A conservative estimate by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that airbags failed in 576 fatal accidents over a six-year period. That might seem like a small number, but the actual number of airbag failures may actually be more, because the NHTSA study only took a small representative sample of data. For instance, it did not look at accidents where the motorists survived the accident in spite of the airbag deployment failure.

The NHTSA researchers also took only a small sampling of accidents for the study. They found a total of 1,446 fatal accidents between 2001 and 2006, but had reason to believe that the data was inconsistent. Because the data could not be confirmed in all of these cases, they initiated a study of only a percentage of these cases, and came up with the 576 estimate.

Airbags save lives. However, you don't have to be a Los Angeles car accident lawyer to know that when an airbag fails to deploy, it seriously increases the risk of an injury. Motorists and front-seat passengers, who are at a high risk of serious injury during a frontal impact crash, can be hurt because of airbag failures.

Unfortunately, determining whether airbag failures played a role in a traffic accident fatality can be complicated. Airbag failure investigations can be extremely complex. There isn't one single thing that can go wrong, causing the airbag to fail to deploy. Airbag systems consist of complex and sophisticated circuitry, including plenty of wires and sensors, and a malfunction in any of these can cause airbag failure. However, the possibility that more airbags are failing every year is extremely disconcerting.

Today, California motorists will drive on what is believed to be the deadliest day for driving in the Golden State. According to a study conducted by Allstate, more California car accidents occur on December 15th than any other day of the year.

Allstate found a whopping 20% hike in the number of car accident claims filed in the state on December 15. The average number of car accident claims in California involving Allstate policyholders, is 435. However, on December 15, that number increases to 539. What's more interesting is that just three days later, there's another sudden spike in car accident claims. On December 18, the average number of claims in California is 523.

According to Allstate, the top five days for California car accident claims is December 15, February 14, October 13, December 18 and September 5.

So what is it about December 15 that keep Los Angeles car accident lawyers so busy? One possible explanation could be that the Christmas holidays are approaching, and motorists are rushing to finish holiday shopping. As the holiday season progresses, there are more numbers of motorists on the road, finalizing their preparations for the holiday.  Besides, the weather does tend to get frostier, sometimes resulting in foggy conditions that impact driving abilities.

While you can't do much to control the increased traffic leading up to Christmas and New Year's, you can take care to reduce the risk of an accident or minimize the severity of injuries. Always buckle up, and avoid driving under the influence. Avoid nighttime travel as much as possible. Take less congested routes, where you are less likely to run into motorists in a hurry.

Hospitalizations from dog bites have actually increased over the past few years. According to a new study, the number of people that had to be admitted to the hospital after suffering a dog bite, increased by a staggering 86% from 1993 to 2008.The study was conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

According to the analysis, there were 5,100 dog bite cases that ended with hospitalization in 1993, and by 2008, that number had increased to 9,500. There were other interesting results from the analysis:

• People living in rural areas were much more likely to make a trip to the hospital after a dog bite than those in urban areas. There were up to four times as many visits to the emergency room and three times as many hospitalizations in rural areas, compared to urban areas
• Males were much more likely to require hospitalization after dog bites.
• The most at-risk groups for serious dog bites were children and elderly people.
• Approximately half the persons who were hospitalized after a dog bite developed a skin infection.
• Overall, the dog bites cost hospitals an average of about $18,200 per patient.
• People aged below 44 years of age were much more likely to require treatment in an emergency room after a dog bite. Approximately 75% of the persons in this age group had to be rushed to an emergency room after a dog bite.
• Not surprisingly to Los Angeles dog bite lawyers, most injuries after a dog bite involved skin infections, open wounds, head and neck injuries and upper limb fractures.
• People in the Midwest seemed to be at the highest risk of a dog bite, with approximately 109.9 visits to an emergency room for every 100,000 people in this region. In the West, it was just 93 visits to an emergency room for every 100,000 people.

Flummoxed by laws against distracted driving that haven't been as successful as hoped, the Department of Transportation is now setting its sights on disabling cell phone technologies while a vehicle is in motion to prevent accidents.

Earlier this week, Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood voiced his ideas for preventing the 5500+ accident fatalities every year that can be traced to cell phone use while driving. According to him, cell phone blocking technologies - not cell phone jammers, since those are illegal - could be used to prevent motorists from texting or using a cell phone while driving. These sorts of technologies are already in the market, and have been developed by a number of private software companies.

It isn't clear exactly what LaHood has in mind. In any case, these technologies are manufactured by private software companies, and motorists may be at liberty to have these activated or inactivated. A person who desperately needs to talk on a cell phone, could simply inactivate the technology. Even if the Department of Transportation moves to make it mandatory to have some cell phone blocking technology in all vehicles in the future, there will always be people who find a way to inactivate the system.

