Being involved in an Oxnard car accident can be stressful and traumatic, often coming with significant impact on your health and finances. A 2019 study from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that the total cost of car accidents in the United States was nearly $340 billion.
Yet, given the underlying causes and sheer number of people on the road, it increases the chances that you or someone close to you might be involved in one. That’s why it’s important to understand what your legal options are, should you be in an Oxnard car accident that’s someone else’s fault.
Types of Car Accidents in Oxnard
One of the most difficult aspects of a car accident in Oxnard is that you can be involved in all manner of different types of car accidents, each of which carry their own specific consequences. For instance, you can expect certain injuries from a head-on accident that you won’t necessarily see in a t-bone accident. That said, every car accident, regardless of the type, can result in injuries or even death.
According to data from the California Highway Patrol’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS), Oxnard has seen an average of 995 car accidents over the last five years which resulted in an injury or fatality.
Source: TIMS
While unfortunate, it’s important to understand the different types of car accidents that are most prevalent in Oxnard. When you are involved in a car accident, it could be any of the following:
- Single-vehicle accident
- Multi-vehicle accident
- Rear-end accident
- Sideswipe accident
- T-bone accident
- Head-on accident
- Hit-and-run accident
Not only can you be involved in any of these types of accidents, there are also certain underlying causes for every car accident that happens in Oxnard.
Leading Causes of Car Accidents in Oxnard
No two car accidents in Oxnard are alike. In fact, every car accident is unique in terms of what caused them to happen in the first place. When you get behind the wheel of a car, you owe it to yourself and everyone else you share the road with to drive safely and pay attention so that you don’t cause an accident and injure yourself or someone else.
That said, among the most common causes of car accidents in Oxnard in recent years has been speeding. TIMS data found that there were 363 speeding-related car accidents in 2022.
Source: TIMS
Like many other causes, the number of speeding-related accidents in Oxnard over the last five years has fluctuated. Speeding, like many other negligent driving behaviors, frequently causes car accidents in Oxnard. The reasons behind this aren’t complicated, speeding severely limits the driver’s ability to:
- React to things in the road
- Keep the car under control
- Stop the car in time
- Turn or go around corners safely
- Follow traffic rules
- Deal with changing road conditions
- Avoid crashing into other cars or people
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Injury in an Oxnard Car Accident?
Because a car accident can occur at any time, it’s always in your best interest to be prepared. While you can’t always prevent an accident from happening, there’s a number of ways you can at least reduce the risk of injury. The major one is always wearing a seatbelt. Virtually everyone that drives a car understands that it’s safer to wear a seatbelt, but unfortunately that doesn’t always result in people wearing them.
According to TIMS, there were 30 accidents in Oxnard that resulted in injuries and fatalities where occupants weren’t wearing a seatbelt in 2022.
Source: TIMS
Not surprisingly, being an “unrestrained occupant” in a vehicle can make your injuries much more severe in a car accident. Being in a seatbelt reduces you or your passenger’s risk of being injured by:
- Keeping you from being ejected from the vehicle.
- Preventing you from hitting the windshield or dashboard.
- Distributing the force of the crash over a larger area of your body.
- Slowing down your body’s movement during a collision.
- Helping you stay in a safer position inside the car.
While wearing your seatbelt is one of the best ways to reduce your chances of being hurt in an Oxnard car accident, it’s worth remembering that some people are vulnerable to accidents and injuries regardless of the measures they take.
Oxnard Car Accident Statistics For Older Adults
While everyone is vulnerable to being injured in an Oxnard car accident, certain people are more vulnerable than others. Two of the biggest categories here are young children and older adults. While young children’s bodies are still developing and are smaller and weaker than an older person, most children have the benefit of being kept safe in a car seat.
Elderly people, on the other hand, are just as vulnerable to injuries in an Oxnard car accident without the benefit of being in a car seat. According to TIMS, 2022 saw 115 car accidents that involved older adults and resulted in injuries or fatalities.
Source: TIMS
As the data shows, older adults in Oxnard are, unfortunately, more likely to suffer significant injuries in car accidents because:
- As people get older, their bodies become weaker, which means they can get hurt more easily in accidents.
- They have slower reaction time, making it tough for them to respond quickly to unexpected things on the road.
- Aging often means seeing and hearing less well, which can make it hard for drivers to notice important things on the road.
- Many older people take medicines that can make it harder to drive safely, or they have health issues that make them more likely to get hurt in an accident.
Contact Experienced Oxnard Car Accident Lawyers
When you’re involved in a car accident in Oxnard, it can be overwhelming. That’s why you can turn to our team of Oxnard car accident lawyers at Quirk Accident and Injury Attorneys. We have the knowledge and experience to make sure you get what you’re owed to under the law.
This can include:
- Paying for your medical bills.
- Fixing your car.
- Helping with the emotional distress you may be feeling.
- Financial support for your pain and suffering.
No matter what the circumstances are that went into your accident, we’ll be there to guide you through your recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.