In 2007, the cost U.S. citizens had to shelf out to pay for minors caught in an accident due to intoxication and drunkenness was an astounding $68 billion! The costs paid for their insurance, medical care, post surgery, trauma, and rehabilitation. In terms of direct cost through medical care and loss of income of a parent tending for her underage child, the amount is a shocking $22.3 billion every year.

Is it any wonder that several states, including California, have put together a bill that will penalize adults who supply or give alcoholic drinks to underage teenagers? The bill has passed deliberation with a 67-1 vote in favor of the bill. All it needs for now is approval by the Governor of California before it can be implemented.

California DUI Accident Attorneys

The reality of uncontrolled abuse by adults in giving alcohol to minors is shocking, to say the least. As adults, we are the ones who should be mature to know when and who to be “social host” to as far as intoxicating beverages are concerned. What’s so sad is that youth violence such as suicide, assault, homicide, and vehicular accidents are mostly caused by alcohol abuse.

There is a reason why we have made a distinction between minors and adults. As minors, there is the element of recklessness and abandon joie de vivre because of youth and immaturity.  This is why there are age requirements or strict limitations for permits to drive, to travel solo, or even to vote, and they all have to do with the same reasons as minors are not being allowed to drink.

Strangely, there are groups that argue against this bill debating the fact that people at the age of 18 should be able to make decisions on their own. Therefore, any actions they may make related to alcohol excesses should not be passed on to the person who handed him or her a drink.

Sacramento Auto Accident Statistics

Let’s take an even harder look at the statistics. In 2006, there were over 2,000 homicides, almost 1 million non fatal crimes, and almost 2 million property crimes perpetuated by an underage drinker, who were caught during or after the crime was committed.

In 2007,  almost 2,00 people died because of a drunk underage driver, and over 48,000 nonfatal but traumatic injuries from an accident caused by an underage drunk driver. Finally, in 2006, almost 160,000 young girls got pregnant because of being under the influence or having sex with someone who was underage and drunk. Are these figures real? Shouldn’t we even consider more drastic action to prevent unnecessary loss of lives and limb?

Contact a California Personal Injury Lawyer

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

There is only one person you should make a point to see before taking an airplane trip. No, it’s not your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse, relatives, friends, or even your boss, it’s your doctor.

There are 3 kinds of health problems you can experience in a flight. These are diarrhea, altitude sickness, and jet lag. The other conditions like headache, dizziness, or upset stomach are just some of the symptoms of these 3 main conditions. To avoid an upsetting flight, secure your safety, and not bother other passengers, consider these tips to help you avoid severe health problem while flying.

Eat Comfort Food Before and During Your Flight

Comfort foods are generally foods you eat when you are not feeling too well. That means nothing too salty, too sugary, and too spicy. The fact is, you may have some degree of tension from the thought of flying regardless of how many times you’ve flown before. This is because there have been too many incidents involving security inside an airplane to take anything for granted. As such, since it is beyond your control to make sure the airplane is secure, the best you can do is make sure you don’t fly with an upset stomach.

Drink lots of water, but make sure the water is filtered and something your body is used to drinking. If you are coming in from a foreign country, avoid tap water and uncooked or undercooked food.

Get Clearance From Your Doctor

Let your doctor know you have plans to go on a plane trip. If you have high blood pressure or any other condition, he might want to prescribe you medication. You should also ask your physician about your altitude barometer. That is, if you have respiratory ailment or other issues, you might need to take something to avoid altitude related issues.

Learn First Aid

If you have never taken any First Aid course, consider taking one before you leave. It will teach you the basics of caring for a wound, life support techniques, and even how to use the items inside a regular First Aid kit.

Know How To Adjust Time Zone

Aside from adjusting to a different time zone when you arrive at your destination, you will also have to adjust time zone for your daily maintenance medicine. Do this gradually and never rely on the time. Rather, count the hours between each dose and adjust slowly.

