Category Archives: Car Tips

10 Tips to Find a Great Car Mechanic

It is important to have a great car mechanic. Car maintenance can be expensive, but proper car maintenance is important for safe driving. Proper car maintenance can also prolong the life of your vehicle. Here are 10 ways to find a great car mechanic.

1. Ask friends and family

Your friends and family may have great mechanics. Ask around. This is the easiest way to find a great mechanic.

2. Find a mechanic that specializes in your brand

There are many mechanics that specialize in certain car manufacturers and vehicles. Try to find on one that specializes in your vehicle. This shop will be more likely to have the right equipment. The mechanics in the shop are also probably specially trained in your vehicle.

3. Search the internet

Look on review sites like Angie’s List or Yelp. These sites have very honest and thorough reviews. Car forums are also another great place to look for shop recommendations. These forums have very honest reviews too, and it will be easier to find a shop that specializes in your car.

4. Check for certification

Look for a mechanic and shop that has been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a professional certification group. It certifies professionals in the automotive repair and service industry.

5. Check the Better Business Bureau website

This website will give you information on complaints about auto shops. The information will help you spot and avoid bad shops.

6. Give the mechanic a try

Test out the auto shop by getting small repairs done. If you like the results, you can commit to the auto shop for larger repairs.

7. Warranties

Some auto shops have warranties on their repair work. Before getting something fixed, find out what the warranty is for the repair.

8. Appearance

A shop’s appearance reveals a lot about the quality of repairs given. The shop should be a clean working environment. It should also be organized, well lit, and well maintained.

9. Meet the mechanic

You should meet the person who is working on your car. Talk to the mechanic about the shop and the repair. You want to trust your mechanic.

During this talk, try to find out what kind of car parts they use. Every car manufacturer has low quality and high quality parts. Before visiting the mechanic, find out what kind of parts are necessary for the repairs. The quality of parts used by auto shop is quite revealing. Knowing the prices for parts will also protect from being overcharged.

10. Look for good business

If the auto shop is a good one, it will probably have a lot of business. Check the mechanic’s lot. A prosperous shop should have a large number of cars in their lot. It is also important that you pay attention to how often these cars regularly change. If you see the same unrepaired cars for weeks, you should probably find a better mechanic.

Midweek Orange County Freeway Ramp Closures

There will be two freeway ramp closures in South Orange County during the work week for road-maintenance work, per a Caltrans announcement made on Monday. These two closures follow the major freeway closures that have occurred over the past two weekends.

Caltrans is scheduled to strip and replace markers on the ramp. Motorists passing through San Clemente on Tuesday and Wednesday area are asked to reroute their course to avoid being stuck in traffic for an unnecessary amount of time.

Detour signs will be in place to alert motorists but if you want to plan ahead here is what you need to be on the lookout for:

On Tuesday the northbound Avenida Pico off-ramp will be closed between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Wednesday the southbound Avenida Calafia on-ramp will be closed between 9 a.m. and noon. And the northbound Cristianitos Road on-ramp will be closed between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The last South Orange County freeway closure took place during the Ortega Highway Bridge demolition. It was part of an $86 million project to build a new interchange for Ortega Highway and I-5.

Although there were no accidents, there was one arrest of a man who drove a car across the California Highway Patrol’s barricade that was blocking traffic from entering the construction area on the freeway.

Traffic can irritate aggravated drivers, which makes for a hostile driving atmosphere. Being prepared to find an alternative route is crucial to reduce your chances of being in a San Clemente automotive accident.

If you are involved in an accident during the closure of the ramps and were hurt, contact a San Clemente injury lawyer for help. You may be eligible for compensation that can help pay for the damages and injuries you may have encountered in an automotive wreck.

Being in a San Clemente motor vehicle wreck can be devastating physically and financially. If you were seriously injured, chances are you will have to pay hefty medical bills and you may be physically unable to perform your job duties.

Attorneys at Dara Khajavi Law Offices have helped their clients collect millions in compensation over the years. This compensation has helped clients pay for hospital bills, unexpected financial expenses, loss-of-income, and various other expenses.

