Imagine having a whole year with zero traffic deaths in the entire city of Los Angeles. Sounds wonderful, right?
That’s the ambitious goal of the city’s Vision Zero project, which aims to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2025. Currently, LA has about 200 road deaths per year, so reaching a level of zero will be quite a challenge.
As LA traffic accident lawyers, we at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers have daily insight into why the city’s traffic deaths are so high. We see the tragic results of a wide range of traffic accidents during personal injury cases and wrongful death claims.
Why are so many deaths happening on LA’s roads? Here are the top 5 causes of LA traffic fatalities according to Vision Zero and other traffic safety sources.
#1- Exceeding the Speed Limit
Speeding is LA’s #1 cause of traffic deaths and is one of the most dangerous things drivers can do. It reduces their reaction time, prevents them from seeing nearby dangers, and limits their ability to stop in time to avoid an accident.
Plus, speeding adds tremendous force to the impact of a crash, meaning it’s much more likely to cause severe injuries and death. Bicyclists, motorcyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians should be on the lookout for speeding cars because they’re everywhere.
Also, if your Uber driver is speeding or driving dangerously, express your concern and report them through the app. Even a small action like this could prevent a fatal traffic crash.
#2- Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is a serious problem across America as well as right here in Los Angeles. About 29% of all vehicle fatalities in LA are alcohol-related, which is above the national average.
When you have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher, it’s a crime in California. It’s also a crime to be intoxicated by any substance so much that it impairs your driving, including illegal drugs, legal drugs, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications.
#3- Hit-and-Run Drivers
Traffic accident lawyers know something the average person might not realize: Hit-and-run accidents are fairly common. Vision Zero reports that about 25% of all pedestrian accidents and 18% of vehicle accidents involve hit-and-run drivers.
Injured victims sometimes think there’s nothing they can do about a hit-and-run. But that’s not true at all. A skilled accident lawyer can help you track down the person through police information, dashcam footage, videos from nearby businesses, witness statements, and more.
#4- Pedestrian Accidents/Failure to Yield
When a pedestrian is involved in a traffic accident, they’re at a high risk of death. A person on foot is simply no match for a vehicle.
About one-fourth of all LA pedestrian deaths occur because drivers fail to yield to them as they cross the road. In LA there seems to be significant confusion about when drivers should yield to pedestrians. Although pedestrians are supposed to use crosswalks, it’s never a driver’s right to run them over.
#5- T-Bone Collisions
T-bone collisions, also called broadside crashes, occur when vehicles collide from two directions. They often happen at intersections when one vehicle receives a powerful side impact from the front end of the other car.
Almost one-third of all fatal LA-area traffic accidents involve t-bone collisions. This is a big reason why Vision Zero and other LA safety organizations have pushed for better traffic signs, lights, and pavement markings near busy intersections and roadways.
LA Accidents Lead to Wrongful Death Claims
As you can see from the list above, there’s been a tremendous amount of research into the root causes of LA road deaths. But this is cold comfort to the loved ones of people who have died in traffic collisions.
After a fatal LA traffic accident, consider whether you might have a wrongful death claim. These claims are usually based on the negligence of the person who caused the accident.
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we have great sympathy for those who have lost loved ones in traffic crashes. We’re here to provide you with caring, compassionate legal representation.
We Handle Your 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 LA traffic accidents. 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 Los Angeles and California. Contact us today for a free online case evaluation.
