Determination of fault and liability after a commercial vehicle accident is an extremely complex process involving a variety of factors. Driver fatigue, negligent hiring, defective equipment, substance abuse, reckless driving practices and violations of federal trucking regulations can all come into play when trying to identify all potentially liable parties.

Whether the evidence from a trucking accident is used to assess civil liability or to help regulators identify adverse safety trends, other motorists will only benefit in the long run. The serious harm inflicted on drivers and passengers in truck accidents - including paralysis, amputations, traumatic brain injuries and broken bones - is the number one incentive for continuing to improve safety in the commercial transportation industry.

Recent studies show that people who smoke marijuana a few hours prior to getting behind the wheel are nearly twice as likely to cause a motor vehicle accident as a sober driver.

Researchers would like to do more investigation on the levels of THC to determine at what threshold a driver using marijuana becomes impaired. THC is the compound in marijuana that causes the drug's effects. Further studies will be needed to understand the true number of accidents caused by drivers who are operating under the influence of drugs.

One serious problem may make this research difficult. Even though there is clear evidence that marijuana impairs driving, there are few tools available to law enforcement to manage the problem. Unlike a blood alcohol test, no test exists to test for drug levels at the scene of the accident. Police departments have specially trained officers when to test drivers that are suspected to be under the influence of certain drugs.

This could make it extremely challenging for law enforcement to discover when a motorist that has caused an accident is under the influence of drugs. Unless the driver volunteers this information or demonstrates signs of impairment, police will not suspect drug use as a factor.

Advocates are calling for better education and testing equipment that will allow police to tackle drugged driving as they have drunk driving. It will take everyone to recognize the risks and encourage the reduction of drugged driving.

The new law requires children to stay in booster seats until they are eight years old or at least four feet nine inches tall. The previous law required kids to sit in booster seats until they were six years of age or weighed 60 pounds.

Medical experts are in favor of the new law, saying that traditional seat belts can injure a child, because it is easy for the child to wear the seat belt improperly. If a seat belt is too high on a child's abdomen, a collision can cause serious injury to the child's bowels, bladder and spine.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death and brain injury to children between ages 4 and 8. According to the California Department of Public Health, car accidents killed 113 children between ages 6 and 7 and caused 414 brain injuries. Advocates of child safety contend that booster seats lower the risk of death and injury by 60 percent, because they properly align the seat belt straps with the child's strongest bones, making the child's body better able to manage the impact of a collision.

Police are empowered by the new law to pull over any person that they reasonably suspect is violating the law. The penalty for failing to comply with the law is a fine of 100 dollars. For subsequent offenders, the fine increases to 250 dollars.

Source: "New law has kids going back in the booster seat," KFSN-TV, 1/7/12

Throughout California, law enforcement will be cracking down on drunk drivers in an attempt to keep the state's motorists safe. In partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety's AVOID program, local law enforcement will be substantially increasing DUI enforcement between December 16 and January 1.

Enforcement efforts include sobriety checkpoints, increased local patrols, DUI task force operations and warrant and probation sweeps to target repeat offenders.

Unfortunately, law enforcement can't catch all of the drunk drivers on California's roads. Many of those who escape the police's grip end up causing accidents that kill or severely injure innocent people.

This holiday season, we all need to do our part to stop drunk driving. By taking the personal responsibility not to drive while intoxicated - and by making sure our friends and loved ones don't either - we can make the roads safer for everyone.

There are some strategies Californians can use to help prevent drunk driving accidents. For example:

• If you will be drinking, plan a safe way home before the party starts.
• Consider volunteering to be a sober designated driver.
• If you are hosting a party, don't let your intoxicated guests drive home. Call them a cab or let them stay the night at your house.
• If you observe a drunk driver on the road, call 911.

Most importantly, never get behind the wheel when you are intoxicated. Call a cab, take the bus or find some other way to get home. There are also a number of businesses that will give you a ride home in your own car.

Sometimes a cab feels pricey, but it is certainly cheaper than getting a DUI or causing an accident that kills or injures another person.

Source: Contra Costa Times, "Holiday Drinkers Encouraged by Local Woman, CHP Not to Drive Drunk," Lori Consalvo, Nov. 23, 2011.

The California Highway Patrol has developed a number of campaigns and took part in a two-year program funded by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration that was designed to increase motorcycle awareness in the state. The program, which includes implementation of the Golden State's "Look Twice, Save a Life" initiative, has been part of the state's collective efforts to combat the problem. The success of the program was revealed through data from the highway patrol's Integrated Traffic Records system.

While campaigns are more visible, riders can also do their part to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends a number of safety tips. In addition to wearing safety gear, such as a helmet, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation suggests riders have proper licensing and training. Learning about the operation of and the importance of maintaining your motorcycle can help reduce accidents due to mechanical defects. Having a clear understanding of motorcycle laws helps riders understand their obligations and responsibilities for keeping themselves and others safe.

Motorcycles can offer a fun way of enjoy the millions of miles of our nation's roadways, but special care should be taken by those who ride motorcycles. Being more aware can help riders avoid becoming a sad statistic.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people die of accidental drowning in the U.S. every day, and 20 percent of those victims are children under 15 years old. In fact, drowning is the second-leading cause of death for kids under 15.

Dr. Angela Rosas, department chief of pediatrics at Sutter Memorial Hospital in California, says the best way to avoid swimming pool accidents is adult supervision. Because kids can drown in a few inches of water in less than 5 minutes, constant vigilance is required. "It's a very common scenario that parents just took their eyes off the child briefly and the child drowned," Dr. Rosas said of the drowning deaths she analyzes on the Sacramento County Child Death Review Team.

In addition to careful supervision, other drowning-prevention strategies include:

• Using barriers like fences and doors just as with in-ground pools.
• Keeping toys away from water and out of pools so kids don't try to reach them and fall in.
• Enrolling kids in swimming lessons to build their skills and confidence in the water.

Following these tips and keeping a close eye on children near water - without the distraction of phones or magazines - can help everyone stay safe.

Unfortunately, even when workers are continually on alert for any dangers that may be present, accidents can and do happen. Workers may fall off of or be trapped under farm machinery or equipment. They may be exposed to dangerous chemicals being used throughout the process of planting, maintaining or harvesting crops. They may be working in extreme weather conditions that cause serious health problems. Workers must also be extra cautious around farm animals, as the animals' behavior can be extremely unpredictable.

Workers seriously injured in fields or other remote areas unfortunately cannot get the immediate treatment that is often necessary to save their lives. Many of the farms are located in rural communities that make it difficult to get to hospitals that are equipped to handle the seriousness of the injuries sustained.