Losing a loved one is never easy, but coping with a death can be especially challenging if it could have been prevented. Sadly, this is the reality that tens of thousands of families across the country must face every year because of traffic fatalities. What’s worse, this figure keeps rising.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the pandemic brought with it a surge of motor vehicle deaths. In 2021, there were almost 43,000 traffic fatalities across the United States, which represents a 10.5 percent increase from 2020.
As for 2022, there were roughly 9,560 motor vehicle deaths during the first three months alone, according to preliminary data. That time period does not include some of the most dangerous holidays for driving, like Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so it’s reasonable to assume other quarters are going to see even more traffic fatalities.
Experts believe motor vehicle deaths are on the rise because risky behaviors skyrocketed during the pandemic. When normal life ground to a halt, boredom took over, and people became inclined to do more reckless activities, like speeding and driving under the influence.
Ironically, that meant the number of deadly crashes increased, even as the number of vehicles on the roads were decreasing. Experts hoped the trend was temporary, but over the last year, it’s become clear that it’s not.
As for those in Los Angeles County, there’s one intersection in particular that’s been especially problematic. Where La Brea and Slauson avenues meet, there have been 48 crashes alone since last year. Roughly 1 out of 3 of these collisions have been attributed to speeding. Other factors include distracted driving and street racing.
Another intersection that’s incredibly hazardous lies where the 710 Freeway and Rosecrans Avenue meet. Considered the deadliest corner in Los Angeles County, this intersection has seen seven fatal crashes between 2011 and 2021. A preliminary review of the data does not indicate how many people died in those accidents.
Most recently, however, a collision killing five, including a pregnant woman, occurred at the La Brea intersection mentioned above. A 37-year-old woman allegedly ran a red light while traveling at more than 90 mph and careened into multiple vehicles.
Naturally, those in the community are frightened, and merely driving down the streets in question can be stressful. L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell has been working with the Department of Public Works to add speed bumps in the hopes of mitigating the danger. She expects them to be installed by the end of the year, but admits it’s only a start.
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Did you lose a loved one to a drunk, drowsy, or distracted driver? For compassionate representation, turn to the Law Office of Michael D. Waks.
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Print Our Car Crash Emergency Response .PDF
Should you ever find yourself in a collision, it’s wise to record the scene before leaving the area. This will allow you to put together the strongest claim possible. To ensure you always have a handy checklist with instructions for doing just that, download our Car Crash Emergency Response .pdf and print copies to store in the glove box of each of your vehicles. Download it HERE for free.