Table of Contents
It may not surprise you to learn that nearly all car accidents occur because someone made an error while driving. Very few accidents are the result of a defective vehicle or terrible driving conditions (like slick roadways). Data from NHTSA research indicates that a large proportion of serious auto accidents in the United States involve human factors.
This fact means that the majority of the deaths that occur here on the roads of California are caused by negligent drivers. It is vital to hold these drivers accountable for their harmful actions. Financial consequences can deter other drivers from engaging in bad driving habits. The experienced car accident lawyers at Arash Law are here to help you protect your legal rights after any car accident. Here are some of the common driver errors that lead to car crashes here in California:
Distracted Driving
Now that many drivers have smartphones, navigation systems, and built-in entertainment systems in their vehicles, there are more opportunities than ever for distraction when they should be paying attention to the road. Distracted driving is one of the significant public health risks facing anyone who uses public roads in the United States.
NHTSA reports that 3,142 victims were killed by distracted drivers in the United States in 2019. These are thousands of victims who died needlessly, simply because someone else was not paying attention.
New technologies are not the only way that a driver can become distracted. There are many other distractions inside a car, such as pets or children that need your attention. It is recommended to settle them as much as possible before you leave so that they are less likely to need your attention once you start driving.
Passengers can also be a distraction. Do not hesitate to ask your passengers to talk quietly, refrain from talking to you while driving, or lower the volume of their music. Even if you are alone in the car, you can still be distracted by listening to music.
You may also be tempted to daydream or take in the view on a scenic drive. These choices can have fatal consequences. Hence, constantly monitor the traffic around you. Do not lose focus to eat or drink, or apply makeup, or do any other task that takes your attention from where it belongs on the road ahead of you.
Impaired Driving
Drunk driving has long been a significant problem on America’s roadways. Here in California, unfortunately, recent data shows a troubling uptick in this deadly behavior. A study reported by UC Berkeley found some disturbing trends in California drunk driving accidents in 2016.
According to data from the NHTSA, there was a 1.7 percent rise in drunk driving fatalities across the country from 2015 to 2016. In California, there was a notable rise in fatalities of 5.6 percent from 2015 to 2016. This increase was nearly ten times higher than the national average.
The number of fatalities in 2016 was approximately 11 percent greater compared to 2012. While drunk drivers often face criminal charges, they may also face civil lawsuits from their injury victims. Consequences can act as a deterrent to other drivers who would consider operating a vehicle while drunk. An insurance claim or civil lawsuit serves as a legal mechanism to pursue compensation for all the losses caused by the drunk driver.
Alcohol is not the only substance that can impair your driving abilities. Recreational drugs and prescription medications can also lead to accidents. During the opioid epidemic, there has been a measurable increase in drivers who had opioids in their system at the time they caused an accident.
It is important to hold these drivers accountable for their impaired driving. It can be difficult for prosecutors to get criminal convictions against these drivers. (Unlike alcohol, which has a known impairment point and clear statutes that prohibit levels above 0.08, drugs do not have set impairment values that can be written into criminal statutes.) While the criminal justice system imposes penalties such as fines and jail time for impaired driving offenses, a civil lawsuit is the legal avenue for injury victims to seek compensation for their specific financial and personal losses.
Speeding
Speed is very often a contributing factor in fatal accidents. Speed not only increases the likelihood that a driver will cause an accident, but it also increases the chances that the accident will result in at least one person’s death. This is because speed generates more force in a collision.
When more force is generated, injury victims are faced with a stronger impact, and their injuries are often more serious. This, in turn, increases the chances that at least one injury victim will be unable to survive his or her injuries in an accident in which speed was a factor.
The National Safety Council reports that speed was a factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States in 2019. Speed is a highly preventable cause of accidents, and yet it causes more than one out of every four traffic deaths in America. Nearly ten thousand injury victims were killed simply because a driver chose to speed.
Contact Our Experienced Auto Accident Lawyers For California Injury Cases
If you are searching online for a “car crash lawyer near me,” our knowledgeable traffic accident lawyers in California are available to provide legal representation and support. At Arash Law, our injury attorneys have years of experience advocating for the rights of our clients and helping them pursue compensation for their losses.
Furthermore, our skilled legal team serves injured victims throughout California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, and Sherman Oaks.
Call (888) 488-1391 or fill out our online intake form to schedule your free initial consultation. You may also complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form here to discuss your situation. Once you retain an experienced California auto injury lawyer, we can promptly begin the process of building your case.
