San Diego County is described as a major transportation hub since it’s located between Mexico and the state of California. This is why it’s no surprise that it’s a place where thousands of car accidents happen every year. These roads are highly congested and dangerous and bad car crashes involving all types of vehicles can be seen daily throughout San Diego and the entire surrounding area.
If you live in this area, you might be interested in the exact reasons for these accidents so that you can become aware and help protect yourself and your loved ones from any unwanted pain, suffering, or financial loss.
Some types of car accidents happen more frequently than others, and in this article, we’ll take a look at what types of car accidents are statistically prevalent in San Diego.
Many fatal car accidents involve drunk drivers and although the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol are well-known, millions of drivers continue to cause car accidents because of this, endangering their own lives and the lives of other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. In fact, in 2013 alone, the California DMV reported that there were 1,197 alcohol-related crash fatalities and 23,178 crash injuries associated with alcohol use.
If you or a loved one has been involved in such an accident, know that it’s a serious offense and get immediately in contact with an experienced San Diego car accident lawyer to inform you of your legal rights and guide you in the right direction.
The number of drunk driving accidents is startlingly high and a constant problem in San Diego. As the blood alcohol level increases, the eyes and body’s ability to cooperate decreases.
Alcohol numbs the central nervous system and the interaction between muscles and nerves worsens. It becomes more difficult to make soft, precise movements causing drunk drivers to cause crashes and they’re also more prone to doing a hit-and-run.
One of the most common types of car accidents in San Diego and cities across the Golden State are rear-end accidents. Although many insurance companies treat rear-end accidents as a minor affair, even at low speed, rear-end crashes can cause serious injuries to the neck and back. Any combination of speeding, tailgating, and distracted driving can cause rear-end accidents, which involve not paying adequate attention and running red lights.
Many people involved in such accidents assume they don’t need a lawyer but this isn’t always the case. However, at-fault drivers and insurers know to do their best to get out of paying you a fair settlement and this is why you should seek a legal expert to make sure your interests are protected.
Speeding is an enormous problem in San Diego and in 2015, a total of 4,189 speed-related crashes were registered according to data gathered by researchers at UC-Berkeley. Traveling at a high and unsafe speed is the most common cause of serious damage being inflicted on those involved in such accidents.
Driving at an uncontrolled speed opens up possibilities for different types of collisions. The faster a vehicle moves, the less time drivers have to correct mistakes. This is the main reason why speeding results in high-impact collisions which lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
Although it’s not uncommon to see someone running a red light on the streets of San Diego, red-light running is considered one of the most serious causes of devastating car crashes. It happens when a driver fails to come to a complete stop at a red light and broadsides an oncoming vehicle.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a report in 2019 which stated that the number of people killed in car accidents caused by red-light runners from 2012 to 2013 increased by a whopping 28 percent. In 2017 alone, 900 people died in such accidents and 46 percent of them were either passengers or people riding in other vehicles.
Red lights have the purpose of easing traffic flows but when drivers rush and speed up, they put other traffic participants’ safety at risk and cause life-altering injuries, as well as fatalities.
Drunk driving, rear-end and red light accidents, as well as speeding, are some of the top types of car accidents in San Diego even though drivers’ main responsibility is to obey traffic laws, have the duty of care, and not injure others.
If you’ve been involved in such a tragic event, make sure to contact a professional lawyer to help you with the aftermath and overwhelming stress of dealing with property damage, trauma, medical bills that an accident can bring.