Stretch For Long Flights

If you have a long flight ahead, be sure to stretch your legs to avoid cramping and dehydration. This could cause Deep Vein Thrombosis that is a blood clot that could travel from the veins in your legs to any other part of your body. You can also drink a lot of water if you can’t move your legs, and no alcoholic drinks or soda with caffeine.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Can we prevent falls as we are getting older? There are certain truths we have to face when there is an elderly or senior citizen in our homes. First, women are more likely to fall than men and the risk increases with age. Those who do fall have a greater chance of falling again within the year. Unlike those below 60, falling can be extremely dangerous because of complications like bone injuries.

There is a growing number of death related falls among the elderly, although it may not be directly caused by the fall itself. For instance, if the elderly who fell broke a bone, that person will be forced to stay in bed to recover. People over 60 have a harder time recovering and rehabilitating because they are weaker and have less muscle control.

Here are 5 safety tips to prevent unnecessary falls:

Make Sure There Is Sufficient Supplements in the Diet

One reason for a fall is osteoporosis where the bones are more easily fractured because they are more porous. To prevent this, make sure the elderly person has enough calcium and vitamin D in his or her diet. The calcium strengthens the bone while the vitamin D helps the body absorb the calcium better.

Exercise

Everyone needs to exercise, regardless of age. However, the exercise should correspond to the individual’s physical capabilities. Thus, for elderly, walking 15 minutes a day, swimming, stretching, bending, or even Tai Chi or low impact aerobics can help.

Have Regular Eye Check-ups

Two of the more common eye problems among the elderly are glaucoma and cataracts. It changes depth perception, peripheral vision, visual acuity, and even adjustment to glare. Some conditions may be treated with laser eye surgery or an operation. You can even get glasses, and make sure they are cleaned daily.

Know The Medication and Side Effects

Understand what each drug your elderly is taking and the possible side effects. This way you can schedule trips or even meals out properly. Always make sure there is no access to alcohol and that the expiration dates of the drugs are checked regularly.

Decrease Environmental Hazards

Too many elderly fall because there are no safety measures around the home or in public areas. At home, you can control these by installing hand rails or grab bars in the bathroom and stairs; taking out small loose rugs and carpets; improving lighting; putting rubber bath mats in the shower; and checking that the furniture around the house is steady.

When you go outdoors, make sure the elderly is wearing rubber soled or non-slip shoes without the deep treads; check for cracks, debris, stones, and small steps as you walk with them; and help them yourself if they refuse to use an aid for walking.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Who would have thought that at this point in history, we would still have to deal with product recalls for baby cribs. And yet, it has happened with more than 2 million cribs, most of which are drop side models, being recalled.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission or the CPSC described the problem as “suffocation and strangulation” risks. Therefore, before you buy a drop side baby crib, here are some of the things you need to know.

• You can request for a free immobilization kit for drop side cribs from the manufacturer of the brand of your choice. It is not give automatically when you buy, so make sure the brand you are planning to get has that option.

• The CPSC is working hard to stop drop side cribs from being made and sold because of the potential risks involved, especially since there are other crib options.

• For the record, around 32 babies have died from accidents due to a drop side crib. This figure was released way based on incidents starting in 2000, so it is not an accurate number.

• The risks in a drop side baby crib are:
  • Strangulation
  • Suffocation
  • Getting trapped between two objects like the crib and the mattress
  • If the drop side is made of plastic, it will be subject to easy wear and tear which means pieces could break off and choke or harm the baby
  • The baby could fall off the crib if left unattended with one side down.

• Some drop side cribs are made of soft wood that makes it less sturdy and pieces could chip off and harm the baby.

• Some owners have assembled this kind of crib upside down for lack of specific instructions or because they assume they can figure it out on their own. Thus, it could come off unexpectedly

If you are planning to buy a crib, avoid buying used cribs and cribs that do not come with an instruction guide – in English. Also, look for the tag that shows it passed scrutiny with safety standards set by the government. You should know that these safety standards are updated regularly, so a crib that has a safety standard sticker issued in the 1970s or 1980s are no longer valid.

