Allstate Insurance Company has issued it annual list of safest cities for driving - this includes ranking cities based on factors such as fewest car accidents and injuries. Unfortunately, Northern California cities did not rank very high. According to the list, San Francisco ranks 185, Sacramento 140, Stockton 102 and Modesto 91. ABC News cites traffic and busy freeways as reasons big cities don't fare as well on safety rankings.

If you have been involved in a car accident in California, it is important to contact a Sacramento auto accident attorney immediately to protect your rights and to determine your next steps. Even though filing a lawsuit may be the furthest thing from your mind, understanding the steps to take and talking to an experienced Sacramento car accident lawyer can provide you valuable guidance and preserve your options should you decide to file a lawsuit in the future.

Taking the top spot as America's safety driving city is Fort Collins. Fort Collins earned the number one spot for the second year in a row. Based on statistics, an average driver in Fort Collins will have a car accident once every 14 years - nationally the average is once every 10 years.

Many factors may lead to causing a car accident in Sacramento and throughout the country. These include driver error - sometimes caused by negligent or reckless driving such as distracted driving or driving while under the influence. In fact statistics now place distracted driving as causing 80% of all accidents. Drunk driving also leads to significant number of accidents, with DUIs causing nearly 40% of all traffic deaths.

Other causes of auto accidents include defective auto parts - with a record number of recalls blamed this year on parts that were not properly tested or failed to perform as intended. In these situations, it may be possible to file a California product liability lawsuit and recover damages for injuries sustained as the result of a defective part. Another potential contributor to Sacramento car accidents is negligent roadway design. In certain circumstances the design of the road itself may cause an accident, with inadequate signage, improper warnings or lack of proper safety considerations.

Whatever the reason behind an accident, contacting an experienced Sacramento car crash attorney at once is important. By speaking to a knowledgeable Sacramento auto accident lawyer immediately, you can begin an investigation into the causes of an incident and preserve crucial evidence.

As a Sacramento personal injury lawyer, I am hopeful Northern California car accident statistic wills improve. For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in a Sacramento car accident, please contact the dedicated Sacramento auto accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for immediate attention.

KSEE 24 News out of Fresno and Visalia reports that a 32-year-old Encino man has been arrested in a fatal DUI accident that occurred last weekend. Sancho Kibufu was allegedly driving under the influence on Golden State Boulevard in Madera when his car went across the centerline, hitting a car carrying four teenage boys from Chowchilla. Three of the boys suffered serious injuries and one was killed. Kibura is being charged with vehicular manslaughter.

If you have been injured in a car accident, including a drunk driving auto accident it is important to contact an experienced Sacramento auto accident attorney to determine your next steps. Not only do drunk drivers face criminal penalties, but they may also be liable in civil actions for personal injury and wrongful death.

Drunk driving injury accidents are far too common. Statistics provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reveal that 17,013 people were killed due to alcohol related car accidents in 2005, representing forty percent of the nation's total traffic deaths. This figure has likely increased since last reported.

Where a victim dies as the result of a drunk driving auto accident, families are torn apart without any warning and suffer an unimaginable loss. Although speaking to a drunk driving accident attorney may be the furthest thing from your mind, it is crucial in order to protect your right to obtain compensation. In many situations, survivors may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages for medical bills, mental anguish and the loss of companionship.  

As a Sacramento personal injury lawyer I am hopeful that California roads stay safe this Labor Day weekend and people who drink act responsibly and designate a sober driver.

For more information, or if you or a family member has been injured in a drunk driving car crash or any type of car accident, contact the dedicated Sacramento accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a free consultation.

Bakersfield news reports that a former substance abuse counselor was arrested on DUI charges after a drunk driving accident. According to the news, Jessica Woodward slammed her car into the back of a California Highway Patrol vehicle while the officers were performing a traffic stop. The driver and the two officers all received injuries and were treated at local hospitals.

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, it is important to contact a Sacramento drunk driving accident lawyer to provide advice concerning your next steps.

Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of car crashes in the United States - representing 40% of the total traffic deaths. On average, a drunk driving accident occurs every 30 minutes, putting all California drivers at risk.

If you suffer injuries as the result of a DUI crash, the drunk driver may be liable for civil damages in addition to facing criminal charges. If you are injured by a drunk driver, an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney can help you recover compensation for medical bills, physical pain, lost wages, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment. If the damages are permanent, you may also recover damages required for future care, economic loss and mental anguish.

Here, the police officers were the victims - injured when the drunk driver hit their vehicle. Criminal charges were filed - it is unknown whether the officers will seek to recover civil damages as well.

With the end of summer and Labor Day approaching, the number of drunk drivers on Sacramento's roads is increasing. Use caution while driving, understand the steps to take if you are in a car crash and contact an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer if you are injured in an accident.

For more information, contact the dedicated Sacramento personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette, helping those injured by the carelessness and recklessness of others for more than 15 years.

