In 2005, the U.S. government recommended the adoption of cameras that monitor fatigued driving by emitting an alarm when drivers’ eyelids droop, but many wonder why technology like this has not yet been mandated for truck drivers, Bloomberg Businessweek reported on October 7.

The American Trucking Association petitioned in 2010 for the government to enact regulations that would require truckers to install devices that can limit their speed. Vice President and general counsel for the watchdog group Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Henry Jasny criticized the government for not taking action. The Transportation Department, however, assured that highway safety is a top priority, and promised to shut down trucking companies with histories of violations and unsafe driving.

The most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that large-truck accident fatalities increased by 18% to 3,802 in 2012 from 2009’s record of 3,211. Injuries from such crashes were listed at 77,000 in 2012–up 45% from 2009’s record of 53,000.

The results from a truck accident can be devastating, and the attorneys at Ritter & Associates believe you should not have to pay for damages caused by the negligent actions of another driver. Call our San Diego offices at (619) 296-0123 today to learn how we may advocate for you.

The idea is simple: take handheld mobile devices out of drivers’ hands so they can concentrate on driving, yet allow drivers to make calls, answer text messages, access navigations systems, and do basically anything else possible on a smart phone. Integrated, voice-activated safety features are billed to just that and more—say, control the air conditioning system, the radio, and so on.

The concept is sound; however, as indicated in a recent study, the practicality of these systems is not quite up to par yet. In fact, as reported in the New York Times, these systems can be downright frustrating for drivers and may distract drivers just as much as a handheld mobile device. The problem lies in the voice recognition software of these systems—they are not capable of accurately and consistently following a driver’s voice commands.

Often, when drivers attempt to access say, the navigation system, the software instead begins calling someone from the contacts list. The lack of consistent recognition frequently leads to greater frustration in the driver and therefore, greater distraction.

Until the voice recognition software advances to a point where it may accurately and consistently follow a driver’s commands, these safety systems are likely to present their own distractions to drivers. However, these systems are not likely to disappear from our cars, especially as more and more cities and states enact laws against the use of handheld mobile devices.

Critically, then, the attorneys at Ritter & Associates implore you to use caution when using these voice-activated safety systems and, perhaps more importantly, to be aware of distracted drivers on the road. If you have experienced an accident caused by a distracted driver, contact our offices at (619) 296-0123 to learn about your options for recourse.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles recently mandated that self-driving cars register for a permit, and three companies have been approved to test drive 29 vehicles on any California road, the Associated Press reported on September 17.

Bernard Soriano, the DMV official overseeing California’s self-driving vehicle regulatory process, said among those who have already applied for regulation are 25 of Google’s Lexus SUVs, two for Mercedes, and two for the Volkswagen Group of America. He noted that other companies are also in the process of applying for registration.

In 2012, the California Legislature passed laws for the regulation of this emerging technology. Companies must report all accidents, every incident in which the vehicle failed in its self-driving mode, and must hold insurance capable of paying personal injury claims up to $5 million.

Although new innovations continue to develop in the motor vehicle industry, car accidents still happen and often result in serious injury and damages. If you have experienced an accident in San Diego due to the irresponsible actions of a negligent driver or manufacturer, the attorneys at Ritter & Associates may help you seek the compensation you need. Call our offices at (619) 296-0123 today to learn more.

While Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems do significantly reduce the likelihood of deadly rollover accidents, most SUVs are still at a significant risk of rollover simply because of their high center of gravity. However, ESC systems can, critically, help drivers maintain control over their vehicles. Should a driver engage in extreme driving maneuvers, the system automatically applyies the brakes to individual wheels in order to better direct a vehicle along the driver’s intended path. Electronic Stability Control systems, which will typically engage before the driver even notices, can significantly prevent rollover accidents that result from over steering.

The rollover accident attorneys at Ritter & Associates are committed to recovering damages for individuals injured in rollover accidents, and we may be able to help you. To discuss your case with a member of our San Diego legal team, call our offices at (619) 296-0123 today, and learn about your options for recourse.

General Motors has recently approved applications for 19 deaths in its independent compensation fund for victims of the company’s defective ignition switches, The Detroit News reported on September 15.

GM, which already paid a $35 million federal fine for postponing the recall of 2.6 million Cobalt, Ion, and other vehicles with faulty ignition switches, previously only counted 13 deaths and 54 total crashes related to their defective vehicles. However, so far in the claims process, there have already been 19 death cases approved for compensation. This number is expected to grow.

A group of two dozen economists and administrative personnel are currently conducting a review of the claims through December 31, while an outside contractor oversees the fund website and the submission of documents. Compensation expert Kenneth Feinberg is responsible for the amount of funds approved for claimants.

A major accident can impact a person’s life and family in a profound way. If you have been injured by the negligent actions of someone else, whether in a vehicle accident or by a defective product, the attorneys at Ritter & Associates may help you hold the responsible party financially accountable. Call our San Diego offices at (619) 296-0123 today to learn about your legal options.

According to Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials, one of their deputies was injured in a rollover accident on the 14 Freeway near Palmdale, California last Monday, September 1.

