If you've gotten hurt in an accident of any type in the City of Orange California, you'll need superior legal representation. At ELFPI.com, our intake specialists know that the best customer is an educated one.
Before you hire a local injury attorney, your medical providers must stabilize you so you can get healthy. But all the while, it's important that you have an understanding of how the legal process surrounding an injury claim works.
As an example, as you start the insurance claims process, you'll want to get your car fixed as soon as possible, or at least get the fair market value so you can buy another one. And oh what a hassle obtaining a rental car while your car is getting fixed. Statistics show your total loss settlement check will be higher if you retain legal counsel for your case. It's also important to have some statistical data so that you may fully realize that although your accident is unique to you, unfortunately, it's not something that only you have been through.
Invariably, the others who have been down this road before you have experienced varying degrees of legal representation. As a result, they've also received different amounts of compensation. My name is Michael Ehline Esq, and I want to work hard to support you through this trying time so that you may have a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Over the years, hundreds of injury victims have come directly to my law firm or have been referred by the numerous individuals that I have successfully investigated and represented over the years.
I'd like to personally welcome you to call or email me using the contact form on this page so that I may have an opportunity to support you on the journey to recovery of both your mind and spirit as well as the compensation you deserve.
Over the years my accident clients in Orange California have asked me many of the same questions. As a resource and guide, I have broken these out into six main questions. I think you'll find the answers quite useful.
Call me if you have any questions regarding these, as I'd be happy to answer them. Perhaps you have some information that you'd like me to add to this section. If so, please don't hesitate to reach out. Feedback so far, tells me that this page is the most comprehensive page on the internet regarding accidents in the City of Orange Ca.
At the last census, 140,981 people resided in the City of Orange, in Orange County, California. Just three miles north of the county seat of Santa Ana, it is one of the oldest and unique cities in the constituency.
All one needs to do is head to the Old Orange Circle to notice that the construction of many structures and dwellings in the Old Town District were made well before 1920.
Orange became a municipal corporation back on April 6, 1888. Of note, Orange is unique in Orange County because it was designed and constructed encompassing a town square. Because of this, it was nicknamed the Plaza City.
Noteworthy here is that the Plaza's dedication plaque is in memorial to our brave military veterans who died in support of their country. (Also known as the "Orange Circle.") But how Old Orange became modern Orange is a story in and of itself. Historically, back in the old days before freeways, Orange's main resupply and distance transport artery was the California Southern Railroad lines. Before this it was the horse and buggy.
But towards the end of the 19th centennial, Orange began to bustle and rise in its population due to the need for fruit pickers and manual laborers, as well as the ancillary businesses serving these individuals.
Of course, where Orange gets its real name is citrus, in particular, oranges. The trains helped transport these fresh fruits and boom; Orange took off rapidly. So naturally, this was during the so-called "Orange era."
But as more and more services businesses like barbers, clothiers, grocers, etc., moved to Orange with the workers, small areas of service-related commerce sprung up alongside the orchards. Hence, over time, the property values became so high that many growers sold to land developers and cashed out.
Later, Orange experienced growth spurt number two, called the "Real Estate boom" of 1886–1888. But in the 1950s, even more, growers sold, which garnered in a second real estate sell-off.
As a matter of fact, the "Villa Park Orchards Association" packing house, is the only fruit packing operation remaining in Orange County. Of interest, it remains near the historic rail lines to this day.
In short, during the 1950's real estate expansion, new freeway systems were making it easier for people to commute to and from places of work and home. Because of this and a burgeoning populous of returning war vets, government-subsidized private bungalows and housing tracts sprung up all over the city up until the 1970s.
To this very day, Orange is continuously upgrading and growing, but at a slower pace. Also, you don't see too many orange groves anymore. For the most part, trains and horses have been mostly replaced by automobiles as the dominant form of transportation in Orange. The types of accidents and personal injury mishaps have gone from falling from a horse or orange tree to high-speed vehicle collisions on Orange's bustling and intricate freeway systems.
As discussed, Orange remains strategically positioned off of several freeways. Also, the Interstate 5, Santa Ana Fwy runs through the Orange SR 57, and Garden Grove SR 22 Freeways.
Traffic gets so bad during the morning, and after-work rush hour, this geographical area and interchange system has earned itself the nickname of: "Orange Crush."
Also, the Costa Mesa SR 55 Freeway runs through Orange, joining with the eastern desistance of southern SR 22 in the City of Orange. Also, there are newer toll roads to be wary of unless you're a paying customer. It's best to avoid accidentally going through one of these without a form of payment in hand, as it will lead to a mailed citation by the Orange County Tax Collectors.
