San Gabriel Personal Injury Attorney

Prom night takes a fatal turn in Menifee

2012-05-15T16:40:23Z

Prom night is one of those quintessential high school experiences. We remember the dress, the tux, the music and the after party. Some of us remember not going. And for those at Vista Murrieta High School, prom will be remembered as the night that four prom-goers were in a car accident.

Four teenagers, three 17-year-olds and one 19-year-old, were involved in a single car rollover crash that proved fatal for one of the teenagers.

]]> According to news sources, the prom night crash happened on May 5, and a 17-year-old male student just died of the injuries he suffered that night.

Three of the four teens were current students in the district. The 19-year-old, who was driving the pickup truck, is a former student in the district. The two couples were all in formal prom attire as they headed home from the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda where the prom was held. Shortly after midnight, their extended cab pickup truck ran off the road at Garbani Road east of Murrieta Road.

The authorities believe that a high rate of speed was a factor in the accident. The truck rolled over and the couple in the back seat was thrown out of the truck. The 17-year-old girl was thrown clear of the truck and was injured. However, the 17-year-old boy was struck by the truck and suffered major trauma. He died at Inland Valley Regional Medical Center. The couple in the front seat had minor injuries.

One can imagine that the 19-year-old driver feels terrible that his friend lost his life. However, the family of the boy who died, and the two girls, can all hold the 19-year-old liable for personal injury or wrongful death. Whether they intend to pursue that course of action was not made public at this time.

There were no reports of any criminal charges related to the accident. Alcohol was not suspected as a factor in the crash.

Source: The Press-Enterprise, "MENIFEE: Teen hurt in prom-night crash dies," Michelle L. Klampe and Sarah Burge, May 14, 2012

Truck causes chain reaction of accidents on 60/57 Freeways

2012-05-11T16:59:46Z

A chain reaction of unfortunate circumstances caused havoc on the 60-57 Freeway exchange two weeks ago. Traffic came to a standstill in both directions from Phillips Ranch Road to Hacienda Boulevard all the way to Colima Road. Hit and runs, pedestrians on the freeway fleeing their vehicles, California Highway Patrol, landing helicopters and whirling ambulances were just some of the events witnessed by motorists.

The CHP had a difficult time keeping up with the multiple accidents that included a hit and run in which a Toyota Camry sideswiped a flatbed tractor-trailer causing it to stall on the right shoulder. A little further down the freeway, two SUVs were blocking the left lane after colliding with each other. Both of those drivers complained of pain and ambulances were dispatched to aid the victims. The man running down the shoulder of the 57 left his vehicle stalled in the center divider.

]]> Apparently, the multiple car accidents and seven injuries were all caused because debris fell out of a pickup truck onto the highway. The vehicles directly behind the truck were forced to swerve out of the way, causing a multiple car pileup and starting the chain reaction of subsequent accidents that continued throughout the afternoon. One victim was flown by helicopter to a trauma center and at least four were taken to a hospital by ambulance.

Once all the finger pointing and smoke clears among the victims, vehicles, police reports, crash investigators and insurance companies involved in this four-hour ordeal, it will be interesting to see of the truck that started it all was hauling personal items or working for an employer at the time. If it's the latter, there might be some serious questions asked of the employees who loaded the truck and why they didn't properly secure or cover the contents.

Source: diamondbar.patch.com, "UPDATE: Seven Injured in 60 Freeway Crash Near Phillips Ranch Road," Joshua Cain, April 27, 2012

San Gabriel Valley road is fatal for 62-year-old pedestrian

2012-05-06T18:42:51Z

A 62-year-old man from China had just received his green card, and was living with his wife at their daughter's home on San Gabriel Valley Boulevard. Last Saturday evening he had dinner, then a haircut from his wife, followed by a shower. He then decided to take a neighborhood stroll.

At about 10:00 p.m., the man was struck by a motorist driving a 2012 Honda while the 62-year-old was attempting to cross Sheffield Road. The pedestrian accident resulted in serious head trauma and ended in the man's death.

]]> The 30-year-old driver of the car stopped immediately and called 9-1-1 according to the California Highway Patrol. The 30-year-old also flagged down passing motorists in an attempt to help. CHP indicated that intoxication was not involved in the fatal pedestrian accident, although the crash is under investigation.

