San Jose Personal Injury Lawyer: 2023 Crash Data, Deadlines and Your Claim

This article is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship exists based on the review of this article and none of the information in this article is legal advice.

San Jose is a large city, and crashes involving drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists happen there every year. This page summarizes 2023 San Jose figures published by the California Office of Traffic Safety, points to the City of San José’s Vision Zero crash data, and explains in general terms some deadlines and factors that can matter after a crash.

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What the 2023 San Jose crash data shows

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) publishes city crash data on its San Jose 2023 page. For 2023, OTS lists an average population of 980,174 for San Jose and reports the following.

Victims killed and injured:

• 3,294 victims killed and injured in fatal and injury collisions
• 377 victims in alcohol-involved collisions
• 314 pedestrian victims
• 251 bicyclist victims
• 69 motorcyclist victims

Fatal and injury collisions:

• 642 speed-related collisions
• 318 hit-and-run collisions

OTS counts people killed and injured together in these categories and does not list a separate city death total on this page, so this article does not state one. Each figure above is taken directly from the OTS page, and OTS may update its numbers.

City of San José crash data

For current information, the City of San José publishes Vision Zero crash data and maps. The city’s Vision Zero goals include reducing the number of people killed and severely injured in crashes by 30% by 2030.

Factors that can come up after a crash

Crash reports and claim files often discuss factors such as:

1. Speed
2. Alcohol or drug impairment
3. Distracted driving
4. Failure to yield at intersections
5. Following too closely
6. Hit-and-run
7. Signal timing, turning movements and visibility at intersections

OTS tracks several of these, including alcohol involvement, speed and hit-and-run, in the figures above. Which factors apply to a given crash depends on its facts.

Types of accidents this page covers

• Motorcycle crashes: OTS lists 69 motorcyclist victims in San Jose in 2023. Claims can involve road conditions, speed and how fault is assigned.
• Pedestrian and bicycle crashes: OTS lists 314 pedestrian victims and 251 bicyclist victims in 2023. Claims can involve crosswalks, traffic signals and the Vehicle Code rules that apply to drivers and to people walking or biking.
• Truck crashes: These can involve federal and state regulations, commercial insurance policies, and questions about the roles of drivers, trucking companies and others. Records held by a trucking company may matter.

Steps people often consider after a crash

The following is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and what applies to you depends on the facts.

• Many people seek medical care and keep their medical records.
• Many people ask the responding agency, such as the California Highway Patrol or a city police department, whether a report was made and what its report number is.
• Some people photograph the scene, vehicles and visible injuries, and note names and contact details for witnesses.
• Some evidence, such as camera footage, may be overwritten after a period of time.
• Many people keep copies of bills, pay records and insurance letters.

Deadlines that can apply

California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 sets a two-year period for an action for injury to, or the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another. When a public entity may be involved, Government Code section 911.2 generally requires a claim for injury to a person to be presented not later than six months after the cause of action accrues. Those dates can differ based on the facts, so confirm yours with a California attorney. See also our general guide to the statute of limitations for personal injury in California.

What a claim may include

A claim seeking compensation for your losses may involve, depending on the facts:

• Medical expenses, past and future
• Lost income and reduced ability to earn
• Non-economic losses such as pain and suffering
• Property damage to a vehicle

Injury severity, how fault is assigned, and the insurance coverage available all affect a claim. No article can say what a particular claim is worth, and the figures above describe crash data, not claim values.

Talking with LA Law Group

LA Law Group, APLC is based in Chatsworth and serves clients throughout California. Your initial consultation is free. It is worth asking how fees and case costs work and getting the terms in writing.

Call (866) 625-2529 or visit our California personal injury practice page.

Legal Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information about San Jose crash data and California personal injury law. It does not constitute legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with LA Law Group. Every accident case involves unique facts and circumstances that require individual legal analysis. Laws and regulations change, and this information may not reflect the most current legal developments.