Car accidents are common in the state of California, and they leave scores of people injured while others succumb to their injuries. If you are hurt due to someone else's negligence, you are entitled to compensation to help you cover medical costs now and in the foreseeable future, among other damages. The Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm understands the complexities of these cases, so we are here to advise and help victims of car accidents.

What are the Top Causes of Car Accidents?

There are many reasons car accidents occur, ranging from driver's fault to unsuitable road conditions. In this section, we will look at the leading causes of car accidents in California.

1. Drunk Driving

The State of California Department of Motor Vehicles released a report that saw intoxicated driving as the foremost cause of road accidents. In 2012 alone, there were 23,868 crash injuries, and 1,169 crash fatalities, which is harrowing, and these figures keep rising. Out of the deaths seen on California roads that year, 39% were directly connected to drunk driving.

The law considers drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more as drunk and, therefore, subject to a DUI charge. Naturalistic Driving (ND) driving data surmises that in recent years, over 90% of car crashes are mainly attributed to driver error, impairment being one of them.

2. Distracted Driving

It is not atypical to see drivers operating a vehicle while attempting to do something else. They could be using their phone, eating, speaking with fellow passengers, or other activities that will take their eyes off the road. Any time a driver is not fully aware of their surroundings, they put themselves and everyone else on that road in immediate danger.

Researchers from Virginia Tech published a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, where they outlined the dangers of distracted driving. Over 3,500 participants were involved and 1,600 vehicle accidents over three consecutive years. Motorists who are not focused on the road are twice as likely to cause a collision, and this mostly affects teen drivers.

Distracted driving does not just cover using a cell phone or other electronic device but also actions like reading a map for directions or fiddling with the radio controls. These are visual-manual tasks that can take away your sights for many seconds at a time, and a lot can happen in that duration. Crying or laughing alone, with another passenger or with someone on the phone, is another typical example of distracted driving. Other examples of distracted driving include:

  • Writing things down like a grocery list
  • Interacting with a passenger (toddler, teen, adult)
  • Reaching for objects other than a cell phone
  • Driving while highly emotional
  • Operating a touchscreen on a GPS or other built-in technology
  • Fatigue especially after being on the road for hours on end

Out of the 905 severe crashes in this study, over 68 percent involved one or more observable distractions. Distraction, therefore, is the most significant detriment to driver safety right next to impairment. The Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm has encountered many car accident cases where defendants were seemingly innocent soccer mums or people going about their lives. It could be their first car crash, but that doesn't absolve them from paying for damages. Our attorneys will help you pursue the compensation you are owed regardless of how clean the other driver's record was before this incident.

3. Speeding

Speeding is the second most prevalent cause of road crashes in the country, and motorists justify driving above speed limits in many ways, such as rushing to work. NHTSA's 2008 Traffic Safety Facts report in 2008 estimated the cost of crashes linked to speeding amounted to $40.4 billion per year. Many drivers don't realize that posted speed limits are not arbitrary numbers aimed at creating inconveniences but rather for everyone's safety.

Who sets speed limits, you may ask? The Department of Transportation (DOT) collaborates with a State Traffic Commission (STC) to determine the appropriate speed limit for roads maintained by the state. Cities and towns also have a Legal Traffic Authority (LTA) department that sets these controls, and sometimes apply for approval from the state DOT before enacting them.

The process generally entails picking a figure in the 85th percentile speed that most road users take on their own, and this is determined by traffic counters designed for this job. The DOT and LTA also factor in other considerations like a history of accidents on that road, number of lanes, volume of traffic, etc. The goal here is to arrive at an agreeable speed limit that motorists can use without interfering with safe driving.

More so, these speed restrictions are designed to accommodate road conditions that could impede safe driving such as a sharp corner, intersection, etc. Massive construction projects like building overpasses can also necessitate imposing speed limits on workers' safety. Whatever the case may be, motorists in California are required to adhere to speed limits as indicated or risk hefty fines or cause an accident, which is a much worse outcome.

