Manhattan Beach Personal Injury Law Blog

For several decades, it seems like the average size of enclosed passenger vehicles in the United States has drastically increased. Extended cab trucks, SUVs and spacious crossovers dominate the lineups for many of the major automakers, both domestic and foreign. Larger vehicles aren't inherently negative, but they can give the people inside them an unearned sense of security.

The person driving that massive SUV probably doesn't worry about how badly they might get hurt in a crash with another vehicle, especially a smaller vehicle like a motorcycle. That sense of safety can lead to drivers failing to adequately monitor their surroundings, substantially increasing the risk to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle drivers.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is mourning the loss of one of its own who died from injuries when she was struck by a car while off duty.

The 41-year-old detective was stopped at a red light when she saw an elderly woman fall to the ground while in a crosswalk in the community of Valley Village. The detective put her car in park, safely exited her vehicle and helped the woman across the street.

While many individuals who cohabitate with someone who has sleep apnea (SA) often complain about that person's snoring, this disorder is far more serious than it appears on the surface. This condition affects an individual's ability to breathe while sleeping. An individual may not enjoy restful sleep and thus wake up more fatigued than others if they suffer from SA. Data compiled by Freight Waves (FW) shows that some 35% of truckers have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. This is a very scary statistic.

FW's data shows that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is most common among truckers. This condition makes tractor-trailer operators feel less alert than they otherwise would if they didn't have OSA. Individuals with this type of SA receive less oxygen flow to their brains. This affects both their mood and alertness. Heart disease and hypertension are also common among individuals with OSA.

Even if you're not the type of person who regularly drives their motorcycle on the highway, you could still find yourself doing so every now and again.

When compared to driving in a city setting, operating your motorcycle on the highway is a different beast entirely. Here are some of the many steps you can take to maintain your safety:

• Merge carefully: As a smaller vehicle with the potential to drive very fast, you need to take extra caution at merge points. Use your turn signal, match the speed of the vehicles that are already established in traffic and quickly check your blind spot before making your move.
• Obey the speed limit: When driving a motorcycle, you have the potential to go faster than almost every vehicle on the road. And due to the size of your motorcycle, you're also nimbler. However, if you want to maintain your safety, you need to follow the speed limit at all times.
• Keep your distance: Don't drive too closely to the vehicle in front of yours, as you need to leave enough space to stop in an emergency. For example, when driving at 70 miles per hour, you should leave a minimum of two to three seconds between vehicles.
• Adjust for traffic conditions: In heavy traffic, take more caution in regard to your speed and how often you change lanes. For example, traffic during rush hour can quickly come to a stop, so you need to maintain a safe speed and following distance.
• Adjust for weather conditions: If the weather quickly changes, adjust your approach on the fly to avoid trouble. Maybe it was bright and sunny when you left home, but now it's dark and rainy. Changing your approach to the road is a must.