1.    Sideswipe Accident Statistics in San Diego County

According to data available from the University of California, Berkeley, 1,360 sideswipe accidents occurred in San Diego County in 2015, the most recent year from which statistics are available.  That equates to more than 3.7 accidents per day.  In addition, 1,725 people either suffered injuries or were killed in these crashes.  That equates to more than 4.7 people suffering injuries or losing their lives every day somewhere in the county because of this type of impact between vehicles.  The prevalence of these types of collisions is likely surprising to most people.

2.    Leading Causes of Sideswipe Crashes

The same data from UC-Berkeley provide statistics relating to what is known as “PCF” or primary collision factor.  According to that data, the following were the most common causes of sideswipe accidents in San Diego County in 2015:

• Improper turning – 498 crashes
• Unsafe lane change – 221 crashes
• Unsafe speed – 150 crashes
• Automobile right-of-way – 123 crashes
• Traffic signals and signs – 52 crashes

Clearly, problems tend to arise when motorists attempt to execute a turn or change lanes, as the motorists who are hit are often unprepared to react to such a mistake.

3.    Sideswipe Accidents and Alcohol

Alcohol is a relevant factor in just about any type of car accident that occurs.  This is no different when it comes to sideswipe accidents.  The data indicate that in 2015, 167 sideswipe crashes were those which involved alcohol in some way.  That represents 12.3 percent of all of the sideswipe accidents that took place during 2015 in the county.  That’s more than three of these types of accidents every week, and yet another reason that driving while under the influence of alcohol is so dangerous for anyone who happens to be near such a driver at any given time.

4.    Sideswipe Crashes Involving Other Forms of Travel

Sideswipe accidents do not always involve two cars, pickup trucks or SUVs.  In fact, approximately one-third of all San Diego sideswipe crashes that occurred in 2015 involved at least one person who was traveling in a different way.  Below is the breakdown of these collisions in the county in which other modes of travel were involved:

• Large trucks – 59 crashes, or 4.3 percent of all sideswipe accidents
• Pedestrians – 36 crashes, or 2.6 percent of all sideswipe accidents
• Motorcycles – 226 crashes, or 16.6 percent of all sideswipe accidents
• Bicycles – 132 crashes, or 9.7 percent of all sideswipe accidents

Overall, these different collisions total 453 San Diego sideswipe accidents, or 33.2 percent of all of the collisions of this type that took place in 2015.

5.    Where San Diego Sideswipe Accidents Occurred

Based on where these accidents occurred, it’s clear that nowhere in the county is immune to these crashes.  Below are the five general areas where the highest number of sideswipe accidents took place:

• Within the San Diego city limits – 457 accidents
• Between Interstate 5 and Interstate 15 north of Interstate 8 – 146 accidents
• Between Carlsbad and Oceanside – 118 accidents
• El Cajon – 109 accidents
• Escondido – 65 accidents

These crashes include those that occurred on freeways and on city streets.  These areas also cover most of San Diego County on a point-by-point basis.

How a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

When the number of injuries and fatalities exceed the number of accidents of a particular type that occurs, it should be clear that these types of crashes are extremely dangerous.  Sideswipe accidents cause a tremendous amount of harm.  These are also collisions where it can be difficult to determine who is at fault.  As such, people who try to recover damages by themselves often face difficulties when dealing with the insurance companies that get involved after an accident.

People who face this situation need to be able to focus on their physical and emotional recoveries.  Adding the stress of pursuing a financial recovery from skilled professionals does not generally aid in this effort.  If you or someone you love has been harmed in a sideswipe crash, seek the help of San Diego car accident lawyers who have been fighting successfully for the rights of injured clients for more than a decade.  Contact Gomez Trial Attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation.