California is home to more than 38 million people. As the most populated state in the U.S., it does not take much effort to imagine that California is also the national leader in the numbers of auto accidents, accident-related injuries, and accident-related deaths. In 2008 alone, over 450,000 accidents were reported in the state of California. At least one person was injured in 170,500 of these accidents, and 3,100 of these accidents resulted in at least one fatality. While the number of accident-related fatalities has declined in more recent years—2,700 people died in car crashes in 2010—auto accidents remain to pose a significant threat to those living in the Golden State.
Leading Causes of Auto Accidents: Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is the number one cause of California car accidents. Drivers engage in distracted driving whenever they do anything that takes their attention off of the road. This can include eating, doing makeup, reading, fidgeting with handheld devices, talking on the phone, or texting while behind the wheel. The reason distracted driving is so dangerous is because it diverts drivers' attention from the road, where conditions are constantly changing, and where anything can happen in a split-second that may require immediate action by a driver. If a driver is not paying full attention, he or she may not be able to react quickly enough to avoid an accident.
Speeding
The majority of drivers admittedly drive above the speed limit on occasion. While at times speeding may seem to be a minor breach of California's traffic laws, statistics seem to say otherwise. In fact, speeding has been shown to be the cause of 30% of California auto accidents that result in at least one injury. Speeding is inherently dangerous because it causes drivers to have less control over their vehicles should they need to make a turn, slow down, or stop. Whereas a driver that is following the posted speed limit may be able to avoid an obstacle on the road, a driver traveling above the speed limit may need to swerve sharply to avoid the obstacle, and could strike other vehicles or objects in the process.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive drivers are those who let their anger, road rage, or impatience get the best of them on the road. These are the drivers who most often speed, tailgate other drivers, drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, honk frequently, use obscene hand gestures, change lanes without signaling, and swerve in and out of traffic in an attempt to get to their destinations faster. Aggressive driving is not only dangerous to the drivers who engage in it, but also to everyone else on the road—including other drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Victims of California Car Accidents Should Seek Legal Counsel
Anyone who has been injured in a Los Angeles car accident may be entitled to receive financial compensation from the party or parties responsible for causing the collision. The law has little tolerance for drivers who injure others because they drive above the speed limit, drive while distracted, or drive aggressively. Negligent drivers can be held liable for compensating anyone they have injured for physical, emotional, and financial damages. Victims who wish to obtain this compensation should contact trusted Los Angeles personal injury attorneys who have years of experience in obtaining the best possible compensation amounts for their clients. Contact the
Pacific Attorney Group today to have one of our experienced auto accident attorneys evaluate your case and provide you with invaluable legal services that could greatly increase your ability to obtain the compensation you deserve.