deadliest roads california

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California is the third largest state in the U.S., next to Alaska and Texas, and it is the most populated. As such, it tends to be one of the most dangerous states for traffic accidents. 

There are nearly 400,000 miles of road across the state of California, with most of them seeing numerous accidents yearly. San Francisco and Los Angeles are two of the most populated cities in the state, which means most accidents occurring annually tend to happen in these two metro areas. 

In fact, Los Angeles County has more deadly accidents than any other county, and San Francisco is home to the second and third most dangerous stretches of road in the state.

If you are injured in a San Francisco car accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to a local personal injury attorney for assistance. At Sally Morin, we have helped numerous clients successfully win their cases and get the full and fair settlement they deserve. Let us take the wheel so you can focus on your recovery. 

What Are the Deadliest Roads in California?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these are the deadliest stretches of road in California:

I-15 between Exit 138 and Exit 129 – Hesperia

  • Fatal accidents: 19
  • Fatalities: 19
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 4.2
  • Distance: 4.5 miles

I-80 between Exit 14A and Exit 8A – Berkley/Oakland/Emeryville/Albany

  • Fatal accidents: 15
  • Fatalities: 17
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 3
  • Distance: 5 miles

I-80 from Exit 15 to Exit 21 – Richmond/El Cerrito/Pinole/San Pablo

  • Fatal accidents: 13
  • Fatalities: 18
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2.6
  • Distance: 5 miles

I-5 from Del Paso Rd. to Railyards Blvd. – Sacramento

  • Fatal accidents: 13
  • Fatalities: 16
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2.6
  • Distance: 4.9 miles

I-215 from Exit 44B to Exit 39 – Colton/San Bernardino

  • Fatal accidents: 13
  • Fatalities: 13
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2.7
  • Distance: 4.7 miles

SR-74 between Melba Ave. and 3rd St. – Menifee

  • Fatal accidents: 11
  • Fatalities: 12
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2.7
  • Distance: 4.1 miles

I-605 from Exit 5B to Firestone Blvd. – Norwalk/Cerritos

  • Fatal accidents: 11
  • Fatalities: 12
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2.6
  • Distance: 4.3 miles

I-280 from Meridian Ave. to Wilshire Blvd. – San Jose

  • Fatal accidents: 11
  • Fatalities: 12
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2.5
  • Distance: 4.3 miles

Bear Valley Rd. between Navajo Rd. and Tamaki Rd. – Apple Valley/Hesperia

  • Fatal accidents: 10
  • Fatalities: 13
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2.1
  • Distance: 4.7 miles

SR-22 from Exit 10 to Exit 5 – Garden Grove

  • Fatal accidents: 10
  • Fatalities: 13
  • Fatal accidents per mile: 2
  • Distance: 5 miles

What Factors Contribute to Fatal Accidents on California Roads?

Various factors can contribute to fatal accidents in California. Most often, it is the result of negligent driving, but things like weather and road conditions can also play a role. However, the below factors are what most commonly lead to fatal accidents in California. 

1. Drunk Driving

Of all fatal accidents that occur in California, 27% of them are the result of drunk driving

Alcohol impairs your physical and mental function, and even the smallest amount can cause impairments that affect your driving abilities. Even if a fatal accident does not occur, you could still cause significant damage and injuries that can result in higher insurance rates, license suspension, restricted driving privileges, and jail time. 

2. Speeding

Speeding is incredibly common in many California areas and contributes to around 28% of all fatal accidents in the state. 

With California being such a large state, roads can stretch for many miles, and commute times tend to be longer than the national average. As such, people often speed to get where they need to be faster, but with increased traffic congestion, as is common in California, this can easily lead to severe and fatal accidents. 

People also speed because they are inherently negligent and aggressive drivers or because they are frustrated by traffic, which is also common in California. 

3. Distracted Driving

California is ranked as the 47th-worst state for distracted driving, with 4% of all deadly crashes resulting from driver distraction. While this number may seem low in comparison to the first two, it is still a common cause of fatal accidents in the state. 

Drivers can become distracted for many reasons, including:

  • Talking to passengers
  • Grooming in the mirror
  • Adjusting the radio or GPS
  • Eating while driving
  • Reaching for something in the passenger seat or the back seat
  • Dealing with pets or children in the vehicle

We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus On Your Life

Driving safely is the best way to protect yourself and others. However, if you find yourself injured due to an accident in California, you may be eligible to recover compensation by filing a personal injury claim. And if you are the loved one of someone who was killed in a fatal accident, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation as well.

At Sally Morin, we truly care about the people of California. We understand how devastating a severe or fatal accident can be and are dedicated to helping our clients get the full and fair settlement they deserve. 

Call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.

Accident Client

Well I have so much to say about Sally Morin. I was in a motorcycle accident and the other driver was 100% at fault and it changed my life. After reviewing many law firms I chose Sally Morin and from day one I knew I was in good hands. The process gets very stressful and frustrating at time but the entire staff were compassionate and caring from start to finish. They guided me and helped me throughout the process dealing with the insurance companies and just listening to me vent. This accident really messed with me emotionally as well as my physical injuries. Sally and her team were and are absolutely amazing. After a bit of back and
forth with the insurance company we finally settled with a number that I was satisfied with. This settlement was solely due to Sally’s patience and amazing negotiating skills.

Sally Morin sincerely cares about her clients and she is extremely experienced in this field. If you want a lawyer you can trust, one that keeps in contact with you every step of the way, answers any and all questions, delivers real results then Sally Morin is who you need to call.

Thank you Sally and your entire staff for truly making a very difficult and stressful situation manageable. You are all amazing.

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We Handle Your Personal Injury Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life

After an accident, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many types of traffic injury claims. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering from your accident while we handle the legal details.

We truly care about the people of California. Contact us today for a
free online case evaluation.

KNOW HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AFTER AN ACCIDENT

It is essential to know your rights after a traffic accident so you can protect yourself and the value of your claim.
This guide will help you:

  • 1Know what to do when dealing with insurance claims, police reports and lawyers.
  • 2Avoid making mistakes that undermine the value of your claim
  • 3Put yourself in a position to get the best settlement possible