From 2019 to 2023, 104.8 car accidents took place in Modesto, and these accidents resulted in serious injuries or deaths. This is the highest number of accidents between Modesto, Oakdale, Ceres and Turlock. What is it about Modesto that causes it to have more car accidents than other cities?
According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System or TIMS, there is a most dangerous time for Modesto residents to be out on the streets. Between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., 295 accidents occurred in 2023. This is the evening rush hour in Modesto and corresponds to the times when people leave their jobs and pick up their children from school. According to TIMS, 2020 was a particularly deadly year with 20 fatal collisions.
The above statistic is frightening because the following injuries occurred because of these collisions, including burns and smoke inhalation, broken bones or fractures, internal organ damage or bleeding, chest injuries, spinal injuries, and brain or head injuries.
The most common type of collision by far is the broadside collision. There were 2,904 in Modesto from 2019 to 2023. The rear-end collision came in at a distant second with 1,561.
Number 1 in the Wrong Category
In 2019, Modesto was #1 in a category in which no one wants that distinction. The California Office of Traffic Safety or OTS gave Modesto the top spot for the most traffic collisions. Modesto residents certainly cannot say that they are surprised.
They examined several types of crashes, including speed-related, hit-and-run, DUI crashes, fatal crashes, and running into bicyclists and pedestrians. Modesto’s ranking on this list has gone up and down over the years. In 2017, it ranked as the worst city for collisions, but in 2018, it came in second.
City Manager Joe Lopez stated that the city cuts its budget every year so that it can balance the federal fund budget. This is the reason that there are fewer services in Modesto, and one of the areas that was cut has been public safety. In addition to that, the police department that used to have 21 officers in its traffic safety unit has reduced this number to five. Mr. Lopez stated that this reduction in officers is the reason that we saw the statistics we saw in 2019.
Another Notorious Ranking
Also in 2019, Modesto was the second out of 59 cities to be ranked as the worst for alcohol-related crashes, but the story does not end there. It was also the third worst for collisions that resulted in injury or death, the fourth worst for collisions between vehicles and pedestrians and the fifth worst for hit-and-run collisions that resulted in injury or death.
What to Do After a Car Collision
No matter where you are, you must do the following to ensure that your rights are protected if you are involved in a crash:
Call First Responders.
The first thing you must worry about is whether you, your passengers or others were hurt in the collision. After checking everyone for injuries, call 9-1-1 for an ambulance and the police. Allow first responders to check you at the scene, and if advised, go to the hospital.
Exchange Information with the Other Driver.
Exchange insurance and contact information with the other drivers. Take down the contact details of the witnesses.
Collect Evidence.
When it is safe to do so, take photographs of the scene, the damages and the injuries. You might be able to see skid marks and defects in the road.
Don’t Embellish the Truth.
When talking to the police officer or your insurance company, don’t try to make it sound worse than it was. This can backfire.
Be sure to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.