Identified as the Eastern and Foothill SR 261 and SR 241, these two highways connect Orange, Irvine and Rancho Santa Margarita.
By and large, most of the original Spanish land grants have since been broken up or sold. Modernly, Orange is a cosmopolitan and mostly Caucasian city. There are still remnants of its once patriotic, conservative veteran community.
But the demographics are redistricting left due to the high populous of undocumented alien residents, and their anchor babies canceling the local citizens out of their historic voting districts. So slowly, Orange is transforming into a flag-burning, Democrat-run, welfare benefits-oriented sanctuary city.
"The City" displaced the Orange Mall and is now the largest, most trafficked indoor shopping mall in Orange. Also noteworthy here, is that many celebrities were born in Orange, including several top NFL, MLB, and NCAA players, a news meteorologist, and professional golfer, to name a few.
There are many bicycle trails and parks here. It is a great area to rear children with some excellent schools. There is a heavy Mormon presence here, and it retains its traditional low crime, apple pie image from when our founder, attorney Michael Ehline, lived there.
There are many places and types of employment here, and it's close to the interstate 55 Freeway and 91 Freeway, making it a great place to live if someone commutes to LA or Newport Beach. As life becomes more and more hectic with work and supporting one's family, folks get in a rush to go to and from.
This sense of urgency and angst often leads to mistakes while drive, and various forms of accidents that often leave individuals physically damaged.
With so many freeway systems, roads, streets and avenues, car accidents and motorbike crashes do happen in the City of Orange. We also have many work-related injuries here in the City Orange. These unfortunate events can and often do upend a person’s life. Naturally, there are often many questions that swirl around an accident victim's mind after such an injury. That would be of course if they didn't suffer a brain injury which may have led to their inability to have the proper cognitive function at which point it would be their family who would be doing the thinking for them.
Of particular concern are things like the cost of treatment, loss of enjoyment, loss of income, and many other essential curiosities do pop up. For the injured party, these tasks are too large to take on by themselves.
So they often need the help of a legal expert to help their family recover fully. Consequently, this is where the lawyers at Ehline Law excel.
Because our attorneys are specialized in many fields of personal injury, they have argued and won hundreds of cases for our clients across California.
Hence, we make a promise to our customers to achieve justice for them. We won’t stop fighting for you and those you love until we win. For example, all investigations needed in your matter will launch rapidly.
In the first place, our specialists seek any and all pertinent video footage surveillance evidence of the episode and try and locate any witnesses. If so, we work diligently to lock down their written and recorded statements and to collect all tangible evidence that supports your case.
Furthermore, we work on contingency, meaning we don’t ask for one red cent unless we recover for our clients.
Yes, it is! And one of our main strengths is our local City of Orange focus. The firm is in Southern California statewide. So we do have many conveniently located offices in the greater Los Angeles area.
Our attorneys have fought in Orange County courts before. Plus, we have earned a rapport with judges and clerks across the county.
And we also have contacts and experience in Anaheim and Santa Ana. Most of all, we use all of our tools for our clients. Noteworthy here is that our lead attorney, Michael Ehline, was born in the City of Orange, and he grew up in the area. He feels a unique sense of duty and responsibility to support fellow City of Orange residents.
As seen in the below infographic, the Center for Disease Control ("CDC") separates the bodily injuries and deaths it records into the following classifications:
For the blind, this above chart says that:
To prevent the above, the CDC recommends things like booster seats, child restraints and seatbelts for auto accidents, creating a culture of sports safety, making fall prevention education part of clinical care, drug care overdose prevention, safe, nurturing care for kids, empowering women and girls to create secure relationships, etc.
Five Leading Causes of Injury Non-fatal Emergency Department Visit (treat & release, or transfer to another facility) in Orange, 2014 All Ages All Ages Rank Cause Of Injury Number of Injuries Population Rate 1 Unintentional - Fall 55997 3138057 1784.4 2 Unintentional - Struck by Object 21785 3138057 694.2 3 Unintentional - MVT, Occupant 11810 3138057 376.3 4 Unintentional - Overexertion 10564 3138057 336.6 5 Unintentional - Cut/Pierce 10000 3138057 318.7 http://epicenter.cdph.ca.gov/ Page 1 of 1
There are no reported sources for Orange City itself, but it's safe to assume these numbers are similar in the city. As noted above, slip and fall cases top the list at 55,997 reported injuries. Believe it or not, being struck by an object actually tops car accidents in total reported injuries, at 21,785 claims.
Although traffic accident occupants make up just 11,810 reported victims, many others become involved in these cases besides people in the cars and other vehicles, as will be discussed.