According to neighbors, the road is hard to get across due to the distance between crosswalks and the lack of traffic lights. The 62-year-old was crossing the street legally; however area residents sometimes prefer to cross further down the road at a marked crosswalk. A school is nearby and parents must sometimes dash across the street with their children, as neighbors tell it. The road is also poorly lit at the section of the road where the man was stuck.

CHP did not indicate speed as a factor in the accident, although drivers are required to always drive at a safe speed as indicated by road conditions. The 62-year-old's family may seek to find the driver negligent and thereby responsible for the wrongful death of the father and husband.

Source: San Gabriel Valley News, "San Gabriel man killed after struck by car Saturday night," Brenda Gazzar, April 30, 2012

At some San Gabriel Valley clinics, the cure can kill you

2012-05-03T16:53:08Z

There are some debilitating illnesses and chronic conditions which require ongoing medical care or treatment. Diabetes is one. Multiple sclerosis can be another. Kidney failure, caused by a variety of conditions, can be another condition with ongoing medical issues and may require dialysis on a regular basis.

According to news sources, dialysis patients face a higher risk of death at some San Gabriel Valley clinics compared to others. If a clinic is guilty of negligence in some manner or causes a personal injury or wrongful death, the clinic could be found guilty of medical malpractice.

]]> According to an independent non-profit investigative news source, there are some San Gabriel Valley clinics which had only one in 20 patients die within a recent three year period. Other dialysis clinics during the same period had as many as one in three patients die.

Dialysis is needed to remove specific toxins that the kidneys would normally remove. However, if a patient's blood is cleaned but a secondary infection is contracted, which causes death, then patients may view the risk as too high to attend that particular clinic.

The performance of the clinics is being made public so patients can make an educated decision about where to receive their dialysis treatment.

The best performing clinics include:

Kaiser Foundation Hospital Medical Center in Baldwin Park (mortality rate of 5 percent)
Huntington Dialysis Center in Pasadena (mortality rate of 12 percent)

The worst performing clinics include:

Montebello Dialysis Center (first year mortality rate of 48 percent)
Temple City Dialysis Facility (mortality rate of 33 percent)
Azusa Dialysis Center (overall mortality rate of 25 percent)

This report seems to indicate that some clinics may be found negligent in their medical care, and could be held liable for the wrongful death of some patients.

Source: San Gabriel Valley News, "Dialysis patients face high risk of death at some San Gabriel Valley clinics," J.D. Velasco and Lauren Gold, April 30, 2012

Trip to Disneyland ends in SUV crash

2012-04-30T19:53:54Z

A trip to Disneyland in Anaheim is often a multigenerational affair. It seems to have been that way for a family travelling last week in a Toyota RAV4. Unfortunately, the negligence of one driver on the interstate may have caused tragedy for another family.

The family heading to Disneyland included a 43-year-old man and his 42-year-old wife and a 22-year-old woman sharing the same last name as the couple. An 8-year-old boy and a 66-year-old woman were also in the SUV and their names were not released. They were all injury victims in a motor vehicle crash.

]]> According to news reports, a string of events resulted in a fatal accident. First, a car made an illegal lane change on Interstate 805, which then caused a second car to swerve and finally strike the family's SUV. The SUV went off the road and rolled several times before coming to a stop hanging precariously on a bridge above a construction zone.

The construction workers below the dangling SUV acted swiftly to prevent additional injury. They maneuvered a forklift underneath the SUV and provided support from below until the SVU's occupants could be removed.

The 43-year-old suffered broken ribs, cuts and bruises. His wife suffered minor injuries and the 8-year-old and 22-year-old both had lacerations and bruises. The 66-year-old however suffered a traumatic brain injury and later died as a result of the injuries.

The California Highway Patrol did not indicate whether the first driver in the chain of events, the improper lane-changer, was identified. That driver may be held responsible for the personal injuries suffered by the family members, including the wrongful death of the 66-year-old.

Source: NECN.com, "1 person dies after SUV dangles from freeway," April 25, 2012

So-called "bloody alley" takes its toll

2012-04-27T18:30:19Z

There is a stretch of California highway known as "blood alley" because of its frequent and often fatal car accidents. It used to be a 22-mile section of California Highway 46 running from Paso Robles and along the Estrella River Valley until it ended where California 41 splits off for Fresno. It is along that piece of road that James Dean famously lost his life.