Generally, if you've been hurt on the job California worker's compensation determines your right to recover. However, in some cases a tort remedy (i.e. filing a civil lawsuit) may be available. Other times, both types of claims may be filed. Consulting with a Sacramento worker's compensation lawyer is the best way to determine your next steps and your best options to obtain compensation when you've been injured.

On the job injuries include a variety of situations, from obvious injuries requiring medical care - such as head and brain injuries, back injuries and slips and falls - to diseases acquired from working around toxic substances such as asbestos and conditions that develop as the result of repeated strain or continuous trauma.

Where workers' compensation provides recovery to victims of work place accidents, you may be able to recover medical costs, lost income, expenses related to vocational training, permanent disability compensation and death benefits. A recent California worker's compensation case reviewed just how damages from work place injuries should be measured. Specifically, it evaluated how cost of living adjustments (COLAs) should be determined. This is a significant decision because it determines whether payments are measured prospectively from January 1st of the first year after a worker is injured or retroactively to January 1st after the year in which a worked is injured.

Here, a worker was injured in 2004 and asserted that his weekly payment should be adjusted based on his injury date. The appeals court agreed. However, the California Supreme Court overturned this decision. The Court reasoned that COLAs are intended to be "calculated and applied prospectively commencing from January 1st following the date on which the injured worker first becomes entitled to receive, and actually begins receiving such benefit payments."

Workers' compensation laws are complex and can be very confusing. An experienced Sacramento workplace accident lawyer can evaluate your circumstance and determine whether alternative avenues to compensation exist. Because recovery of damages may be limited in a worker's compensation case, filing a tort claim may provide an opportunity for greater recovery. 

Workplace accidents that may allow you to file a civil lawsuit include where a third party is somehow involved in causing the accident. This may be where a manufacturer provides malfunctioning equipment used at a work site and this equipment injures you, where you are exposed to toxic substance, if you are injured in a traffic accident caused by another driver or where a third party contractor creates a dangerous condition that leads to harm. In fact, many different types of negligence third party actions exist that may allow an individual harmed in a workplace accident to bring a civil lawsuit. Types of lawsuits available may include product liability or premises liability. If successful, you may be able to recover past and future medical costs, past and future lost wages, emotional distress and other damages, often substantially more than is available through California worker's compensation laws.

Because workplace accidents involve so many different factors and considerations, it is best to contact a Sacramento personal injury attorney to determine the best strategy for you to ensure you are compensated for your harm.

For more information, or to speak with a dedication Sacramento injury lawyer, contact the experienced Sacramento accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a confidential consultation.

The Contra Costa Times reports that a toddler has died after falling into an irrigation canal near Bayliss, California. According to the report, the young boy fell into the Glenn County Canal and was in the water for nearly 10 minutes before his mother was able to pull him out and begin CPR.

Emergency responders were initially able to restore a faint heartbeat and the boy was taken to a Sacramento area hospital. He subsequently died. The sheriff's department notes, "We don't suspect negligence."

Whenever a tragic accident occurs on public property the question of safety arises and whether adequate measures were taken to protect against dangers. Generally, property owners have a duty to maintain their property in a reasonably safe manner. This means they must take measures to eliminate dangers they know of or should have been aware of or adequately warn of such dangers.

A warning may be a simple as placing a sign setting forth the potential hazard however, if a sign is not placed in a manner that is visible or sufficiently descriptive, the warning may not be adequate. Similarly, in many instances affirmative steps must be taken to protect against known dangers.

Premises liability cases can occur on any type of property and may involve any type of danger - from an open canal to a spilled liquid at a grocery store, the lack of a fence around a public pool, or the failure to warn of a dangerous construction zone. If an unreasonably dangerous condition exists and you are harmed as a result, it may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries.

Here, it is unknown how the accident occurred and how the boy was able to get into the irrigation canal. Many times, simple steps such as placement of a barrier or fence may be able to avert a tragedy.

For more information, or if you have been injured as the result of a dangerous condition on public property, contact the experienced Sacramento premises liability lawyers at the Law Offices of Frederick J. Sette for a free consultation.

As the result of negligence in allowing a wild-fire to burn unattended, the San Jose Mercury News reports that a former a jury has found a former schoolteacher and her relatives responsible for damages caused by one of Santa Clara County's biggest wildfires. The premises accident occurred after Margaret Pavese illegally began burning paper plates in a 55-gallon metal barrel. The Lick fire burned out of control, damaging 47.760 acres, destroying four homes and 20 buildings in the Henry Coe State Park Area. Also destroyed in the fire were papers a San Jose man - Dan Straus - had inherited from Albert Einstein, including calculations jotted down on onionskin and an envelope.

Pavese was sued for negligence as the result of allowing a dangerous condition to exist.

The concept of "premises liability" provides that owners or occupiers of land have a responsibility to keep their property free from dangerous conditions they knew of or should have known of and/or take reasonable precautions to warn of the unreasonably dangerous conditions.