You should also do some research on the model and brand you want. Go online and check if it has had any recall issues or accidents with babies in the past. Your child is depending on you to take care of him or her, and part of that responsibility involves making sure the equipment used by the baby is safe.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Even before you have your surgery, find out what the possible outcome will be. It is better to be aware than to be surprised. Usually doctors will breeze through the explanation, but you can persist if you ask the right questions. In fact, it is your responsibility to ask as many questions about the medical procedure, your post-operative care and any other issues to satisfy your curiosity and get the information you need. In this article, we’ll share with you with some hot “after surgery tips” and some advice on whether you should seek medical assistance while healing.

Inform your surgeon what medications you are taking so that he can prevent possible ill effects from a incompatible combination of drugs.

After surgery, if you feel any pain or fever (100 or higher), contact your physician even before the scheduled appointment date.  In most instances, your doctor has probably already prescribed pain medication, but if the pain persists or gets worse, he may have to adjust the dosage. In some instances, he may even tell you to proceed to the nearest clinic or hospital for “urgent aid” or “further evaluation”.

Whatever you do, do not panic if you feel pain. There will be expected pain depending on your surgery. For some, if the surgery was an appendectomy or caesarian section, laughter and slight movement will cause discomfort or pain. For back surgery, you may even experience some degree of muscle pain and spasms. Unfortunately, people have different pain tolerance levels, so there is really no way of knowing how effective the pain prescription will be until you start feeling the pain.

In addition, there are many cases when post operation drugs have caused side effects like nausea or constipation. Some additional symptoms to watch are hives, swollen mouth, etc. All of these are quite serious and you must seek assistance immediately. Before you stop taking your medicine because of any side effects, consult with your doctor first.

Whether you are still in the hospital or at home, if you have concerns, contact your physician. You are your best advocate and you know yourself best. Plus, you do not always have the luxury of time because once an infection sets in, it will likely complicate your condition and lead to longer heal times.

You should also try to time your pain. If it comes every hour, then that is not good. This means your prescription and dosage is insufficient. You should also figure out what kind of pain it is you are feeling – sharp, dull, or numbing.

Pain is not the only problem you will encounter after surgery. There is also the immobility and post surgery care. Some doctors may recommend a nurse to be with you at least for the first 48 hours after you leave the hospital. The nurse or midwife can help you ease back into your life, and monitor your condition at the same time.

If you live alone, you should definitely consider prompt medical assistance. However, if you have a family to lean on, you can opt to have a nurse visit you once or twice a day – just to make sure your wound is healing properly, and you are getting the right attention and care. After surgery, you must let your body recover, so allowing someone to help you is part of the process. The sooner you recover, the sooner you can get back on your feet.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Children are more vulnerable to accidents in and around the swimming pool or beach. However, this does not discount accidents that happen to adults because in their effort to watch over their children, they forget to watch out for their own safety.

These are easy to follow swimming safety tips for anyone, regardless of age, location, or experience in swimming.

Children never swim alone

No matter how experienced a child is, you should never allow him to swim on his own, especially where there is a current like in the beach. If an adult is at risk because of slippery tiles or because of an undercurrent, you can imagine how much more so with a young teenager or child.

Furthermore, children tend to be impulsive and swim immediately after eating which causes cramps, and immobilizes the person so they cannot move their legs properly.

No one should swim without taking lessons first

A child or adult can drown in a few inches of water. Depth is not always a condition. However, the most common problem with swimming  is  not knowing what to do in an emergency. For instance, if you are swept by strong tides, you can easily lose any concept of where to go. You get disoriented. The right swimming lesson would tell you that the first thing to do is not to panic. Lessons may seem a little trivial if you are an adult, but it could save your life.

No swimming in bad weather

Just like boats are not allowed out in bad weather, you should also not allow anyone out in a pool, lake, river, beach, or even any kind of above ground pool. For one, you are tempting fate if there is lightning.

No drinking and swimming

Being drunk and swimming is also a big no-no. You’re inviting trouble, so avoid having alcoholic beverages in beach parties, pool parties, or even children swimming parties.

Bring the proper gear

You will need sun block, goggles, floating devices, and ointments for insect bites which will all come in handy when swimming. However, do not make the assumption that floating devices can save you from a strong current.

