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The Inland Empire’s Auto Injury Risks During The Holidays

By Justin King, President, Justin King Law

Driving on California’s roadways is getting riskier. Between distractions, dangerous drivers and an upcoming holiday season, this trend is likely to continue to close out the year in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. You should be on high alert and contact an Inland Empire injury attorney if injured in a motor vehicle accident.

Distracted and Dangerous Drivers

Speeding, drunk driving and tailgating are classic examples of careless and reckless driving that still are major contributors to traffic accidents everywhere. Though hand-held phone use and texting-while-driving is banned in California, these unlawful activities remain top causes of collisions.

Nearly all experimental studies using driving simulators or instrumented vehicles report that driver performance was affected by the cognitive distractions associated with cellphone tasks. Experts warn that a driver who takes their eyes off the road, for more than literally two seconds, will double the odds of a crash.

Freeway Hazards

The largest number of pedestrians in the U.S. were killed crossing interstates and freeways in California from 2015 to 2017.

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety found that nearly 3 out of 5 people killed while crossing California’s freeways were doing so at points with residential land on one side of the roadway, and non-residential property – like commercial or industrial property – on the other.

The data indicates that pedestrians are risking their lives to cross a freeway, and their chances of survival decrease due to inadequate lighting, improperly designed overpasses and underpasses and little-to-no barriers to prevent them from crossing from the outset. Drivers must be aware of this emerging risk, and pedestrians should find alternate crossing methods.

The Notorious Empire

The Inland Empire is already infamous when discussing roadway traffic. In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked the area the number one unhealthy commute in the U.S., largely attributable to having the then-highest rate of fatal motor vehicle accidents per capita.

Construction is never-ending in the area, as well. Further, more drivers are expected to resume traditional holiday travel plans after months of COVID-19 restrictions, which means increased dangerous driving and conditions, and injuries. Vigilance is needed, whether you’re a driver or pedestrian.

Anyone injured due to the negligence of another driver should call an Inland Empire auto accident attorney for justice.