Who doesn’t love California? This state is perhaps the most beautiful in the entire United States, and natural scenery isn’t all that California has to offer. California has it all: Huge and thriving cities, quaint local towns, over-the-top amusement parks, protected wilderness, and culture, culture culture. You could spend months criss-crossing the state and still find new things to marvel at.

If you actually did criss-cross the state there’s a good chance you’d use a certain type of vehicle to do it. The personal car is king in the United States, and nowhere more so than in California, where even the largest city is full of car owners. Around here, you won’t get far without a set of wheels!

Unfortunately, this can have its downsides — including car accidents.

California and car accidents

The good news is that California is not the most dangerous state to drive in — not by a long shot. But the bad news is that there are still plenty of car accidents in California and plenty of dangerous rural roads and jam-packed freeways.

Still, there are thousands upon thousands of car accidents in California every year, and more than 3,500 people die every year in car accidents in the state. That’s scary stuff! Californians need to know how to protect themselves — and what to do if the worst happens.

How to stay as safe as possible on the road

You can’t control everything on the road, but you can control what you do. If you practice defensive driving, obey all traffic laws and road signs, and take care to never drive when you are impaired (not just by alcohol — distracted drivers, including those who are eating, are a liability as well, as are tired drivers), then you’ll have a much better shot of avoiding a car accident.

You should make sure that you have a safe and reliable ride, too. Cars are safer than ever these days, so don’t skimp on safety ratings. And be sure to keep up with your vehicle’s repair and maintenance needs, say the pros who run a program that offers automotive and diesel certifications for technicians. A car that is well cared-for will respond better to your responsible driving decisions and will be more likely to avoid dangerous breakdowns while you’re on the road.

What you need to know about car accidents and the law

Unfortunately, even all of this is not enough to guarantee a safe ride in California. While you can and should take steps to make your own actions on the road as safe as possible, you can never control what other parties do. If other parties are negligent, their irresponsibility could lead to an accident that harms you.

Fortunately, California law offers people who have been wronged a legal recourse. If you are involved in a car accident that was not your fault and end up suffering injuries and/or other damages, you may be able to recover funds through a personal injury lawsuit, explains one trusted California auto accident attorney. But it would not be wise to try to file such a case yourself! Instead, victims of car accidents should start looking for a local personal injury attorney who specializes in car accident cases. By reading reviews and asking for recommendations from the local bar association or from family and friends, a victim should be able to find a reliable source of legal representation.

With a strong case and right representation, you may be able to be made whole again after a terrible car accident. California’s laws make it possible!