Articles

Pedestrian Deaths Hit 40-Year Peak: Why Fatalities Are Rising

US pedestrian fatalities are the highest since 1980, according to a new report by the Governors Highway Traffic Safety Association (GHSA).  The nonprofit group annually reviews pedestrian fatalities to support safer roads. Unfortunately, this year’s report is nothing but bad news for the US and California in particular. It found that there were at least 7,508 pedestrian deaths nationwide in 2022. Based on previous years, the group estimates that the

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Risky Roads: Why Uber Raised Minimum Driving Age to 25 in California

As of August 2023, Uber has officially raised its minimum driver age for rideshares in California. According to the massive rideshare business, it has opted to increase the minimum age from 21 to 25 to mitigate rising insurance rates. The increase will not affect the Uber Eats portion of the business.  This increase aligns Uber with its biggest competitor, Lyft, which already requires all drivers to be 25 or older.

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Understanding Hit-and-Run Rideshare Liability in California: Protecting Riders and Drivers

Rideshares are incredibly common on the streets of San Francisco. In fact, by 2017, they already made up 6.5% of all traffic in the city and 20% of trips that start or end within city limits. Those numbers have only increased in the years since.  The popularity of rideshares like Uber and Lyft is closely correlated to increasingly dangerous roads in California. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety

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Uber and Lyft’s New Insurance Policies: What Do They Cover?

Modern rideshare companies have only existed since 2010, and legislation is still catching up. One area where legal regulations are still lacking is civil liability. For years, there was significant debate over when rideshare companies might be liable for injuries caused by their drivers.  Uber and Lyft have finally taken steps to answer these questions themselves. In recent years, these industry giants have begun offering four-stage insurance plans for all

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Determining Liability in Rideshare Crashes

When you get a rideshare, you trust your driver to get you to your destination safely. You trust other road users to follow traffic laws when driving or crossing the road. Unfortunately, drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft can’t always be trusted. In fact, rideshares may be directly responsible for a notable increase in traffic-related deaths since 2011. One study suggested that the uptick in fatal accidents on California

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Guide to San Francisco Rideshare Accidents

Few cities use rideshares as much as San Francisco. According to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, there are as many as 220,000 Uber and Lyft pickups daily within the city borders. With that many rides going on, accidents are inevitable. Rideshare drivers should be held to higher standards on the road because they are responsible for their customers’ safety. However, this is not the case. In fact, the University

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What to Consider If You’ve Been Hurt by a Drunk Driver

Drunk driving accidents are far more likely than you might realize. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 30% of all U.S. adults will be involved in a drunk driving crash at some point in their life. Furthermore, these crashes are responsible for three in every ten traffic-related deaths in the U.S. in 2020.  In multiple-car DUI accidents, sober people are more likely to suffer serious injuries

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The Dangers of Hoverboards: Risks, Recalls, and Lawsuits

Hoverboards have become one of the most popular methods of transport for kids and young adults. These devices, also known as two-wheeled or self-balancing boards, offer a convenient blend of speed, size, and aesthetics, making them particularly appealing compared to alternatives like electric bikes or scooters. However, hoverboards pose certain dangers that other devices don’t: if their batteries or electrical systems fail, there is no way to manually override the

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The Increasing Risks of Electric Scooter Accidents

Electric scooters are becoming increasingly common around the country. Not only are people buying personal scooters, but companies like Lime, Bird, and Spin are making it easy to rent e-scooters on the go.  Advocates for electric scooters argue that they are functional and effective ways to reduce traffic congestion and make traveling around cities easier. However, they don’t account for these devices’ risks to riders and pedestrians. In fact, as

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How Personal Injury Claims Work, From Beginning to End

If you have been injured in an accident, you have likely considered filing a personal injury claim. However, these claims can be confusing and intimidating, particularly if you have never been involved in a lawsuit.  Understanding what to expect during a lawsuit can make the process less overwhelming. That is why The Wakeford Law Firm has put together the following roadmap to personal injury claims. Keep reading to learn how

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