Auto accidents occur every day, and having a better understanding of the Corona, CA, car accident statistics in your area can give you perspective regarding the damages that occur on California’s increasingly busy roadways. Perhaps it could even help you avoid a potentially fatal collision as you drive in your day-to-day life.
The Golden State is no stranger to car accidents. Since California maintains the highest total population of residents in the United States, it also has the largest number of eligible drivers and cars on the road. Naturally, the high population results in increased traffic density, congested highways and intersections, and a greater volume of pedestrians, particularly in popular tourist destinations. All of these elements weigh heavily in adding to the likelihood of a car accident happening.
While specific statistics pertaining to car accidents, injuries, and fatalities are important, it’s also crucial to know how and why car accidents occur in California.
Here are some of the common types of car accidents in the state:
Below are some of the common causes of car accidents in California:
In California, distracted driving and speeding combine to account for nearly half of all car accidents each year. The increase in the use of cell phones has shown a steady increase in distracted driving cases year over year.
It should also be noted that the majority of car accidents occur in urban areas due to the higher population, increased traffic congestion, and a greater number of intersections. However, the majority of fatal car accidents happen on roads in rural areas. This is because of the increased number of incidents involving drunk driving and speeding, which substantially reduce drivers’ reaction time and ability to make timely, sound judgments.
California currently has one of the highest car accident fatality rates in the US. According to the US Department of Transportation’s State Highway Safety Report, the number of fatalities that resulted from car accidents in California was 4,285 in 2021, which marked an increase of about 7.7% from 2020, when 3,980 fatalities occurred from car accidents. Those figures represent approximately 10% of the total national fatalities that result from car accidents each year.
When looking at recorded car accident data from a serious injury standpoint, California saw a total of 17,920 serious injuries sustained as a direct result of car accidents in 2021, according to the US Department of Transportation’s State Highway Safety Report, which marked a 16.4% increase from the previous year that saw a total of 15,392 reported injuries sustained from car accidents.
In terms of analyzing the rate of serious injuries per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), California saw a rate of 5.77 VMT in 2021, which represented a 12.5% increase from the 5.13 VTM recorded in 2020. In regards to the rate of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), the rate increased by approximately 3.8% to 1.38 in 2021, up from 1.33 VMT in 2020.
Of course, California is not alone when it comes to the frequency and severity of car accidents. In fact, the car accident data in California often mirrors similar trends that occur throughout the US and across the globe.
Below are some miscellaneous US and global car accident statistics:
A: With a total population of more than 3.8 million residents, it should come as no surprise that Los Angeles is the city with the most car accidents in California each year, while San Diego is the city with the second-highest volume of car accidents. Los Angeles officials report tens of thousands of car accidents each year and also report the highest number of fatalities due to car accidents.
A: The automobile accident rate in California is high due to its high population and number of urban areas. It’s estimated that the vast majority of all drivers are involved in some type of car accident in their lifetime. According to the US Department of Transportation’s State Highway Safety Report, the rate of serious injuries per million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was 5.77 in 2021, and the rate of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was 1.38.
A: The number one cause of car accidents in California and throughout the entire country is distracted driving. Checking your cell phone, texting, talking on the phone, eating while driving, adjusting your GPS, or anything else that takes the driver’s attention away from driving is considered distracted driving. Speeding comes in as a close second leading cause of car accidents.
A: In general, drivers and some form of negligence ultimately cause most auto accidents, as any type of vehicle can be involved in an accident. However, sports cars are a type of vehicle often believed to cause the most auto accidents. Naturally, this is due to the temptation to drive at high speed, which can be incredibly dangerous and oftentimes illegal.
At Karlin & Karlin, our personal injury attorneys have experience handling all types of personal injury cases, including car accident claims. We understand the seriousness and overwhelming nature of a car accident and the events immediately proceeding. Our team would be honored to work diligently on your behalf to secure the full compensation you deserve.
Contact us to request a consultation today so that we can begin working for you.
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