As an example, we know that when an elder falls, that person will often bang their head, or even bust a knee cap.
Also, we know that people 85 or older commonly slip and fall when compared to younger adults. Falls to elders with brittle bones almost always include injuries to the wrist, neck, hips, and even head trauma.
As a matter of fact, we know that persons aged 85 or more, are at 10-15 times higher risk for suffering a hip fracture than people aged 60-65 years.
Sadly, at least half of all seniors age of 65 or older who were hospitalized for a hip fracture were unable to go back home, or if they could, they required full-time nursing assistance.
And it's not just seniors, did you know that even truckers are injured more in slips and falls than in truck crashes?
Other common injuries like spinal cord trauma and whiplash are typical of car accidents. But remember that falling and flying objects are a significant cause of head, shoulder, and neck injuries.
Above are just the more common injuries you would suffer in Orange from a typical accident.
We are well aware that if you have been involved in a pedestrian, bicycle or motorcycle crash that your medical conditions and even psychological trauma will be more cataclysmic.
As we assemble the facts of your case, we skillfully compute the damages based upon expert opinions and actuarial tables. For example, we seek additional funds for past, present and future medical and rehabilitation costs as well as lost income. Simultaneously, we build a case for collections of pain and suffering damages.
Because some defendants are likely to have dedicated law firms representing them, you should as well.
You can trust in us to vigorously prosecute your matter with integrity. Our intake specialists and lawyers maintain up-to-date knowledge of local regulations.
Equally important, they have the investigative capabilities fundamental to pin down offenses that may have caused or contributed to the catastrophe.
We answer the phone and email 24/7 and offer the best “bedside manner” of any firm in the state. Therefore, you can contact us anytime. So telephone now and maybe score a win at (714) 912-9724.
Ehline's attorneys have overlapping specialties that allow our firm to be flexible and durable.
We aim to help from the first step to the last. So we work with a variety of experts to ensure the best possible care for our clients. Plus, we work with medical professionals to accurately diagnose your injuries and the means to fix them.
Let our years of experience work for you. We will come to you anywhere in Southern California to discuss your situation and legal options.
From 2006-2018 there were 10,984 total collisions with injuries in the City of Orange. This number included 104 people killed, and 15,385 injured.
During this same period, there were 563 pedestrian collisions. (5.1%) Also, there were 783 bike accidents. (7.1%) Motorcycle collisions added up to 801 (7.3%). Last, there were a total of 1,020 fatalities. (93%).
As noted, distracted driving remains the most common contributing factor to car accidents in Orange, as it does in other cities.
As you can see above, crash trending seems to be at a downtick as of 2018. Let's hope Orange is using a Safe Systems Approach to road safety. Next on our list is going to be a distraction and then impairment. Although they are similar and overlap, read along and get a better understanding.
As noted in the table above, it is almost impossible to escape an injury in a motorcycle crash in Orange. In fact, out of 150 crashes, there were 158 injuries, which indicates that more than 100% of crashes involved death or injury.
When comparing this statistic to enclosed trucks and other autos, it is an astronomical jump in total percentages.
In the below data table, you can see a total of 20 riders dies in crashes in the City of Orange from 2006-2018. Comparing this to the above data table, that means only three non-riders died in motorcycle involved collisions.
Sadly, out of those homicides, nine accidents included driving while intoxicated, while 11 were just ordinary non-intentional crashes.
Alcohol Involvement | Fatal | Severe Injury | Visible Injury | Complaint of Pain | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
No | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
Total | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Alcohol Involvement | Fatal | Severe Injury | Visible Injury | Complaint of Pain | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
No | 0 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 99 |
Total | 0 | 122 | 0 | 0 | 122 |
(Source TIMS 2006-2018 Data Table.)
As seen above, 23 out of 122 severe injury motorcycle collisions within the City of Orange involved the use of alcohol or drugs.
Orange - Motorcycle Victims TIMS_Query (PDF)
Collision Severity
|
Count
|
%
|
---|---|---|
1 - Fatal | 22 | 14.67% |
2 - Injury (Severe) | 128 | 85.33% |
As noted above, the most common age and gender group for Orange motorcycle accidents are:
As noted below, the most popular City of Orange motorcycle collision is the broadside, representing 27.33% of all motorcycle wrecks, and shown in the data table below.
