Understanding the common causes of car accidents in California isn’t just academic. It’s essential knowledge that can help protect you and your loved ones on the road while strengthening your legal position if you become injured through another driver’s negligence.

At Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP, our professional and dedicated attorneys have spent over four decades representing victims injured by negligent drivers throughout San Mateo County and beyond. If you have sustained injuries in a car accident, contact CHM Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Benefits of Hiring an Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim

Working with a skilled San Mateo attorney provides several crucial advantages, including the following:

  • Evidence Preservation – We will immediately secure crucial, time-sensitive evidence before it disappears, including surveillance footage, witness statements, and vehicle data.
  • Accurate Valuation – We will carefully calculate the full extent of your damages, including future medical needs and diminished earning capacity.
  • Insurance Negotiation Skills – We will counter insurance adjuster tactics designed to minimize your claim.
  • No Upfront Costs – We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.

What Compensation Could I Be Entitled to in an Auto Accident?

The aftermath of a car collision often leaves victims facing substantial financial burdens alongside their physical recovery. Through a properly handled car accident claim, you may recover compensation for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Property damage, such as vehicle repair/replacement

CHM Law Firm will work closely with medical experts, economists, and life-care planners to calculate the full value of your losses. Doing this means we can fight for comprehensive compensation that truly addresses your needs.

Whom Can I Hold Responsible for My Car Accident?

Depending on the circumstances, one or more of the following parties may bear responsibility for a San Mateo car accident:

  • Other drivers, when their negligence directly causes an accident
  • Vehicle manufacturers, if defective parts contributed to the crash
  • Government entities, when poor road design or maintenance plays a role in the accident
  • Employers, when accidents involve employees driving for work purposes
  • Alcohol servers, in some cases where establishments overserve intoxicated drivers

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit in California?

In California, the legal limitations period for most personal injury claims, including car accidents, is two years from the accident date. However, if your claim involves a government entity (such as accidents involving public transportation or poorly maintained roads), you must file an administrative claim within six months.

These deadlines are strict, and missing them can permanently bar your right to compensation. Certain exceptions may apply in limited circumstances, such as when injuries weren’t immediately discoverable or when the injured party is a minor. Contact CHM Law Firm immediately after an accident to determine what deadline applies to your case and to learn how our lawyers can preserve your legal rights to pursue compensation.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in California?

Understanding what causes collisions is crucial for both prevention and establishing liability. The most common causes of car accidents in San Mateo and throughout California include the following:

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is an ongoing problem on California roads, particularly with the rise of smartphone use. This dangerous behavior encompasses any activity that diverts attention away from the primary task of driving. When a driver takes their eyes off the road for just five seconds while traveling at 55 mph, they’ve covered the length of a football field essentially blindfolded.

Common distractions include the following

  • Texting or using mobile phones
  • Adjusting entertainment or navigation systems
  • Eating or drinking
  • Grooming
  • Reading
  • Interacting with passengers

Drunk Driving

Despite decades of public awareness campaigns and increasingly severe penalties, drunk driving remains one of the deadliest behaviors on California roads. Alcohol significantly impairs critical abilities needed for safe driving, including judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, visual function, and reaction time.

Under California law, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher for standard drivers, and lower thresholds apply for commercial drivers (.04 percent) and drivers under 21 (.01 percent). Even below these limits, alcohol can impair driving ability. When alcohol-impaired drivers cause accidents, they not only face criminal penalties but can also be held liable for substantial civil damages.

Following Too Closely

Commonly known as tailgating, following too closely occurs when a driver fails to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. This dangerous practice significantly reduces reaction time, making it virtually impossible to avoid a collision if the leading vehicle suddenly slows or stops.

The California Driver’s Handbook recommends following the “three-second rule,” which is to allow at least three seconds of travel time between your vehicle and the one ahead. This buffer should be increased during adverse weather conditions, when visibility is reduced, or when roads are slippery.

