Los Angeles Information

Motorcycle Lane Splitting – Not Illegal – CHP Guidelines

March 8, 2013 | by Robert Walch

Contrary to the beliefs of many people in California, it is not illegal for motorcycles to lane split, meaning to pass between cars in adjoining lanes of a roadway. According to the Los Angeles Times, a survey found that 78% of motorcyclists admit to lane splitting. In order to help prevent California motorcycle accidents, the CHP has issued guidelines for motorcycle riders to follow when lane splitting.

First, the most important thing is that any lane splitting be done safely. Then, when lane splitting, the motorcyclist should not exceed 10 miles per hour over the speed of the traffic he or she is passing. Next, when traffic is flowing at more than 30 miles per hour, the motorcyclist should not split lanes. Finally, the motorcyclist should use the area between lane number 1 and lane number 2 when splitting lanes.

It is important to note that the above guidelines are not the law. Motorcyclists may get a ticket if they are deemed to be driving recklessly, even though they are following the CHP guidelines. Steve Guderian, of ABATE, the American Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education, argues that lane splitting should be called “lane sharing” and when driving in traffic, a lane splitting motorcyclist is actually less likely to get into a California motorcycle accident, by a rate of over two to one, compared to vehicles that are not lane splitting.

Warning – 4th of July Deadliest Day for Los Angeles Car Accidents

July 3, 2012 | by Robert Walch

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 4th of July holiday is the deadliest day for Los Angeles car accidents. AAA reports that teens account for approximately 10% of the traffic fatalities on Independence Day. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) cites that a drunk driver is involved in 39% of the car accident deaths on the 4th of July. This compares to 31% of car accident fatalities on other days.

The rise in drunk driving accidents on the 4th of July is partly due to the fact that schools and most businesses are closed, so there are more people on the road. This, combined with the many 4th of July parties around Los Angeles, often involving large amounts of alcohol, contributes to many Los Angeles car accidents.

It is also important to note that many police agencies around California will be setting up DUI checkpoints, to try to catch drunk drivers before they cause a Los Angeles car accident.

Warning: Drunk Driving Checkpoints Set Up to Prevent Los Angeles Accidents

August 19, 2011 | by Robert Walch

Starting this weekend, the Los Angeles Police Department, in an effort to prevent Los Angeles drunk driving accidents and injuries, will be setting up checkpoints throughout the city. The checkpoints, designed to catch drunk drivers before they are in a Los Angeles car accident, will be up from 8pm until 2am and this particular program will go through the Labor Day extended weekend.

According to the Los Angeles Times, there will be 100 police agencies involved and the checkpoints will be spread out throughout the Los Angeles area.

The L.A. Times cites the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which provides that in 2009, there were 10,839 accident deaths in car and motorcycle accidents where a driver was legally intoxicated. The most common age group for these fatalities was 21 through 24 years old.

Red Light Cameras Allegedly Cause Los Angeles Rear End Accidents

June 8, 2011 | by Robert Walch

The Los Angeles Police Commission has voted to end the controversial red light camera program, for many reasons, possibly including the claim that they contribute to Los Angeles rear end car accidents. Police officials had proposed to renew the program for an additional three or four years, but the police commission has doubts as to the usefulness of the program.

According to the Los Angeles Times, there are 32 red light cameras posted throughout Los Angeles. Critics argue that the cameras actually increase Los Angeles car accident injuries, are not cost effective and do not make the public any safer. One of the reasons the cameras are not cost effective is because the Los Angeles Courts are not actively seeking out payment on the tickets, with the LAPD instead sending the $400 tickets to a collection agency.

One of the many problems with this practice is that under normal circumstances, the accused can confront the police officer in court and the judge can decide who to believe. With this program, the only evidence is some pictures, which may be taken out of context. One particular type of instance is when a person stops, then makes a right turn on a red light, which can lead to a red light camera ticket.

Severe Weekend Rain Causes Los Angeles Car Accidents

March 21, 2011 | by Robert Walch

As Los Angeles residents already know very well, this weekend there was a severe rainstorm, with heavy flooding and wind damage throughout Southern California.

The rain was so fierce that many road and freeway drainage systems could not keep up with the flooding, which posed a very dangerous threat for vehicles. Throughout the greater Los Angeles area, many car accident injuries were reported due to the rain.

In addition to the many Los Angeles car accidents in the rain, there were also many homes damaged by falling trees and flooding.

Fog Advisory Warning for Los Angeles County Today

January 31, 2011 | by Robert Walch

To avoid Los Angeles car accident injuries, Los Angeles County drivers should be aware of a fog advisory issued today by the National Weather Service. The advisory warns of dense fog that will cause visibility to be reduced to a quarter mile in certain areas near the coast.

The advisory warns that drivers should take extra care when driving in certain roadways near the coast, including Pacific Coast Highway and the 405 and 710 freeways.

