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Fullerton Car Accident 2023 Study

Fullerton is a great place to live, work, attend class, and enjoy some time off. Yet, living in such a popular place will mean more cars on the road and an elevated level of traffic accidents.

Fullerton pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists can all attest to the dangers of traveling during the busiest times along streets like Harbor Boulevard or State College Boulevard. It’s not always easy to avoid speeders and weaving drivers looking at cell phone screens instead of the road ahead.

To educate local drivers on the huge toll accidents take on our community each year, GK Legal conducted a study of recent traffic accident statistics. It’s hoped that these discouraging numbers and the awareness of the lives connected to each injury will prompt Fullerton motorists to pay more attention to their driving in 2023 and 2024.

Nationwide 2022 Car Accident Statistics

Many researchers and law enforcement agencies are still tabulating 2022 car accident numbers, but the National Safety Council (NSC) keeps a running tally of their projections on collisions in the United States and California throughout the year.

It appears the totals of fatal accident victims nationwide and for California have both dropped. The NSC estimates that 46,980 people lost their lives on U.S. roadways in 2021. In 2022, the number took a slight dip to 46,270 victims.

On California freeways and boulevards around 3,724 victims lost their lives across 2022. But in a bit of positive news, that tragic number was significantly lower than the estimated 4,161 people who lost their lives in 2021.

Of course, these figures are still shockingly high. It’s hard to accept that so many lose their lives on U.S. and California roads in a single year. And we must remember that each fatality represents a person whose loss will be felt by family, friends, and the community for years to come. Drivers can always decide to show more caution no matter where they travel to reduce these heartbreaking cases in 2023 and beyond.

Fullerton Car Accident Rates Over a Five-Year Span

Fullerton roads carry a lot travelers, even when the rush hours are through. Busy intersections like Edinger Avenue and Beach Boulevard put even safe motorists at risk of an accident when reckless drivers ignore the right-of-way or go too fast for conditions. These mistakes and others lead to hundreds of accidents a year in Fullerton.

California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) was consulted for its most recent accident data. When we look at the number of car collisions involving injuries over a recent five-year span, we see that incidents of car crashes appear to be in steady decline. Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that the downswing continues.

The pandemic of 2020 kept many people off the roads and reduced the number of collisions. 2021 carried over some of the calming of traffic. When compared to 2017 and 2018, there was a noticeable downturn in accidents in 2021.

Chart: 684 Fullerton Car Accidents in 2021

Sadly, while the Fullerton car accident rates dropped dramatically in 2020, the drop in the number of fatalities wasn’t as dramatic. However, overall, a steady decrease in tragic deaths can be observed from 2017 to 2021.

 

Chart: Six Fatal Fullerton car accidents in 2021.

 

Fullerton drivers don’t just impact other vehicles. They also endanger pedestrians. Major intersections like Nutwood Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue see too many car collisions involving those on foot.

TIMS recorded 38 pedestrian accidents involving injury in Fullerton in 2020. That number leaped to 50 cases in 2021. More must be done to give those on foot safe paths through Fullerton. And more effort must be given to penalizing the careless drivers who put Fullerton pedestrians in danger.

Fullerton DUI Accident Rates

Drivers who decide to get behind the wheel after having consumed drugs or alcohol put every other person on the road in danger. Fullerton alcohol-related accidents, sadly, appear to have only grown in number over the past few years.

TIMS documented at least 88 accidents involving drunk drivers in 2021. Those accidents led to at least two tragic deaths for the year.

Chart: 88 Fullerton alcohol-involved car accidents in 2021.

 

Orange County Car Accident Rates Over a Five-Year Span

The frequency of Orange County vehicle collisions took an expected dip in 2020. In 2021, accident rates rebounded but still stayed lower than the extreme levels seen in 2017 and 2018.

The accident levels are still very high overall for Orange County. The statistics include TIMS crash reports from cities like Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, and, of course, Fullerton.

Chart: Over 12,000 Orange County car accidents involving injury in 2021.

 

With a reduction in traffic during 2020, the tragic accidents involving the loss of life didn’t drop as much as one would expect. 2021 continued the steady fatality rate among those involved in Orange County accidents.

 

Chart: 196 tragic Fullerton car accidents involving a fatality in 2021.

 

Hope for a Safer 2023 on Fullerton Freeways and Boulevards

As 2022 accident figures are tabulated and we observe what 2023 still holds, it’s important to consider that much of our lives are spent on local Fullerton roads. Unfortunately, the actions of reckless drivers can endanger innocent lives during commutes, trips to the store, and the drive to school.

We must all strive to pay more attention to the lanes as we travel Fullerton. Increased focus on the act of driving gives pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, drivers, and passengers a better chance of getting home safely.

If you or a loved one are ever hurt in a car accident, please speak with a Fullerton car accident lawyer about your case. It’s an easy way to learn of the benefits traffic accident victims have available. The attorneys at GK Legal offer a free, no-obligation consultation to all Orange County accident victims. Schedule a free case review today.

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