Even if you understand the importance of safe driving and obeying the rules of the road, there will always be other drivers who act in negligent manners.

Here are some of the many forms of negligence to watch for when you’re behind the wheel:

• Disregard for traffic laws: For example, if the speed limit is 65 mph and someone flies by at 85 mph, they’re putting everyone at risk of an accident. The same holds true for drivers who don’t obey traffic signs and signals.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol: It’s often easy to pinpoint a drunk driver, with common signs including driving extremely fast or slow, driving with their face up against the windshield, swerving and slow response time.
• Distracted driving: Even though it’s against the law, you won’t have to look far to see someone who is texting and driving, talking on their phone, eating, drinking or doing something else that takes their attention away from the task at hand.
• Drowsy driving: When a person is too tired to be behind the wheel, they’re unable to make fast and accurate decisions.
• Reckless driving: This takes on many forms, including but not limited to excessive driving, illegal passing, illegal lane changes, racing other vehicles and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

If you spot a negligent driver before they cause an accident, you can move yourself out of harm’s way. You can also call 911 to report the person if you fear that they’ll cause a crash up the road.

Unfortunately, it’s possible that a negligent driver could cause an accident when you least expect it, thus leading you to receive medical treatment and tackle a long recovery process.

As you recover from your injuries, review your insurance policy and contact your agent to file a claim. This is also the right time to learn more about your legal rights for seeking compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, lost wages and damage to your personal property.

There are many benefits of commuting on a bicycle, including time and cost savings. However, there’s also a major concern: your safety.

Here are four tips you can follow to reduce the risk of a bicycle-car accident:

• Travel in a bicycle lane, when possible: You won’t always have access to a bicycle lane, but when you do it’s the best place to spend your time. Since motor vehicles are not permitted to drive in these lanes, the risk of an accident is much smaller. When not available, drive in traffic as opposed to on the sidewalk.
• Avoid the door zone: Opening car doors are every bit as dangerous as moving vehicles. If a passenger or driver opens a door before looking in their mirror, they could do so as you approach the vehicle. If you’re unable to swerve out of the way, a head-on accident is likely.
• Watch for turning vehicles: Drivers don’t always pay attention when making turns. When you combine this with difficulty spotting bicyclists, the risk of an accident at an intersection is much greater. Take special caution as you approach intersections.
• Use hand signals: Become familiar with the many hand signals you can use to notify drivers of your intentions. A simple signal telling others that you’re making a turn can go a long way in preventing an accident.

Along with the above, you should always prepare for the worst. This means wearing safety gear at all times, such as a helmet, gloves and an appropriate pair of shoes.

If you’re injured in a bicycle-car accident, your safety and health should take top priority. The best thing you can do is move from traffic, if possible, and call 911.

Your medical team can diagnose your injuries, implement a treatment plan and help you better understand your prognosis. From there, contact your insurance company and consider other steps you can take to obtain compensation from the negligent driver.

Visit our website and blog for more information on bicycle accidents and your legal rights.

Many people find e-scooters quick and convenient. But they also come with safety risks, along with plenty of unanswered questions about liability in the event of a crash. With that in mind, here are a few things you should be aware of before hopping on a rentable scooter.

You’re probably waiving something

The user agreements scooter companies ask you to accept before using one of the devices probably include some type of waiver. For example, some of the companies ask riders to relieve the scooter companies themselves of any liability in the event of an accident. Some also include an arbitration clause where a user agrees to waive any class-action rights and settle any legal disputes with the scooter rental company through arbitration.

Whether these would hold up under court scrutiny remains to be seen. For now however, it’s important to know they exist, and that they may serve as a legal hurdle should something go wrong while you’re on a scooter.

What about a scooter malfunction?

Some companies claim riders are covered if there is something wrong with the scooter – say a malfunctioning brake, loose wheel or broken handles – in the event of a crash. That might be reassuring for a rider. There are still some gray areas however.

For example, what if a scooter’s brakes fail and you hit a parked car, resulting in property damage and a serious injury – but you weren’t wearing a helmet? What will or won’t be covered by the scooter company’s insurance? Or, imagine one rider breaks a scooter, doesn’t report it, and then the next rider of that scooter is injured in a crash as a result of the broken component. Who might be at fault in that case?

Sharing the road

E-scooters are often sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and even other scooter users, all of which represent potential risks for an accident. Concussions, broken bones, severe traumatic brain injuries, paralysis and other serious injuries are all possible. It’s why groups suggest wearing a helmet and paying strict attention to where you’re going while riding a scooter.

Sometimes however it’s not your fault. If a distracted driver hit you while you had the right of way, for example, that may open the door to a personal injury claim. There may be a lot of unanswered questions and legal uncertainties to navigate with e-scooters, but one thing remains the same: if you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you should be compensated for those damages.

When can cerebral palsy occur?

Many parents try to tackle their child’s diagnosis by going through everything in their heads. Did they do something wrong? Could they have prevented this? Was it really the doctor’s fault? These thoughts can be a heavy burden to handle on your own.

Cerebral palsy is one of many injuries that can happen before, during or after birth. As a result, your doctor, midwife or nurse might not have realized what happened right away. They might not realize or want to admit that it was their own actions that caused the injury.

The following are some of the leading causes of cerebral palsy birth injuries:

• Delayed birth due to genetic or environmental factors.
• Medical malpractice from negligence or errors.
• Oxygen deprivation from events during birth.
• Genetic complications in the womb (Erb’s palsy).

However, in many cases the heart of the injury cannot be untangled from complicating factors surrounding the birth. This can leave parents confused, frustrated and unsure where to turn.

If you believe a medical professional contributed to your child’s birth injury or cerebral palsy, they could be a victim of medical malpractice. By seeking legal help, you can hold the individuals responsible for their actions.

Your child may need lifelong support after a birth injury. A financial settlement could help ensure your family has the equipment and care you need to live a happy, healthy life.