As you can see, these controls are thoroughly researched to prevent or at least reduce fatal crashes that usually emanate from high-speed collisions. Increasing speed leaves the driver with less time to react if something goes amiss, such as being cut off by another driver or an animal crossing the road suddenly. You have less ability to maneuver, so crashing into another vehicle becomes inevitable.

It is regrettable that when motorists over speed, most of them worry about getting a ticket and not the awful consequences like causing an accident that could hurt someone or even kill then. The average cost of a speeding ticket, including court fees, is $150, but this expenditure cannot compare to the damage speeding can do. Someone could end up crippled, or they may succumb to their injuries on the spot or while receiving treatment.

Speeding is a moving violation, which means insurers are not very kind to vehicle owners who wreck their cars in this manner. The companies will raise insurance premium rates for as far as three years, and this could translate to a 10 – 15 percent increase. Please note, speeding doesn't only mean driving above stipulated speeds until you reach your destination. It also means driving above speed limits, then breaking to avoid crashing into other cars or running a red light, and then picking up speed again.

4. Refusing to Follow Traffic Laws

The failure to observe traffic lights and traffic regulations on different roads is another major factor in car accidents in the Golden State. Running red lights, changing lanes without signaling first, ignoring stop signs, and other forms of lawlessness while driving contribute to many crashes in this state. The driver could be in a hurry, so they refuse to stop at a red light.

They could also be driving late at night and presume nobody will catch them in wrongdoing if there are no checkpoints. Experienced and inexperienced drivers can be culprits of not following traffic rules, and their poor decisions can lead to significant human suffering on other road users. Do not let someone get away with hurting you and wrecking your automobile; you can hold them accountable by hiring a lawyer.

5. Poor Weather Conditions

Poor weather conditions like heavy rainfall are also known as causative factors for road accidents in California and beyond. Roads become slippery, and visibility is undermined when there is fog or mist. Layers of snow can also interfere with normal driving until it is plowed away, or the roads are covered with salt. Treacherous driving must be avoided at all times unless necessary to negate the instances of crashes and other mishaps that could hurt you and other road users.

Timid driving is a phenomenon that occurs during lousy weather, where some drivers overestimate the dangers of the road so much that they unconsciously drive slower than usual. When a person drives nonsensically slow, they lead other motorists to have an adequate safe distance, and they may be susceptible to rear-end collisions.

6. Inexperienced Teen Drivers

Even though the rates of fatalities caused by teen drivers has reduced considerably since the 1970s, the number of accidents and related deaths are still significant. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates the rate of deadly crashes per mile driven for 16- to 19-year-olds to be three times the rate for drivers aged 20 and above. 

Having young and inexperienced drivers on California roads heightens the chances of getting into an accident. The law requires teen drivers to be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult under these circumstances:

  • When ferrying passengers aged 20 years and below
  • When driving between the hours of 11 pm and 5 am

Also, the use of electronic communication is outlawed at all times, and that includes hands-free mode. If there are any exceptions to the rule, the teen must have a signed note explaining why and the time this exception will end. For example, the teen may drive themselves for medical-related reasons, and there is no other responsible adult or licensed driver around. They could also be working, so using a vehicle is part of their job description.

Emancipated teens don't have to carry a note if they are declared as such to the California DMV and have provided Proof of Financial Responsibility. Teens who violate these laws and are given two or more points inside a year will get a 30-day restriction on their license. The penalties increase with each subsequent violation, but as statistics show, teen drivers are still causing many accidents.

If a teen driver caused your accident, you must find out if they violated the terms of driving, as stipulated by the DMV in 2006. Our lawyers can help you hold that young driver accountable for the damage to your vehicle and personal injuries you may have suffered.