Swimming is a lot of fun, and very good cardiovascular exercise. This is why it is also considered ideal for people who have suffered from a trauma, accident, or illness. Finally, aside from you as the supervising adult, there should also be a qualified lifeguard around. After all, it is a required prerequisite to swimming in public places.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Planning a camping trip? If this is your first time to go camping, then you’re in for a lot of new experiences, hopefully nothing dangerous or traumatic. To help you plan your camping trip, here are some camping tips you could easily manage on your own.

Make a list

List everything from food and drinks, personal toiletries, money, safety gear like flashlights and batteries, and beddings. Look around your house and write down what you cannot do without. You can trim down the list slowly. The point is to start gearing your mind towards a few days outdoors with no home comforts.

Lay of the Land

When you get to the camping grounds, hopefully you still have daylight. Go over the grounds and choose your spot. Make sure there is a slight slope in case of rain; you won’t find yourself in the middle of a puddle. You should also check for sharp items on the ground like glass, pebbles, or even branches. These could tear your tent or give you and pretty uncomfortable sleep.

If there is wind, you might want to set up camp near some wind breaker like plants or shrubs.

Fire Hazards

If you plan to do some cooking, never start a fire near anything that could catch fire like trees or plants. If a strong wind blows, it could direct the flames to something that could catch fire. Also, never leave the fire unattended. If there is some place you need to go to in a hurry, put out the fire, and make it’s out. You can always relight when you get back.

Who’s in Charge?

If you are travelling with a group, make sure there is a designated leader that everyone trusts and will follow. You should also find the person in charge of the camping grounds, and get his mobile number in case of an emergency.

Recycle and Dispose Properly

It is your duty to dispose of your trash properly. This means segregation and proper disposal. Thus, bring along several trash bags of different colours to help you segregate. Do not assume that the camping grounds personnel will help you with your trash. In fact, you could be fined a big penalty for improper disposal.

You need to leave the camping grounds in the same or better condition than when you arrived. This is just the way it should be, so that you know when you return, you can expect the camping grounds to be in good condition also.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

So many awful incidents of death and trauma over a drunk driver has still not taught us that you cannot go behind the wheel of any vehicle if you have consumed alcohol. In fact, the amount of alcohol is really subjective since some people get tipsy over half a glass of table wine, while others need about a keg of beer or more to feel a hit. People who drink must know their limit regardless of what the law says. It’s just part of responsible driving. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, so accidents will happen from drunk driving. The best you can do is to stay clear of these drivers as much as possible.

Not all drunk drivers drive at night

A drunk will drink at all times of the day or night. He or she might even know the time or day it is. Of course, this is the worst scenario, and does not happen as often as night drunk driving, but you cannot disregard this fact, so be on the lookout for haphazard driving anytime you’re on the road.

Slow down in intersections

People who are drunk tend to step on the gas harder and faster than normal, and this pertain to corners as well. When you reach an intersection, don’t assume that just because there’s a Stop sign on each corner, it will be followed.

Leave a lane open

Don’t drive in the middle of the road just because there’s no other car on the road. Stick to your lane, preferably the inner lane because drunk drivers usually drive fast, so will tend to overtake often.

Avoid bar areas

If you are driving at night, try to go around the bar areas or where there are known restaurants that allow heavy drinking. If you must, you should consider taking a detour, safe enough to get you where you need to go without any incident. Naturally, avoid dark streets as your detour.

Avoid early morning to dawn driving, biking, or walking

This is the riskiest time to go out. If you can hold off going out on your bike, taking a walk, or driving anywhere, then do it. You should know your neighborhood and route by now, so you know the places that tend to be used as a racing track for people coming home from a night of partying. If you have early work schedules or graveyard shifts, find a traveling partner, or make sure someone knows when you leave your place of work or leave your home to get to work.

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Staying Alert While Driving

It doesn’t take long for driving to seem like it’s second nature to most of us. As the years go by, free of any accidents, we start to feel immune to our own poor driving habits and those of others. Unfortunately, chances of being in another accident still loom large.

If you want to lessen your chances of having to work with insurance agents doing damage appraisals in the future, take a few moments to review the list of  suggestions below. They’ve been compiled to help you stay focused on your driving whenever you head out on any road or freeway.

