was driving under the influence, engaging in distractions while driving, or driving at excessive speeds, this information could help your case.
  • Driver’s history of speeding or reckless driving
    • Establishing a history of recklessness could bolster your case.
  • Poor road maintenance
    • Encountering a pothole or black ice during high speeds may result in a rollover incident. Whoever is responsible for road maintenance, such as the government, could be held liable in these cases.
  • Poor road design
    • Excessively sharp turns in the road and poor warning signs may be determined to have caused a rollover incident. If this is the case, the government may be held liable.
  • Inadequate or erroneous vehicle maintenance
    • If a mechanic does improperly or insufficiently service a vehicle, that individual or the company he or she represents could be held liable for injuries and damages.
  • Illegal vehicle alterations
    • Some individuals alter their vehicle so as to have a higher center of gravity, such as by “lifting” the car frame or suspension. California has some of the strictest lift regulations in the country – setting the maximum lift height at 5 inches. If a vehicle involved in a rollover collision has an illegal lift height, this information could bolster your case.

There are many reasons vehicles with higher centers of gravity could end up causing a car accident. Speak with accident attorneys in Sacramento if you were involved in a car accident with an SUV or another large vehicle.

Related Car Defects

Should a vehicle have the misfortune of a rollover incident due to its higher center of gravity, defects in manufacturing and design could compound the damage and injury to those involved. If there is a defect in the design or manufacturing of the vehicle, the car company could be held liable for damages and injuries. Relevant car defects include:

  • Roof
    • Manufacturers should build cars with sound roofing, especially when the vehicle has a higher risk of rollover. Should the roof collapse during a rollover incident, individuals inside the car are likely to incur much more severe injury or even death.
  • Door Latches
    • A vehicle with defective door latches may result in the opening of doors during rollover, resulting in higher incidents of damage and injury, especially if seatbelts are faulty or not being worn.
  • Seat belts
    • If the buckle or emergency locking retractor of a vehicle’s seat belts malfunction, individuals within the car are much more likely to incur serious injury including ejection from the vehicle.
  • Safety Glass
    • California law requires all vehicles to have windshields with shatterproof safety glass. Should a vehicle be manufactured without such safety glass, an individual could be ejected through the front window of the vehicle.
  • Tires
    • Poorly designed or manufactured tires with inadequate tread increase the likelihood of a blown tire, which may result in a rollover incident. Ford Explorers had a high incidence of tire malfunction and subsequently caused thousands of catastrophic injuries. A large recall for the tires was issued.

Call Our Accident Attorneys in Sacramento to Discuss Your Vehicle Accident

Have you been involved in a car collision with an incidence of a rollover? It’s important you contact our experienced and knowledgeable accident attorneys in Sacramento to get the compensation you deserve. Call us at (916) 357 – 6767 for a free consultation.

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If the accident was your fault, you can let your insurance company handle the entire claim. Ask your insurance company if you need to contact an injury lawyer in Sacramento California.

If the accident was 100 percent the other driver’s fault, then you can file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company. It is not recommended you deal with the insurance company yourself; see our Truth About Insurance Companies page. Call The Weinberger Law Firm and we’ll handle the claim for you.

Some examples where the other driver is 100 percent at fault:

  • Front-end collision at a stop sign
  • You were rear-ended
  • Other driver runs a red light or a stop sign

Time is not on your side and you must, however, do things in a timely fashion. Do not wait to file the claim or report the accident. You will need the skills of an experienced lawyer. Your injuries may be serious and the compensation amount varies greatly. Call us today; we offer free consultations to discuss your claim.

If you were injured due to the negligence of another, regardless of the nature of the underlying accident, it is important to contact experienced personal injury lawyers in Sacramento California to discuss your legal options. The Weinberger Law Firm has the resources and expertise to aggressively litigate your case in court, fighting to get you just compensation for your injury.

Talk to an Injury Attorney in Sacramento California About Your Legal Needs

Contact our injury attorney in Sacramento California to discuss your injury claim. We offer a free initial consultation where you can get honest answers to your questions and learn more about your legal options.