Much of the problem has to do with the fact that texting or talking a cell phone while driving is simply not considered as reprehensible as intoxicated driving. Tell someone that you drove home after a party with enough alcohol in your system to blow up half of Los Angeles, and they look at you askance. Tell them you had a two-hour conversation on your cell phone while driving home, and there would be little reaction. That attitude needs to change. Until then, any combination of legislation and technology will only be so effective.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it will investigate whether rental car companies conduct repairs of recalled vehicles before they are released. The announcement came after a petition filed by the Center for Auto Safety with the Federal Trade Commission. The Center for Auto Safety was galvanized into action after Enterprise Holdings Inc. was ordered to pay $15 million in damages to the family of two California sisters who were killed in a fatal accident involving a recalled vehicle they rented from Enterprise.

The two sisters had been driving a Chrysler PT Cruiser that they didn't know had been recalled for a fire risk safety defect. The Cruiser crashed into a truck, and exploded into flames. The two women were killed instantly. Their parents filed a lawsuit against Enterprise, which continued to insist that the accident was not the company’s fault. However, a jury awarded the parents $15 million in damages, and Enterprise admitted its liability in the accident.

Now the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is getting involved with what Los Angeles car accident lawyers believe is a very serious problem that places the lives of millions of Americans at risk. In any given year, there are hundreds of auto recalls, and it may not be possible for consumers to be aware of every recall when they rent a car. These people may be at risk of an accident if they drive a vehicle that has been recalled because of a defect. During the Enterprise trial, it came out that the company had an unwritten policy that basically made it acceptable to put recalled cars into service if other cars were unavailable.

The NHTSA will look at whether these rental car companies are performing complete repairs on recalled vehicles. With all this scrutiny, these companies could be coaxed into repairing all defective recalled vehicles before they are leased out.

A survey of California motorists finds that cell phone use among drivers is down from last year, but most motorists continue to be concerned about reckless and speeding drivers on the roads. These are the two biggest safety concerns for motorists, followed closely by distracted driving.

According to the survey, the good news was that distracted driving involving cell phones is down among California drivers. About one third of the drivers in the survey said that they are now using their cell phones less than they used to in the past. The bad news is that over the past month, one in every three drivers had used a hand-held cell phone, while one in five had texted or sent e-mails while driving. 55% of the respondents in the survey said that they had been involved or almost been in an accident involving someone who was texting while driving, or talking on a cell phone.

Drivers in Southern California seem to be more worried about distracted drivers with their cell phones than in other parts of the state. Not surprisingly, older motorists above the age of 35 were more concerned about texting motorists than younger people.

Although drunk driving did not feature in the top three concerns of California motorists, 80% of the respondents in the survey supported the use of sobriety checkpoints to check intoxicated driving. There was also welcome news for Los Angeles car accident lawyers that campaigns like “Report Drunk Drivers. Call 911” have had the desired effect. Approximately one-third of the respondents in the survey said that they are now less likely to drive under the influence because of campaigns like this.

There is also more awareness about driving under the influence of legal and illegal drugs. 70% of the persons in the survey believed that punishments for driving under the influence of prescription and non-prescription drugs should be the same as for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is warning of increased accident risks with the end of Daylight Saving Time in California.    According to the agency, adjusting to new a low light environment can place drivers at a high risk of a crash as they adjust to the new conditions. 

According to the NHTSA, in 2009, there were 4,092 pedestrian accidents, and 59,000 pedestrians were injured in these accidents.  Twenty five percent of the fatalities were killed between 4pm and 8pm, and 13% were killed in accidents between 4am and 8am.  The agency is specifically pointing to risks to pedestrians, who may not be visible in the new lowlight environment.

Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys recommend the following tips for both motorists and pedestrians to stay safe:

• Pedestrians should carry a flashlight and work to make themselves visible to motorists.
• Wear bright clothing, or stick reflective tape on your clothes, backpacks, bags and briefcases to be visible in the lowlight conditions.
• Expect distracted motorists.  In other words, don't depend on a motorist’s ability to see you while they're driving.
• Avoid jaywalking.
• Avoid crossing between parked vehicles.
• Only cross the road on safe, designated, marked crosswalks.
• Walk only in sidewalks.
• If you're walking in the street, walk facing traffic.

Drivers must also take extra care to look out for pedestrians. Keep your speeds down while you adjust yourself to the new conditions.  Don't depend on a pedestrian’s ability to hear your vehicle as it approaches.  Remember that pedestrians may be wearing earmuffs, and may not be able to hear your car as it approaches.  Improve conditions for good visibility.  Keep your windshield and windows clean.

The Department of Transportation has actively encouraged walking and bicycling as means of transportation.  However, there are safety concerns when more people are walking and bicycling that have not been adequately addressed.  This week, the Federal Highway Administration launched a pedestrian safety initiative to encourage walking and prevent pedestrian accidents.