Today, it is a divided stretch of California 126 that winds from the Castaic Junction by the 5 Freeway toward Fillmore. Last week that stretch of road was the scene of a rollover car accident when an SUV rolled and injured eight people.

]]> According to news sources, the accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on California 126 near Chiquito Canyon Road. For an unreported reason, the SUV left the road and rolled over at least once, landing right side up.

Three of the eight occupants were thrown from the SUV during the rollover. One of the injured individuals who was thrown from the SUV suffered serious injuries and was taken by helicopter to the trauma center at the Angeles County USC Medical Center. The others suffered less serious injuries and were treated at area hospitals.

The accident is reportedly under investigation. The injured passengers may be able to hold the driver liable for personal injury damages, including pain and suffering, if the driver is shown to be negligent. If there was an automotive failure, such as a tire separation, the tire manufacturer or automobile manufacturer may be at fault. Occasionally, the state or county is at fault for badly designed or ill-maintained roads.

An investigation may soon reveal the cause of this SUV rollover accident.

Source: Los Angeles Times, "8 hurt in SUV rollover near Santa Clarita," April 22, 2012

Source: Los Angeles Times, "'Blood Alley' Lives Up to Its Name," Sally Ann Connell, April 28, 1999

Harbor City Car Accident- Student Driver Crashes Into Restaurant

2012-04-26T17:49:03Z

Learning to drive is a key milestone for our car-dominated society. While a fortunate few are able to survive without a car, the sad reality is that most of us must rely on a car or other motor vehicle for transportation. Whether for work or for recreation, the car is a seemingly irreplaceble feature of our lives. This fact thus makes learning to drive a necessity. This fact also makes car accidents a part of daily life.

While learning to drive is a necessity, learning to drive safely is a life-long pursuit. With the variety of road conditions and the uncountable ways car accidents can occur, even the most experienced driver is liable to be involved in an accident. For the beginner driver, learning the basic operation of the car, the rules of the road, and all while trying to do so in a safe manner, is frequently too much to handle. Perhaps an individual who is involved in an accident as a beginner can learn lessons that will be retained throughout their driving career.

Earlier this month a student driver received a shock when a collision with another vehicle in Harbor City ended in a most unforseen manner. As a result of the collision, the vehicle driven by the student driver careened off the roadway and into a restaurant, causing substantial injury and property damage. Four individuals, including 3 in the restaurant were rushed away for appropriate medical care. While some of the injuries were reported to be critical, the accident could have end in a more unfortunate manner.

While there is no news yet as to who is at fault and while it is premature to assign blame, the accident stands as a prime example of unexpected road conditions, of the dangers of driving, no matter your driving ability, and of a lesson to be learned. Incidents such as this can happen to any driver on the road.

The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth understands car accidents and understands how draining accidents can be. Our professional legal team works to protect the legal rights of those involved in accidents and is ready to face any challenges that are detrimental to our client's legal interest. If you have questions and wish to receive a free legal consultation please call (626) 380-9992.

$4.55 million settlement for injuries caused by California road

2012-04-23T18:39:44Z

Our state of California is known for many things -- sunny skies, national parks, wine country and beaches among them. We're also known for our clogged roadways, traffic jams and perpetual road construction.

One intersection on California 101 was reported to be so dangerous, that it rose to the status of being the most dangerous intersection in Monterey County. A fatal car accident in 2009 at the intersection of 101 near the Red Barn and San Juan Interchange left a 69-year-old driver injured, a 65-year-old female driver severely injured in addition to fatally injuring her 92-year-old passenger.

]]> The 65-year-old woman sued the Department of California Transportation and was awarded $4.55 million from the state, the county and the estate of the other driver.

According to news reports, the 65-year-old woman's personal injury claim held that the state and the county did not move quickly enough to prevent her accident. Apparently, in order to navigate that intersection, vehicles turning left from San Juan onto northbound 101 must cross two lanes of southbound traffic to get into a merge lane and then merge into 60 mile per hour traffic.

The California Highway Patrol stated that between 2000 and 2010 there were 212 accidents in that particular intersection. According to news sources, the 69-year-old pulled out in front of the 65-year-old who was southbound on 101.

The 65-year-old woman's injuries resulted in multiple surgeries, an extended stay in the hospital and an incomplete recovery. Reportedly she needs a quad cane or a walker in order to walk. She also suffered a traumatic brain injury. The 69-year-old has since died from causes unrelated to the accident.