7. Vehicle Design Defects

It is not atypical to find accidents that are attributed to a design flaw in the vehicle. For example, the car may not stop or slow down when you pump the brakes, or there could be something wrong with the steering wheel. Drivers are advised to pay attention to recall news so they can return their model for retooling until it is safe to operate again.

The Takata recall was the biggest recall story of 2019 that saw the return of 1.4 million older vehicles due to faulty airbags that could explode and throw shrapnel that was injuring or killing people. Other NADI inflators could underinflate when deployed and, therefore, not offering sufficient protection. Owners of BMW, Honda, Toyota automobiles had to return their cars to avoid injury or even death. By the time of recall, these defective airbags were said to have caused at least 24 deaths, and hundreds of others encountered injuries of various degrees.

Cars.com noted other manufacturers who were affected by these recalls. A total of 72,700 Ford Rangers were returned due to a technical problem that could have triggered intermittent or inoperative tail lamps. Manufacturers have to adjust the electrical connectors to solve the problem of possibly shorter daylight in the cold winter months. Sadly, vehicle recalls are a common occurrence, and they continue to cause road accidents and the ensuing aftermath.

8. Tailgating

Getting too close to other vehicles is another common reason for road accidents. Los Angeles and other cities in California are notorious for heavy traffic, and this is frustrating for drivers. Nonetheless, driving too close behind another vehicle increases the risk of accidents. The other driver could slam the brakes, suddenly leaving you no room to react.

The Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm has seen clients who were injured in tailgating accidents, which left them with a back injury. Such damage could prevent one from working for days or weeks at a time, thus leading to lost income. What's more, they may not take care of children as expected, so they have to hire a caregiver, which costs more money.

Moreover, you will have to repair your vehicle, and this would leave you without means of transportation means for a few days. If you are injured in such an accident, don't hesitate to contact a lawyer so we can help you get your much-deserved compensation.

There are many other reasons for car accidents in California, as follows:

  • Driving while under the influence of drugs
  • Bad roads, e.g., too many potholes
  • Driving at night
  • Making improper turns
  • Animals crossing
  • Tire blowout
  • Construction zones

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help After a Car Accident?

You could be a cautious driver with an excellent track record, but that doesn't mean other motorists are like you. For this reason, our goal is to protect you from taking responsibility for accidents that are due to human error from the different entities involved. If you are involved in a car crash, however minor, there are vital steps you must take to safeguard yourself.

Hiring the best personal injury attorney helps in the following ways:

  • Lawyers are professional and will remain objective throughout the process.
  • They can help you get treatment from the right medical team, and this will go toward helping your claim
  • They give expert advice in trying situations for which you were not prepared. For example, they can advise you to file a personal injury lawsuit or file an insurance claim
  • If the responsible party is unwilling to settle things out of court, a qualified attorney will litigate your case and ensure you get the best possible outcome
  • Hiring the best legal minds can also help in scrutinizing the defendant's evidence, so you are not taken advantage of by an unscrupulous lawyer representing the other side.
  • A lawyer can help you start pursuing a personal injury claim while you recuperate in the hospital or at home. This way, you don't have to wait until recovery to get compensation.
  • Experienced personal injury attorneys keep everything on track by filing the paperwork on time and following due process. This level of proficiency helps to expedite the claim.
  • The taxation laws for personal injury settlements are ambiguous and complicated, so you will need a qualified attorney to ensure you don't settle for less than you deserve.
  • Personal injury attorneys have unparalleled negotiating skills, which will come in handy when dealing with insurance adjusters and the defendant's legal team.

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

Car accidents are so common that we have endless claims by clients seeking compensation. The Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm specializes in helping clients like you find payment for treating their injuries. Sometimes people heal after the first round of treatment while other times, they need additional hospital visits to manage physical and emotional damage arising from the accident. It is our goal to ensure you get the compensation you deserve without having to wait longer than necessary. Contact us at 619-625-8707 for a free consultation with one of the best personal injury attorneys in California.