Oakland is Alameda County's seat and the largest city in the county. A major port city on the West Coast, the area sees a lot of vehicle traffic as well. As of 2014, the city had a population of 408,153 people.
The California Office of Traffic Safety reported 3,016 crashes resulting in injuries or death in Oakland during 2014. Alcohol was involved in 232 of those accidents. Another 557 of the crashes were speed related.
Auto accidents happen all across the country, so it should be expected for a high number of crashes to be reported in Oakland. During 2014, 462 of the crashes involving injuries or fatalities in Oakland were hit and run. Another 377 accidents in the city causing death or injury happened during the night, which is from 9 p.m. to 2:59 a.m.
If you have been involved in an Oakland auto accident, you should consult with a personal injury attorney.
The Most Dangerous Highways in Oakland
Car accidents occur on all roads, but some roads are more dangerous than others. The increased auto accident statistics for some roads might be due to road design or the amount of traffic. Here are a few of the roads in Oakland that are believed to be more dangerous than others.
I-10
A heavily traveled interstate, I-10 is considered the most dangerous highway in the U.S. It runs through a large portion of California and to the Arizona border.
I-15
Millions of people travel along I-15 each year. It was ranked the 10th most dangerous road i the U.S. in a Popular Mechanics edition featuring the most dangerous roads in the country. It has also been included in in the Scripps Howard News Service "Killer Roads" segment.
I-5
The 5 has about a million cars traveling on it every day through California. With the high traffic volume comes a higher number of accidents. Interstates are commonly used in the Oakland area, and they see more crashes.
What To Do After A Crash
If you have been involved in an Oakland car accident, you might be a bit shaken both physically and mentally. You need to make sure you get a report filed by local law enforcement and do everything you can to preserve your rights for a personal injury claim. Here are a few tips regarding what you should do following a car accident.
- Call the police. They need to come to the scene to complete an accident report.
- Exchange insurance information with the other driver.
- Get the names and contact information for any witnesses.
- Take photos with your smartphone. Show the crash scene and vehicle damage.
- Seek medical attention right away.
Oakland Hospitals
Always get checked by a medical professional after a car accident. Sometimes injuries aren't obvious at first or they are more serious than they appear. Be sure to keep medical records and medical bills for your personal injury claim. Here are a few Oakland area hospitals that have emergency rooms for rapid assessment:
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Alameda Health System
1411 E. 31st
Oakland, CA 94602 -
Kaiser Permanente - Oakland Medical Center
275 W. MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94611 -
Providence Hospital
3100 Summit St.
Oakland, CA 94609
Oakland Auto Repair
If you have been involved in an Oakland car accident, your car is going to need some repairs as well. Get written estimates from professional auto body shops. Keep receipts for any repairs you pay for along with any receipts for towing or rental cars.
These are needed for your personal property damages portion of your personal injury claim. Here are local auto body shops where you can get estimates and repairs as well as local towing services:
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Oakland Auto Body
149 11th St.
Oakland, CA 94607 -
Oakland Auto Body and Frame
1900 M.L.K. Jr. Way
Oakland, CA 94612 -
Auto Plus Towing and Auto Body
733 Kevin Ct.
Oakland, CA 94621
The Most Valuable Resource: A Personal Injury Attorney
After an Oakland auto accident, you will need to use several different resources. Out of all those resources, though, a personal injury attorney is your most valuable. You need the attorney to file personal injury claim to recover damages.
Your lawyer will know what damages you have suffered and how to proceed with a claim. You won't have any out of pocket expenses because personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, so they aren't paid until they get you money. Consult with a lawyer today.
