The number of fatalities in motor vehicle accidents all over the United States has been decreasing over the past few years. In fact, the yearly death tolls recorded from 2010 to 2012 were the lowest since 1975, which was the time the federal government decided to collect statistical data on motor vehicle accident injuries and deaths. Despite the ongoing trend, there are a number of states that has seen a steady, albeit small, increases in accident deaths. Among them is the State of California.

From the year 2010 to 2012, California, one of the highly-motorized states in the country, recorded 2,715, 2,791, and 2,857, respectively. The number of motor vehicle crashes that resulted in fatalities likewise increased during that time period. Even if the efforts of law enforcement and local agencies to educate drivers about avoiding accidents in the state have reaped positive results, news reports about injuries, deaths, and damage to property keep popping up every day in California. Why do they still happen, anyway?

Here are some of the main reasons why California car accidents still occur:

• A lot of motorists still fail to adhere with the traffic laws that are currently implemented in the state. They still beat the red light, call or text someone while behind the wheel, unnecessarily speed off along the roadway, or fail to yield at intersections or when people cross the street. This is despite the aim of the current state traffic laws of effectively curbing the growing number of vehicle crashes.

• A lot of motorists in California disregard the “don’t drink and drive” mantra. Intoxicated driving can truly increase one’s chances of crashing his or her vehicle, which might also affect other innocent people on the roads. Although for years, law enforcement agencies in California have been going after wayward drivers and having them tested if they are intoxicated or not.

• Doing the little things while behind the wheel is sometimes taken for granted. A great example of such is the failure to wear the seatbelt. A lot of fatal motor vehicle accidents in California involved drivers and/or passengers who were not belted.

Regardless of sex or age, everyone can be involved in a car accident. Not only do these unfortunate events affect those inside passenger vehicles, but also pedestrians, as well as motorcyclists and bicyclists. Whether they resulted in serious injuries or deaths, these happen because of negligence, or failure to act in a reasonable manner under the circumstances.

As such, it is imperative for victims and their families to seek compensation from the liable parties responsible for these accidents. Usually, a car accident requires the expertise of a lawyer to help the aggrieved party negotiate with the other party and its insurance company. That way, the claiming party may be able to obtain the complete amount of compensation they deserve.

Meanwhile, if you have been injured in a car accident that happened in California, or your loved one died because of the same situation, then it is imperative that you hire the services of a lawyer who specializes in personal injury law cases.