California is the most populated and busiest state in the nation. Good or bad, something is always happening in California and that can mean wildfires and movies in Southern California, earthquakes and wildfires in Northern California and having the entire state serve as a vacation mecca for the entire world. California highways and traffic also make it a frequent location for car crashes and sadly this includes those that result in fatalities. Actually, understanding the statistics and knowing the rules about what to do in the event of a crash may help you stay informed with the ultimate goal of remaining uninvolved.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration provides copious amounts of information regarding highway safety nationally. They also promote safe driving tips and review data trends to encourage road improvement in every state in the country. The most recent reporting year included 2022, in which they provided information regarding fatalities in car accidents across California:
• According to the Federal Highway Administration’s State Highway Safety Report, there were approximately 4,400 fatalities in California car crashes in 2022. This represents a minor decrease from 2021.
• In 2021 it’s estimated that over 4,500 people died on California roads. In the prior five years, the amount of California car accident fatalities mostly increased with some exceptions.
• The 2022 report said the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2022 was 1.40, a minor step down from 2021’s fatality rate of 1.45. In the prior five years, this rate has steadily increased until the dip in 2022.
The crash rate in California is high when compared to other states with large populations. Our crash rates are also among the highest in the entire country largely as a result of distracted drivers, tourists unfamiliar with our roads, and a constantly crowded highway system. The state with the highest car crash rate is Mississippi with a fatality rate of 25 people per 100,000 drivers. The Mississippi fatality rate is largely due to a lack of seat belt usage as well as significant numbers of distracted drivers.
Like Mississippi, one of the leading causes of car crashes in California is distracted driving, which is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the entire country. Any behavior that causes you to take your attention away from the road ahead of you may be considered distracting. This includes texting, talking on the phone, applying makeup, eating and drinking, and engaging in road rage. Distractions can cause all sorts of accidents, injuries, and even deaths.
We represent people injured as a result of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. Insurance companies have paid our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation because we uncover the facts. When insurance companies fail to offer full compensation, we are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com
