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“5 to Drive” Campaign Promotes Safer Teen Driving

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
Teenage Drive Holding KeysA new campaign intended to counter the rising number of teens killed in car accidents is underway through a collaboration with the Citrus Heights Police Department and the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA). The initiative, called the “5 to Drive” campaign, encourages parents to have conversations with their teens before they begin driving on their own. The campaign offers tips on how to talk to teens about dangerous driving behaviors. The campaign focuses on five basic rules teens should follow in order to ensure their safety and prevent fatal car accidents. This includes:
  •  No drinking and driving.
  •  Buckle up. Every trip, every time, everyone in the front seat and back.
  •  Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel. All of the time.
  •  Stop speeding before it stops you.
  •  No more than one passenger at a time.
The Citrus Heights Police Department believes that by incorporating these rules into discussions with teens, parents will greatly increase their safety while driving.Surveys have shown that teens with parents who lay down a strong set of rules are less likely to engage in dangerous or risky behavior when driving. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 15 and 19 years old. In 2014, there were 2,679 teens killed in car accidents. Another 123,000 teens were injured while riding as a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a fatal crash. Police have identified alcohol, lack of seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding and too many passengers as the top factors that contribute to the growing fatality rate among teen drivers. The “5 to Drive” campaign will take place during the National Teen Driver Safety Week, from Oct. 16-22. Parents can help protect their teens by talking with their them and teaching them how to apply safer driving habits. If you or loved one has been involved in a car accident, contact a car accident lawyer in Sacramento for a free case evaluation form. A Sacramento injury lawyer from Arnold Law Firm can help you determine if you are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering and expenses associated with your injuries.

Call (916) 777-7777.

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.