With over 163,000 residents, Salinas, California, is the most populous city in Monterey County. Despite the size of Salinas, car accident statistics show that it has relatively safe roads. However, it still has hundreds of motor vehicle crashes annually that produce injury or death.
California law entitles you to seek injury compensation after someone else’s negligence causes a collision. A Salinas car accident lawyer from Mercado Kramer, LLP, helps accident victims understand their legal rights for their injury-related losses.
How Mercado Kramer, LLP Can Help After a Car Accident in Salinas, CA
Our firm has helped thousands of injured clients in Salinas, CA, as they fight for fair accident compensation. We have successfully recovered millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards for accident victims like you.
When you suffer injuries in a car crash caused by a careless or aggressive driver, we provide the following legal assistance:
- Evaluate your case and explain how we can help you seek injury compensation
- Assemble evidence to build your case against the at-fault driver
- File an insurance claim and negotiate with the adjuster for a settlement
- Sue the at-fault driver if their insurance carrier denies liability for your injuries
A car accident can cause severe injuries and significant economic losses. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Salinas car accident attorney to discuss your injuries and learn how we can pursue compensation for the losses you suffered.
What Are the Trends in Salinas Car Accidents?
The California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) summarizes information gathered from police accident reports. According to the SWITRS summary, Salinas had 418 traffic accidents in 2024 that resulted in injury or death. Specifically, these accidents included:
- 1 fatal accident
- 41 serious injury accidents
- 376 minor or possible injury accidents
Serious injuries disable the victim. Typically, anyone who needs an ambulance to transport them from the accident scene has a serious injury. Minor injuries produce a visible wound, such as bleeding or a bruise. However, they do not incapacitate the victim.
Possible injuries produce symptoms, but no visible injury. For example, a sprained wrist qualifies as a possible injury. Notably, this evaluation occurs at the accident scene. Thus, a possible injury, like a herniated disc or sprained ACL, could produce long-term disabilities or chronic pain.
Collisions With Non-Motorized Road Users In Salinas
Non-motorized road users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, are particularly vulnerable to injuries and death. Even though Salinas has only a few hundred traffic accidents involving injury or death, a significant percentage involve these victims.
Specifically, pedestrian accidents caused the following injuries:
- 11 serious injuries
- 50 minor or possible injuries
Similarly, collisions with bicycles caused the following outcomes:
- 5 serious injuries
- 27 minor and possible injuries
These numbers highlight the disproportionate risks faced by pedestrians and bicyclists in Salinas, underscoring the urgent need for safer streets and driver awareness.
Causes of Salinas Car Accidents
Most traffic crashes in Salinas result from just a few risky driving behaviors, including the following:
Speeding
Speeding is a significant contributor to injuries and deaths in Salinas. According to the SWITRS summary, speed-related crashes caused 109 accidents involving injuries or deaths. This means that over 19% of the city’s traffic-related fatalities and injuries in 2024 resulted from speeding.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving caused accidents involving 32 injuries or deaths. These casualties happened when a driver unsuccessfully attempted to multitask while driving. As a result, they could not see potential traffic hazards or react to them in time to avoid a collision. Possible distractions include texting, eating, and reaching for objects.
Failing to Yield
California law defines when drivers must wait and when they can proceed. For example, drivers facing a stop sign must yield if the drivers in cross-traffic do not have a stop sign. At four-way stops, drivers take turns based on who arrived first, unless two vehicles arrive simultaneously. Finally, California’s pedestrian laws require drivers to yield to people in crosswalks.
Contact Our Salinas Car Accident Law Firm for a Free Consultation
Car accident injuries can put you in a difficult position with your health and finances. Contact Mercado Kramer, LLP, at (888) 311-4050 for a free consultation with a Salinas car accident lawyer. We can discuss your rights, legal options, and potential compensation.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Salinas, CA
450 Lincoln Ave Ste. 102, Salinas, CA 93901
(888) 311-4050
Open 24/7