Don’t be stuck trying to figure out who will pay for your damages after an accident, contact a San Clemente car accident lawyer at (877)782-3777 for a free consultation today!

5 Things to Do Before Buying a Used Car

New cars get all the attention, but used cars a great investment. Used cars are a money friendly option. There are also more models to choose from. Here are 5 things you should do before buying a used car.

Find the right car

One of the benefits of used car is a larger selection of cars. Find the best used car for you. Can you afford the car that you want? Does the car have the features that you want in a vehicle? Compile a list of cars you are interested in. You should also include features that you want the car to have.

Research the car

Find the market value of the vehicle. This will help you negotiate a great price for your used vehicle. It is also important to research the safety of the vehicle. Every vehicle has public crash test ratings. You can also find out if the car has been recalled at all.

Finance

Consider how much you can afford to pay for a car. If you take out a loan, will you be able to afford monthly payments. Will you pay a down payment? You should also factor in ownership costs. Certain cars cost more to insure and maintain.

You have three ways to pay for your used car: cash, financing through a bank, or financing through a dealer. Cash is simple, but it requires you to have the funds to pay the full price. Financing through a bank is also a simpler route. Lastly, financing through a dealership can be difficult. The dealership determines your rate and you have less control.

Figure out where you want to buy

Three common places to buy a used car are private parties, the used car section of car dealerships, and independent used car lots. Private parties usually have the lowest prices, but be careful of any internal damage. You can usually get great deals at the used car section of a car dealership. These cars are usually trade-ins and are thoroughly inspected with strong warranties.

Test Drive

The test drive is incredibly important. It can help you determine if the used car is right for you. Take this opportunity to really get a feel for the car. Can you comfortable drive in it? Check the visibility. Test braking and acceleration power.

It is important to follow these steps before buying a used car. Used cars can be great investments, but a used car can also be dangerous and more likely to break down. Follow these steps, and you should be able to find a great used car!

If you are ever the victim of a car accident, you may want to contact an Orange County car accident lawyer.

Costa Mesa Pedestrian Hit by SUV

A 41 year old woman was in critical condition after a SUV struck her.

The collision took place on Monday night at about 11:40 p.m. The crash was on the 1600 block of Newport Boulevard. According to Costa Mesa police, the woman was jaywalking across Newport Boulevard when the SUV struck her.

The victim was walking west across the street. A 2001 Nissan Pathfinder collided into her. The driver, a 36 year old Huntington Beach man, stopped at the scene. He stayed at the scene. The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

No arrests have been made. The crash is under currently under investigation. Anyone with information should contact the Costa Mesa police.

Jaywalking is very dangerous for jaywalking. It is when a pedestrian illegally or recklessly crosses a roadway. An example of jaywalking is when a pedestrian crosses the street even though there is no marked crosswalk. Jaywalking puts pedestrians and drivers at risk. Pedestrians, who are jaywalking, are at risk of being struck by a vehicle. Drivers may not see jaywalkers too late. To avoid a jaywalker, a driver may swerve and collide into another vehicle. Jaywalking is incredibly dangerous.

Every pedestrian should be aware of pedestrian safety rules. Pedestrian injuries are a leading cause of death for children. When a car strikes a pedestrian, these accidents are often serious if not fatal. A pedestrian has nothing to absorb the blunt force of a collision.

To protect yourself while walking, it is important to stay alert. You should focus on the street and the road. Make sure you stay on the sidewalk and cross in the marked cross walk. Follow traffic signals and crosswalks. Before you cross a street, you should always look left and right because crossing the street. It is a good habit to make eye contact with a driver before crossing in front of them. Pay special attention to cars that are turning.

While you are walking, it is also best to avoid engaging in any distracting behavior. If you need to use a cell phone, go to a safe area and use the cell phone. Pay attention for any bicyclists or runners that may collide into you.

