Chico Crashes Decrease As Speeding Incidents Increase
The Chico area California Highway Patrol (CHP) office has reported that, with less vehicles on the road due to COVID-19, there has been a decrease in the number of vehicle accidents on local roads. However, officers also noted that relatively empty roads have led to a sharp spike in citations issued to speeding drivers.
Changing Trends
According to CHP, there were 92 auto accidents reported in the Chico area during February and March of 2020. Last year, there were 113 accidents during the same period of time. CHP Public Information Officer, Frank Valdetena, reported that this decrease is very likely caused by the state government’s stay-at-home order.
Valdetena stated that, while traffic is lighter, local CHP officers have been writing a high number of speeding citations over recent weeks, adding that speeding drivers have often been clocked going around 90 to 100 miles per hour.
Officers of CHP are reportedly being given personal protective equipment in order to help them handle citations and possible collisions. At the end of his statement, Valdetena thanked area residents for being responsible on local roads and reminded drivers to always pay attention to the road and never exceed speed limits, regardless of traffic conditions.
Caltrans Response
Matt Rocco, a spokesman for Caltrans, indicated that his department has also seen a widespread decrease in traffic. Rocco reported that keeping roads in good condition during the pandemic is essential work, but that there may be upcoming changes for Caltrans. While Caltrans maintenance crews will continue to handle roadway hazards and other critical highway functions, the department will be deferring a handful of non-essential duties in order to limit exposure.
Speeding and Liability in Chico Crashes
Driving a vehicle at high speeds dramatically increases your risk of being involved in a serious car accident. At high speeds, drivers have less control of their vehicles, meaning that they are often unable to maneuver around obstacles. Furthermore, vehicles traveling at high speeds take much longer to come to a stop, leaving drivers even less capable of avoiding collisions.
Because driving at high speeds is dangerous, drivers who were speeding at the time of car accidents are usually considered negligent. This means that they can be held fully or partly financially responsible for the damages caused by the accident. By filing an injury claim against negligent drivers, accident survivors can often claim payments for their medical bills as well as lost wages, property damage, personal suffering, and more.
How Do I Find a Good Attorney?
One of the reasons that crash survivors often delay filing an injury claim is that they are worried about finding a trustworthy Chico personal injury lawyer. It’s important to have a lawyer with the right skills and experience to take on your case. However, it doesn’t need to be difficult to get in touch with someone who you can trust. Learn more by watching this clip:
Other Blogs from Ed Smith, Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
- Woman from Chico Dead Following Crash
- What is a Chico Personal Injury Lawyer?
- Traumatic Chico Auto Accident
Chico Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico personal injury lawyer with more than 38 years of experience helping people claim fair accident compensation. For my free, friendly case advice, get in touch with me at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400.
To learn more about how I’ve helped people obtain fair payments for accident damages, view my settlements and verdicts or visit my online profiles at the below websites to read unbiased client reviews:
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