Here, the jury applied a similar theory to determine that despite Margaret accepting sole responsibility for the accident, the duty to exercise reasonable care and the knowledge of the dangerous conditions created liability on behalf of the other family members. As noted by a representative - "Margaret lit the match, but we were able to convince the jury that the Pareses were all negligent. We really felt we lost a historical treasure."

Because each one of the members were found in some way to be responsible for the danger created, each of the individuals were found to be partly at fault.

Negligence involves the concepts of duty and responsibility. Here, where a duty is found to exist on one party, harm for damage caused by the failure to reasonably comply with that duty may be compensable.

For more information, or if you believe you have been harmed through the negligence of another, please contact the dedicated Sacramento personal injury and negligence attorneys at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette.

News reports that Operation Dry Water kicks off this weekend in an effort to prevent boating accidents caused by boating under the influence (BUI). From June 24 to June 26th, marine law enforcement will be out in force patrolling Sacramento and California lakes and rivers, searching for those BUI.

The show of force is part of an annual campaign focused on reducing the incidence of boating accidents. If you have been injured in a boating accident, it is critical to contact a dedicated Sacramento boat accident lawyer to discuss your rights and explore your next steps.

Statistics reveal that more than 17 percent of boating fatalities are relating to alcohol use. California law prohibits operating a boat with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher. Despite laws restricting operating a boat wile drinking, California does not have an open container law prohibiting alcohol on board. As the result, often boating creates a "party atmosphere" leading to reckless and negligent behavior. Whether you are a driver or passenger, it's a good idea to remain sober while on board.

If you plan to go boating this summer - play it safe. Wear a life jacket and avoid alcohol while out on the water.

For more information, or if you have been in California boat accident, contact the Sacramento personal injury lawyers at The Law Office and Frederick J. Sette for a free consultation.

With Memorial Day marking the unofficial kickoff of summer, it is important to remember a few boating tips and to be aware of potentially new risks and hazards in the Sacramento area waterways. In fact, as stated by Sacramento County Parks Director Janet Baker, Sacramento's American River is a "different river" this year - with colder water and swifter currents than in previous years. As a result, officials are warning boaters to be wary of faster conditions in order to avoid being injured in a boating accident.

If you or a loved one is injured in a boating accident, it is important to contact an experienced Sacramento boat accident attorney to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

When people plan to spend the day boating, an accident may be the furthest thing from their mind. However, boating accidents can result in serious injuries or deaths so proper planning is critical. In fact last year alone, 570 boating accidents occurred in California, resulting in 236 injuries and 49 deaths.

Of those killed, the majority were not wearing flotation devices. Under California law, boat operators /owners are responsible for ensuring each passenger has a life jacket. The failure to have appropriate safety equipment may lead to a claim of negligence.

For more information, or if you or a loved one has been injured in a boating accident, contact the dedicated Sacramento personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette.

A woman injured in a slip and fall accident while on a Carnival Cruise was awarded $2.998 million. A federal judge determined the cruise line had known about several prior accidents on the resin surface it installed on its pool deck - both on this ship and on other ships. The surface was hard and slippery as ice, leading the woman to fall and suffer a fractured patella. As a result of the fall, she needed six surgeries and will require one to two total knee replacements.

When boat accidents occur - whether a privately owned boat or a commercially owned cruise ship - the laws governing your right to recover damages and the boat owner's responsibility for reporting and providing medical attention may be complex. An experienced boat accident litigation lawyer can provide needed answers and help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.

Here after initial discovery the cruise line admitted liability, leaving only the question of damages for trial. However, often times boat owners or operators will deny any wrongdoing requiring a skilled boat accident lawyer to show that it was the owner or operator's failure to use reasonable care that caused the accident. This may be shown in the same manner as for any personal injury - i.e. was the boat owner or operator careless or reckless and did this carelessness or recklessness injure the passenger? Where the negligence of a boat owner or operator causes an injury, compensation may be recovered.

For more information, or if you have been harmed in a boat accident, please contact the experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Frederick J. Sette, dedicated to helping those injured for more than 15 years.

A 50-year-old woman who was riding as a passenger was killed in a Sacramento motorcycle accident this past Saturday night. According to Sacramento news, the woman and her driver were thrown from the motorcycle after being hit by a car that was heading north. The driver of the car was uninjured, but the driver of the motorcycle sustained serious injuries.

If you have been injured in a car accident or motorcycle accident, it is important to contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer to evaluate your case and help you obtain compensation.

The potential for an injury from a motorcycle accident is great. Because of the lack of any shell protecting the rider from the full force of a crash, falls from motorcycles may result in serious, even fatal injuries. In an effort to increase safety and awareness, NHTSA has created safety initiatives combining outreach, legislation and enforcement to minimize the risk of injury when a crash occurs.

For example wearing a helmet can significantly decrease the risk of a head or brain injury. In order to promote safety, NHTSA as designated May as "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month."

Whether wearing a helmet would have altered the outcome in this situation is unknown. However, helmet usage remains the number one safety tip to follow to avoid serious injury.

For more information or if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact the experienced California motorcycle attorneys at the Sette Law Office for a free consultation.