If you are ever in a car accident, contact a Costa Mesa car accident lawyer. Contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi for a free consultation. There are absolutely no charges until your case is won.

OC Sheriff Rescued Driver from Burning Yorba Linda Taxi

An Orange County deputy pulled a driver from a taxi that was on fire last week in Yorba Linda. A video of the dramatic incident was released by the O.C. Sheriff’s Department on Monday and is now available online.

At around 2:35 a.m. Thursday near the intersection of Bastanchury Road and Clydesdale Avenue, Deputy Shayne Stiefel was on routine patrol with a training officer when they encountered a distressed Chrysler minivan taxi.

Looking into the van the officers noticed that the driver was pressing down on the accelerator forcing the wheels to keep spinning even after they had melted off. Friction from the wheels caused liquid leaking from the vehicle to catch fire.

OC Sheriff’s Department Lt. Jeff Hallock told reporters that the taxi had its front end stuck on a curb and wedged against a no-parking sign. Smoke, sparks and flames were coming from underneath the vehicle.

Stiefel shouted a few commands to the driver, one of which instructed him to get out of the vehicle. Allegedly disoriented, the driver remained in the taxi and attempted to light a cigarette ignoring the deputy’s commands.

Deputy Stiefel reported that he drew his weapon because it appeared the driver was preparing to flee the scene or was suicidal. But when the flames began to engulf the taxi he put his gun away and pulled out a knife. He reached into the taxi van through the open window and cut away the driver’s seatbelt and then pulled the man to safety.

Emergency respondents took the driver to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, but the status of his condition was not released to the public. It was later discovered that the driver had suffered and acute medical emergency and could not respond to the deputy’s commands.

Hallock was glad that the deputies were doing their job and were in the right place at the right time to rescue the driver. “If we weren’t patrolling the streets, he could have burned to death,” he told reporters.

After the incident was over, Steiefel recognized that the incident was very bizarre and he doesn’t consider himself a hero. “It was one of the wildest things I have come across,” he said.

Have you or a loved one been injured in car wreck in the same city as the man in the story above? Contact a Yorba Linda car accident lawyer from Dara Khajavi Law Offices and get the compensation you deserve!

Carpooling 101

Carpooling with other parents can make your life much easier, but it can also be scary for parents.

Every parent can use help every once awhile. Carpooling is a great way to lessen parents’ responsibility. However, carpooling often makes parents nervous. Here are some tips on how to make carpooling safer and easier.

Before agreeing to carpool with another parent, get to know the parent. Playdates are a great for your children to have fun and for you to meet the other parent. It is a relaxed atmosphere that encourages bonding.

Once you feel comfortable with this other parent driving your children, you should create a carpooling schedule. Write down the parent responsible driving for each day. This will make planning and scheduling much easier.

There are a couple of safety precautions that every parent in your carpooling group should do. You should create an emergency contact sheet with names and contact information. This way everyone knows that their child will be taken care of, in case of an emergency. It is also important to write down any relevant safety information. For example, you should include any of the children’s food allergies. Make sure your car is maintained. This is a simple and easy way to prevent accidents. You should get your oil changed, rotate your tires, and inspect tire air pressure level.

You must make sure each of the children is following basic safety rules. If you need booster seats, make sure that the booster seats are installed correctly. Do not drive unless you are sure that each child has buckled up. Buckling up will protect the children. As a driver, you should minimize any distractions. You are carrying precious cargo. Avoid any distractions like eating, texting, or talking. It can be difficult to handle a car from children, but do not try to parent and drive. If you must intervene in an argument, pull over. You do not want to risk an accident.

To make carpooling easier, you should see if your school has any special transportation rules. Many schools have special rules regarding speed limits. There are also designated pick-up and drop-off locations. Keeping on top of these rules will make your carpooling experience stress free.

You should always be on time. The other parents and children are counting on you. There may be differences in parenting styles. It might be best to keep your opinions to yourself. Just make sure that your child is safe.