Tips for Staying Alert While Driving

• Instead of driving to work or taking the kids to school using the same old route, consider finding an alternate path so you’ll be less likely to become so complacent that you fail to notice obvious road dangers;
• Never start out on a lengthy (or even fairly short) road trip when you know you’re sleep deprived – wait until you know you can stay focused on your driving before leaving town;
• Never drive anywhere when you’ve recently been drinking alcohol since your reaction times will be slower and you may be less likely to even appreciate the dangers that surround you – the same is true of many prescription and “street” drugs. You need to be at the top of your game whenever you slip behind the wheel of a car;
• Play some music that you like since it can help keep your mind alert as continue to try and drive defensively;
• Never use a phone in your car – for any purpose. Most people now know that when they use their cell phones while driving, in any manner,  they quadruple their chances of being in an accident;
• If you see a rest stop coming up and have someone with you, consider stopping for a while to relax a bit;
• If there are no rest stops or if you’re driving alone, consider stopping at a small diner for some coffee or a cold carbonated drink containing caffeine to help keep you awake. Even a short stop can calm your nerves enough to help you concentrate better once you return to the road. If you get out of your car and stretch your legs a bit, you’ll not only improve your body’s circulation but you’ll also increase your ability to stay alert and focused once you start driving again.
• While visiting with your passengers, make sure you don’t become so involved with them that you stop paying close attention to the road ahead and other drivers. Instead, ask your passengers to alert you if they recognize a danger you seem to have missed;
• Open your car window, if it’s not too cold or hot – the breeze can be invigorating and help keep you awake;
• Don’t let the interior of your car become so warm that you start becoming sleepy;
• Don’t try to eat, drink or read anything while driving – stop in a well lit area if you must study a map. Never spend too much time reviewing the map on your GPS device at the expense of avoiding an accident;
• Don’t try to quickly apply make-up while driving and try to avoid smoking; we all need to keep both hands “free” in case a dangerous road incident starts to develop;
• Only drive at a moderate speed to increase your chances of being able to slow down in time to avoid an accident;
• If you know that one of your passengers is sober and a good driver, ask him (or her) to drive a while so you can rest a bit;
• Take note of interesting buildings, license plates and other unique items as you scan the driving area in front of you;
• Have your eyesight checked regularly; consider doing this even more often than you’re required to do it by your state driver’s license bureau;
• Avoid heated discussions with your passengers – you may become so involved in a topic that you unintentionally forget to stay focused on the road and traffic ahead – perhaps suggest that you continue the talk at a later time or when you reach your destination;
• Explain to your children why they must keep their noise to a minimum so you can concentrate on your driving. If they become too loud, you could miss some external sound cues that might warn you of impending danger;
• At least once a year, review your driver’s handbook or look for an online Web site where you can study such things as (1) the meaning of various road signs, (2) what straight or jagged lines in the road indicate and (3) what various types of flashing lights are supposed to indicate;
• Avoid driving in the dark since everyone tends to be less alert then and unable to see as well as they do during the brighter times of the day.

By reviewing this list from time to time, you should be able to greatly diminish your chances of ever being in another car or truck accident.

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Teen Auto Driving Safety Tips

As frightened as you may feel about letting your teen start driving, take advantage of this critical opportunity to teach your son or daughter the skills required for a lifetime of safe driving experiences. In addition to having your teen enroll in a professional driver’s education course, plan on remaining your teen’s primary instructor. Make time whenever possible to take your teen to empty school parking lots to practice various skills before moving on to nearby streets. Remain calm and help your teen develop the confidence required to make the many highly responsible, split-second decisions often required of most drivers.

Keep in mind that your children start learning to drive by watching you, even when they’re still very young. Act appropriately since they will surely imitate your driving habits once they get behind the wheel with a learner’s permit. Set a positive example by always being polite to other drivers. For example, when you pull up to a corner where there are four stop signs, let one or two other drivers go first. Never speed or try to run the majority of yellow lights you encounter.

