Where Do Most Car Accidents in California Happen?

Every year, more and more drivers merge onto California roads, bringing with them the dangers of traffic, namely car accidents. With large highways and high speeds, as well as intertwining and congested city streets, motorists face a number of complicated driving circumstances every day. Knowing where most types of car accidents in California happen can help you prepare for these situations and perhaps avoid them in the future.

California Car Accident Quick Statistics

With a population of over 36 million registered drivers, California sees over 250,000 car accidents a year, with victims suffering from everything from minor scrapes to severe injuries and even fatalities. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that California has had year-over-year increases in fatalities, with the last reporting year showing 4,285 fatalities from car accidents. Almost half of those involved were cyclists, pedestrians, and other non-drivers.

Let’s take a look at some California traffic safety stats from the California Office of Traffic Safety based on their last reporting year, 2021:

• 6% increase in traffic fatalities
• 38 reported fatalities per 100 million miles traveled
• 129,452 hit-and-run car accidents
• 9% of drivers killed in car accidents who were tested and tested positive for drugs
• 1,370 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities
• 878 unrestrained (not wearing a seatbelt) passenger fatalities
• 565 motorcycle fatalities, 37 not wearing a helmet
• 1,108 pedestrian fatalities
• 125 bicycle fatalities

California Car Accident Risk Factors

California is a state of variety, allowing visitors and citizens alike to visit many different scenic destinations, including ocean views, desert valleys, large metropolitan cities, mountain vistas, and rural plains. Despite these different regions, many similarities can be found with regard to driver negligence. Texting while driving, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, speeding, and overall not following proper safety laws and regulations cause most of the accidents on California roads and highways.

Many other factors contribute to California’s high number of car crashes, including limited government funding for road maintenance, restricted visibility, lack of proper road signage, and poor lighting and infrastructure. The more congested roads are, the more a minor mistake or careless action can raise the potential to cause a car crash. Weather and road conditions – including rain, fog, snow, ice, and wildfire smoke – can also contribute to traction and visibility issues for drivers.

In the rural areas of California, roads between cities can span for miles and miles of wide open country. While beautiful, these types of roads can actually lead to different types of accident factors, including falling asleep behind the wheel, reckless speeding, and poorly maintained roads. Roads and highways between cities can often fall into a gap between government funding sources, creating roads that are unsafe due to potholes, debris, uneven surfaces, or other factors.

Common Traffic Issues at Intersections

Intersections typically see the largest number of accidents for a few reasons. Navigating an intersection can be complicated, especially in urban areas with multiple lanes and options for where to drive. Intersections can also cause confusion when traffic signs and signals are difficult to read or understand.

Left turn accidents are common when drivers fail to correctly estimate the speed of oncoming traffic and do not make it across in time. Accidents like these result in side impacts or T-bone collisions, which can cause severe injuries and death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes that running red lights resulted in over 1,000 deaths and 127,000 injuries in the U.S. during 2021.

In intersections, pedestrians and bicyclists also tend to congregate and drivers must take time to appropriately allow them to use the crosswalks. In California, specific intersections like Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles see thousands of tourists every day, with both pedestrians and drivers distracted by the sights and landmarks. The city has instituted safety measures, such as lower speed limits, higher police presence, and barricades to keep pedestrians safely on sidewalks.

Prominent Locations for Accidents

According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, the three counties that experience the most accidents also have some of the largest populations. It should not be surprising that Los Angeles reports a large number of car accidents every year due to population density, complex road networks, and large intersections.

San Bernardino and Riverside Counties are also in the top three counties for traffic accidents. Both of these urban areas face issues with high traffic congestion and a growing population creating new infrastructure. Specific roads can also be prone to accidents more than others.

According to Los Angeles news channel KTLA, these roads are the deadliest in California:

• Interstate 15 from Cajon Junction to Hesperia
• Interstate 80 in the East Bay Area
• Interstate 5 North of Sacramento
• Interstate 215 through San Bernardino
• State Route 74, especially near Riverside County

Common Types of Car Accidents

Car crashes typically fall into one of the following main categories based on the type of impact. In California, we see many head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, side-impact collisions, and rollover accidents.

• Head-on collisions: These occur when a driver travels the wrong way or swerves into oncoming traffic. They are highly dangerous for both the at-fault driver and the victim and result in more severe injuries and a higher rate of fatalities.
• Rear-end accidents: These crashes typically involve lower speeds and happen when the at-fault driver is too close or distracted.
• Side-impact collisions: These occur when one vehicle crashes into the side of another and can be severe. Failing to yield and ignoring traffic signals are the main causes.
• Rollover accidents: These happen when a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof, often due to reckless behavior and poorly designed roadways or construction work zones.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one to a California car accident, contact our car accident lawyers at Curtis Legal Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and get your questions answered. We specialize in California personal injury cases and have a proven track record of successfully obtaining over 100 million in settlements and awards. Get started today and learn about your options for seeking compensation.