It is not common, but also not unprecedented to hold the state, county or city responsible for causing accidents due to road conditions. In this case, the parties each settled separately with the 65-year-old and so a trial was avoided.

There was no mention made of any pending wrongful death litigation for the loss of the 92-year-old woman.

Source: Monterey Herald, "Gilroy woman wins $4.55 million settlement for Highway 101 accident," Virginia Hennessey, April 21, 2012

Teenagers injured in single car crash into tree

2012-04-21T23:30:54Z

Getting one's driver's license is an exciting rite of passage for most people. Those new drivers are, however, among those most at risk for car accidents with injuries. According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, teenage drivers are four times more likely to crash compared to older drivers with the same number of miles driven.

One new California driver, a 15-year-old girl, was at the wheel with six passengers in a car designed for four passengers. We can imagine that it was a crowded fit. It would not be difficult to imagine a number of distractions for the young driver. According to news sources, the 15-year-old was at the wheel when she allegedly lost control with a resulting car accident.

]]> The accident took place outside of Napa near Buhman Avenue and Congress Valley Road. According to the California Highway Patrol, the teenage driver was allegedly speeding when she lost control of the car on a curve in the road. The 1992 Honda Civic crashed directly into a tree.

All of the six passengers in the car were taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center where they were examined and treated for injuries. According to CHP, three of the male passengers, a 19-year-old, 15-year-old and 14-year-old, were seriously injured in the crash. There was no word on the condition of the other three passengers other than that they were taken to the hospital.

There were not enough seat belts for all of the passengers, so at least some of them must have not been buckled in.

The 15-year-old driver was not taken to the hospital, apparently because she ran away after the accident.

CHP stated that alcohol was not suspected in the accident, although it is under investigation. Also unreported was any mention of whether or not the 15-year-old had a learner's permit.

When a driver of a car causes an accident through negligence or other error, that driver can be held liable for any injuries to passengers in the car. The passengers in this case may be able to hold the driver responsible for damages including pain and suffering.

Source: Contra Costa Times, "Three seriously injured when teen girl crashes car into tree in Napa," April 19, 2012

Immigration News- Visa Bulletin for May 2012

2012-04-18T16:36:03Z

Legal immigration to the United States brings increased talent and diversity to our country. With this in mind, many U.S. citizens would agree that the U.S. is built on the labors of immigrants, both past and present. Continuing a cycle from the very beginnings of our country, today's immigrants are tomorrow's citizens. Despite this, the U.S. does have set quotas of immigrant visas it approves.

For family-based immigration the annual quota is at least 226,000 and for employment-based immigration the annual quota is at least 140,000. Out of these numbers, there is a country specific limit of 7%. This means that every year prospective immigrants from a specific country will be allocated 7% (25,620) of the annual U.S. visa quota. Beyond this, there is provision for an additional 2% (7,320) for dependents of prospective immigrants for a particular country.

To inform and notify, every month the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes the Visa Bulletin that highlights the number of visas available for specific regions of the world. The Visa Bulletin shows the visa cut-off dates for specific countries/categories where the visa per-country limit is surpassed or oversubscribed. Visa petitioners who filed petitions with priority dates before a select cut-off date will be given consideration for the month during which that cut-off date was published. For example if a cut-off date is listed as "01MAY01", then visa petitions with priority dates earlier than May 1, 2001 will be considered during that month. In addition to the oversubscribed bulletins, the Visa Bulletin also publishes the diversity immigrant bulletin. This bulletin lists the quotas for areas of the world considered to be "non-traditional" sources of immigration to the U.S.

The following shows the oversubscribed family-based and employment-based bulletins, as well as, the diversity immigrant bulletins for the month of April 2012. For more details and for further information, please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs' website. Note: Beyond the possible cut-off dates listed, if an entry is represented as "C" then priority is immediately available for visa petitioners.