The Law Offices of Dara Khajavihopes that his primer on carpooling was helpful. Please call us if you were involved in a car accident. Our expert Orange car accident lawyers are fully prepared to handle any case.

Huntington Beach Becomes More Bike Friendly

The Orange County beach city will be becoming more bike-friendly.

Huntington Beach has drafted a Bicycle Master Plan. The plan was posted on Huntington Beach’s website. With this plan, Huntington Beach will improve riding conditions for bicyclists. The city also plans to educate the public about sharing the road with motor vehicles. Huntington Beach’s goal is to meet bicyclists’ needs and encourage more bicycle use.

The public will have an opportunity to voice their opinions at an upcoming council meeting. The exact date of the meeting has not been determined. This project started in 2012. Huntington Beach has reached out to the biking community for its input. The city held workshops to strengthen the plan. From these workshops, Huntington Beach determined its biggest obstacle.

Huntington Beach’s biggest obstacle is that bicyclists’ have a wide range of abilities, knowledge, and comfort level of the road and riding. Some bicyclists ride over 20 miles in a single bike ride, and others just bike by the beach. This wide range of skills and knowledge will make it difficult for Huntington Beach to implement the plan.

The Hunting Beach Bicycle Advocates have suggested a 14 point plan. Huntington Beach used this plan to develop its master plan. Huntington Beach will implement bikeway projects and improve existing lanes and education programs.

Currently, Huntington Beach has multi-use paths. These are lanes that pedestrians and bicyclists share. Multi-use paths are located along Pacific Coast Highway from Warner Avenue to Brookhurst Street. The new plan will expand multi-use paths. There will be seven additional roads added.

Huntington Beach also plans to improve on bike education. The city wants to improve on teaching bicyclists and motorists about their rights on the road. An exact education plan has not been created. The city hopes to improve safety by education.

Bicyclist safety is incredibly important. In the case of a bicycle and motor vehicle collision, the bicyclists will be seriously injured. The driver will probably escape with few if any injuries. Bicyclists are more susceptible to serious injuries. It is important that bicyclists and motorists understand the rules of the road. If everyone follows these rules, the road will be safer for bicyclists and motorists.

If you are ever in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact Huntington Beach car accident attorney. Injuries from car accidents can be quite serious and often fatal. Do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Dara Khajavi, if you are ever in an accident.

How to Handle Getting Pulled Over

It’s a beautiful day, and you’re driving with a friend. All of a sudden, you see in your rear mirror that a police man is pulling you over. This can be a little terrifying. Your heart probably stopped beating for a second. You have never been pulled over. You do not know what to do. Well, now what?

Stay calm. Pull over at the closest safest location. Do not cruise past safe spots. The police officer may think that you are stalling time so that you can stash something illegal. Do not stop in the middle of the road. Pull over to a location that will not put you or the police officer in danger.

Gather all your information. The police officer will want to see your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. You should have these documents ready.

Stay in your vehicle. Police offers may think you are trying to attack them, if you exit the vehicle. There is no need to get out of the officer. The police officer will come to your vehicle. You should only get out of your vehicle if the officer asks you to get out.

When the officer is speaking to you, you should keep your hands on the steering wheel. Officers are trained to focus on your hands. If you keep your hands out of sight, the officer may think you are hiding a weapon.

Be polite, no matter what. The police officer may be rude, but do not pick a fight. Always answer the questions truthfully. Do not be aggressive. You could be arrested for disorderly conduct or assaulting an officer if you are as seen as overly aggressive.

After the officer has your information, he or she will go back to the cop car to run your information through a database. Stay calm. This may seem like it takes forever, but it really is only a few minutes.

The officer will ask you to sign the ticket. Just sign the ticket. You are not admitting guilt. The signature is just proof that you received the ticket. You can still dispute the ticket in traffic court.

You have survived receiving a ticket. Now, just focus on driving safely and carefully. Do not let the ticket distract you from driving!

The Law Offices of Dara Khajavi hopes that this was helpful. Our Orange County car accident lawyers hope that you have a great weekend. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need a consultation!

