In May 2017, city officials took away one driving lane from Venice Boulevard, transforming the space into a parking lane and bicycle lane instead. While this road diet was intended to alter the flow of traffic and reduce the frequency of accidents, residents claim that, in fact, more accidents have occurred since the changes were implemented. While City Hall continues to state that the road diet has reduced traffic and accidents, John Russo, of Keep LA Moving, is adamant that, while the part about fewer cars using the road is true, the number of accidents and injuries has been increasing.
So, Is the Road Diet a Success or Not?
Depending on who you speak to, you may be told that the Venice Boulevard road diet has resulted in fewer accidents and fewer injuries, due to the road being used by fewer vehicles. Conversely, you may also be told that there are fewer cars traveling through the area, but there have been more accidents and injuries since May 2017. So, who’s right?
John Russo claims to have compared CHP data from May to December 2017 with similar data from previous years, only to find that accidents have increased by 20%, and injuries are up by 43% since the new road layout was introduced. On the other hand, Councilman Mike Bonin’s office has said they cannot comment on specifics, but that incidents and injuries had decreased in the three months immediately following the implementation of the road diet.
It appears that residents cannot agree on this issue either, with some stating that they appreciate the extra bumper between bikes and cars, while others feel that accidents are being caused due to confusion over who has right of way.
What to Do after a Riverside Car Accident
Whether you’ve used the new road layout on Venice Boulevard or not, if you drive in Los Angeles, you will already know that a car accident is not a rare occurrence. To give a brief idea of how common they are:
- 35,000 – 40,000 Americans die in road accidents every year
- Over 2.3 million are injured in car accidents, truck crashes, and other road accidents annually
- Around 10 million road accidents occur in the United States each year
If you are involved in a car accident in Riverside or another area of Los Angeles, your first action should be calling the police to report the incident. Taking photos of the scene of the collision, and any damage to your vehicle may also prove useful when it comes to recovering damages.
Car accidents vary greatly in terms of severity – ranging from a scrape when you misjudge a parking space, to a multi-vehicle collision ending in serious injury or death.
Whatever the circumstances, a great car crash lawyer from the Law Offices of Howard Kornberg will act in your best interests, compiling evidence and devoting their energies to securing the financial compensation you deserve.
To arrange an initial consultation and discuss how a Riverside car accident attorney could help you, call us today at 310-997-0904.
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