How to Stay Safe
Los Angeles streets might be emptier than usual due to COVID-19, but traffic deaths are surging. Despite the pandemic, L.A. drivers are speeding, crashing, and dying in traffic accidents at alarming rates.
The stay-at-home order initially created a steep drop in L.A. road accidents. The effect only lasted about two weeks and since then, fatal traffic accidents have risen sharply.
Why is There a Sudden Surge in Traffic Accidents?
According to the Los Angeles Times, which examined crash data from the L.A. Police Department and other sources, 21 people died in L.A. car crashes in May 2020 alone. That’s about the same as pre-pandemic levels, even though there are far fewer vehicles on the road.
The reason is mostly psychological. Empty streets can actually increase the number of severe traffic accidents because when the roads look wide open, people are more likely to exceed the speed limit and drive recklessly. L.A. traffic engineers try to combat this problem by adjusting traffic light timing to slow people down, but it doesn’t always work.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also interrupted Uber and Lyft services, which means more people are using e-bikes, riding scooters, and walking. Pedestrians account for about half of all traffic fatalities in L.A. County.
How Can I Stay Safe in Dangerous L.A. Traffic?
Drivers travel more than 45 million miles on L.A. roads every day and there are more than 50,000 traffic accidents in the city every year. In fact, someone is killed in a traffic accident every 40 hours in L.A. in an average year.
Speeding is one of the primary contributors to deadly L.A. car accidents, so one of the best ways you can stay safe is by following the speed limit. If your Uber driver is speeding or driving dangerously, express your concern and report them through the app.
Bicyclists, motorcyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians should be on the lookout for speeding cars and think defensively while traveling through traffic. Ensure every car has slowed or stopped before proceeding through an intersection or crosswalk. Assume vehicle drivers don’t always see you.
Infrastructure is also an issue in L.A., according to the driving safety organization Safe Roads U.S.A. As a whole, California received a “D” grade for road safety and was named the nation’s worst state for hazardous bridges.
- Beware of hazards like:
- Crumbling asphalt
- Uneven surfaces
- Missing and fallen road signs
- Absent road paint, barriers, and guard rails
- Inadequate lighting
- Construction zones that stretch for miles and halt traffic
- Old bridges with rough pavement
Injured in an Accident? You Can Take Action.
Anyone who is injured in a California car, motorcycle, e-bike, scooter, or pedestrian accident has the right to sue the other party for compensation. You’ll have the best shot at proving your case if you do the right things in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Call 911 if there are injuries. Let the dispatcher know about injuries or dangers at the scene. Even if you’re unsure about injuries, don’t let anyone talk you out of reporting the accident to the police.
Don’t discuss fault. Now is not the time for the blame game. You don’t have all the facts and you could say something you regret later, so avoid getting into a discussion or confrontation with the other person.
Seek medical treatment. Don’t delay getting medical treatment. Make your health a priority and follow the EMTs’ and doctors’ advice. Refusing or delaying medical treatment can ruin your injury claim.
Gather evidence from the scene. Seize the opportunity to gather as much evidence as possible as quickly as possible. Take videos and photos, gather contact information from witnesses, and note details like the weather and road conditions.
Contact your insurance company and your attorney. Talk to a Los Angeles car accident attorney before you talk to the insurance company or anyone else about your accident, if possible.
Remember, everything you say and do after a traffic accident can impact your ability to collect on a legal claim. Also, keep in mind that California has a two-year statute of limitations on these claims. Act quickly before you lose your chance to sue for the compensation you deserve.
Experience a serious car accident?
Check out our Car Accident Page to learn more about how the process works.
We Handle Your Traffic Accident Claim So You Can Focus on Your Life
After a traffic accident, contact the attorneys at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers. We handle many areas of traffic law, including injuries that arise from car, bike, and pedestrian accidents. We believe you should be able to focus on recovering from your accident while we handle the legal details. We truly care about our fellow citizens of Los Angeles and California. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation.
Video Transcript
Hi. Today’s blog post is an interesting one. Even though there’s less cars on the road we’ve all been home due to quarantine and COVID. We’ve noticed that actually the traffic accident related deaths are back up to their pre-pandemic levels.It’s really interesting because there’s not as many cars on the cars on the road, however, it’s very clear that people are driving a lot faster, so if you’re on the freeway you might see people driving anywhere from 80 to a 100 miles an hour, as opposed to staying within the speed limit. So anyways, check out the article. I think you’ll find it interesting.