Type of Collision
|
Count
|
%
|
---|---|---|
- - Not Stated | 3 | 2.00% |
A - Head-On | 7 | 4.67% |
B - Sideswipe | 21 | 14.00% |
C - Rear End | 26 | 17.33% |
D - Broadside | 41 | 27.33% |
E - Hit Object | 29 | 19.33% |
F - Overturned | 18 | 12.00% |
H - Other | 5 | 3.33% |
The top DMV Code violation associated with Orange motorcycle accidents is unsafe speed, representing 29.33 percent of all City of Orange motorcycle accidents. (See below pie chart.)
Case ID | Date | Time | Primary | Secondary | Distance | Direction | Alcohol |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2580156 | 2006-03-17 | 01:35 | WEST KATELLA AV | N MAIN ST | 0.00 | - | Yes |
2822727 | 2006-08-13 | 00:55 | RT 55 | KATELLA AV | 465.00 | S | Yes |
3240364 | 2007-04-26 | 14:13 | RT 57 | ORANGEWOOD AV | 207.00 | S | No |
3471197 | 2007-11-18 | 16:28 | E SANTIAGO CANYON RD | E SANTIAGO CANYON RD 7845 | 0.00 | - | Yes |
3737511 | 2008-03-16 | 23:09 | RT 55 | LINCOLN AV | 767.00 | S | Yes |
3753380 | 2008-03-25 | 21:48 | WEST CHAPMAN AV | S MARKS WY | 55.00 | W | No |
3956673 | 2008-09-06 | 22:30 | RT 57 | CHAPMAN AV | 20.00 | S | No |
4015258 | 2008-11-16 | 18:10 | SANTIAGO CANYON RD | JAMBOREE RD | 1110.00 | E | Yes |
4392214 | 2010-01-24 | 09:12 | SANTIAGO CANYON RD | JAMBOREE RD | 1418.00 | E | No |
4926144 | 2010-09-24 | 01:55 | RT 57 | LEWIS ST | 1307.00 | E | Yes |
5291141 | 2011-05-01 | 02:05 | WEST ORANGEWOOD AV | N ECKOFF ST | 209.00 | E | Yes |
5639003 | 2012-10-16 | 16:35 | WHITECAP AV | ORANGE OLIVE ST | 0.00 | - | No |
5911887 | 2013-10-17 | 08:50 | RT 5 | CHAPMAN AV | 617.00 | S | No |
6291376 | 2014-06-27 | 16:02 | NORTH TUSTIN ST | EAST SANTA ANA CANYON RD | 549.00 | S | Yes |
7006376 | 2015-07-03 | 04:00 | BATAVIA ST | KATELLA AV | 0.00 | - | No |
90050153 | 2015-10-23 | 02:09 | INTERSTATE 5 SOUTHBOUND | ORANGEWOOD AVENUE | 550.00 | S | No |
6293016 | 2016-08-14 | 16:27 | SANTIAGO CANYON RD | RT 241 | 820.00 | E | Yes |
8465462 | 2017-10-09 | 13:30 | GLASSELL ST | TRENTON AV | 148.00 | N | No |
90659313 | 2017-12-21 | 23:48 | INTERSTATE 5 N/B TO STATE COLLEGE BLVD. | STATE COLLEGE BLVD | 600.00 | S | No |
8808224 | 2018-09-16 | 01:20 | SANTIAGO CANYON RD | JAMESTOWN WY | 0.00 | - | No |
Amazingly, but not a surprise, 44.76% of all pedestrian accidents happened at road crossings! But 26.47% of pedestrian accidents happened when pedestrians crossed roads without using a crosswalk.
Collision Severity | Count | % |
---|---|---|
1 - Fatal | 24 | 4.33% |
2 - Injury (Severe) | 77 | 13.90% |
3 - Injury (Other Visible) | 260 | 46.93% |
4 - Injury (Complaint of Pain) | 193 | 34.84% |
So it's easy to see how comparative fault comes into play in these cases. In other words, sometimes the person run over in the street bears some liability for their personal negligence.
Building a sustaining California remains the primary goal of the California Department of Public Health ("CDPH"). And the CDPH claims that around 19% of traffic fatalities are pedestrian-related. Remarkably, this number is around 58% greater than the national average.
And although this percentage may seem unthinkable, California's safety agencies work laboriously to shrink the number of people seriously injured or killed in pedestrian roadway wipeouts.
For example, children traveling and from school remain at particular risk of being run over. We recommend you look at the safest routes if you are a parent or guardian looking to find the least worrisome method of child transport. Just take a look here at the California Safe Routes to School Program. Also, take a look at the California Pedestrian Safety (PedSafe) Program (More.)
As seen below, over 80% of pedestrian collisions happen when a car runs a person over. As noted in other sections, around 80% of those crashes happen at a crosswalk or intersection. Don't think you're safe. Always look both ways before crossing the street.
