California has the highest population of any state, which undoubtedly contributes to the number of accidents. It is also home to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the nation. Due to the enormous number of cars and road users, California is a national hub for traffic accidents.
Furthermore, California has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the United States. In nearly 3,260 automobile incidents in 2020, a driver, passenger, or pedestrian died. This number is second only to Texas, which claimed around 3,900 deaths.
Plus, the California Highway Patrol reported that more than 150,000 accidents resulted in injuries, and 2,800 accidents resulted in fatalities in a single year.
California is actually one of the top three states in the United States in terms of the number of deaths resulting from traffic accidents, with over 3,000 fatalities annually. It is widely believed that the majority of fatalities resulting from automobile accidents could be avoided if drivers did not make the errors that lead to them, such as making poor decisions on the road, failing to pay attention to their surroundings, failing to use safety equipment, and driving while fatigued or intoxicated.
Frequency of Car Accidents in California
Unfortunately, close to 80% of drivers report having been involved in a vehicle accident at some point in their lives, and the probability of dying in a car accident in the United States is slightly more than 1 in 100. Your likelihood of being involved in a collision will vary significantly based on your frequency and distance of driving. Every 1,000 miles driven, there is a 1 in 366 chance that you may be involved in a car accident.
It goes without saying that California has a high accident rate, mostly owing to the number and size of its major metropolitan areas. In California, about two hundred thousand automobile incidents annually result in injuries. If every minor incident in which no injuries are sustained is included, the projected total number of known and unreported incidences will increase to more than 500,000. Additionally, around 3,000 occurrences annually result in deaths.
New England has the top five states for the overall number of vehicle accidents, with Massachusetts ranked first. California, along with Texas and Florida, is among the states with the most fatal accidents in the United States. In each of these states, roughly 3,000 traffic deaths occur yearly.
Leading Causes of Accidents in California
In addition, the California Highway Patrol has recently disseminated data detailing the most prevalent causes of automobile accidents in California. If you are aware of the most common causes of accidents, you may decrease the probability of being involved in one.
However, if the unimaginable happens and you find yourself in the center of an accident, do not hesitate to contact your car accident attorneys for assistance with settling your claim. Lawyers that specialize in defending individuals injured in automobile accidents will endeavor to ensure that you get proper compensation for your injuries.
According to officials, most of these significant automobile accidents are caused by drivers’ irresponsible or careless acts. It is crucial for drivers to recognize and avoid or prevent the following leading causes of automotive accidents, which are not limited to:
In California, more than 50,000 accidents are caused yearly by excessive speed and irresponsible driving. Speeding impairs drivers’ reaction times, increasing the chance of automotive crashes and resulting in more severe damages.
Numerous drivers often participate in activities that disrupt their concentration, such as using mobile phones, eating, reading, and speaking with passengers. Due to a lack of driving awareness or vigilance, these drivers are more likely to cause accidents.
Ignorance of essential traffic laws is another major cause. For instance, performing illegal U-turns and tailgating are only two examples of unsafe driving habits or disregard for traffic regulations that may result in serious car accidents.
Moreover, intoxicated or drunk driving causes more than 12,000 fatal automobile accidents annually in California. Fortunately, the majority of drunk driving accidents may be avoided by using other forms of transportation or free efforts such as the Safe and Sober Free Cab Ride Home program.
Additional Causes of California Accidents
However, it is plausible to infer that none of these variables or multiple factors have been recognized as causes of certain instances. The overall number of traffic accidents exceeds the number of collisions caused by each contributing factor. In addition to the aforementioned reasons for car accidents, there are several more. The majority of them are due to driver negligence; however, more than a few may be caused by unforeseeable events, including vehicle defects.
In California, speeding and distracted driving are the two leading causes of automotive accidents. Excessive speed impedes mobility and reduces a driver’s ability to respond to emergencies or sudden traffic changes.
It does this by boosting the collision’s force, so intensifying the impact. When a driver is distracted, their attention is split, and they are not fully focused on the work at hand; as a consequence, the danger of being involved in an accident is substantially increased. Nonetheless, if you were harmed in a car collision, proving your auto accident case against the negligent or at-fault party would need you to identify the cause of the incident.
Contact a California Auto Accident Attorney
Accidents involving motor vehicles that cause serious injuries may be catastrophic. They often worry about who will fund their medical expenditures and how their families will be supported throughout their rehabilitation. Fortunately, a law firm specializing in personal injury with an Orange County auto accident attorney can provide crucial guidance regarding preserving evidence and preparing your case. Automobile collision claims are by far the most common kind of personal injury cases in our courts today.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a vehicle accident, do not hesitate to seek legal counsel from attorneys with expertise in auto accident cases in order to safeguard your interests as much as possible. You may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our Beckerman Anderson auto accident attorneys may be contacted at 949-409-4242.