Furthermore, never use your cell phone when the car engine is running. Make it clear that it’s only safe to use a cell phone when the driver is sitting in a parked car. Since actions really do speak louder than words, make sure you drive exactly the way you want your teen to drive when you’re not present. In addition to these basic driving practices, make sure you personally provide your teen with adequate information about each of the following driving tips.

Suggestions for Helping Your Teen Become a Safe Driver

• Have Them Start Out by Driving Alone (After the time has ended when an adult may be required by state law to be present in the car.) Passengers of any age (other than parents) can pose too great a distraction for many new drivers;
• Provide Definite Driving Curfews and Penalties for Breaking Them. Teens simply don’t need to be out driving late at night. Note that any curfew violations will result in the temporary or permanent cancellation of your teen’s driving privileges (depending on what exactly takes place during a given curfew violation for which there is no valid excuse);
• Always Stay up and Greet your Returning Teen Driver. Set an early curfew when your teen first starts driving alone. Stay up and greet your teen when he or she returns. Make sure there hasn’t been any drinking and driving. Any smell of alcohol on your teen’s breath should result in the immediate revocation of all driving privileges for an extended period of time. You might even want to insist on driving your teen to all school and social events until you’re convinced that he or she won’t repeat that behavior again;
• Provide a Safe Car that’s big enough to offer ample protection should your teen get involved in an accident – many teens experience “fender benders” or more during their early driving careers;
• No Music Initially. Advise your teen to avoid listening to any music during the first months when they start driving alone so they can stay completely focused on their driving;
• Require Some Level of Financial Responsibility. Have your teen contribute to the car’s upkeep or buy their own gas with their part-time job earnings. If they can afford to do so, have your teen also contribute to the cost of their car insurance. Teens required to shoulder such financial responsibilities at an early age are more likely to view driving as a privilege they should take seriously;
• Basic Skills Must Be Mastered First. Don’t forget to make sure your teen has learned how to drive at the proper speed, parallel park the car, use proper turn signals and give pedestrians the right of way. Emphasize the importance of leaving plenty of room for motorcyclists or regular bicyclists who may also be sharing the road. Also, personally remind your teen how to respond when a school bus stops in front of them or when they can hear an ambulance or fire truck approaching;
• Find Out Your Teen’s Weakest Skills Areas. Speak with your teen’s professional driving instructor to get a firsthand idea of your child’s poorest driving habits. Is she a risk taker? Does he often run yellow lights or follow other vehicles too closely? Plan to work with your teen on these problem skills areas. Remember, it’s never wise to introduce your teen to freeway driving or heavily congested traffic until you and the professional driving instructor agree that your teen’s driving skills warrant such training;
• Maps Should Be Studied Ahead of Time. If your teen believes a map will be needed to reach their destination, have them study it ahead of time, before getting behind the wheel of the car. Too many accidents occur when people are looking at a map and trying to decide where they should turn.
• Monitor Your Teen’s Driving. Consider following your teen on one or two occasions, without announcing this plan ahead of time. If you think it’s necessary, think about having a device installed in the car that will let you monitor your teen’s driving decisions, such as how fast they drive or how close they follow behind other vehicles. Let your teen know if you’re planning to install this type of device for added safety reasons. You might want to set a tentative date for removing the device, if your teen doesn’t have any accidents for an extended period of time. However, make it clear that you will re-install it on a permanent basis should your teen ever get involved in any accident.
• Make Sure Your Teen’s Car is Properly Maintained. Teach your teen the importance of regular car maintenance. Explain why tires should be inflated properly and why various hoses and car parts should be checked periodically. Be sure the spare tire is in good shape. Advise your teen to always keep a fully charged cell phone in their car so they can pull over and call for help when an emergency develops. Make sure your teen also carries your family’s emergency contact information, their driver’s license, proof of car insurance and car registration with them.
• Remind Your Teen that Driving is a Privilege, Not a Right. Go online with your teen and review the driving accident statistics reported by groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Let your teen know that though driving can be a wonderful convenience, it can prove deadly if not taken seriously at all times.

We hope these suggestions will help you properly train your teen to make the safest decisions possible while learning to drive.

California Personal Injury Attorneys

Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.