Many people understand that there is a risk of getting into an accident whenever they get into a motor vehicle. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to realize just how much of a risk that can be. For instance, Californians might be surprised to know that an average of more than ten people are killed in car accidents on roads in the state every day. To get a sense of how much risk there is on California roads, it can be helpful to look at some California car accident statistics.
California Car Accident Statistics
The trends regarding car accidents have shifted quite a bit in recent years. In particular, there are a number of trends related to the frequency that accidents occur, as these have been impacted by issues like the pandemic and shifting work patterns.
Most car accident data studies look at them in terms of a few different categories. Generally, accidents that just cause property damage aren’t studied particularly closely. Most of the emphasis of these studies is on accidents that result in any injuries, serious injuries, and fatalities. It can take time for the data to be gathered and verified, meaning that the fullest data available dates back to 2022.
Accidents With Any Injury
Looking at this information, we find that, in 2021 and 2022, California saw a little over 160,000 accidents each year that involved fatalities or any level of injury. While these numbers were up significantly from 2020’s 147,000, they still have not reached pre-pandemic levels, which saw more than 190,000 of these kinds of accidents each year. This trend could be a result of fewer people on the road, as more work is done remotely in the wake of the pandemic.
Accidents With Serious Injuries and Fatalities
While the trend has been for accidents with any kind of injury or fatality to fall over the last five years, the opposite trend exists for fatalities and serious injuries. Both 2021 and 2022 saw over 19,000 accidents that involved a fatality or serious injury. This is up significantly from the pre-pandemic levels of a little over 17,000 per year. The increase is also in keeping with the broader ten-year trend as well.
Accident Risk in California
What the statistics tell us is that the number of car accidents causing injuries generally seems to be decreasing. However, the accidents that Californians are getting in are increasingly more dangerous and serious. It’s impossible to know for sure why this trend exists, but it’s important to remember that one of the most significant factors in the severity of accidents is speed. It may be that, as traffic lightens up somewhat in the state, drivers are going faster on the whole, leading to more serious collisions when they occur.
Whatever the cause of these more serious accidents, these are the most costly kinds of accidents that can occur, as they create significant expenses for their victims. It’s critical that those who are injured in these kinds of accidents consider a personal injury claim to seek restitution for their costs. Additionally, the family members of someone who has tragically passed in one of these accidents may be eligible for a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for their losses.
FAQs
Q: Can You Still File a Car Accident Claim, Even If the Accident Was Mostly Your Fault?
A: Even if an accident was mostly your fault, you can still file a claim and seek to collect compensation. Under California’s comparative negligence laws, your damages will be reduced proportionately to your share of fault in the accident. However, because California has a system of pure comparative negligence, even someone who is 99% at fault could still collect 1% of the damages from whoever was at fault for that 1%.
Q: What Are Some Common Kinds of Car Accidents?
A: Some of the most common forms of car accidents are going to be lower-speed accidents on city roads, rather than on highways. These could be rear-end collisions, drivers running through red lights or stop signs, or collisions from drivers merging and failing to first check their blind spots. However, even seemingly less serious accidents can result in impactful injuries, so it’s important to pay close attention to how you feel, even after a fender-bender.
Q: What Causes Car Accidents?
A: Most car accidents are caused by another driver’s failure to drive safely and follow the rules of the road. However, there are other factors that could lead to car accidents, such as issues with the maintenance of the roads and traffic lights. Additionally, problems with a vehicle part, such as improper maintenance, installation of a part, or a defective part could lead to an accident by making a vehicle impossible to control.
Q: Who Can Be Liable for a Car Accident?
A: There are a number of potentially liable parties for a car accident. In most cases, though, it will likely be another driver who caused the accident by failing to handle their car responsibly and follow traffic laws. However, other potentially liable parties include the local government, a maintenance provider, and even a parts manufacturer. In some cases, such as a truck accident, it could even be the driver’s employer who is liable.
If You’ve Been in a Car Accident, We May Be Able to Help
Car accidents happen more frequently than we would hope in California. If you are in a car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s important to realize that you have the right to collect compensation for your injuries from those who are responsible for the incident. You can seek restitution to cover expenses like your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and psychological costs.
At Easton & Easton, we help our clients seek out the compensation that they are owed. In many cases, this can be done through negotiating a fair settlement. However, when that isn’t possible, we can argue for our clients in court. With more than 100 years of combined experience among our attorneys, our clients can count on our dedication to their claims. Contact our team to discuss your situation and how we may be able to help you.
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