California Car Accident Statistics 2024 – Traffic Fatalities CA

Car accidents happen every day for many different reasons, and each state in the country imposes different risks and concerns to drivers. As a result, many government and non-government entities collect accident data each year to help drivers make more informed decisions and to inform policy changes regarding traffic laws, traffic flow structure, and other vehicle and traffic-related policies in each state. According to the most recent accident data, all drivers in the state must acknowledge the risks they face every time they drive and know what to do when an accident occurs.

An experienced Encino car accident lawyer is the ideal resource to consult if you have recently experienced an accident in the area. A seasoned attorney can explain the legal issues you are likely to face as you seek compensation for the damages you suffered. Recovery from your accident is likely to require both an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver as well as a personal injury claim. Before you can succeed with either of these recovery efforts, however, you must be prepared to prove exactly how your accident happened and who is responsible for causing it.

Car Accident Trends

The state is notorious for difficult and often dangerous traffic. However, it’s important to note that while the major metropolitan areas often see very heavy traffic and the average driver will face many risks on highways and in urban traffic, accidents can easily occur on residential and rural roads as well. According to available accident data from throughout the state, a few of the most common causes of car accidents that can lead to complex legal disputes between the drivers involved include:

• Speeding. Driving over the posted speed limit inherently increases the risk of an accident, even for very experienced drivers. Excessive speeding may also form grounds for a reckless driving charge.
• Distracted driving. Across the United States, distracted driving consistently ranks among the top reported causes of accidents in every state. Just a few seconds of inattentive driving is sufficient to cause a serious accident.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. Penalties for DUI can include driver’s license suspension, fines, jail time, and other penalties assigned at the discretion of the judge. Penalties increase automatically when the at-fault driver has injured or killed someone while driving under the influence.
• Moving violations. Disrupting traffic flow by performing illegal turns, failing to stop at stop signs, and failure to yield the right of way can easily result in serious accidents.

If you are unsure how your recent car accident happened, it’s a good idea to consult an experienced attorney. They can help gather evidence to prove fault and guide you through the process of holding the responsible driver legally accountable for the damages they’ve caused. Your attorney can assist you in proving fault before filing an auto insurance claim and a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver.

FAQs About California Car Accident Statistics

What Is the Leading Cause of Traffic Fatalities?

According to the most recent accident data throughout the state, speeding has been the leading contributing factor to traffic fatalities in recent years. Drivers put themselves at severe risk when they exceed posted speed limits due to reducing the time and distance they have to slow down, stop, or maneuver to avoid a collision. Speeding also increases the seriousness of the damage resulting from an accident and greatly increases the chance of catastrophic injury or death to those involved.

What County Has the Most Car Accidents?

Los Angeles County leads the state with the number of car accidents countywide each year. Los Angeles is one of the physically largest counties and home to some of the biggest metropolitan areas on the West Coast. Traffic is notoriously congested in Los Angeles County and accidents happen in many ways every day. Out of the more than 100,000 traffic accidents reported throughout the state each year, more than 27,000 on average occur within Los Angeles County.

What State Has the Highest Car Accident Rate?

According to accident data from across the country for 2022, South Carolina had the highest traffic fatality rate that year. The fatal accident rate is calculated based on the percentage of registered drivers in the state who experience fatal traffic accidents during that year. The state may have many more drivers than South Carolina and more accidents based on sheer numbers, but the fatal accident rate in California is very close to the national average.

What Happens if a Car Accident Is Fatal?

California upholds the fault rule when it comes to resolving vehicle accident cases, meaning the driver who caused the accident absorbs liability for the resulting damages. If someone dies in a traffic accident caused by another party, the victim’s surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault driver. This type of civil suit is similar to a personal injury claim, but a wrongful death claim seeks compensation for the family of the victim.

Do I Need to Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident?

There is no law that requires you to hire legal counsel after an accident, but you have the greatest chance of success with your recovery efforts when you have trustworthy, experienced legal counsel assisting you. Your legal team can help file an auto insurance claim and resolve any disputes that arise with the insurance company. If you need to file a personal injury suit to recover damages you can’t claim through insurance, they will be invaluable for this process as well.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of David Davidi, APLC, have years of experience helping drivers resolve their car accident claims. We know how stressful and uncertain your situation might seem, and trustworthy legal representation is an invaluable asset in this difficult time. If you would like to learn more about the legal services we offer and the benefits of legal counsel after a car accident, contact us today and schedule a consultation with our team.