Despite the constant warnings of the dangers of drunk and distracted driving, recently released data from traffic safety officials reports that traffic fatalities dropped in 2010, marking the fifth consecutive year of such a decline. In general, auto accident deaths have been on the decline for several decades, likely due to vehicle safety improvements and an increase in driver awareness. However, the data shows, bicycle and pedestrian injuries and deaths have remained steady.
San Diego man dies in Mission Bay boating accident
A man died after being pulled underwater and drowning in Mission Bay last weekend, San Diego police are reporting. According to witness reports, the fatal boating accident occurred while the man was being pulled on a tube-like water device behind a personal watercraft. He is believed to have been wearing a life jacket at the time of the tragic accident, but was not wearing it when lifeguards discovered his body, leading investigators to speculate that the flotation device may have been too small or improperly fastened.
Former football players sue NFL for brain injuries
Seventy-five former professional football players have sued the National Football League in a California court, alleging that the league negligently ignored and willfully concealed information regarding the potential long-term impact of multiple concussions and other head injuries on football players. The lawsuit is the first of its kind, and it comes at a time when lawmakers and the public alike have been increasingly focused on the effects of head and brain injuries in NFL players.
Study: children are safer when grandparents drive
In recent years, state and local legislatures and law enforcement agencies in California and throughout the country have debated the potential safety ramifications of elderly drivers. Namely, safety advocates are concerned about the common risky behaviors displayed by older drivers, such as slower response times and increased confusion. However, those who believe that older drivers should be allowed to keep their driving privileges now have some new information on their side.
Study finds even trace of alcohol heightens risk of accidents
Saying a drunk driver is more likely to get into a car accident than a sober driver is as obvious as saying a cheetah would win a sprint against a tortoise. But here's what might surprise you: according to a new study, even a few sips of alcohol can greatly increase the likelihood of a severe auto accident.
Underage driver causes car accident fatality in San Diego
This week, an elderly California man died as the result of a car accident involving a 15-year-old driver. According to San Diego police, the boy had taken his parents' sport utility vehicle out for a joyride with four other teenagers when he crashed into the 77-year-old man's vehicle. The man died in the fatal auto accident, and two of the passengers in the boy's SUV were injured. It is not yet clear whether the boy will face criminal charges for underage driving.
Minor head injuries may not require hospitalization for children
Although blunt head trauma is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of 1 and 18, a new report has recently stated that children who suffer minor head traumas do not need to be hospitalized for their injuries. Researchers from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine, are now recommending that children do not need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment for brain injuries if they have normal CT scans or MRIs.
Grandfather charged in grandson's dog bite death
In the preliminary criminal hearing of a 53-year-old California man alleged to be responsible for the dog bite death of his young grandson, the prosecutor argued that the defendant should be charged with second-degree murder. Under the implied malice theory as laid out by California law, the prosecutor argued, the fact that the man left the toddler home alone with five pit bulls that were known to be dangerous constitutes murder.