Type of Collision | Count | % |
- - Not Stated | 3 | 0.54% |
A - Head-On | 11 | 1.99% |
B - Sideswipe | 20 | 3.61% |
C - Rear End | 17 | 3.07% |
D - Broadside | 36 | 6.50% |
E - Hit Object | 10 | 1.81% |
G - Vehicle/Pedestrian | 452 | 81.59% |
H - Other | 5 | 0.90% |
Right away, we see that the darker, evening hours play a significant role as to when wrecks occur in Orange.
Adding to the lack of clearest twilight eyesight, comes the twilight rush hour traffic, people playing with smartphones. Plus, scofflaws are getting off work driving home after having a few drinks or puffs off of a joint.
These critical driving factors and others pile on the risk of sunset driving incidents.
The number one, top primary collision factor involving Orange pedestrians is the failure to yield to a pedestrian, making up 36.10% out of the reported 558 pedestrian accident injuries.
But what about pedestrians not paying attention? Well, this is a factor considered during the negligence claim phase of your accident.
Factors considered will be whether or not the person on foot was paying attention to traffic signals, or whether or not the victim looked both ways before crossing.
After all, it is foreseeable to someone out for a stroll, for example, that a car driver might not look before making a right turn, right into the lawfully occupied crosswalk. At the end of the day, the victim has to mitigate.
In other words, the victim needs to try and avoid or lessen the risks inherent in the activity of navigating the public and private streets and sidewalks while on foot.
PCF Violation Count % - - Not Stated 23 4.15% 00 - Unknown 37 6.68% 01 - Driving or Bicycling Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drug 16 2.89% 03 - Unsafe Speed 29 5.23% 05 - Wrong Side of Road 4 0.72% 06 - Improper Passing 3 0.54% 07 - Unsafe Lane Change 1 0.18% 08 - Improper Turning 17 3.07% 09 - Automobile Right of Way 24 4.33% 10 - Pedestrian Right of Way 200 36.10% 11 - Pedestrian Violation 157 28.34% 12 - Traffic Signals and Signs 10 1.81% 16 - Other Equipment 1 0.18% 17 - Other Hazardous Violation 1 0.18% 18 - Other Than Driver (or Pedestrian) 9 1.62% 21 - Unsafe Starting or Backing 16 2.89% 22 - Other Improper Driving 6 1.08%
California Vehicle Code § 21950 (Driver failing to yield right of way) is the top statute violated in most City of Orange pedestrian accidents, making up 42.24% with 234 total violations issued for pedestrian accidents.
Also, this violation corresponds with the most common way for a pedestrian to become injured in the FAQ table above. Type of Violation Description Count % 21950 Driver must yield to pedestrian right of way in a crosswalk. 234 42.24% 21954 Pedestrian yield, upon roadway outside crosswalk. 83 14.98% Other 21204 (1) 21465 (1) 21754 (1) 21755 (2) 26707 (1) (66) 72 13.00% 22350 Unsafe speed for prevailing conditions (use for all prima facie limits). 29 5.23% 21456 'Walk' pedestrian failure to yield right-of-way to vehicles already in crosswalk. 17 3.07% 22106 Starting or backing while unsafe. 16 2.89% 22107 Unsafe turn with/without signaling. 16 2.89% 21453 Red or Stop, vehicles stop at limit line or X-walk. When making right turn at a red light/stop sign driver required to yield to any vehicle approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard. 14 2.53% 21952 Sidewalk, failure to yield to pedestrian on. 13 2.35% 21804 Public or private property, yield to approaching traffic so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. 12 2.17% 23153 Driving under the influence of alcohol, drug, or combination, causing injury or death to another. 10 1.81% 23152 Under influence of alcohol, drug, or combination, while driving a vehicle. 9 1.62% 21801 Left turns or U-turns yield until reasonably safe. 7 1.26% 21955 Jaywalking, between signal controlled intersections. 6 1.08% 21650 Right half of roadway, failure to drive on. 4 0.72% 20001 Hit-run, injury or death, immediate report of fatal. 2 0.36% 21461 Traffic control sign, failure to obey regulatory provisions. 2 0.36% 21951 Crosswalk, overtaking and passing vehicle stopped for pedestrian within. 2 0.36% 22450 Stop sign, failure to stop at limit line, crosswalk, or entrance to intersection. 2 0.36% 21658 Laned roadways (2 or more lanes in direction of travel), straddling or changing when unsafe. 1 0.18% 21802 Entering through highway, yield until reasonably safe. 1 0.18% 21956 Walking on roadway, other than pedestrian's left edge. 1 0.18% 22100 Right or left turn at intersection, improper position. 1 0.18%
As noted above, the most common age and gender group for Orange motorcycle accidents are:
As noted elsewhere on our Laguna Beach page, testosterone is thought to play a role in risk-taking, which may be why younger males tend to be in more crashes than females of the same class. Victim Degree of Injury Count % 1 - Killed 24 4.04% 5 - Suspected Serious Injury 79 13.30% 6 - Suspected Minor Injury 278 46.80% 7 - Possible Injury 213 35.86%
45% of all Orange traffic accidents to a walker happen while the individual is acting crossing a crosswalk at an intersection.