You can reach us by phone at (916) 357-6767 or send us an email to schedule an appointment.

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California native and nationally known musician, Ashley Parker Angel recently talked about the head-on drunk driving collision that seriously injured his parents. The accident happened on Highway 99 in Dairyville at the end of February, and Mr. Angel’s mother remains in Enloe Medical Center receiving treatment for her injuries.

The California Highway Patrol reportedly arrested the 23-year-old man who was driving the other vehicle for suspicion of drunk driving. The accident left Mr. Angel’s father with multiple fractures. His mother’s legs were reportedly crushed in the accident, and she required extrication from the car.

Mr. Angel said his mother has already undergone five surgical operations. He also reported that the treatment and rehabilitation for both of his parents are expected to be ongoing for at least the next year and that his mother may not be able to be discharged from the hospital for months. He stated that he wants people to be aware of the dangers posed by drunk driving and intends to become an advocate working against it.

When intoxicated people get behind the wheel of their vehicles and drive, they risk not only their own lives but also those of the people around them. Injured victims may have to spend months in the hospital racking up exorbitant medical expenses, and in many cases, their financial situation is worsened due to an inability to return to gainful employment. A personal injury attorney can often assist a person injured in a drunk driving accident through the filing of a lawsuit against the impaired motorist seeking compensation for these and other losses.

Source: KRCR, “Local celebrity opens up about parents’ crash,” Cristina Davies, March 15, 2016

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While unexplained car accidents are often ultimately attributed to a driver’s actions, authorities now know that previously unreported vehicle defects caused some of these wrecks. This has caused several cases to be re-examined and could help investigators come to the right conclusion the first time after a California accident that took place on New Year’s Eve.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration personnel are working with accident specialists from the California Highway Patrol to look into the possibility of a stuck accelerator after a fatal accident that killed five people in Ontario when a Toyota Yaris exited off of the eastbound 110 Freeway and struck a vehicle that was pulling out of a gas station. The federal investigators will help inspect the Yaris, and Toyota and Lexus vehicles have faced scrutiny in the past for unwanted acceleration.

A witness reported that one person was ejected from a car while firefighters tried to cut the vehicles to extricate the people inside. The Yaris was traveling at a high speed, and its driver said that the car accelerated uncontrollably before the crash happened. A CHP representative said that they will search for all possible factors, and drunk driving has already been eliminated as a cause of the accident.

When car accidents happen because of another motorist’s negligence, injured victims will often think about filing a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses. If a defective auto part caused the accident, the manufacturer or supplier could be named as a defendant. An attorney can be of assistance in pinpointing the party or parties that should be held responsible.

Source: CBS Los Angeles, “5 Dead, Including 1 Child, In Ontario 2-Vehicle Crash”, Dec. 31, 2015

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Superhero movies are all the rage these days. We suspect that one reason that so many people enjoy rooting for Iron Man and the Hulk on the big screen is that they seem to be nearly invulnerable, at least to ordinary injuries. For instance, it is unlikely the Hulk would worry too much about whether a motorist will go through a red light while he is crossing the street.

Of course, superheroes are just fantasy. Real-life human beings are all too vulnerable to the actions of drivers, especially negligent or reckless ones. Motorists are piloting a large, heavy steel vehicle that can reach high speeds. When they are not sufficiently careful and hit a pedestrian, the victim often gets badly hurt.

Common injuries among victims of pedestrian accidents include spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and broken bones. Anyone of these can last the rest of the victim’s life if he or she survives. Even if he or she is not permanently disabled, it may take months or years of rehabilitation and physical therapy to recover, to say nothing of any emotional trauma that the accident caused.

This is where personal injury litigation comes in. A lawsuit against the driver can help the victim be made financially whole again so that he or she is not on the hook for hospital and rehab bills.

Though every case is different, the best thing you can do to maximize your chances of full recovery is to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side.