The Barnes Firm

Leading Causes of Car Accidents in California

• June 28, 2018
• Sandy

Hundreds of thousands of motor vehicle accidents occur every year on California roads. Although driving can be dangerous, it’s a necessity for many people who need to get to work or school, drop off kids at school, or run errands. The leading causes of car accidents in the state are speeding, impaired driving, and distractions.

Impaired Driving

According to Los Angeles car accident attorneys, impaired driving is another leading cause of motor vehicle accidents in California. Impairment often relates to alcohol use, but drivers can also be impaired when taking prescription or illegal drugs.

More than 25 percent of the traffic deaths in the state have occurred in accidents with alcohol involvement. Nearly 900 people died in alcohol-related accidents in 2014 throughout the state. Every state has a law in place restricting people ages 21 and older from driving with a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08 percent.

Distractions

Distracted driving has become a serious problem, due in part to technology. Almost all drivers have a smartphone or other device at their fingertips, and for some, it’s hard to resist using these devices, especially in the Los Angeles traffic. Texting, talking on the phone, and browsing the web while driving are all illegal, but people still use their devices, which can create a dangerous situation. Los Angeles car accident lawyers at The Barnes Firm are the first to highlight that this is not limited to just mobile use – distractions can be eating, drinking, talking to a passenger, or even paying too much attention to your GPS or radio.

Speeding

According to information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 27 percent of all car crash fatalities happened in speed-related accidents in 2016. As a vehicle’s speed increases, a collision becomes deadlier. It is more difficult to slow down or stop when you’re moving faster, so you could hit another vehicle or a pedestrian at a higher rate of speed, which creates the increased risk of serious injury or death.

At The Barnes Firm, our team of Los Angeles lawyers focuses exclusively on accident cases, including motor vehicle accidents. If you are a victim of a car accident in Los Angeles, contact The Barnes Firm at (800) 800-0000 to learn how we can help.