Knowing this, parents of small kids should be especially wary at a traffic crossing. Jaywalking should be avoided, even at implied crosswalks.
Pedestrian Action Count % - - Not Stated 14 2.53% B - Crossing in Crosswalk at Intersection 247 44.58% C - Crossing in Crosswalk Not at Intersection 13 2.35% D - Crossing Not in Crosswalk 147 26.53% E - In Road, Including Shoulder 79 14.26% F - Not in Road 51 9.21% G - Approaching/Leaving School Bus 3 0.54%
Believe it or not, most car accidents take place during clear weather. In fact, 86.82% of all pedestrian accidents happen during clear weather. But we do live in California, so we have to consider that it rarely rains in the state.
Hence, rainy day accident accounting for 2.17% of all traffic accidents to amblers in the City of Orange, is no small statistic.
Remarkably, cloudy weather accounted for 59 out of 554 pedestrian injuries from the period of 2006-2018 for reported accidents in the City of Orange.
Weather
|
Count
|
%
|
---|---|---|
A - Clear | 481 | 86.82% |
B - Cloudy | 59 | 10.65% |
C - Raining | 12 | 2.17% |
G - Wind | 2 | 0.36% |
Lighting
|
Count
|
%
|
---|---|---|
A - Daylight | 337 | 60.83% |
B - Dusk - Dawn | 25 | 4.51% |
C - Dark - Street Lights | 176 | 31.77% |
D - Dark - No Street Lights | 16 | 2.89% |
The top three most dangerous intersections in the City of Orange from 2006-2018 are:
Rank | Intersection | # of Coll |
---|---|---|
1 | CHAPMAN AVE & TUSTIN ST | 76 |
2 | MEATS AVE & TUSTIN ST | 74 |
3 | CHAPMAN AVE & CR S18 & PROSPECT ST | 67 |
4 | CHAPMAN AVE & HEWES ST | 64 |
4 | KATELLA AVE & TUSTIN ST | 64 |
5 | GLASSELL ST & KATELLA AVE | 63 |
5 | PALM AVE & TUSTIN ST | 63 |
6 | LINCOLN AVE & TUSTIN ST | 58 |
7 | BRIARDALE AVE & TAFT AVE & TUSTIN ST | 57 |
8 | CHAPMAN AVE & RAMPART ST | 55 |
Better policing and locality awareness is an essential first step in fostering a more walkable city. But it can’t just halt there.
The city needs to address these dangerous streets on a case by case basis with studies and solutions that also consider population growth factors.
"
Statistics show that Orange bicycle accidents rank number four overall for most traffic accidents at 782 total reported accident victims. And this figure arises out of 15,489 reported traffic accident victims from 2006-2018.
So that makes up 5.05% of all Orange traffic collisions. Compared to autos, bikes made up five fatalities and 40 severe injuries. For the number of accidents reported, bicyclists are at a statistical disadvantage without the protective interior of an auto during a crash.
Of special interest, Orange is a great place to ride bicycles. But you must remain wary and understand that many potentially liable parties may play a role in paying for a bicycle wreck. It's not just cars that cause bike crashes.
The Plaza city enjoys several recreational bike and equestrian trails. Seamlessly, many trails send you right into city traffic from enjoying a ride with nature along the riverbed.
You see, commuting by bicycles in Orange is a way of life that many enjoy. But when the trails are not adequately maintained people get hurt.
So potentially liable parties include, the City, homeowner Associations, and even volunteers. (See also City of Orange Trails Map.)
As an example, a poorly maintained trail with inadequate warnings of dangers and poor security could place a homeowner's association at fault for a bicycle crash.
If it's a government maintained area, the City itself could be liable under the Tort Claims Act as a sovereign entity.
Bicyclers are subject to many accidents that are totally unrelated to being run over by a vehicle. As noted above, a rider could be maimed, or killed due to a poorly maintained trail, or public roadway.
But there are also hazards to riders like construction equipment, an unmarked trench, a hidden pothole, non-operational, or poorly phased traffic light.
