Hawthorne Car Accidents Blamed on Excessive Traffic and Red-Light Scofflaws

Many Hawthorne accident attorneys agree that car collisions in the city are virtually inevitable. Given a population of over 90,000 people and its close proximity to the 105 and 405 Freeways, Hawthorne in Los Angeles County, California is in a stranglehold of traffic congestion fueled by increasing numbers of motorists commuting to work. And although Hawthorne car accident statistics are not intolerably high, there is considerable work to be done to make the city safer.

Speeders, red-light runners and drunk drivers all make a tragic impact on Hawthorne's car accident statistics. Between 2001 and 2003, nine people lost their lives in car crashes, according to reports gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. At 1.1 fatal Hawthorne car crashes per 10,000 people, this was lower than the national norm."

The California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) revealed that, in 2006, eight people died and 352 were injured in city car accidents. Drunk drivers caused three deaths and 49 crash injuries. Pedestrian accidents resulted in one death and 40 injuries. Hawthorne bicycle accidents injured 23. Hawthorne motorcycle accidents were responsible for three deaths and 18 injuries. In 2007, eight car collisions caused as many fatalities.

Hawthorne car collision attorneys insist that a large number of accidents are caused by red-light runners. Almost 40 percent of all car crashes are intersection-related, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Red-light scofflaws are responsible for as many as 180,000 crashes every year, causing over 1,000 deaths and 90,000 injuries annually. Regrettably, auto fatalities at traffic signals are climbing faster than any other type of fatal crash across the U.S.

To stem the rise in car accidents, Hawthorne instituted a red-light camera program across the city. Cameras were installed at 120th St and La Cienega, El Segundo and Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne Blvd. and El Segundo Blvd., Imperial Hwy and Hawthorne Blvd., and Rosecrans and Hindry (close to Costco and the 405 Freeway exit). Across the country, speed cameras are used in over 40 jurisdictions, and red-light camera programs have been set up in more than 400 communities.

As an added traffic safety measure, the city lowered its posted speed limit along the entire length of Hawthorne Blvd. to 25 mph. These and other pro-active efforts, including DUI checkpoints set up routinely throughout the city, have helped make Hawthorne a safer city.

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.