There was also a fog advisory for Orange County earlier in the morning, but it has since been lifted.

Please take extra care, drive slower and keep an extra space cushion if driving in areas affected by the fog.

Driver Who Hit 2 Pedestrians Allegedly Arrested on Marijuana Charges

January 20, 2011 | by Robert Walch

After a downtown Los Angeles pedestrian accident, the driver of the vehicle has allegedly been arrested on charges related to marijuana possession. Allegedly, the passenger in the vehicle purchased the marijuana from a marijuana dispensary in Pasadena, using a prescription, and had it in his backpack at the time of the collision.

When officers investigated the Los Angeles auto versus pedestrian accident, they found 13 grams of marijuana in the backpack, after smelling marijuana in the vehicle. The driver was apparently also arrested, possibly on the suspicion that marijuana use contributed to causing the auto v. pedestrian accident.

The two pedestrians, who were hit by the car in Los Angeles, claimed to be injured but did not want immediate medical attention and were not transported to the hospital by ambulance.

It is important to note that while it may be legal to obtain marijuana by medical prescription for personal use, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of marijuana. If the driver involved in this Los Angeles auto accident was found to be under the influence of marijuana at the time, he could face some serious criminal charges. Fortunately, the pedestrians who were struck were not seriously injured.

California Crash Taxes Increasing

January 3, 2011 | by Robert Walch

After a California car accident, new laws put in place by many California cities allow the cities to bill the insurance company, or at fault driver, for the police and firefighting services that their car accident in California has necessitated.

These laws, which are designed to increase revenue for cities that are struggling financially, face a challenge from insurance companies who say that it will cause insurance premiums to go up. The other argument is that tax dollars already pay for California firefighters and police officers. However, Costa Mesa Fire Battalion Chief Bill Kershaw says that the local taxpayers should not have to pay for emergency responses to accidents that they did not cause, so it would be more appropriate to bill ther responsible parties.

Some cities, countering the taxation argument, only apply these California car crash taxes to nonresidents. This, critics argue, could hurt tourism in California.

Tony Strickland, a California State Senator from Moorpark, is trying to outlaw the California auto crash taxes, by proposing measure SB 49, which will be heard by the legislature in February. His argument is that Californians are hurting enough from the economy, and simply cannot afford this extra charge when they are in a car accident.

Strickland is backed by the insurance lobby, which has given him over $200,000 in political contributions over the last four years.

Los Angeles Intersection Collisions and Red Light Cameras

December 14, 2010 | by Robert Walch

Many Los Angeles auto collisions and serious injuries occur in intersection accidents, usually caused by one party running a red light. Without eye-witness accounts, it is often very hard to figure out which party ran the red light. According to the Los Angeles Times, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is recommending that Los Angeles continue the controversial red-light camera program.

This program, in an attempt to reduce Los Angeles red light collisions and injuries, as well as raise money for the City, has lost the City of Los Angeles 2.5 million dollars in the last two years. Chief Beck’s justification for the program is that “the number of citations for red-light violations has quadrupled from 14,000 to 59,000 annually since the program began in 2007.” In addition, according to Beck, “from 2004 to 2009, red-light traffic collisions have declined 63%. There were five red-light fatalities from 2004 to 2006 and none since the program began.” The argument is that Los Angeles drivers are aware of the program and, in turn, do not run as many red lights. This is key to keeping Los Angeles drivers safe, as, according to Beck, “a top National Highway Traffic Safety Administration official testified before Congress last June that about 1,000 people die annually in red-light traffic collisions.”

What You Should Do If You Are In A Car Accident In Los Angeles

November 13, 2010 | by Gary Walch

Accidents happen. We all hope to avoid them, but what should you do if while driving in Los Angeles you are stopped for a red light and rear ended or while going through a green light hit by someone who ran the red and broadsided you, often called a T-Bone collision?

If you are the victim of an accident in L.A. (which includes Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley with North Hollywood, Studio City, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Reseda, Tarzana, Canoga Park and Woodland Hills) here are some things you should do:

• If the collision is not your fault, you should call 911 to report it to the LAPD to obtain a police report called a Traffic Collision Report. Even with the wait for the police to arrive, this time will be more than saved later by having the police document what occurred, the parties involved, who is at fault and why.
• If you are injured, do not be shy or macho when asked. Do not deny it or make light of it. It is important to document all injuries. Further, we understand that often the LAPD is busy and may not come to investigate and prepare a report of an auto accident unless there are injuries. Thus, when asked, be sure to identify each injury you have.
• Be sure to get the full name, current address and telephone numbers of all persons involved. Ask to see their drivers’ licenses and proof of automobile insurance, write down all of the information on the license and insurance card, and ask if there are any new addresses.
• Write down the full license plate number on each involved vehicle.