Laguna Beach Car Accidents Blamed on Winding Roads and Dangerous Intersections

Laguna Beach in Orange County, Californiais a popular seaside resort with a population of almost 24,00 people. Regrettably, Laguna Beach has been plagued with high traffic congestion and an unwelcome share of car collisions.

"High-speed winding roads, bicyclists and tourists unfamiliar with its roads has led to a variety of Laguna Beach car accidents," noted John Bisnar of the BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm. "Pacific Coast Highway has also seen a number of car accidents."

Laguna Beach has 20 beaches and is served by Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and Highway 133, a road that passes through Laguna Canyon. During rush hour, residents and drivers familiar with these roads often tailgate and exceed posted speed limits causing many Laguna Beach car crashes.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports, between 2001 and 2003, Laguna Beach experienced seven fatal car accidents. In 2006, the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) reported that one person was killed and 128 people were injured in Laguna Beach car collisions. DUIs caused 15 Laguna Beach car crash injuries. Pedestrian accidents killed one and injured 16. Laguna Beach bicycle accidents injured seven and motorcycle accidents injured five.

Some of the most dangerous roads in Orange County can be found in Laguna Beach. Laguna Canyon Road is among the deadliest in the country. Traffic in the canyon is extremely dangerous, noted one resident with two fatalities in one month. Big Bend road is hazardous for children, as is bicycling in the city, particularly along the Pacific Coast Highway. Several jaywalkers have been killed on this highway

When it comes to intersections, one resident called the crossing at Park Avenue at Third Street "crazy" and "a nightmare." Another resident referred to this intersection as the most treacherous in Laguna Beach, owing to heavy traffic during work and school commutes. In July of 2008, a stop sign was finally approved at the intersection.

"There was one optimistic note for 2008," said John Bisnar. "Preliminary data from the California Highway Patrol indicate that car accident fatalities dropped about nine percent from 2007 to 2008."

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.