San Mateo Personal Injury Attorneys Blog | California Car Accident Lawyer

Beware: Drunk driving is illegal and it kills!

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

An 18-year-old San Jose woman was arrested and charged with her friend's death after she was involved in a crash here in San Mateo County on Feb. 23.

Witnesses to the crash reported seeing the now-defendant traveling southbound along Highway 101 nearby its intersection with Whipple Avenue in the moments before the 3:15 a.m. crash. Witnesses saw the woman's 2018 Audi sedan travel off the side of the road near that Redwood City intersection before it veered off into an embankment and went airborne.

How to safely drive in a roundabout

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

If it's been some years, or even decades, since you took driver's ed, you may feel some anxiety when you find yourself approaching a roundabout. While they've been common throughout the United Kingdom and Europe for many years, they've become increasingly popular in California and across the U.S.

These circular intersections have been found to reduce traffic congestion and decrease the number of serious accidents. They require less maintenance than traditional stop signs and lights, and they're better for the environment because vehicles use more gas when they have to stop, idle and then start up again.

Negligent or inadequate security can lead to premises injuries

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Premises Liability on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

Is the world in which we live more dangerous than it was in bygone days or do we just hear about dangerous incidents more often? As injury lawyers, we would not presume to answer questions like this. What we can say is that we, and other California law firms, see a lot of victims who suffered injuries from security incidents occurring on someone else's property

In many cases, a lack of proper security may invite the criminal element to enter these properties and wreak havoc. Perhaps they come to rob innocent citizens and cause an injury during the altercation. Other times, improperly secured premises make the ideal hunting ground for those who simply wish to harm other living beings.

Can you avoid a wrong-way crash?

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

Wrong-way accidents are some of the hardest to avoid for those driving in the proper direction. There are two main issues: Surprise and speed. This is not an accident you ever expect, so you're not ready for it, and it happens very quickly with both cars driving toward each other. That combination means the crash occurs in a split-second — and you may not have time to react.

That said, there are a few tips that may help you if you encounter a wrong-way driver. Here's what you should do:

Safely move to the side of the road.
It's often best to go to the right, not the left, since the driver may mistakenly think that is "their" lane.
Call 911. Tell the police you saw the driver and give them as many details are you can -- the make and model of the car, the color, the speed and your location.
Stay in the right lane as often as you can. Only use the left lane to pass.
Remember that many of these accidents happen at night and involve impaired drivers. Be extra vigilant at night.
If you have a chance, you may want to signal the driver with your headlights. They may not realize they're going the wrong away.
Do not try to stop the car yourself. Report it to the police.

Don't fear caution signs if you suffer a premises injury

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Premises Liability on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

Let's begin by looking at a common scenario. A person goes shopping at the local grocery store. As she is moving through the frozen food section, she sees a caution sign indicating that the floor is wet and slippery. The shopper makes sure to be careful as she passes the sign, but she slips anyway, falls and breaks her leg.

Does the presence of the warning sign mean that she cannot file a premises liability claim to acquire compensation for her injury? In our California legal practice, we have encountered many injured victims who believe that such a sign prevents them from seeking this solution. They come to us looking for other answers and are surprised when we suggest a premises liability action.

Fatal dog attacks reach a record high in California

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Animal Bites on Friday, January 17, 2020.

Dogs are well known as a person's best friend, but a dog bite could be a person's worst nightmare. There is significant physical pain from the puncture wounds caused by dogs' teeth or the scratches from their paws. The emotional pain and the time spent during recovery can also add untold suffering to a bad experience.

California is home to many dog attacks every year, with a record number of fatal attacks in 2019. Certain breeds, like pit bulls, are often blamed for reacting badly to people, but some of the people who work to get dogs adopted into homes may not be fully honest with the adopters.

Off-duty detective struck and killed while assisting pedestrian

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

A tragic accident on Jan. 12 left a sheriff's detective dead and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) in mourning.

The detective, who was not on duty, was stopped for a red light at an intersection in Valley Village (a neighborhood in Los Angeles) on Sunday morning. She saw an elderly woman fall as she was crossing the street. The detective left her car at the intersection and went to assist the woman in getting across the street.

Why driving at night is harder as we get older

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

If you're having more difficulty driving at night than you used to, you're not alone. Many people have this problem as they get older. Even if you regularly see an optometrist, have the proper prescription lenses and don't have untreated issues like cataracts, you may not feel as comfortable as you used to behind the wheel after sunset.

The eyes go through a number of changes as we head in to our senior years. For example, our pupils don't dilate in the dark as much. That means less light can reach the retinas.

Premises liability lawsuit helps define reasonable expectations

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Premises Liability on Monday, December 23, 2019.

From the sidewalks of Los Angeles to the shops in San Francisco, there are a lot of public places where a person could get hurt. But what is the difference between someone getting hurt and someone having an accident or hurting oneself?

A Sunnyvale shopping center is the premises where a lawsuit is helping to decide when the owners and operators of a public place are liable for injuries suffered there. The plaintiff was attempting to stop a fight that he noticed occurring in the parking lot as he sat inside one of the surrounding businesses. He suffered serious injury after being hit in the side of the head.

You can overcome driving anxiety after a crash

On behalf of The Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III posted in Car Accidents on Friday, December 13, 2019.

If you've recently been involved in a car crash, you may feel anxious once you get behind the wheel again. Maybe you haven't been able to summon up the courage to do it yet. That's not at all abnormal. Even if the accident wasn't your fault, it's only natural to be back in the position you were in when it happened.

However, the longer you wait to start driving again, the more difficult it will be when you finally do. The key is to take things in small steps to help build up your comfort level. Just as when you first learned how to drive, the more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel.