Why Do Car Accidents Happen in the Bay Area?

cartwrightlaw - October 7, 2022 -

According to NHTSA, 42,915 Americans died from vehicle-related crashes last year, a 10.5% increase compared to 2020. California state recorded 4,161 fatalities. Moreover, millions of victims suffer varying degrees of injuries.

Unfortunately, car accidents often have a negative impact on the lives of victims. Most struggle with high medical bills, loss of livelihood, disability, loss of loved ones, pain, and suffering. Car accidents in the Bay Area affect innocent pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, and drivers.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Santa Rosa, the Santa Rosa accident lawyers of The Cartwright Law Firm can help you pursue fair compensation.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is perhaps the top major cause of car accidents in Santa Rosa – and across the U.S. Distracted driving is any activity that takes away the driver’s attention from the road. As a result, the driver cannot react on time or maintain their lanes, often leading to catastrophic accidents.

Below are common forms of distracted driving:

1. Grooming while driving
2. Texting and driving
3. Daydreaming
4. Eating and drinking
5. Adjusting climate control or audio
6. Dealing with pets or kids while driving

Despite the risks of distracted driving, drivers regularly engage in texting and driving. According to NHTSA, approximately 660,000 drivers use their phones at any given moment while driving.

Reckless Driving

Irresponsible drivers increase the risk of car accidents. Some drivers make genuine mistakes, while others choose to engage in unlawful and risky conduct. 

Some common forms of reckless driving include:

1. Tailgating: Some drivers hover less than two seconds away from the next vehicle in front of them, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions. Although tailgating is dangerous at any time, it’s riskier during traffic, at high speeds, or in bad weather.
2. Racing: Street racing is highly hazardous behavior on the road. First, extreme speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and stopping distance. In addition, competing drivers make reckless moves, like an abrupt change of lanes, which endangers others in the area.
3. Outrunning Police Officers: Some drivers go to any length to avoid the police after committing a traffic offense. Unfortunately, such perpetrators might excessively speed, ignore road signs, or run red lights, leading to deadly road accidents.

Speeding

According to NHTSA, speeding accounted for 29% of all road fatalities in 2020. Typically, speeding reduces safety for others on the road with the following consequences:

1. Increased stopping distance once the driver perceives danger
2. Increased severity of crashes, leading to severe injuries
3. Reduced effectiveness of vehicle protection equipment like airbags
4. A higher economic loss and injuries from a car crash

Traffic patterns contribute to aggressive behavior like speeding. As traffic builds up during rush hours, drivers often respond by speeding, abruptly changing lanes, or tailgating to beat the congestion. Some drivers speed while running late for work or other appointments.

Despite the reason behind speeding, it often has dire consequences. Sadly, victims of speeding accidents suffer severe injuries like paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and broken limbs.

Drunk Driving

Too many people suffer the effects of drunk driving on the roads. Although drunk driving is completely preventable, drivers continue to get behind the wheel after drinking and cause serious accidents involving motorists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

Alcohol affects the normal functioning of the brain. It impairs thinking, decision-making, and muscle coordination, making it difficult to drive a vehicle safely. Consequently, the driver may make fatal mistakes like speeding, not using indicators, running red lights, swerving, failing to stop, or ignoring a pedestrian crosswalk.

Road Hazards

Drivers expect a smooth ride free of debris, potholes, and obstructions. In addition, they rely on proper road signs and signals to anticipate what’s ahead and maintain a safe flow of traffic. Even so, responsible parties like contractors, road authorities, or the city council fail in their duty to maintain roads or warn motorists.

Some common hazards that can catch motorists unaware include:

• Sharp corners with excessive speed limits
• Maintenance equipment in the road
• Lack of road signs
• Abrupt change of road surface or gravel on the road
• Potholes or large cracks

Risky driving habits like speeding, distracted driving, or drunk driving impede a driver’s ability to navigate obstacles. For instance, a speeding driver may see an obstacle when it’s too late to react, leading to serious accidents.

Poor Weather Conditions

Poor weather conditions are a leading cause of car accidents in Vacaville. First, it affects the driver’s ability to handle their vehicle. Secondly, it contributes to poor visibility, making it more difficult to navigate the road safely. Weather conditions are not justification for all accidents, however. Often, drivers are not careful enough or fail to slow down in adverse weather, leading to an accident. 

Heavy Downpour

Heavy rains lead to poor visibility, reducing the distance you can see ahead of you. Moreover, rain causes hydroplanes— a thin layer of water that builds under the tires. As a result, the tires don’t get a good grip on the road, which can sway the vehicle in any direction.

Heavy Winds

Extreme wind has varying effects on road safety, including:

• Wind may blow dust, debris, or sand into the air, obstructing the driver’s sight
• High winds may blow debris onto the road, causing the vehicle to swerve
• Winds may destabilize the vehicle while turning, causing lane obstruction and leading to rollover accidents

Fog

Fog is another risky weather condition responsible for car accidents. It results in poor visibility which affects the drivers ability to drive safely. When drivers have no visibility, they should pull over. When they don’t, they might be liable for an accident. 

Consult a Reputable Santa Rosa Accident Law Firm

If you get injured in a car accident, you deserve compensation to help you cover your losses and return to living as much of a normal life as possible. You always want to work with an experienced car accident lawyer from The Cartwright Law Firm. 

Contact us online or call us at (415) 851-6486 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

According to NHTSA, 42,915 Americans died from vehicle-related crashes last year, a 10.5% increase compared to 2020. California state recorded 4,161 fatalities. Moreover, millions of victims suffer varying degrees of injuries.

Unfortunately, car accidents often have a negative impact on the lives of victims. Most struggle with high medical bills, loss of livelihood, disability, loss of loved ones, pain, and suffering. Car accidents in the Bay Area affect innocent pedestrians, cyclists, passengers, and drivers.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Santa Rosa, the Santa Rosa accident lawyers of The Cartwright Law Firm can help you pursue fair compensation.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is perhaps the top major cause of car accidents in Santa Rosa – and across the U.S. Distracted driving is any activity that takes away the driver’s attention from the road. As a result, the driver cannot react on time or maintain their lanes, often leading to catastrophic accidents.

Below are common forms of distracted driving:

1. Grooming while driving
2. Texting and driving
3. Daydreaming
4. Eating and drinking
5. Adjusting climate control or audio
6. Dealing with pets or kids while driving

Despite the risks of distracted driving, drivers regularly engage in texting and driving. According to NHTSA, approximately 660,000 drivers use their phones at any given moment while driving.

Reckless Driving

Irresponsible drivers increase the risk of car accidents. Some drivers make genuine mistakes, while others choose to engage in unlawful and risky conduct. 

Some common forms of reckless driving include:

1. Tailgating: Some drivers hover less than two seconds away from the next vehicle in front of them, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions. Although tailgating is dangerous at any time, it’s riskier during traffic, at high speeds, or in bad weather.
2. Racing: Street racing is highly hazardous behavior on the road. First, extreme speed reduces a driver’s reaction time and stopping distance. In addition, competing drivers make reckless moves, like an abrupt change of lanes, which endangers others in the area.
3. Outrunning Police Officers: Some drivers go to any length to avoid the police after committing a traffic offense. Unfortunately, such perpetrators might excessively speed, ignore road signs, or run red lights, leading to deadly road accidents.

Speeding

According to NHTSA, speeding accounted for 29% of all road fatalities in 2020. Typically, speeding reduces safety for others on the road with the following consequences:

1. Increased stopping distance once the driver perceives danger
2. Increased severity of crashes, leading to severe injuries
3. Reduced effectiveness of vehicle protection equipment like airbags
4. A higher economic loss and injuries from a car crash

Traffic patterns contribute to aggressive behavior like speeding. As traffic builds up during rush hours, drivers often respond by speeding, abruptly changing lanes, or tailgating to beat the congestion. Some drivers speed while running late for work or other appointments.

Despite the reason behind speeding, it often has dire consequences. Sadly, victims of speeding accidents suffer severe injuries like paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, fractures, spinal cord injuries, and broken limbs.

Drunk Driving

Too many people suffer the effects of drunk driving on the roads. Although drunk driving is completely preventable, drivers continue to get behind the wheel after drinking and cause serious accidents involving motorists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

Alcohol affects the normal functioning of the brain. It impairs thinking, decision-making, and muscle coordination, making it difficult to drive a vehicle safely. Consequently, the driver may make fatal mistakes like speeding, not using indicators, running red lights, swerving, failing to stop, or ignoring a pedestrian crosswalk.

Road Hazards

Drivers expect a smooth ride free of debris, potholes, and obstructions. In addition, they rely on proper road signs and signals to anticipate what’s ahead and maintain a safe flow of traffic. Even so, responsible parties like contractors, road authorities, or the city council fail in their duty to maintain roads or warn motorists.

Some common hazards that can catch motorists unaware include:

• Sharp corners with excessive speed limits
• Maintenance equipment in the road
• Lack of road signs
• Abrupt change of road surface or gravel on the road
• Potholes or large cracks

Risky driving habits like speeding, distracted driving, or drunk driving impede a driver’s ability to navigate obstacles. For instance, a speeding driver may see an obstacle when it’s too late to react, leading to serious accidents.

Poor Weather Conditions

Poor weather conditions are a leading cause of car accidents in Vacaville. First, it affects the driver’s ability to handle their vehicle. Secondly, it contributes to poor visibility, making it more difficult to navigate the road safely. Weather conditions are not justification for all accidents, however. Often, drivers are not careful enough or fail to slow down in adverse weather, leading to an accident. 

Heavy Downpour

Heavy rains lead to poor visibility, reducing the distance you can see ahead of you. Moreover, rain causes hydroplanes— a thin layer of water that builds under the tires. As a result, the tires don’t get a good grip on the road, which can sway the vehicle in any direction.

Heavy Winds

Extreme wind has varying effects on road safety, including:

• Wind may blow dust, debris, or sand into the air, obstructing the driver’s sight
• High winds may blow debris onto the road, causing the vehicle to swerve
• Winds may destabilize the vehicle while turning, causing lane obstruction and leading to rollover accidents

Fog

Fog is another risky weather condition responsible for car accidents. It results in poor visibility which affects the drivers ability to drive safely. When drivers have no visibility, they should pull over. When they don’t, they might be liable for an accident. 

Consult a Reputable Santa Rosa Accident Law Firm

If you get injured in a car accident, you deserve compensation to help you cover your losses and return to living as much of a normal life as possible. You always want to work with an experienced car accident lawyer from The Cartwright Law Firm. 

Contact us online or call us at (415) 851-6486 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

Our successful case results are a reflection of the values and virtues we believe in and uphold at Cartwright Law Firm. Nothing stops us from pursuing justice on behalf of those who need it.

Robert E. Cartwright Jr.
Founder and Managing Partner