DEATH BY CAR CRASH: FATAL ACCIDENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
As anyone who has even been a car accident knows, crashes are frightening and life-changing events, and when a wreck results in a death, the effects are devastating. Fatal accidents can happen to anyone, in any vehicle, on any road, in many ways. Often, crashes are unavoidable or not the fault of the dead victim. If someone you know has been killed in an accident, a wrongful death claim may be able to be filed on their behalf. This page supplies an overview of accidents resulting in fatalities with a focus on the exceedingly dangerous LA area. If someone close to you has been killed in a road accident in California, please call 1-800-ALAWPRO now for your free consultation with an injury attorney.

Crash Fatalities: The Numbers
All of the statistical information given below is from FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System), a service of the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The most recent FARS research available is for the year 2006.

Fatal Accidents in the US: 2006
In 2006 there were 38,588 motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. that resulted in death. Drivers accounted for most of these deaths (nearly 23,000), while more than 9,000 passengers were killed. Motorcycle riders accounted for over 4,800 of these fatalities, while pedestrian deaths numbered 4,784. As the data suggests, no one is safe.

Crash Deaths in Southern California: 2006
California is the state with the most vehicle-related deaths, having 700 more deaths than the next ranked state. California had 4,236 fatalities in vehicle-related accidents in 2006 alone. Not surprising, Los Angeles is the CA county with the most deaths in 2006: nearly 800. Here are Southern California County Fatality Statistics:

Los Angeles County San Bernardino County Riverside County San Diego County Orange County Ventura County Santa Barbara County

799 dead 404 dead 355 dead 303 dead 208 dead 81 dead 45 dead

Dead in a Car Accident: 2005 Information
FARS reports some more gruesome date regarding car accident deaths.

• In 2005 over 6 million crashes were reported in the US. 33% of the accidents had injuries and 1% resulted in a fatality.
• Alcohol was a factor is 39% of all fatal accidents. That number goes up to 75% between the hours of 12am to 3am.
• Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 58% of all fatal accidents.
• In 3% of all fatal accidents, fire is involved.
• The most dangerous time to drive is Saturday and Sunday night from Midnight to 3am. This time period recorded the most driving-related deaths.
• Over 50% of deadly accidents happened on a road with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher.
• 44% of crash-related deaths involved hitting a fixed object or hitting nothing at all.

It is important to note that road danger and death is not limited to car accidents involving two drivers. All sorts of factors can result in a fatal crash on the road, and it is not always clear who is to blame. Our website provides more information on most of the elements listed below.

Fatal Accidents: Type of Vehicle
Crashes can involve any number or type of vehicle. Motorcycles are notoriously dangerous, while collisions with large vehicle can inflict serious harm. Here are some vehicle types with which a fatal wreck can occur.

• Car (sedan, SUV, compact, convertible)
  • SUV's with a high center of gravity can be prone to rollovers.
  • Smaller cars are often less safe than bigger ones, especially when involved in a crash with a larger vehicle.
  • Motorcycle
  • Motorcycle accidents and deaths are on a steep rise in Southern California.
• Bus (school, transit, touring)
  • A higher center of gravity can lead to bus rollovers.
• Truck (pick-up, semi-trailer/big rig, flat bed)
  • Freeway accidents are frequently truck-related.
• Van (mini, full-sized)
  • A high center of gravity can increase van roll over potential.
• Bicycle
  • Bike lanes can be dangerous for cyclists in urban areas.

Crash Death: Type of Accident
Rear end accidents might be the ones we think of most often, but rollover accidents are the most deadly. Depending on the size and speed of each vehicle, and the location of impact, the results can be deadly. Learn more about these accident types on our designated pages. Here is a list of the types of crashes that can be fatal.

• Rearend Collision
• Head-on Accident
• Side-Impact Crash
• Rollover Wreck

Dead in a Crash: Motorist and Non-Motorist
Drivers aren't the only ones at risk in an accident. People inside and outside vehicles can often be the innocent victims in a deadly accident involving all any type of vehicle. Wearing a seat belt and being alert cannot always protect those who take to the roads. People who can be injured or killed in an accident include:

• Drivers
• Passengers
• Pedestrians

Car Wreck Fatalities: Injuries that Can Lead to Death
While a person may be killed immediately in an accident, death may also be a secondary result of an accident in which the victim first suffers a serious injury. Nevertheless, if death is the ultimate result, the accident is indeed considered fatal. Following are some crash injuries that, due to their severity or treatment, can result in death.

• Brain, Spinal Cord or Head Injury
• Broken Bones, including Leg, Arm, Pelvis and Fractures
• Severe Lacerations
• Burns
• Paralysis

Dead in a Crash: Causes
Knowing who or what caused a fatal accident can be a very complex and difficult task. Often there are a number of factors that can result in a road death. Contacting an attorney can be one of the simplest ways to learn who may be to blame and to learn the rights of the victim. A wrongful death claim can be filed on behalf of a person killed in an accident in which another entity holds responsibility for the death. Here are some common causes of death in vehicle-related accidents.

• Speeding
• Drunk Driving
• Road Design Defect
• Driver Distraction or Inattention
• Negligence

Has someone close to you been killed in an accident in California? If so, you need the help of an experienced Law Team. At the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP, we have more than 50 years combined experience in representing the rights of the injured and killed. Let us do all the work and worrying for you. Please call us at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for your free and confidential consultation, and let us fight for you. Call now.