On January 7, a pedestrian was struck and killed on eastbound Highway 50. In a separate incident on January 14, a male passenger suffered fatal injury in a serious crash that took place in the Natomas community.
These two 2014 incidents are just the most recent examples of a troubling trend. According to the latest figures available from city profiling website City-Data.com, Sacramento motorists have a significantly higher likelihood of being involved in a fatal accident than drivers and passengers in the state as a whole.
Pedestrian fatality rate double state average for Sacramento
The last years for which full data is available concerning Sacramento fatal car accidents are 2010 and 2011. In 2010, many areas around the country saw a significant increase in serious auto accidents, as the economic recovery was beginning to take hold and a stronger economy generally translates into more vehicles on the road. But, while fatal accidents throughout California continued at a relatively steady rate into 2010, they increased dramatically in the Sacramento area.
Per 100,000 in population, there were 10.3 fatal accidents in Sacramento in 2010. This compares to 5.1 per 100,000 in population for California's average as a whole. By 2011, Sacramento's rate had improved somewhat, to 8.6 fatal crashes per 100,000 in population. But, it still remained far above the 2011 statewide average, at 5.4 per 100,000 in population.
Part of the issue is likely Sacramento's unusually high rate of fatal pedestrian accidents. The California per capita rate of pedestrians involved in fatal crashes remained unchanged from 2010 to 2011, coming in at 2.2 per 100,000 in population both years. But, in 2010 the Sacramento rate of fatal pedestrian accidents was more than double the state average, at 5.1 per 100,000 in population. In 2011 there was a marked decline to 3.6 fatal pedestrian accidents per 100,000 in population, representing an improvement, but a rate that still far outpaced the general California average.
Get compensation
Compared to residents of California as a whole, those living and traveling in Sacramento are at a higher risk of involvement in a serious auto accident. If you have been injured in a car crash, or if you have lost a loved one, you may be able to obtain compensation from an at-fault motorist, an insurer, a government entity that failed to correct a dangerous roadway or anyone else who bears a responsibility to pay for your damages. Talk to a Sacramento car accident attorney today, and get the full legal recovery you deserve.
Contact Piering Law Firm today if a loved one has been killed in a fatal accident. We offer free initial consultations and are available to discuss your situation.