VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

Vehicle Accidents Overview & Links to Vehicle Accident Topics

Vehicle Accidents or Traffic Collisions — A traffic accident, also know ans a vehicle collision, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, road traffic collision, wreck, car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree or utility pole. Traffic collisions may result in injury, death, vehicle damage, and property damage.

A number of factors contribute to the risk of vehicle accidents and collisions, including vehicle design, speed of operation, road design, road environment, driver skill and/or impairment, and driver behavior. Vehicle accidents and vehicle collisions lead to death and disability as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved.

California has been ranked as the most dangerous state for road users in the U.S.

California has been ranked as the most dangerous state for road users in the US. California saw 3071 traffic fatalities in 2816 fatal accidents in 2009 alone (http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesCrashesAndAllVictims.aspx), and accidents on the road are the leading cause of accidental death for people under the age of 34 (http://www.settlementboard.com/accident-statistics-in-california/). One of its roads has even been ranked amongst the most dangerous in the world: the State Route 138 has been placed as 21st most perilous (http://artsonearth.com/2008/08/40-most-dangerous-roads-in-world.html).

Most accidents involve a single vehicle

Most accidents involve a single vehicle. 2009 statistics show that 1762 of total fatal accidents fall into this category against 1054 multiple vehicle crashes. An example of this type of accident occurred on the 15th of August near Carmel Valley Village, on Tassajara Road. The vehicle involved rolled over, causing the death of one and the injury of three other passengers, two of which were in a severe condition (http://findmyaccident.com/california/2011/08/15/rollover-accident-in-carmel-valley-injures-three-kills-one/).

A majority of crashes in California occur in urban areas

A majority of crashes in California occur in urban areas, with 1164 fatal accidents as opposed to 1052 in rural parts of the state, and large cities are prone to accidents involving pedestrians. The morning of July the 31st was host to a pedestrian accident which claimed the life of 27 year old Yueany Qisquina in Koreatown, Los Angeles. An elderly driver swerved into oncoming traffic before colliding with Qisquina. Pedestrian accidents are said to account for 11 per cent of all motor accidents (http://www.articlesbase.com/law-articles/california-pedestrian-accident-statistics-362088.html).

Accidents in California involve a driver under the influence of alcohol

Many accidents in California involve a driver under the influence of alcohol. 856 accidents, 30 per cent of all California accidents in 2009, were fueled by this problem. An example of this occurred in early August this year when driver Andrew Vargas, aged 21, caused serious injuries to 9 year-old pedestrian Ryan White in San Francisco. The driver did not halt after the incident but was stopped an hour later, his blood alcohol level still over the legal limit (http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/9-Year-Old-Phils-Fan-Improving-127460988.html).

Contact a California Personal Injury Lawyer

The personal injury attorneys at Vincent W. Davis & Associates represent clients injured on vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, accidents on another’s property, medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. If you think you may have a personal injury case, please do not hesitate in enlisting the expert legal assistance you need to make things right. It costs nothing to call us, costs nothing for a consultation, and costs nothing to get us started looking out for your rights if we agree that you have a solid case.