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Arnold Law Firm Blog

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

justice4you April 8, 2015

This spring, Sacramento teenagers will walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas. Unfortunately, high school celebrations are accompanied by increased opportunities for underage drinking. Alcohol remains the number one drug of choice for Americas youth, which is evident by the alarming rates of underage drinking. Every April, Alcohol Awareness Month strives to increase public awareness and to reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism. The goal is to educate children and teens early on about the realities and dangers of underage drinking.  Drunk Driving Accidents Accidents caused by impaired drivers, or drivers who were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, account for roughly 11,000 fatalities every single year. Car accident injuries that are caused by a drunk

Hands Free Devices Do Not Decrease Distraction

justice4you April 3, 2015

The majority of Americans, more than 80 percent, believe that using a hands-free device is safer than using a handheld device. Unfortunately, numerous studies have shown that hands-free devices are not necessarily safer, because the brain remains distracted by the conversation. When drivers are on their phones, even if they are hands-free, drivers miss 50 percent of what happens around them. They are unaware of traffic signs, traffic lights and pedestrians.  The illusion that using a hands-free device means driving safely makes them especially dangerous. Hands-free devices are not risk-free devices. The National Safety Council states that drivers engaged in a phone conversation, even with both hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, are still distracted, because

Uber & Lyft: Insurance Coverage Issues in Ride-Sharing Apps

justice4you April 1, 2015

Uber and Lyft, the worlds foremost ride-sharing applications, have been facing widespread litigation since they first launched. The most recent legal conflict facing the two California-based technology companies and competitors concerns the issue of insurance coverage. At issue is whose insurance policy applies when an Uber or Lyft driver is involved in an accident. The problem arises because there are times when a drivers personal insurance policy does not apply and when the ride-sharing companies insurance policies also do not apply. For example, when a driver who is carrying a passenger is involved in an accident, both the insurance policies of the ride-share app, be it Uber or Lyft, will apply. Additionally, if the driver is not carrying a passenger

Arnold Law Firm Participates in 8th Annual Walk for Brain Injury

justice4you March 26, 2015

The Brain Injury Association of California hosted its 8th annual Walk for Brain Injury on March 22, 2015. BIACL is a non-profit organization that provides education materials and resources for individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injury. As proud supporters of the association, Arnold Law Firm staff gathered on the West Steps of the state capital building in Sacramento to participate in the three mile walk. Brain injuries are traumatic injuries that can fundamentally alter the lives of injury victims. More than five million Americans suffer from long-term disabilities caused by traumatic brain injuries. The most common causes of brain injuries involve falls and auto accidents. Brain Injury Awareness Month The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is devoted

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.