Thursday, March 29, 2012

California Traffic Accidents in a Nutshell

car crash | car accident

Image Source: http://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/Images/accident-without-car-insurance.jpg
Despite the fact that automobile accidents are common in California, only few people are truly aware of the dangers of traffic crashes. Californians who get involved in a road accident are subjected to various types of physical and emotional injuries. Hence, it is imperative for anyone in California to learn beforehand the real dangers of traffic accidents.

Learning the statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 3,995 people were killed due to California road accidents. Below is the breakdown of California fatal traffic accidents by car type:

•    Automobile accidents – 1,275 (42.9%)
•    Sports utility vehicle (SUVs) and pickup accidents – 622 (20.9%)
•    Pedestrian accidents – 563 (19%)
•    Motorcycle accidents – 383 (12.9%)
•    Bicycle accidents – 99 (3.3%)
•    Large truck accidents – 27 (0.9%)

Common causes of California road accidents

In order to safely and effectively avoid road mishaps, it is vital for all California drivers and pedestrians to learn beforehand the common causes of traffic accidents. According to traffic experts and agencies, the following are the most common factors that contribute to the prevalence of road accidents in California:

Driving under the influence of alcohol – The California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) estimates that every 525 minutes, a Californian is killed due to an alcohol-related road accident.

Distracted driving – One of the common causes of California traffic accidents is distracted driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 15 people are killed in the United States due to distracted driving. The most common form of distracted driving is using electronic handheld devices while operating a vehicle.

Speeding – Speeding or aggressive drivers are more vulnerable to auto accidents than law-abiding motorists. According to California DMV, 28.4 percent of all California fatal car accidents in 2008 were caused by speeding drivers.

Driver fatigue – NTHSA traffic safety studies found out that roughly 100,000 car accidents occur in the country every year due to driver fatigue or drowsy driving. Furthermore, drowsy driving-related road accidents result in death of 1,550 people annually.

Legal rights of car accident victims

Tort law is implemented in the State of California; hence, car accident victims have the right to lawfully claim for personal injury damages. Under the tort law, individuals who get injured due to negligent actions of other people may assert for personal injury compensations. Additionally, accident victims have the right to be represented by legal counsels like Los Angeles attorneys in claiming for damages.

2 comments:

  1. I was sure that drunk drivers are responsible for most accidents but I thought speeding drivers will be on the second place....
    They should get bigger punishments because if we could stop them our streets would be safer....
    When I had my one and only careless driving Toronto ticket I thought no one was in danger because of me but now when I see distracted driving is on second place I realize why I deserved it.

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  2. how much did you pay for the ticket?? did you fight back in court? hahaha because I love watching speeders fight back..

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