Beverly Hills, CA, Car Accident Statistics 2024

Car accidents are a leading cause of accidental bodily injuries and fatalities each year. Various agencies gather accident data, releasing reports each year that show the number of accidents, the most common causes of these incidents, and the economic impact they have on the state. The California Highway Patrol, Department of Transportation, and various other state agencies gather accident data to create these reports.

So far, in 2024, the accident rate throughout the state indicates that the state may see even more accidents than were recorded in 2022. Worse, the 2022 accident data showed a marked increase in overall accidents, injuries, deaths, and economic damages from 2021, which was yet another increase over 2020 accident reports. Ultimately, the vehicle accident problem continues to worsen, and it’s important for all drivers to know the biggest risks they face on the state’s roads.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

If another driver recently caused an accident with you, resulting in injuries and economic damages, contact our firm. A Beverly Hills car accident lawyer can help hold them accountable. You have the right to claim compensation for any and all damages you sustained from the incident, which may include the cost of repairing your vehicle, the cost of medical care you need for your injuries, and the income you could not earn while you recovered. If another driver caused the death of a loved one in an accident, you will likely have grounds to file a wrongful death suit against the at-fault driver.

According to the most recently available accident statistics, the most common causes of accidents in the state include:

• Distracted driving, which continues to account for most of the accidents reported each year. Texting while driving is especially dangerous and consistently ranks in the top reported types of distracted driving in the state, despite the state banning the use of cell phones while driving without hands-free devices.
• Exceeding the speed limit is not only a major contributing factor to the total number of accidents each year but also the severity of the resulting damages. Speeding significantly increases the risk of a driver causing serious injury or death if they hit another driver.
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs and alcohol. The state consistently reports some of the highest DUI accident numbers in the country. It is illegal for any driver to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but these accidents continue to happen every day throughout the state.

These are just a few of the most common causes of car accidents throughout the state. Knowing these risk factors and how to drive defensively can help you avoid causing accidents, but it is still crucial to know what to do after another driver has hit and injured you. The recovery process after any car accident is likely to entail an insurance claim followed by a personal injury case, and it is crucial to secure legal counsel you can trust to guide you through your recovery efforts.

FAQs About Beverly Hills, CA Car Accident Laws

How Common Are Car Accidents?

California has one of the highest statewide vehicle accident rates in the country and consistently ranks among the top states for the total number of accidents each year. Roughly 500 accidents resulting in injuries or deaths happen every day, and the latest accident data reports that roughly 5,000 people are involved in accidents every day in the state.

What Are the Chances of Dying in a Car Accident?

Recent accident reports for the state show that there are roughly 9.1 fatalities per 100,000 residents each year. While it’s difficult to assess the chance of dying in any given accident, the statistics currently available show that fatal accidents occur with greater frequency in California than in most other states. The busiest metropolitan areas, specifically Los Angeles County, report the highest vehicle accident fatality rates each year.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident?

Your personal safety should be your primary concern after any accident. If you are hurt, wait for paramedics to arrive and provide aid. If you are well enough to move around safely, try to document what you can of the accident scene while you wait for first responders. You should seek medical care as soon as possible, even if you think you only suffered minor injuries, and then reach out to an experienced attorney who can help you recover compensation for your damages.

Will a Driver Go to Jail for Causing an Accident?

It is possible for a driver to face jail time and other criminal penalties for causing an accident, depending on how they caused the accident. Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs and reckless driving are the most common examples of illegal misconduct that can cause serious accidents. The penalties the at-fault driver faces depend on the nature of the actions that caused the accident and the severity of the damage they caused. Penalties can increase dramatically when the at-fault driver has seriously injured or killed someone.

How Much Compensation Can I Claim for an Accident?

You have the right to claim complete repayment of all the damages that you suffered in your recent accident, and you can also claim pain and suffering compensation to reflect the severity of the harm you experienced. An attorney can help determine the optimal path to recovering these losses, which is likely to begin with an insurance claim followed by a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver.

Experienced Car Accident Attorneys

Heimanson & Wolf, LLP, can help you recover from your recent car accident. We have years of experience dealing with the biggest auto insurance carriers in the state, so we know how to maximize an insurance settlement, and if this is not enough to compensate your losses, we can build a personal injury claim on your behalf. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our team and learn more about the legal services we provide.