Sargeant David Sauer said the female deputy, who they did not identify publicly, was trapped inside her vehicle after it rolled. Officials shut down off-ramp at Santiago Road while emergency medical responders worked to remove her from the wreckage.

Sauer said the deputy was rushed to a nearby hospital, and that her condition is unknown.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.

Victims of car accidents may be forced to cope physical pain, expensive medical bills, inability to earn daily wages, and mental and emotional trauma. If you were involved in an accident due to the negligence of other drivers in San Diego or elsewhere in California, call our attorneys of Ritter & Associates at 619-296-0123 today.

An accident that involved three vehicles on a San Pasqual Valley-area highway in San Diego, California hospitalized two individuals on Thursday, August 28, and closed that particular stretch of road for several hours.

Preliminary investigations by the police state that a 21-year-old male lost control of his 1991 Pontiac Firebird while driving at a high speeds at around 8:30 a.m. along State Route 78, according to CBS8.

San Diego Police Department Officer Frank Cali said the car struck two oncoming vehicles when it drifted into the westbound lane near Bandy Canyon Road, first hitting a 2005 Chevrolet sedan, then flipping a 2005 Chevrolet truck. The driver of the sedan and Firebird were admitted to separate hospitals to address their injuries.

If you or someone you care about was the victim of an automobile accident in San Diego or other areas in California that was the result of the irresponsible actions of another individual, call our attorneys at Ritter & Associates today by dialing 619-296-0123.

Prior to the recent ITS (Intelligent Transportation Society) World Congress conference in Detroit, where a number of carmakers show off their new safety technology, Toyota announced that it will not be developing a driverless car in the foreseeable future. As reported by the Associated Press, Toyota will instead continue to develop collision-prevention technologies that aim to relieve drivers of some of the more technical aspects of driving, thereby allowing drivers to focus on decisions they make while driving, and better anticipate those of the drivers around them. Toyota’s announcement marks a notable departure from Google and other car makers that are currently developing driverless cars.

The collision-prevention technology that Toyota will be implementing as standard across its entire vehicle lineup in the U.S. by 2017, however, are already available in some luxury vehicles. Among the features that will be made standard are those that will keep a vehicle in the center of a lane, monitor the driver to ensure their eyes are on the road and hands are on the wheel, and incorporate radar technologies to help control a driver’s speed in traffic. By making these features standard, Toyota will ostensibly improve vehicle safety on U.S. roadways.

This announcement comes shortly after a report by the MIT Technology Review that anticipates a few of the significant technological challenges that the developers of Google’s driverless car must grapple with. Aside from being untested in severe weather conditions, the report claims that Google’s driverless car likely would not be capable of driving on 99% of the roadways in the U.S., largely due to limitations in the mapping software that the vehicles rely on.

Although it may perhaps be safest to completely eliminate human control of cars and trucks, the prospect remains firmly on the horizon. Until then, the advances made in collision-prevention technology by companies like Toyota are sure to dramatically reduce car accidents that result from driver error.

For experienced legal support in the San Diego area, contact our personal injury lawyers at Ritter & Associates. You can reach us at 619-296-0123.

A panel for the First Appellate District ruled that German automaker Daimler is protected by a case that states personal injury lawsuits cannot be filed against foreign corporations,  Courthouse News Service reported on August 6.

According to the 2010 lawsuit filed against the company, plaintiff Kimberly Young and daughter sustained massive injuries in 2008 when the roof of their Jeep Cherokee collapsed in a rollover accident. Young claimed that the roof was defective and badly designed by the DaimlerChrysler Corp., a former indirect subsidiary of Daimler. Chrysler also avoided the lawsuit because although technically a subsidiary of Daimler, it maintained completely separate offices and operations and denied involvement with the Jeep’s design.

The United States Supreme Court established a precedent to bar personal injury lawsuits against foreign corporations in the interest of international fair play and due process earlier this year in Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations SA v. Brown.

If you have experienced an injury as the result of someone else’s negligent actions, whether a manufacturer, an irresponsible driver, or someone else, the attorneys at Ritter & Associates may help you pursue compensation to cover your damages. Call our San Diego offices today at (619) 296-0123 to learn more.

A new study that will be published in the August 2014 edition of Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, co-authored by University of Colorado professor Daniel Kaffine, indicates that banning cellular phone use while driving does not necessarily mean that fewer motor vehicle accidents will take place.

The study focused on the number of daily accidents that happened in the state of California six months before the ban on hand-held cellphone use while driving, which took effect on July 1, 2008, and six months after the regulation’s implementation.

Many researchers expected anywhere from a 5-10 percent drop in the number of car accidents, but in fact, the ban on hand-held cellphone usage did not clearly show that it was effective in its goal of decreasing car crashes.

Sadly, even with legislative efforts to make driving safer, car accidents in California remain a serious threat to public safety. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident because of another driver’s carelessness or recklessness, the San Diego car accident lawyers at Ritter & Associates may be able to help. Learn more by calling our offices today at (619) 296-0123.