California is one of the most populated states in the entire country, as well as one of the busiest. Something is always happening in California, with the state being one of the biggest hubs for filmmaking, surfing, and vacations in the entire world. California’s many highways and large amounts of city traffic also make it a frequent location for car accidents, especially bad ones that result in fatalities. Knowing the California car accident statistics can help you stay informed.
Getting in a Car Accident in California
If you end up in a car accident in California, you should seriously consider reaching out to an experienced car accident lawyer who can help you seek financial reimbursement from the party who caused your accident. Filing a claim can sometimes be difficult, but you don’t deserve to be a statistic. Holding someone accountable can help you seek some peace of mind and begin pursuing closure for what’s happened to you.
The California Statute of Limitations
If you do decide to pursue legal action against the party responsible for your accident, it is vital to your case that you adhere to the state of California’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases, including car accident cases. In most instances, the state will give you two years to put together a case, establish grounds for a claim, gather the evidence you need, speak with a car accident lawyer, and file a claim for compensatory damages.
If, for whatever reason, you are not able to bring your claim to fruition within two years, you may have to prepare yourself for bad news. Your case will likely be thrown out, your claim will be dismissed, and you will not be able to pursue any damages for your case.
Building a strong car accident case can take time, so you should start building yours as soon as you can. If you are worried your case isn’t strong enough, you should bring what you have to a lawyer for evaluation.
California Car Accident Statistics
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration provides comprehensive information regarding highway safety across the nation. They also promote safe driving tips and review data trends to encourage road improvement in every state in the country. The latest year they reported was 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 car accidents in California in 2022. This is a minor decrease from 2021, in which it was estimated that over 4,500 people died in California car accidents. In the prior five years, the amount of California car accident fatalities mostly increased with some exceptions.
According to the same report, 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.
Causes of Car Accidents
If a car accident in California is the result of one or more drivers’ negligent actions, the party found liable for negligent behavior can be held responsible for reimbursing the other driver. There are many different causes of car accidents in California, including distracted driving, DUIs, moving violations, poor vehicle maintenance, and even acts of nature. Regardless, you should reach out to a car accident lawyer to see what your options are for legal action.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Car Accident Rate in California?
A: The car accident rate in California is considerably high, especially when compared to other states with large populations. California has one of the highest car accident rates in the entire country, thanks largely to a substantial amount of distracted drivers, tourists unfamiliar with the state’s roads, and a complex highway system that is almost always loaded with traffic. There are tons of car accidents on California roads every year.
Q: Which State Has the Highest Car Accident Rate?
A: The state with the highest car accident rate currently is Mississippi. There is a death rate of 25 people per 100,000 drivers in Mississippi, which is largely due to a lack of seat belt usage as well as a significant amount of distracted driver behavior. Generally, the states with busier highway systems tend to have more car accidents, though not always.
Q: What Is the Leading Cause of Car Accidents in California?
A: One of the leading causes of car accidents in California is distracted driving, which remains 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.
Q: How Many Car Accidents Happen a Day in California?
A: Since California is such a populous state with a significant highway system often loaded with traffic on a daily basis, substantial amounts of car accidents happen per day in the state. While not all of those accidents are severe or result in fatalities, they are still a headache for the drivers involved. The higher a state’s population and the busier the highways, the higher the likelihood of drivers having a car accident.
The Difference Our Legal Team Can Make
Being involved in a car accident can be an overwhelming situation to deal with, especially if the accident results in a significant injury or property damage. The last thing you want is to be unprepared when dealing with insurance companies and other lawyers. You should consider reaching out to an experienced car accident lawyer who can help you deal with the legalities of your accident.
The legal team at McLachlan Law, APC can help you build up your case, gather evidence that supports you, and advocate for you in court if it comes to that. Contact us to speak with a valued team member about your case.