*Family-Sponsored Key (Taken directly from Bureau of Consular Affairs' website)
F1- Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens/Spouses and Children, Unmarried Sons and Daughters f Permanent Residents
F2A- Spouses and Children
F2B- Unmarried Sons and Daughters
F3- Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens
F4- Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens

FAMILY-SPONSORED BULLETIN

*Employment-Based Key (Taken directly from Bureau of Consular Affairs' website)
1st- Priority Workers
2nd- Members of Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability
3rd- Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
4th- Certain Special Immigrants
5th- Employment Creation

EMPLOYMENT-BASED BULLETIN

DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT BULLETIN

For more explanation on this visa bulletin and for help determining or completing a U.S. visa petition, please call the Law Offices of Scott Warmuth at 626.380.9992 or at 1.800.500.2081. Our immigration specialists serve clients in the Greater San Gabriel Valley, including the cities of San Gabriel, Monterey Park, Arcadia, Rowland Heights, and Hacienda Heights. We offer free consultations and will help you determine your best legal option.

Witness to California pedestrian fatality is sought

2012-04-16T17:24:49Z

A 26-year-old California man was fatally injured when he was hit by a Ford pickup truck. The man, allegedly an avid pilot, may have made a prophetic statement when he supposedly told his friend that he was safer in the air than on the ground.

According to news sources, the 26-year-old from Mountain View had been training for a road race when he was killed. The news report does not mention if he was in a crosswalk at the time of the fatal pedestrian accident but does mention that he was not wearing jogging clothes at the time of the incident.

]]> After the man was struck by the truck, a woman gave him CPR until the police arrived. For reasons that were unreported, the police did not obtain the woman's identification when they arrived.

At this time, the woman may be the only witness to the accident, other than the driver of the truck. The Mountain View police are requesting that the woman come forward, and that anyone else who may have information about the accident should contact the police department.

The police stated that the truck driver did not appear to be intoxicated, and while at the scene he was cooperating with the authorities. No explanation was given as to why the truck driver struck the pedestrian. An investigation is likely due to the unresolved circumstances of the accident, although no criminal charges have been filed against the driver.

Should the truck driver prove to be negligent in some manner, the family of the 26-year-old pedestrian could seek compensation for damages via wrongful death civil litigation.

Source: SGVTribune, "Mountain View man killed by vehicle; police look for witnesses," Mike Swift, April 10, 2012

Baldwin Park road worker killed by alleged drunk driver

2012-04-12T11:42:10Z

Road construction in San Gabriel Valley is an inconvenient necessity that keeps our highways and byways in good working order. Sometimes the road repairs close a lane, and at other times they close the road.

The 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park was closed to traffic for road repairs when a driver, allegedly over the legal alcohol limit, drove past the barricades and struck a road worker on the westbound portion of the freeway at Francisquito Avenue. The alleged drunk driving car accident killed a 21-year-old road worker.

]]> According to news sources, the 21-year-old was working on planned maintenance on that section of road. Traffic cones were out and signs were up notifying motorists of the road closure. Apparently, the 37-year-old SUV driver drove past the road barricades and struck the 21-year-old who was in the middle lanes, and also struck some construction equipment. The road worker was pronounced dead at the scene.

California Highway Patrol officers were already at the scene for other reasons, and so were able to assess the situation right away. Apparently the patrol officers noticed impairment and smelled alcohol on the SUV driver and conducted sobriety tests. The 37-year-old has been charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated as well as felony drunken driving. He is licensed in Hawaii but does not apparently have a California driver's license.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reported that there have been 32 Caltrans employee deaths in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

The road worker was the son of a well-known race car driver and was himself a motorcycle racer.

When a fatal accident is the result of negligence on the part of another person, the negligent person may be held responsible for damages including pain and suffering. Criminal charges may be filed soon against the SUV driver. There was no word as of yet on any wrongful death civil litigation.

Source: SGV Tribune, "Udpated: Driver suspected of DUI after fatally striking road worker on 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park," Brian Day,April 5, 2012

Visa & Immigration Procedures- A Check on Legitimate Exchanges?

2012-04-11T16:07:08Z

As a consequence of 9/11, the United States has steadily implemented a number of procedures and restrictions designed to make entry into the country as difficult as possible for those individuals with ill-intent. These include more complex visa and immigration procedures and a "no fly" list that prohibits select individuals from gaining entry into the country. However, what is the consequence of such heightened obstacles? Some are saying that these measures block not terrorists, but individuals and groups with legitimate reasons for entering the U.S.

