On average, about 319 people die in car accidents in Los Angeles every year. Los Angeles is well known for its sprawling freeway systems, congested traffic, and reliance on cars as the primary mode of transportation. Unfortunately, this heavy dependence on motor vehicles results in high rates of serious and fatal car accidents.
You should speak with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer promptly if someone you love was killed in a car accident that wasn’t their fault. In the meantime, let’s look more closely at these incidents and the statistics behind them.
Leading Causes of Fatal Car Accidents in Los Angeles
Fatal car accidents rarely stem from a single factor. Instead, they are often the result of multiple contributing circumstances, especially:
- Speeding: Excessive speed is consistently cited as a top factor in deadly crashes. At higher speeds, drivers have less time to react, and collisions are more likely to result in fatalities.
- Driving under the influence (DUI): Despite public awareness campaigns, impaired driving remains a persistent problem. Alcohol, drugs, and prescription medications contribute to a substantial number of fatal accidents in Los Angeles each year.
- Distracted driving: Talking on a cell phone, eating behind the wheel, and adjusting navigation systems while driving can lead drivers to commit deadly errors rooted in negligence.
- Reckless and aggressive driving: Behaviors such as tailgating, running red lights, and making unsafe lane changes put everyone on the road at risk.
- Fatigue: With long commutes being common in Los Angeles, driver fatigue contributes to crashes when motorists fall asleep or experience slowed reaction times.
- Pedestrian and cyclist interactions: Los Angeles has high numbers of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. Many of these deaths occur at intersections or in areas with limited visibility.
- Weather and road conditions: Rain, fog, and poorly maintained roadways can increase accident risk, though human error usually plays a larger role.
Types of Fatal Car Accidents in Los Angeles
According to Crosstown, there were approximately 302 traffic-related fatalities in Los Angeles in 2024 alone. This statistic is just shy of the year prior, based on LAPD data that shows about 330 people died in traffic collisions in 2023.
But what causes these deaths in the first place? It all comes down to the types of collisions that are more likely to result in fatalities.
Additionally, the severity of an accident often depends on the crash type and the circumstances surrounding the collision. With that in mind, these are frequently reported causes of fatal crashes in the area:
- Head–on collisions: These are among the deadliest types of accidents due to the force of impact when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide.
- T–bone or side–impact crashes: Often occurring at intersections, these accidents are especially dangerous for occupants on the struck side of the vehicle.
- Rollover accidents: Vehicles with higher centers of gravity—such as SUVs and trucks—are more prone to rollovers, which frequently result in fatal injuries.
- Multi-vehicle pileups: Common on freeways like I-5, I-10, or the 405, multi-car accidents can lead to chain-reaction collisions and multiple fatalities.
- Pedestrian and cyclist accidents: Fatalities often occur when larger vehicles strike vulnerable road users, particularly in areas that lack adequate crosswalks or bike lanes.
- Single–vehicle crashes: In some cases, fatalities happen when a vehicle strikes a stationary object, such as a tree, guardrail, or pole.
(310) 526-8383Los Angeles’ Vision Zero Initiative
In 2015, the City of Los Angeles adopted the Vision Zero program, which aimed to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025. Despite initial optimism, traffic fatalities have continued to rise rather than decline.
Vision Zero focuses on lowering speed limits, redesigning dangerous intersections, expanding protected bike lanes, and increasing traffic law enforcement. Critics of the program have argued that enforcement and infrastructure changes have not kept pace with the city’s ambitious goals.
While some progress has been made in specific neighborhoods, citywide numbers highlight the ongoing difficulty of reducing fatalities in a city built around car-based travel.
California Laws Addressing Fatal Car Accidents
California’s traffic safety laws are designed to reduce traffic fatalities, prevent motor vehicle accidents, and hold negligent drivers accountable for the harm they cause.
With rising car accident statistics in Los Angeles County, these laws are intended to protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians across both urban areas and California roads.
- Speeding laws: Under California Vehicle Code (CVC) §22350, drivers are not permitted to travel faster than is safe for the current conditions. Even if a driver is operating their car below the posted speed limit, reckless driving in heavy traffic congestion or near traffic signals can still result in liability after vehicle crashes or fatal car accidents.
- DUI laws: According to CVC §23152, drunk driving is illegal for anyone operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Commercial drivers face a stricter limit of 0.04%, and drivers under 21 years old must adhere to California’s zero-tolerance policy. These laws help prevent motor vehicle deaths that often occur from impaired judgment and slowed reaction times.
- Distracted driving laws: The state bans the use of handheld devices while driving under CVC §23123.5. Activities such as texting, scrolling, or adjusting devices are all too common causes of car crashes and motor vehicle collisions, particularly in Los Angeles, where traffic jams and driver error are major risk factors.
- Seat belt use laws: California mandates seat belt use for all drivers and passengers. Studies from the California Office of Traffic Safety show that proper restraint dramatically lowers the risk of traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue injury, and head injuries in auto accidents. Failing to buckle up can make the difference between a minor crash and a fatal car accident.
- Pedestrian rights: California law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at red lights, traffic signs, and marked crosswalks. Many pedestrian accidents and pedestrian fatalities in Los Angeles County occur when motorists ignore these rights. With Vision Zero initiatives in place, the city aims to reduce pedestrian deaths and hit-and-run incidents that continue to endanger residents.
Contact Our Los Angeles Car Accident Law Firm
If you lost someone you love in a collision, you don’t have to face the heartbreak by yourself. While the aftermath can be scary and isolating, the impact of a fatal crash is not something anyone should have to go through by themselves.
Instead of attempting to figure out everything on your own, reach out to Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys. Our Los Angeles car accident lawyers are ready to stand by your side, provide you with legal guidance, and pursue the justice your family deserves.
Founded in 2016, we’ve been helping people in positions just like yours secure compensation on behalf of their loved ones. Don’t wait to contact us—the sooner you call Omega Law Group, the sooner we can start supporting you and holding negligent drivers accountable.
