Every day, you drive, walk, or bike on the streets of your community, trusting that they are reasonably safe. But have you ever wondered how your city or county actually stacks up when it comes to traffic safety? The State of California provides an official and often sobering answer.

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) compiles a yearly “Score Card,” which ranks every county and city based on their crash data. This isn’t just a list of numbers; it’s a powerful tool that reveals the specific dangers present in your community. It highlights which areas are struggling with issues like drunk driving, speeding, or failing to protect their most vulnerable residents.

When another person’s negligence turns you or a loved one into one of these statistics, this data can become a critical part of understanding the context of your case.

Turning Alarming Statistics into a Powerful Legal Case

The OTS Score Card breaks down traffic incidents into several key categories. Looking at these rankings shows us where the biggest problems lie and, more importantly, where innocent people are getting hurt.

• Pedestrian and Bicycle Fatalities: The data consistently shows a tragic number of deaths and injuries among people on foot or on a bike. When we handle a pedestrian accident or bicycle accident case, we investigate whether the location of the crash was a known “hot spot” that the city failed to address.
• Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists are uniquely vulnerable on the road. The Score Card often reveals high rates of motorcycle injuries and deaths in certain areas, highlighting the dangers riders face from inattentive drivers. This data provides crucial context for a motorcycle accident claim.
• Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Despite years of public awareness campaigns, drunk driving remains a plague on our roads. The OTS rankings show which communities have the highest rates of alcohol-involved crashes, a key piece of evidence in holding drunk drivers accountable for the devastation they cause.
• Speeding-Related Crashes: The data proves that speed kills. When we take on a serious car accident case, we investigate whether excessive speed was a factor, using the state’s own data to show a pattern of dangerous behavior in the area.

In the most tragic instances, where an accident results in a fatality, the family deserves to know that they are not alone. The OTS data shows just how widespread these preventable deaths are, strengthening the resolve to pursue a wrongful death claim and hold the negligent party fully accountable.

The OTS Score Card is more than a government report; it’s a reflection of real lives impacted by preventable tragedies. It’s a reminder that every number represents a person whose life was changed in an instant.

If you have been injured, you are not just another statistic. You are an individual who deserves justice. Let us help you build the strongest possible personal injury case, using every tool available to prove your claim.

Contact Manoukian Law for a free and confidential consultation.