Tourists, businesses, and even creative artists have all experienced trouble attempting to enter. For artists and entertainers in particular, heightened restrictions have caused such problems that, in many cases, performances have had to be shuttered even after all other logistical plans have been set. Losses in forfeited airfare, canceled venues bookings, and general time spent are discouraging to such artists from even attempting the process. According to Department of Homeland Security records, visa requests for foreign performers have decreased by 25% between 2006 and 2010. Even for those requests that are completed, approval percentages have dropped significantly.

U.S. visa procedures are characterized as "increasingly labyrinthine, expensive, and arbitrary". From start to finish, the process for foreign performers, as with most other categories of people wishing entry into the U.S., consists of a bewildering array of checks and approvals required by the Department of Homeland Security and by the Department of State. All paperwork and qualifications must be presented before an interview is held to determine whether a particular petition is approved or not. With the arbitrary nature of the process and the many complications that occur along the way, critics of current visa procedures say that consistency is sorely lacking.

While it may be argued that national security trumps entertainment interests, the U.S. should remain committed to the openness and diversity it is known for. Allowing foreign artists into the U.S. to share their ideas and expressions is part of this commitment. As more foreign artists preceive U.S. visa & immigration procedures as too much of a bother, the U.S. will undoubtably miss out on valuable cultural exchanges which give vibrance to our country.

The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth has the experience and knowledge when it comes to processing and completing visa petitions. Our attorneys and immigration staff will work to help you determine which petitions you qualify for. Upon determination of the petition you will be submitting, our office will provide guidance until a final determination by the appropriate authorities is given. For questions call (626) 380-9992.

Truck jumps curb and crashes into family waiting for bus

2012-04-09T19:50:28Z

There are a few activities that any family in the San Gabriel Valley would feel entirely safe in doing. One of those harmless activities might be sitting on a bus bench. Tragically, that simple activity proved fatal to a young child injured in an accident in which her grandmother and uncle were also injured.

The truck accident occurred at about 2 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon. The family of three, a 36-year-old grandmother, her 12-year-old son and the woman's 18-month-old granddaughter were seated on a bus stop bench at Valley Boulevard and Mountain View Road in El Monte. A 59-year-old man, driving a GMC pickup truck, claimed he was parking the car in the nearby Walgreens parking lot, when his truck mysteriously accelerated. He struck and injured the family before the truck stopped by hitting a utility pole.

]]> All three family members were injured and hospitalized. The 12-year-old was reported in stable condition, the 36-year-old in critical condition and the 18-month-old died as a result of her injuries.

Any time there is an injury, and someone else is at fault, those who are negligent can be the subject of civil litigation. If this man was proven negligent in some manner, or if as he claims, the truck's accelerator was faulty, the driver or the truck manufacturer could be held liable for damages including pain and suffering. The family can also hold any negligent parties responsible for the wrongful death of the toddler.

El Monte police are investigating this crash and the truck driver is said to be cooperating with the authorities.

Source: SGVTribune, "Toddler killed after pickup truck strikes family sitting on bus bench in El Monte,"Brian Day, March 25, 2012

Senior Drivers May Need to Change Habits to Stay Safe

2012-04-08T18:00:08Z

Even though many of us don't like to admit it, the human body changes as it ages. Some of the most significant changes start to happen around age 55 and continue well into the senior years.

These changes affect much more than just outward appearance - they also alter the ways in which the body moves and functions. When it comes to driving, the physical changes that come with growing older can put seniors at heightened risk for becoming injured in a car accident.

Age affects a number of different physical elements - including size, height, flexibility, range of motion, muscle strength and vision. Senior drivers may need to make adjustments to their driving style in order to accommodate these changes.

]]> Car Fit Clinics

In partnership with AAA, a number of senior centers and automobile clubs throughout the country are offering Car Fit clinics to help seniors learn about the ways that aging affects their driving.

The clinics offer seniors free 20-minute individual safe driving consultations. Facilitators help seniors review potential adjustments to their seats, seatbelts, mirrors and pedals to maximize safety and accommodate changing strength, size, and range of motion. In addition, an occupational therapist will help participants assess their functional abilities and will provide advice on how to maintain or improve driving health.

In some cases, the therapist may recommend adaptive equipment or modified driving techniques.

Seniors who are interested in attending one of these clinics can contact their local AAA branch to find out the schedule of events in their area.

Of course, these clinics are just one of the many tools available to help seniors improve their driving safety. Many driving schools and senior centers also offer programs that can help seniors stay safe on the road.