The California Office of Traffic Safety “Score Card” page provides statewide annual totals and category breakdowns. NHTSA’s FARS database offers national comparisons. For location-level crash data, CHP’s SWITRS system and the UC Berkeley SafeTREC TIMS mapping tool give researchers, journalists, and community advocates detailed collision records that can be filtered…
In most cases, California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 gives injured people and families two years from the date of a crash or death to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Exceptions can shorten or extend this deadline – especially for claims involving government entities or minors…
NHTSA and CHP data show speeding and impaired driving – both alcohol and drugs – as the primary factors in fatal crashes, often combined with distraction or failure to wear seatbelts. Distracted driving is believed to be heavily undercounted in official reports because it is difficult to prove without phone…
Crash severity can depend on several factors, including vehicle speed, the type of collision, road conditions, visibility, and whether pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists are involved. Impaired or distracted driving can also increase the risk of a serious outcome. Because every collision is different, investigators look at the specific circumstances and…
Fatal traffic crashes are typically investigated by the law enforcement agency responsible for the area, such as the California Highway Patrol or a local police department. Investigators may review the crash scene, vehicle damage, witness statements, roadway conditions, and other available evidence to determine contributing factors and document the collision.
