Interstate Route 5 Freeway Accidents

The Interstate 5 travels north-south from the United States border with Mexico at the San Ysidro crossing all the way north to Oregon. It is an extremely busy and congested roadway that connects San Diego, Santa Ana, Los Angeles and Sacramento. The I-5 is commonly referred to as the San Diego Freeway, the Santa Ana Freeway, the Golden State Freeway and the West Side Freeway.

Documenting the Dangers of I-5

A recent study by Buyingadvice.com, an online firm that provides road and automobile information, listed California's Interstate 5 in San Diego as the fourth most dangerous roadway in the United States. This particular part of Route 5 is particularly dangerous because of its proximity to Tijuana and the number of young partyers traveling back and forth across the border.

The United States Department of Transportation compiled a list of the most dangerous roads in the nation based on fatal accident statistics. Between the years 1994 and 2008, the I-5 in Los Angeles was ranked as the third most dangerous road in the United States. Over that 14-year period, 494 fatalities occurred as a result of 434 crashes on the I-5 in Los Angeles. In other words, a number of fatal collisions on Interstate Route 5 in Los Angeles resulted in multiple fatalities. The portion of the I-5 in San Diego was ranked sixth in the same study with 382 fatalities resulting from 348 fatal collisions. The 10 roadways listed in the study accounted for 1.4 percent of all fatal car crashes in the United States. Five of the 10 most dangerous roads were in California.

Why is the I-5 So Treacherous?

There are many reasons why the I-5 is such a dangerous roadway. A few contributing factors in Route 5 freeway accidents include:

• Intrastate and Interstate Trucking: Large trucks traveling from the northwest reaches of the country all the way to Mexico commonly utilize the I-5. Tractor-trailers are often involved in the most devastating California car accidents because of their size, weight, large blind spots and potentially fatigued drivers.
• Congestion: As a major highway that travels through San Diego and Los Angeles, the I-5 is constantly congested with thousands of motorists. Wherever high traffic density results from commuter traffic, there is the potential for stop-and-go collisions. Congested parts of the I-5 can result in a commute that takes hours instead of minutes. In such cases, drivers may become fatigued, stressed, bored or impatient. Unfocused and aggressive drivers are prone to making poor decisions that put themselves and others at great risk.
• Low Visibility: Stretches of the I-5 are in mountainous areas. Wherever the roadway curves or dips there is the potential for visibility to be limited and traffic congestion to occur.
• Dangerous Roadway Conditions: Drivers traveling on I-5 should be on the lookout for both dangerous roadway conditions such as potholes as well as large patches of construction that block lanes and lead to traffic congestion.

Motorists can put themselves in harm's way by driving negligently on the I-5. It is extremely dangerous to speed or tailgate on any part of this busy freeway. Driving distracted is also a common cause of serious injury crashes. Drivers who fail to maintain their lanes or who make unsafe lane changes can cause devastating accidents. Motorists who are under the influence of alcohol will have an increased likelihood of causing serious or fatal injuries. Drivers who are frustrated by the slow flow of traffic may become aggressive and dangerous. All motorists would be well advised to stay attentive, within the speed limit and mindful of potentially dangerous drivers.

Interstate 5 Accident Lawyers

The experienced California car accident lawyers at our firm, for more than 30 years, have helped injured freeway accident victims recover compensation for their injuries damages and losses. Although Los Angeles freeways can be extremely dangerous, it is the duty of every motorist to operate vehicles with utmost care. Victims who have been injured by another driver's negligence or a governmental agency's failure to properly maintain a roadway would be well advised to contact an experienced I-5 car accident lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing their legal rights.