Burbank Car and Pedestrian Accidents Take a Nosedive

Burbank, California, the city made famous by Hollywood studios, enjoyed a respite from pedestrian and car accidents last year. Burbank Police shared the good news: a 14 percent decline in car crashes; 1,857 in 2008 compared to 2,161 in 2007, and 2,026 in 2006. Injury accidents dropped as well; just 471 in 2008 compared to 542 in 2007, more than a 13 percent drop. Non-injury car collisions were also down; 533 in 2008, compared to 619 the previous year.

"In a high-traffic city of over 108,000, a downward swing in car collisions is an important achievement," said John Bisnar, the well-known car accident attorney.

Another noteworthy achievement was Burbank's reduction in pedestrian accidents. While they rose marginally in the past three years (50 in 2007, 51 in 2006, and 52 in 2005), they fell 24 percent in 2008 to just 38. Car collisions dropped from 408 to 358, a 12 percent decrease. Hit-and-run injury collisions were more than cut in half from a high of 35 in 2007 to just 16 in 2008. Bicyclists, on the other hand, didn't fare so well--suffering an increase in car collisions from 24 in 2007 to 33 in 2008, or a 37 percent increase (perhaps due to people trying to save gas). And helping to get drunks off the road, police arrested 389 DUIs in 2008--the highest year-end total ever.

In a victory for parents and other drivers near Edison Elementary School, Burbank approved the use of a school crossing guard at a dangerous intersection. The guard will help regulate a multi-lane traffic nexus controlled by six stop signs where Keystone Street crosses through Chandler Boulevard South, Chandler Boulevard North and the Chandler Bikeway. This cross-quilt of roads frequently confuses drivers and endangers children walking to Edison. Many drivers cross the intersection, rushing to work or to nearby John Burroughs High School. Some drivers make U-turns around the bikeway. Bike riders needle through the intersection without stopping, distracting drivers trying to work their way through the maze of stop signs, kids, bicycles and other cars. Hopefully, the crossing guard will help improve the safety of this problem intersection.

"Assigning a crossing guard to such a busy, complex intersection makes sense," exclaimed John Bisnar. "Perhaps it's time for the city to consider installing traffic lights in the place of some stop signs."

Be on the Hit-and-Run Lookout

BISNAR | CHASE, in conjunction with WeTip, a leading anonymous crime reporting service and law enforcement advocacy non-profit organization, is launching a program intended to wipe out hit-and-runs in the state of California by offering rewards for tips leading to the arrest and felony conviction of hit-and-run drivers. See Hit-and-Run Reward for more details.

BISNAR | CHASE 2006-2010 Super Lawyers names outstanding lawyers from more than 60 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. BISNAR | CHASE has received this award for five consecutive years. Brian Chase was named one of the 2010 Top 50 Orange County Lawyers.