There are countless ways a rider can become harmed. Sometimes even the bike itself has a defective part or is or a poor design that fails, causing a wreck.
In Orange, CA and around the U.S., bicycle riders are supposed to abide by the written and unwritten rules of the road. Yes, true, some laws are different for riders than for autos, but everyone is expected to be careful.
Noteworthy for this discussion is that 59% of bicycle accidents do not involve another vehicle. In fact, these are singular episodes.
Typically, single-vehicle incidents like this include the cyclist losing control of the bicycle. The result is usually a crash into a parked car, a gutter, curb, hedgerow, or some other body.
Of course, frequently the rider was trying to avoid getting run over by an inattentive or aggressive motorist and was forced to take evasive action. So now the bike is crashed, and the rider is scraped up pretty bad or worse.
The other driver will say they did nothing wrong and that the cyclist crashed on his/her own. The cyclist will be in a pickle.
After all, the choice was to face death or steer into a less dangerous situation. And it required split-second decisionmaking.
This arguing over fault, and who pays is the battlefield for the lawyer, and further discussed below.
Unfortunately, there are no available local statistics for City of Orange bus or commercial trucking collisions. But there are federal, state, and county data which we will discuss below. First off, trucks, coaches, and even some vans have many similarities in function and use.
For example, they are both large, heavy commercial vehicles engaged in hauling something for hire. Also, both vehicles generally require a specially licensed driver.
Comparing the two motor vehicles, Buses are livery vehicles transporting people and not just items. Buses are a widely-used form of public transportation in the City of Orange. Many bus routes serve other cities, the suburbs, and even some rural locations.
Buses remain a cost-productive and malleable form of public transport. Most towns will require little initial investment of capital to establish new lines or bus routes.
Buses don't typically tow trailers with hitches. Trucks do, and they have the option to haul more and swing wide with these extra features.
Trucks mainly are used to haul nonpersons, such as:
In fact, this list above could be virtually infinite. Almost everything we wear, eat, or drink was brought in on a big rig truck to its final marketplace. These big rigs are private companies who bid on and compete for shipping contracts.
Many times shippers have iron-clad road freight contracts stating that these good shall be delivered quickly. The reasons for the need for speed will vary, but the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") recognizes the perishable nature of the item(s) or contractually agreed to delivery date(s) to arrive at the retailer or wholesaler.
Orange, Old Orange, in particular, is strategically located right off the 22 Freeway. But old Orange has narrow streets when compared to a newer city like Aliso or Mission Viejo.
Many of the older brick buildings, in particular, are not retrofitted for earthquakes, let alone the additional stress heavy trucks cause while traversing these historic neighborhoods.
So bus and truck drivers must pay special attention when they drive. In fact, bus and coach drivers owe a special duty of care to their passengers, as common carriers for hire. But this is because the bus company has placed those on board under its care as their transporters.
Limousines and taxi companies owe this same duty to those entrusted to them with carriage contracts.
Another similarity between these types of vehicles is that their sheer loads, weight, and size means one wrong move can lead to a mass casualty event.
So when we hear or read about commercial transportation accidents in the news, many dead and injured people are usually part of the news headline.
There are many public bus companies in cities like Orange, mostly government-run. Typically they will have established routes, and designated bus stops to drop and pick up passengers. Many are disabled equipped; some are not.
For example, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) runs most public, non-school transport within the City of Orange. Also, the Orange Unified School District Transportation Department administers the routes and operation of school buses under their jurisdiction.
There is no similar county-run trucking company because governments generally will not engage in competitive commerce. Instead, established busing is considered part of the general welfare of citizens. Finally, busing helps to facilitate human commerce and protect the environment.
There are some great statistics found here dealing with truck and bus fatalities. As discussed above, this could be the making of a wrongful death claim based upon many negligence-based factors.
Typically, a school bus transportation-related accident is one that denotes a city or county school bus ferrying kids back and forth to school and interdependent school activities.
Moreover, figures from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, FARS is shocking.
It shows that 1,282 people died in school-related transportation collisions between 2007 and 2016 in the U.S. Orange has its share of severe and fatal injury school bus crashes as well.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration claims that 4,889 large trucks and buses fatally crashed in 2017. And this makes sense. After all, metro city buses, Greyhounds, school buses, and commercial trucks are sharing the lanes with cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Naturally, this can be a recipe for disaster.
The weight of large trucks and buses alone can cause catastrophic and fatal injuries. But the shipping, busing companies and school districts must protect other commuters due to the disastrous potential of these massive vehicles.
