The city of Huntington Beach is known throughout the world as a surfer’s paradise with its pristine sandy beaches that stretch for 8.5 miles.
While the city’s beach and its iconic pier are a big draw to this community, the city of Huntington Beach also attracts millions of other people annually to its numerous events. Many are held on the shoreline such as the annual Vans US Open of Surfing which in 2012 alone drew some 750,000 spectators for its week-long surf and skate competition.
Other big draws include the Fourth of July parade held on Main Street and the Pacific Coast Highway, touted as the largest parade west of the Mississippi. Sports enthusiasts also flock to the city for the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball and dog lovers come here for the annual Surf City Surf Dog competition. Some 16 million beach visitors are estimated to come to the seaside city for one reason or another.
Huntington Beach is the fourth largest city in Orange County, the sixteenth largest city in California with 197, 575 people as of the 2013 census.
Huntington Beach is a Mecca for Bicyclists
However, the allure of this 32-square-mile city also brings with it a downside: traffic. The two main roadways that draw motorists into the city are Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard.
A mecca for cycling enthusiasts, Pacific Coast Highway is a popular route for large groups of cyclists. Huntington Beach also features wide bike trails that traverse the scenic coastline connecting the city of Newport Beach, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and the Sunset Beach community. It’s ranked as one of the best biking trails in the nation, by CNN Travel. Residents here are often on bicycles, preferring to leave their cars at home. It’s no wonder that the city is one of the worst in OC for bicycle thefts (450 in 2013, down from 516 in 2012).
Riding a bicycle in Huntington Beach can also be dangerous and sometimes deadly. It’s one of the top five cities in OC in terms of the numbers of fatal and injury accidents for bicyclists. In 2012, three bicyclists were killed and 144 were injured in the city. Other cities that ranked high for bicyclist injuries and deaths were Santa Ana with 2 deaths and 206 injuries; Newport Beach, 2 deaths and 94 injuries; Buena Park, 3 deaths and 36 injuries; and Anaheim, 169 injuries.
Additionally, the city ranks fourth in Orange County for the number of overall fatal traffic accidents with 12 deaths in 2012, but it ranks third for the total number of traffic accidents when the number of injuries (979) are included. The No. 1 city for fatal crashes is Santa Ana One event held in the city has a more somber tone. The Orange County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving holds its annual fundraiser in the city, Walk Like MADD Orange County. Johnson Attorneys Group is a sponsor of this event. A recent Walk Like MADD fundraiser in 2012 drew 770 walkers and raised more than $176,000 to help eliminate drunken driving and support survivors and families of victims killed in DUI crashes. The location of this walk couldn’t be more appropriate. The city of Huntington Beach ties with Anaheim in ranking third in OC for the number of fatal DUI crashes in 2012. The cities each had four fatal DUI crashes. Santa Ana was No. 1 with 12 DUI fatalities and Buena Park was second with 7 DUI fatal crashes. *4 people were killed in DUI crashes in Huntington Beach in 2012 * 56 killed and 1,346 injured in OC DUI crashes in 2012 * 1,066 killed and 16,615 injured in California DUI crashes in 2012 * Every 2 minutes someone dies in a DUI crash in the United States **10,076 people died and 290,000 were injured in 2013 drunk driving crashes *** 32,719 people killed in 2013 traffic accidents in the United States Sources: *California Highway Patrol; **MADD, *** NHTSA Those of us here at Johnson Attorneys Group know how stressful it can be to be involved in a traffic accident, but particularly if you are injured or have lost a loved one. We want to make the legal process run smoothly because you’ve already been through enough. There are certainly many competent attorneys who practice throughout Orange County who can handle your case, so if you choose us to represent you we will do our best to handle your case so you can rest assured that you made the right choice. Johnson Attorneys Group represents victims of many different types of accidents. Our experience and knowledge in the following areas is extensive: If you are injured in a traffic accident in Huntington Beach, the negligent driver who caused this collision may be held financially liable for your losses. It’s advisable that you seek the assistance of a competent personal injury attorney to ensure the best possible outcome. Contact our attorney today at 800-235-6801 for a free consultation. We value your business and are honored to serve you and your family.
Huntington Beach Personal Injury Practice Areas
