Not only is California one of the biggest states, but it is also one of the most populated. There are an estimated 29 million cars on our roads and highways, making accidents an inevitable occurrence. While accidents can occur anywhere, regardless of the time or place, there are several highways in California known for its inherent dangers. In this blog, we list some of the most dangerous roads known to California according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (NHTSA-FARS).
I-5
Running for nearly 800 miles north to south from the San Ysidro Mexico crossing to the Oregon border, I-5 is known for being one of the most congested and deadliest highways in California. Connecting Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Ana, Redding, and Sacramento, this freeway was connected to 680 fatal crashes from 2010 to 2016. The portion of I-5 running through Los Angeles County, which has the highest traffic, had the highest density of fatal crashes.
I-15
This interstate is most commonly used for drivers heading to Las Vegas. Because of its heavy traffic, interstate 15 is considered to be one of the most traveled roads in not only the state, but in the country. I-15 is located on the outskirts of Riverside, but its turns and speeding drivers make it one of the state’s most dangerous highways. Also, during the hot desert summer months, the combination of heated asphalt roads and faulty or old tires can lead to catastrophic blowouts causing accidents.
I-8
Interstate 8, which runs outside of San Diego, is known to be in the top 10 most dangerous highways in the country with 134 fatal crashes from 2010 to 2016. Many drivers find that the interstate’s uneven lanes and constant twists and turns make this highway a nightmare to drive on. Because the lanes on I-8 are smaller than lanes on other roads, drivers often experience difficulty in staying in their own lanes, especially when trying to navigate around large commercial trucks and big rigs.
I-10
Interstate 10 is a major highway that connects bigger California cities to Arizona’s border and runs all the way to Florida. It runs through Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and San Bernardino, and is known to be one of the most fatal car-accident prone areas in Southern California and the country (54.5 fatal accidents per 100 miles). According to studies done by traffic safety administrations, an estimated 327 drivers were killed in accidents on the I-10 freeway between the span of 1994-2008. Apart from traffic volume, distracted driving, drowsiness, and alcohol intoxication are common causes of accidents that take place on the 10 freeway.
State Hwy 99
Finally, California State Highway 99 (SR-99) is officially the most dangerous road in America, with 16.3 fatal accidents per 100 miles. From 2010 to 2016, 134 fatal crashes occurred on this highway.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Southern California, you should not hesitate to contact a trusted Los Angeles car accident attorney. At Biren Law Group, we approach every case equipped with expert witnesses, investigators, and medical specialists. We find that our comprehensive litigation strategies give our clients the upper hand in court, which helps us secure fair and just compensation on their behalf.
Put more than 40 years of legal experience on your side. Call Biren Law Group today at (310) 896-4345 to schedule a free consultation.