The expensive insurance they must carry to transport is mandatory. And this is because these heavy vehicles are responsible for a disproportionate share of injuries and deaths on the roads.
Buses carry more weight and are harder to maneuver when turning. If a driver is not qualified to handle the bus on average, let alone harsh weather, this can result in a ghastly pile-up.
Common Reasons for Truck and Bus Crashes:
But above all, driver inexperience is a primary reason for a bus crash. Keep in mind that an essential part of any claim process made by your California Bus Accident Lawyer is determining the cause of the accident.
Typically it is human error. But what about the future? Who can you sue for an automated vehicle personal injury?
After all, soon we will see driverless transport vehicles all over the roads. As a matter of fact, the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe) reviewed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
They did this because they are attempting to understand the legal compliance and enforcement pitfalls connected to the exploitation of automated commercial vehicle technology in replacing human vehicle operators on the public roads.
There are many types of accidents, so there is not always a black and white answer to the question of liability. For example, a building owner needs to make safety inspections and perform regular maintenance.
If not, the landlord pays. But what if the victim is partially at fault? Then a court or the parties will apportion fault to make it fair.
Another example would be a vehicle operator striking a pedestrian or bicyclist. Without any doubt, the motorist has more considerable mechanical energy, acceleration, and momentum speed at his/her dispensation.
Where it gets interesting is that some motorists misbehave and act like motorcyclists and bicyclists are a nuisance. Road ragers have even been known to run cyclists off the road.
Sometimes road rage plays a role in this aggressive recklessness. And of course, cyclists too must abide by the rules of the road.
Albeit, some sections in the Vehicle Code apply differently to bicycle riders and bicyclists when compared to passenger car regulations.
Take, for example, bicycle accidents. The California Vehicle Code mandates that autos maintain a 3-foot buffer zone space between the larger motorized conveyance and the bicycle rider. The idea here is to grant the cyclist some legal protection on the books.
In Orange, as in other towns across the United States, all people are counted upon to follow the written and unwritten code of conduct and civility.
So for example, a pedestrian crossing the street is expected to look both ways before crossing. Similarly, bicycle riders may be scoffed at during the liability stage of their court case for things like:
Under California's clear comparative negligence law, both parties in an accident can be partially to blame. In the case of an accident between a motorcyclist and an auto driver, each party pays based upon their prospective degree of fault. A jury or court would reduce the total economic recovery based upon the rules of apportionment.
But this could apply just as seamlessly to a slip and fall case where the victim reasonably knew or should have known of the fall dangers present, for example.
If you are a victim injured in any type of accident in Orange, filing a paying claim with the city clerk where the setback occurred, or against the manufacturer or seller of the defective parts means having the best and bravest attorneys on your side.
If your mishap was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person, you qualify for compensatory damages.
Here, the law pays you money for your medical expenses, lost work, and your pain and suffering. Sometimes you even get punitive damages. But these are mostly monies paid for intentional torts like battery and false imprisonment, for example.
But other illegal activity like DUI, excessive speed, or texting while operating a vehicle could also warrant an award to punish a vehicle's driver for his or her outrageous conduct, to dissuade in others from engaging in this bad behavior.
Most of all, if a or a jury agrees that both parties bear some fault for the mishap, comparative negligence rules apply.
Because of this rule, only the apportioned percentage of fault is paid to the injured party, not the full amount. Of course, if the other person was also hurt, that person could possibly countersue victim one for their property damage or bodily injuries.
So if you sufferred a serious injury in the City of Orange, or lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, you ought to take in the full requital you law claim to. Of course, there is no desirable way to assure that this occurs than to seek advice from the personal injury attorneys at Ehline Law Firm.
Our partners are always fighting the good fight, right by your side. Most of all, we vigorously negotiate with the other side, forever standing up for your rights.
Our deep-rooted sophistication and hefty legal dexterity will be placed at your disposal immediately upon engagement of our superior services.
Above all, we maintain the knowledge, experience, skill, and resources to thoroughly and tirelessly stake out the defendants and witnesses. Our bunch will flesh out the specifics of your case. As always, we will work to obtain the specified police reports, photographic evidence, percipient eyewitness, and/or expert attestation.
All of this, we do in order to assure you garner windfall like compensation. ELFPI personal injury lawyers in Orange can be reached via the contact us form on our website or by picking up the phone and dialing 888.400.9721 - We are available!
Michael Ehline is the author of several books and articles like the one you just read, including How to Become a Lawyer with No Law School. He is President of Ehline Law Firm Personal Injury Attorneys, APLC.
He lives in Greater Los Angeles County, with his wife and two children. You can reach Michael here.
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