Tailgating accidents typically result in rear-end collisions that can cause serious injuries, particularly whiplash and other neck and spine injuries.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving encompasses a range of dangerous behaviors that put everyone on the road at risk. These include:

  • Excessive speeding
  • Weaving between lanes
  • Cutting off other drivers
  • Failing to signal lane changes
  • Running red lights or stop signs
  • Deliberately preventing other vehicles from passing or merging

Often stemming from impatience, frustration, or anonymity behind the wheel, aggressive driving can escalate to road rage, where drivers purposely endanger others. According to recent data, California is the worst state in the nation for road rage.

Drowsy Driving

Fatigued or drowsy driving creates impairments similar to alcohol intoxication. However, it receives far less attention as a public safety concern. Fatigue significantly degrades attention, judgment, and reaction time. Signs of drowsy driving include the following:

  • Frequent blinking
  • Heavy eyelids
  • Head nodding
  • Lane drifting
  • Missing exits
  • An inability to remember driving the last few miles

Those at the highest risk include commercial drivers, shift workers, those with untreated sleep disorders, and drivers who have taken certain medications. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving causes thousands of accidents annually, with many experts believing the problem is significantly underreported.

Speeding

Speeding is one of California’s most prevalent and dangerous driving behaviors. Exceeding posted speed limits or driving too fast for current conditions significantly reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or obstacles, reduces the distance needed to stop, and increases the severity of crashes when they occur.

Safety equipment like airbags and seat belts become less effective at higher speeds, and the risk of serious or fatal injuries increases exponentially. Speed-related accidents often involve the loss of vehicle control, particularly on curves or during adverse weather conditions.

Teen Driver Inexperience

The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teen drivers than any other age group. Their inexperience leads to poor hazard detection, underestimating dangerous situations, and risky decision-making. Common errors include following too closely, excessive speed, and distraction, particularly from peers and electronic devices.

California’s Graduated Driver Licensing program attempts to address these risks by placing restrictions on new drivers under 18, including limitations on night driving and transporting young passengers. Despite these measures, teen driver inexperience continues to contribute significantly to California’s accident statistics.

Elderly Driver Challenges

As drivers age, they often experience physical and cognitive changes that can affect driving ability. Elderly drivers may face challenges, including the following:

  • Declining vision (especially at night)
  • Decreased hearing
  • Slowed reaction times
  • Reduced mobility and flexibility
  • Medical conditions or medications that affect driving performance

While experience and typically cautious driving habits partially offset these challenges, age-related impairments can contribute to specific types of accidents, including failure to yield right-of-way, improper turns and lane changes, and confusion at complex intersections.

What Are Common Injuries Caused in Car Accidents?

Common car accident injuries include the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Whiplash and neck injuries
  • Fractures and broken bones
  • Internal injuries
  • Lacerations and contusions
  • Psychological trauma

The severity of these injuries often correlates with specific accident types. For example, head-on collisions typically cause more severe injuries than rear-end accidents at lower speeds. Our attorneys at CHM Law Firm can work with premier medical experts to document the full extent of your injuries and their long-term impact on your life.

What Should I Do If I Am Involved in an Accident?

If you’re involved in an accident, you can protect yourself and your claim by taking the following steps:

  • Seek Medical Attention – Even if you feel fine, get examined by a healthcare professional, as some injuries may not show symptoms immediately after the crash.
  • Report to Your Insurance – Notify your provider about the accident, but avoid making detailed statements until you’ve consulted an attorney.
  • Preserve Evidence – Keep all accident-related documents, medical records, and receipts organized for your legal case.
  • Avoid Social Media Posts – Discussion of your accident or injuries on any platform can be discovered and used against you by insurance companies.
  • Contact an Attorney – Consult an experienced car accident lawyer before speaking with insurance adjusters to protect your legal rights.

Contact an Experienced San Mateo Car Accident Attorney Today

The right legal team can make all the difference in your recovery and financial future. At CHM Law Firm, we combine decades of experience, aggressive advocacy, and genuine compassion to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Our car accident lawyers and staff will handle every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on healing while we pursue maximum compensation for your losses.

Our proven track record of multimillion-dollar recoveries speaks to our commitment to securing the best possible outcome for every client. Contact CHM Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a San Mateo car accident attorney who will stand by your side throughout this challenging time. You pay nothing unless we recover money for your accident case.