It’s not surprising that LA is one of the leading cities in the US for traffic accident deaths. After all, it’s often said that you can’t get around the city without your own car. With that many cars on the road, it’s not just the notorious LA traffic snarls that are the problem. What’s even more alarming is that the number of car crash deaths in Los Angeles keeps rising despite nationwide trends and new road safety policies.
Rising Traffic Death Rate
The LA Times reported that in 2016, the number of people who died in traffic accidents reached 260. This was a 43% increase compared to 2015 LA traffic accident fatalities. It’s significantly higher than the national trend, which saw only a 6% increase in road accident deaths compared to 2105. In some cities like New York, the rate of fatalities even went down for 2016. This lower rate is attributed to the implementation of the vaunted “Vision Zero” program for road safety. This program is a comprehensive set of policies that gives the highest priority to the safety of car drivers and passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Safety is rated as more important than convenience and travel speed.
In 2016, LA also implemented the Vision Zero policy, and yet the number of traffic fatalities still rose significantly. The increase of road deaths is still continuing this year; so far, the traffic deaths in LA is 22% higher than the same period in 2016.
Factors that Contribute to the Traffic Deaths
Traffic experts have pinpointed several causes that may have led to the increase in crash accidents in 2016 and 2017. One major reason is that nowadays, more people are driving. In Southern California, the number of vehicle sales and registrations increased. This is because the economy is comparatively healthier and fuel prices are lower.
Distracted driving is also a contributing factor. More people have smartphones, so it’s not uncommon for some people (especially young adults) to text and drive. The higher death rate is also attributed to faster cars. This is exacerbated by some people who drink and drive. With the easier availability of marijuana, some say that more people are driving while stoned.
In addition, some experts have pointed out that some intersections and roadways were designed for improved speed and traffic flow, and not for greater safety.
Traffic Deaths in San Diego
If a terrible tragedy happens to your family, you should consult with a wrongful death lawyer who specializes in car crashes. Even if you or a family member is just injured, you should still consult a lawyer who deals with traffic accidents. If you find yourself in a situation make sure you call a car accident attorney in San Diego for help.
The specialist lawyer can help you determine your legal options, and they can also help you file a civil suit if the injury or death involved driver negligence or improper roadway and intersection design. The lawyer can help identify who’s at fault so that you may be able to obtain damages and settlements to help with your financial situation.