California Car Accident Statistics

Car accidents make up the majority of personal injury claims in San Francisco, and the rest of California. Just a quick look at the statistics of these crashes around the state makes it easy to see why so many of these claims are filed every year. One reason for the high number of accidents, injuries, and deaths around the state is because California has such a huge population. Add to that the fact that so many people in California get around in a vehicle every day and the reason for the statistics becomes even clearer. Unfortunately, too many of these drivers do not always act responsibly behind the wheel. For every car accident in the state, there is usually at least one person at fault. When that is the case, it is important that accident victims speak to a San Francisco car accident lawyer who can help them file their claim.

In 2018, traffic accidents took 48 lives per every 100,000 people. Although this number is still high, it is lower than the national average of 65 deaths per every 100,000 people. This number also means that in California, traffic accidents are the number one cause of unintentional deaths.

California’s car accident statistics for 2018 are also higher than those for 2017, when there were 3,304 accidents that ended in fatalities. In the first six months of 2018, there were 1,538 fatalities from vehicle accidents, a 3% jump from the first six months of 2017. If you have been injured in an accident, a car accident attorney in San Francisco can help.

Car accident statistics from around the country indicate that most crashes happen at night and on the weekends, and this is true in California, as well. In 2016, 6.3% of crashes happened at night while only 4.8% occurred during daytime hours. While only 5.3% of car accidents happen during the week, that number jumps to 5.9% on the weekend.

Most people tend to think that more crashes occur in the city. This is understandable, as more vehicles on the road could logically mean more accidents. However, more accidents typically happen in rural areas in California, and when they do, those crashes are also more likely to be fatal. This is because people are more likely to drive at higher speeds in rural areas. Rural accidents typically also involve more head-on collisions and more accidents involving non-moving objects.

There is no question that California’s car accident statistics are high. Sadly, most of these tragedies are preventable if people would just give the road all of their attention when they are behind the wheel. If you have been in an accident because someone failed to do that, call a car accident attorney in San Francisco today. At the Brod Law Firm, we are committed to ensuring that the rights of accident victims are upheld, and we will aggressively pursue any compensation you deserve. Call us today at (800) 427-7020 to schedule your free consultation so we can start reviewing your case.