Surprising California Auto Accident Statistics By Sean Burke on October 21, 2014

As one of California’s most respected and successful auto accident attorneys, Sean M. Burke works tirelessly to remain abreast of relevant state laws, facts, and figures. When it comes to auto accidents, Mr. Burke feels that the more intimately he understands the subject matter, the better able he is to fight for the rights of those who are injured due to the negligence of other drivers. His reputation as an authority on all matters related to auto accidents in the state, including California auto accident statistics, has earned him the esteem of his peers and clients alike.

Mr. Burke is also a firm believer that his clients deserve to have access to as much relevant information about their cases as they desire. While many clients prefer for him to handle their personal injury claims while they concentrate on putting the pieces of their lives back together, others choose to avail themselves of the information at their disposal as clients of Mr. Burke’s. The auto accident statistics presented in this article represent just a few of the many available as part of Mr. Burke’s vast array of resources.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an auto accident, or if you have tragically lost a loved one in such an accident, Mr. Burke would welcome the chance to evaluate your case.

The Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) Report

In California, the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) Annual Report of Fatal and Injury Motor Vehicle Traffic Collisions represents one of the best resources for auto accident statistics. The most recent report was published in 2013 and contains statistics covering the entire calendar year of 2012. Among the many notable statistics included in this report, in 2012:

There were 159,696 collisions that resulted in injury, the lowest number since 1969.
There were 2,758 fatal collisions, the lowest number since 1945.
In the 2,758 fatal collisions, 2,995 people were killed; of these, 1,679 people were occupants (as opposed to drivers).
Of the vehicle occupants killed in auto accidents, 420 were not wearing seat belts or using any other equipment to protect themselves from injury.
Of the vehicle occupants injured, 7,886 were not wearing seat belts or using any other equipment to protect themselves from injury.
The ratio of people injured to people killed in auto accidents was 76 to 1.
Excess speed was the primary cause of the collision in 29.8 percent of fatal or injury auto accidents.
There were 451 motorcyclists killed, 60 of whom did not wear safety equipment.
There were 11,472 motorcyclists injured, 1,411 of whom did not wear safety equipment.
Among fatal and injury auto accidents, 9.1 percent were of the hit-and-run variety.
There was not a single day without a traffic fatality. The last day in California without a traffic fatality was September 5, 2009.