Daydreaming and Driving

A new study by the Erie Insurance Group finds that daydreaming can significantly contributes to car accident risk.

Psychologists estimate that we daydream anywhere from one-third to half of our waking hours. Daydreaming is a normal part of the human nature. Unfortunately, daydreaming on the road can be an incredibly dangerous habit. In a recent study, researchers found that daydreaming can dramatically increase risk of a fatal car accident.

In this study, the Erie Insurance Group examined 65,000 fatal accidents that occurred in the U.S. in the past two years. The Erie Insurance Group found that you are five times more likely to be in a fatal crash if you were daydreaming than if you were distracted by an electronic device.

Researchers found that daydreaming or being “lost in thought” contributed to 62% of the fatal crashes. Daydreaming affects driving in different ways. Usually, daydreaming does not affect the car speed. Instead, it affects drivers by delaying reaction time. Drivers that are daydreaming tend to stay at one speed longer instead of slowing down or speeding up when appropriate. Daydreaming drivers may also not respond in time to avoid cars unexpectedly changing lanes in front of them. A driver should constantly scan the road, but a daydreaming driver tends to focus only forward.

To combat daydreaming while driving, remember and recognize the risks of daydreaming while driving. Knowledge and awareness are key to prevent daydreaming while driving. Remind yourself how dangerous driving can be. This can help you remain focused on the road. Drive defensively while on the road. Look for any drivers that look dangerous drivers weaving in and out of traffic. Defensive driving will keep you alert and focused on the road.

Next time you day dream try to figure out what caused you to daydream. This can help you overcome your daydreaming. Take note of what you were doing when you started daydreaming. Were you stuck in traffic? Did you have a lot to do? Realizing what causes you to daydream will help you stop daydreaming.

While driving, it is important to always focus on the road. Do not let your mind wonder. Practice focusing on the road. If you notice your attention slipping, force yourself to focus. Focusing on the road will make it much safer for you to drive on the road. If you find yourself having difficulty focusing, simply pull over. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

If you are ever in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact an Orange County car accident lawyer.

Car Accidents in Orange County Area

Two people were killed in a Wednesday morning collision on the 60 Freeway in Pomona. The collision involved at least two trucks. It forced lane closures on the 60 Freeway. The two people died at the scene. A rescue helicopter crew reported to the scene to transport a third victim. The details of the 3^rd victim’s injuries are not known.

Two eastbound lanes and several transition roads were closed after the crash. The crash involved a cargo box truck and a big rig near the 71 Freeway. Soda cans, water bottles, and other items literred the freeway lanes.

An Irvine man crashed in front of the Ayres Hotel and Suites in Costa Mesa on Friday night. The driver died from his injuries. He drove into a tree in front of the Costa Mesa Hotel. The collision occurred at 9:03 p.m. He was driving a 2009 BMW M6 coupe south on Bristol Street near Santa Ana Avenue. According to the authorities, he was driving at a high speed.

Witnesses reported that the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle spun out and crashed into a large tree in front of the Ayres Hotel land Suites. The driver died at the scene from his injuries. There was also a female passenger in the car. She suffered head trauma and fractured ribs. Costa Mesa firefighters reported to the scene and removed the passenger from the car. She was then transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. The passenger was listed in critical condition. Her current condition is unknown.

Both the driver and passenger were wearing seatbelts. Airbags also deployed correctly. Police is currently investigating the collision.

On May 12, 8 people were rushed to a hospital after an alleged drunk driver drove into several cars. The alleged drunk driver collided into the cars a little before 2 a.m. The collision occurred at Gilbert Street and La Palma Avenue. There were two cars full of people waiting at the intersection. The drunken driving suspect crashed into the vehicles.

Paramedics responded to the scene to help with the victims. The conditions of the victims are not known.

These car accidents were quite serious. Many car accidents often result in serious injuries and often death. Drive carefully on the road. Safe driving practices can help prevent many accidents. If you are injured in a car accident, contact a Newport Beach car accident lawyer.

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