Friday, July 13, 2012

California Car Accident Statistics and Causes of Road Accidents

California Road Accident | Vehicle Accident Statistics
  
If numbers do not lie, California indeed is nearly synonymous with car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2006, the State of California recorded the most number of traffic fatalities among U.S. states. Out of the 42,642 total deaths caused by car accidents, some 4,236 people were killed in California.

In a separate data, the NHTSA reported that in 2009, almost 4,000 people were killed in California due to road accidents.

Below is the ranking of California counties in terms of road accident fatalities in the year 2006:

1. Los Angeles County – 799 deaths
2. San Diego County – 303 deaths
3. Fresno County – 155 deaths
4. Sacramento County – 128 deaths
5. San Francisco – 42 deaths

Meanwhile, the following is the breakdown of California fatal car accidents by vehicle type in 2009:

•    Cars – 1,275 deaths
•    Sports utility vehicles (SUVs)/Pickup trucks – 622 deaths
•    Pedestrians – 563 deaths
•    Motorcycles – 383 deaths
•    Large trucks – 27 deaths

There are various reasons why road accidents are common in California. The following are some of the common causes of fatal California car accidents:

Intoxicated driving – It is estimated that every 525 minutes, a person gets killed in an alcohol-related road accident in California. In fact, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), in 2009 alone, about 950 people were killed in California alcohol-related road crashes.

Distracted driving – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the year 2009, more than 5,400 people were killed in road accidents caused by distracted drivers. It is estimated that more than 15 people are killed and more than 1,200 get injured in the United States each day due to distracted driving.

Drowsy driving – The NHTSA reports that approximately 100,000 car accidents happen every year due to drowsy drivers. Sleepy driving accounts for around 40,000 injuries and some 1,550 deaths every year.

Speeding – According to the DMV, about 28.4 percent of all fatal road accidents in the State of California in 2008 were caused by speeding or violation of speeding laws.

In this light, California drivers who do not want to be part of the unfortunate statistics should always put safety on a pedestal.

Also, Los Angeles motorists or pedestrians who get injured in a car mishap should promptly contact a Los Angeles car accident attorney in order to properly and timely claim for personal injury damages from the liable parties involved. Under the law, car accident victims have the right to claim for economic and non-economic damages from people who caused their injury and inconvenience.

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