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration launched the initiative in conjunction with the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.  The initiative is called Walk Friendly Communities, and it aims to encourage communities across the country to promote pedestrian safety.  According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the initiative will increase pedestrian safety measures in communities across the country.  These measures will be aimed at presenting walking as a safe means of moving about a neighborhood.

How the program works is by encouraging communities to apply for a Walk Friendly Community designation.  Communities that apply for the designation will receive plenty of suggestions, tools and resources on improving pedestrian safety in their neighborhood.  Implementing pedestrian safety measures and preventing accidents can be much more challenging than we know.  It helps substantially to have access to knowledge and resources to promote safety in your neighborhood. 

The Federal Highway Administration has tested the viability of Walk Friendly Communities.  A pilot test was conducted, including nine communities that tested the application and online assessment tool.  The Federal Highway Administration is currently accepting applications from communities from now through December 15, 2010.

The Walk Friendly Communities program will evaluate safety in a community through questions related to engineering, encouragement, education, evaluation and planning.  According to the website, Walk Friendly Communities includes pedestrian safety programs that have been developed to encourage communities, towns and cities across the country to make a commitment towards a safer walking environment.  The program is meant to encourage those communities that want to work hard at improving safety, access, and comfort for pedestrians. 

Broadly, a Walk Friendly Community is a city or town that has been found to have a commitment to improving pedestrian safety through the competence of programs and policies.  When a community applies for Walk Friendly Community designation, it receives plenty of suggestions and resources on production safety.  Through questionnaires that are included in the assessment tool, communities can identify the areas where there is need for improvement.  Based on this, pedestrian safety programs can be developed and implemented.  Besides, communities that are designated as Walk Friendly Communities will be rewarded through national recognition for these pedestrian accident prevention efforts.

California pedestrian accident attorneys would encourage any efforts by federal safety agencies to improve safety for pedestrians.  There is no question that we need to encourage walking and bicycling as viable and safe means of transportation in order to reduce our dependence on fuel.  However, that won't happen if we continue to bypass and ignore safety.

Los Angeles police are still looking for a hit-and-run motorist allegedly believed to have been responsible for a serious pedestrian accident over the weekend.  According to the LA Times, the pedestrian, an 18-year-old man was walking on Vanowen Street when he was struck by a car.  The motorist simply drove away from the scene.  The pedestrian sustained serious injuries.

Pedestrian safety has always been a concern to Los Angeles pedestrian accident attorneys.   Unfortunately, Los Angeles is home to a car-centric culture with the result that there is little consideration for the rights of pedestrians.  Most accidents are caused because motorists simply fail to notice pedestrians.  There are a number of causes for this.  For instance, a motorist who is driving under the influence may not be able to spot a pedestrian in time.  Someone who is distracted because he is on his cell phone is also likely to miss a person walking in front of the car until it's too late. 

However, far too many accidents in Los Angeles occur because motorists simply don’t look out for pedestrians.  This is especially true of pedestrian accidents that occurred near crosswalks or intersections.  These are areas where motorists need to look out for people crossing the street.  That very often doesn't happen.  The result is a number of serious accidents that can leave pedestrians permanently injured or dead.

Besides, Los Angeles is a city that has been designed for automobiles, and as a consequence, pedestrian safety enhancements here are a work in progress.  Los Angeles could definitely do with some more initiatives to create walkable communities.  This is a trend that's been supported even by the federal government, which this week announced the Walk Friendly Communities initiative, to encourage pedestrian safety programs across the country.  This city could definitely benefit from more resources on pedestrian safety.

The risks of a child being involved in a pedestrian accident are much higher on Halloween than during any other night of the year.  This particular night every year, approximately 4,000 children between the age of five and 14 are injured in pedestrian accidents, compared to 1,000 children during the rest of the year. 

It's not just the fact that there are more numbers of enthusiastic little children on the streets.  It's also the fact that these children are in cumbersome costumes that can cause them to trip and fall while walking on a crosswalk, or prevent them from seeing the road clearly.  Besides, ornate masks and eye gear might obstruct visibility, preventing the child from noticing your car.  Driving in Los Angeles can be a challenge any day of the year, but Los Angeles child injury lawyers would encourage extra special care on Halloween.

Obviously, driving under the influence increases your risk of striking a little child.  Also, ensure that your attention is 100% focused on the road by switching off your cell phone.  Be prepared for little children darting from behind cars or at intersections. 

Parents can minimize the risks of an accident involving their little ones by making sure that they chaperone or escort their children on Halloween.   For very young kids, opt for a group celebration at a common venue instead.  Teach your child basic traffic safety rules, and avoid visiting busy streets.  Give your child a flashlight or glow stick to make him easily visible to drivers.  Keep the costume simple, and avoid long flowing gowns that can trip your child.  Avoid elaborate masks and huge hats that can reduce visibility.  Bright reflective costumes can make your child more visible to motorists.  If the costume is dark, add reflective strips to it.