Reduce Your Risk by Identifying the Most Dangerous Places to Drive
Automobiles have existed for over 130 years, and if there’s anything we’ve learned during that time, it’s that auto accidents are a fact of life.
They can happen anywhere and anytime. Hundreds have already happened today — in big cities and small towns, during the day and at night, and at speeds both fast and slow. The threat is always there.
Indeed, most car crashes are entirely unexpected. If any us knew we were going to crash, there’d be no need for insurance. We’d simply avoid the accident altogether. If only life were that easy.
But even though you can’t guarantee that you’ll never be in a car accident, you can take steps to reduce the likelihood of collision. Just as you can’t completely protect yourself from burglary or being struck by lightening, it is possible to lower your chances with common-sense steps, such as locking your doors and staying inside during a storm.
Auto accidents tend to happen more frequently in certain places. Just by learning where, you can reduce your risk of harm.
Which States Have the Most Car Crashes?
California may have the highest taxes and the most earthquakes in the continental United States, but there is some good news for the Golden State: our roads aren’t the country’s most dangerous.
That distinction belongs to Wyoming, which logs 25.7 deaths for every 100,000 people each year, according to a study published at The Huffington Post last spring.
The national average stands at 10.2 deaths per 100,000. That means Wyoming is more than twice as dangerous as the average state, at least where traffic fatalities are concerned.
Rounding out the top five most dangerous states for drivers are:
2. Mississippi (20.3 deaths per 100,000)
3. Montana (18.8 deaths per 100,000)
4. New Mexico (18.4 deaths per 100,000)
5. North Dakota (18.3 deaths per 100,000)
California falls in the bottom half, ranked #38 out of 50 (where Wyoming is #1). With 7.9 fatalities per 100,000 people, the Golden State is just slightly safer than average.
Experts attribute those numbers to seat belts. 97% of California residents use seat belts, tying the state for second in seatbelt use nationwide.
Of course, there are many millions of drivers on the road here, so even with a relatively low rate, far too many innocent people lose their lives while driving in California.
In fact, our state has the second largest total number of auto accident fatalities in the country, a reflection of our very large overall population.
We also lead the nation in the percentage of drivers who are killed with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher — a whopping 359%.
Yahoo! News combined data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHA) to estimate that California drivers have a 1 in 12,778 chance of dying in a car accident.
Bakersfield Auto Accidents: You Need to Be on Alert in Your Own Neighborhood
Did you know that the majority of auto accidents happen close to home?
It sounds strange at first, but when you think of friends and family members who have been injured in car crashes, you may begin to realize that most of those accidents happened around town — usually within 25 miles.
Why? Experts point to a few likely reasons:
- Drivers let their guards down when driving familiar routes and routines.
- You are in town more often than you are out of town, so you are statistically more likely to be injured close to home.
- Rushing from one errand to the next increases the likelihood of speeding, distracted driving, and drowsy driving.
- People who drink and drive tend to do so in their own hometowns, perhaps when traveling home from a party or the local bar.
- Some drivers mistakenly believe that seat belts aren’t as important on local roads.
As Bakersfield auto accident lawyers, we have seen so many car crashes that are caused by simple negligence. True to the stats, these accidents frequently happen close to home, and the victims almost always say they didn’t see it coming.
Other Places Where Bakersfield Car Crashes Are Likely to Happen
Studies show that car wrecks occur in the same kinds of places over and over again. Typical danger zones include:
- Parking lots
- Intersections
- Residential neighborhoods
- Busy streets (during rush hour)
- Rural roads (at all hours, and especially at night)
- Areas with large populations of teenage drivers (18-year-olds are involved in more California car crashes than any other age group.)
Even in unexpected places like parking lots, California personal injury law provides considerable legal protection to the victims of negligence. Our office can help.
Injured in an Auto Accident? Call The Law Offices of Mickey Fine.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a California car crash, the experienced Bakersfield auto accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Mickey Fine can help.
We’re here to fight for you and your family so that you get the largest amount of financial compensation available under the law.
To get started, just give us a call, send us a text, or contact us online — the sooner the better.