Top 13 California Car Accident Injury & Fatality Statistics -2022 Update

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Important California Car Accident Injury & Fatality Statistics for 2022

Feb 28, 2022

In California, a car is pretty much a necessity for most people. Golden State residents drive the state’s scenic roads and highways every day for work and leisure, and the number of cars on the roadways means many of us encounter traffic at one point or another. In fact, as we noted in a recent blog post, four local freeways in the Los Angeles-area were recently ranked as having the highest traffic congestion in the entire nation. Accordingly, car accidents leading to injuries and even fatalities unfortunately occur regularly in California.

Top 13 California Car Accident Injury & Fatality Statistics

Below we will take a look at the latest car and traffic accident statistics for the Golden State. We’ll also provide information on what types of financial damages may be recovered if you’ve been injured in a car accident due to another person’s negligence. Finally, we’ll review how to file a California car accident personal injury lawsuit to get the justice and financial compensation you deserve.

Top 13 Latest Car Accident Statistics for California

The following most up-to-date statistics have been confirmed by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS):

  1. In 2019, traffic fatalities decreased 5.1% to 3,606 (down from 3,798 in 2018)
  2. The overall number of fatal California car accidents occurring in 2019 is estimated to be 3,316
  3. The 2019 California Mileage Death Rate (MDR) was 1.06 (representing the number of motor vehicle fatalities per 100 million miles traveled)
  4. Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (fatalities in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher) decreased 4.5% from 1,116 in 2018 to 1,066 in 2019
  5. Unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in all seating positions decreased 2.4% from 635 in 2018 to 620 in 2019
  6. In 2019, 50% of all drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes (who were tested) tested positive for legal and/ or illegal drugs, an increase of 8% from 2018
  7. Motorcycle fatalities decreased 9.4% from 523 in 2018 to 474 in 2019
  8. Motorcyclist deaths from not wearing a helmet decreased 18% from 34 in 2018 to 28 in 2019
  9. Teen motor vehicle fatalities (age 16-19) decreased 25.2% from 219 in 2018 to 164 in 2019
  10. Teen Driver fatalities (age 16-19) decreased 12.7% from 95 in 2018 to 83 in 2019
  11. Car accident fatalities decreased 0.6% from 978 in 2018 to 972 in 2019
  12. Car accident fatalities for individuals 65 and older increased 1.9% from 218 in 2018 to 222 in 2019
  13. Bicycle fatalities decreased 19.5% from 165 in 2018 to 133 in 2019

Latest 2022 Los Angeles Car Accident Statistics (*from 2021 data)

Latest 2022 Los Angeles Car Accident Statistics (*from 2021 data)

Data compiled by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirms the following 2021 car accident statistics:

  • 289 people were killed in traffic collisions through December 25 of 2021
  • That figure represents a 21% increase through the same period in 2020
  • That figure represents a 19% increase during the same period in 2019
  • 1,465 people were seriously injured in Los Angeles car accidents through December 25, 2021
  • That figure represents a 21% increase through the same period in 2020
  • That figure represents a 19% increase through the same period in 2019
  • 486 Los Angeles pedestrians were injured by motorists (a 35% increase over 2020)
  • 128 Los Angeles pedestrian deaths were recorded (a 6% increase over 2020)
  • Collisions involving Los Angeles bicyclists that caused serious injuries rose 24% through December 25 of 2021
  • 18 Los Angeles bicyclists were killed in traffic crashes (a 20% increase over 2020)

Latest U.S./National Car Accident Statistics for 2022

Data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and released in May 2020 confirms the following most up-to-date U.S. car accident statistic:

  • Early estimates for the number of annual motor vehicle traffic crash deaths was 36,120 for 2019

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) confirms the following U.S. car accident statistics:

  • 33,244 fatal motor vehicle crashes occurred in 2019
  • 36,096 motor vehicle traffic crash deaths occurred as a result of those 2019 incidents
  • Those figures resulted in 11 deaths per 100,000 people
  • Those figures represent an overall fatality rate of 1.11 deaths per 100 million miles traveled

What are the Most Common Causes of California Car Accidents?

What are the Most Common Causes of California Car Accidents?

California car accidents often occur due to another driver’s negligence or carelessness. But motor vehicle collisions can also be caused by external factors, such as inclement weather or roadway defects.

Let’s look at some of the most common causes of California car accident injuries and fatalities:

  • Distracted driving (including texting & driving)
  • Speeding (including street racing and takeovers)
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (drunk/impaired driving)
  • Inclement weather conditions (rain, snow, sleet, hail, high winds, etc.)
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Drowsy driving
  • Daydreaming
  • Failure to follow basic traffic laws
  • Roadway defects or dangerous conditions (including design flaws)
  • Failure to yield to cars/other vehicles
  • Road rage
  • Basic driver error
  • Equipment malfunction or design flaw (vehicle recalls, etc.)

If you’ve suffered an injury in a California car accident that was caused by negligence, carelessness, or malice, you may be entitled to financial compensation in the form of a damages award through a civil lawsuit.

Contact Dordulian Law Group’s Los Angeles-area car accident lawyers today to discuss your claim.

Can I Recover Financial Compensation After a California Car Accident?

In instances where negligence or carelessness is involved, economic and non-economic damages may be recovered after your car accident injury. The specific damages that you may recover can vary depending on the unique circumstances of your car accident (e.g. severity of your injuries, extent of the driver’s liability, the driver’s history, etc.).

The most common examples of car accident injury damages in civil lawsuits are broken down below according to type.

Common California Car Accident Economic Damages:

  • Medical expenses
  • Emergency department treatment
  • Physical Therapy
  • Rehabilitation
  • Lost Wages
  • Lost Earning Capacity

Common California Car Accident Non-Economic Damages:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Scarring or other serious injury
  • Compensation for loss of a limb or disfigurement

Hiring a Dordulian Law Group (DLG) car accident lawyer can help ensure your personal injury claim is maximized, and that you recover all applicable damages after an incident due to negligence. Our Car Accident Division is led by Sam Dordulian, a former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County with more than 25 years of experience helping injured victims secure the maximum financial compensation they deserve.

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To learn more about how important it can be to have an experienced DLG California car accident lawyer handling your case when attempting to recover hard to prove non-economic damages, please visit our recent blog on how pain and suffering damages are calculated in personal injury civil claims.

Hire the Best Los Angeles, California, Car Accident Lawyers

Contact DLG today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM for a free car accident lawyer consultation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by ensuring that the insurance company or at-fault party does not take advantage of your rights after a car accident injury. You owe it to yourself to take every step towards avoiding financial loss after an unfortunate car accident injury that occurred through no fault of your own.

With DLG’s experienced car accident injury lawyers, our No Win/No Fee Guarantee means there is never any obligation or upfront expense. And you never pay a dime until we successfully recover a maximum financial damages award for your Los Angeles, California, car accident claim.

Reach out to DLG’s experienced team today. We are here to answer any questions you may have 24/7. And with more than $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts recovered for our clients while maintaining a 98% success record, you can be confident that your California car accident injury lawsuit is in the best possible hands.

Author

Samuel Dordulian

Samuel Dordulian, founder

Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.




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