West Covina Car Accidents Attributed to Dangerous Intersections and Red-Light Runners

With a diverse population of well over 112,000 and motorists increasingly vying for space on crowded city streets, West Covina car accident attorneys see it as no surprise that traffic accidents continue to mount. Heading up the list are accident-prone intersections that have contributed to tragic car collisions. Symptomatic of the city's crossroads crisis is the intersection of Cameron and Sunset avenues, one of 11 intersections considered the worst in Los Angeles County for red-light runners.

"Motorists who run red lights are 'rolling the dice' with their lives and the lives of the drivers crossing their path," said John Bisnar, a car accident lawyer with BISNAR | CHASE. "Stepped-up traffic enforcement can help convince these dangerous drivers that traffic laws must be respected."

Intersections plagued by alarming car accident statistics sadly exist in other venues in West Covina. In 2006, 192 major and minor intersections suffered traffic collisions throughout the city. The intersections are listed in descending order according to the number of reported traffic collisions:

• Fairway Lane & North Garvey Avenue
• Cameron Avenue & Garvey Avenue North
• Merced Avenue & Lark Ellen Avenue
• Lark Ellen Avenue & Merced Avenue
• Pacific Avenue & Willow Avenue

Adding to its unfortunate mix of hazardous crossroads, West Covina reported traffic collisions at 176 major and minor intersections in 2007. (The fall in car accidents from 2006 can most likely be attributed to motorists reducing their driving due to rising gas prices.) Once again, the intersections are listed in descending order according to the number of reported traffic collisions:

• Cameron Avenue & Garvey Avenue North
• Lark Ellen Avenue & Merced Avenue
• Merced Avenue & Lark Ellen Avenue
• Lark Ellen Avenue & Merced Avenue
• Lark Ellen Avenue & Puente Avenue
• Lark Ellen Avenue & Service Avenue
• Pacific Avenue & Willow Avenue
• Valinda Avenue & Service Avenue
• Amar Road & Leanna Drive
• Valinda Avenue & Service Avenue

Adding to the West Covina's woes is the tendency of many people to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In the last week of March 2009, West Covina Police arrested 11 motorists for dunk driving.

Underscoring West Covina's traffic problems are the city's total car accident statistics as reported in 2006. According to the California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), nine people lost their lives in West Covina car accidents and 628 were injured. Motorcycle and bicycle accidents injured 29 people in each category. DUI accidents killed three and injured 71. Two pedestrians were killed and 35 were injured in traffic accidents. The following year, 20 vehicles were involved in fatal car accidents that took 10 lives.

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.