What Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Los Angeles?

Accidents can and do happen anywhere, but certain intersections in Los Angeles may be more dangerous than others. These intersections can be home to bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and vehicle accidents. Because of the heavy traffic congestion in Los Angeles and the many people who ride their bikes or travel by foot, accidents happen frequently.

At the federal level, the Federal Highway Administration determined that up to 25% of all fatal crashes and half of all other crashes leading to injuries occur in intersections. Research has found that there are 86 intersections in Los Angeles associated with 10 or more crashes that caused injuries or death.

Five of the most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles are located in south-central LA. The most dangerous intersection in Los Angeles is South Vermont Avenue and West Florence Avenue. And downtown L.A. has the most intersection crashes of any neighborhood in the city.

Top Dangerous Intersections in Los Angeles

Some of the most common locations for vehicle and pedestrian accidents include:

• Highland Avenue & Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood
• Oxnard Street & Van Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys
• Van Nuys Boulevard & Roscoe Boulevard in Panorama City
• Victory Boulevard & Coldwater Canyon Avenue in Valley Glen
• Sherman Way & Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys
• San Pedro Street & Washington Boulevard in South L.A.
• Burbank Boulevard & Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys

What Should I Do if I Was Hurt in an Intersection Accident?

If possible, gather contact information for other involved parties, the police report, and photos or videos of the accident scene. It can be difficult to remember these details later on, and these forms of evidence may be essential for proving your side of the story with how the accident happened.

Hiring an attorney is strongly recommended for anyone hurt in an intersection accident. Your lawyer may be able to help you with other forms of evidence, such as statements from eyewitnesses or helping you to gather video evidence if it was available near the intersection. There are many different components of an intersection accident claim, and the sooner you hire a lawyer, the better your chances are of recovering full and fair compensation.

Most intersection accident victims have serious injuries, and you may not even realize the full scope of your injuries until hours, days, or even weeks later. Keeping your personal injury attorney updated on your progress and your overall health will be helpful for pursuing a personal injury claim.

How Can I Prove Fault for an Intersection Accident in Los Angeles?

Working with an attorney will help you to identify which components of your injury claim require stronger evidence. So the sooner you hire an attorney, the better your chances of recovering compensation. You can prove fault by using evidence you collected at the scene from the time of the accident, as well as other evidence. You may be able to show that the other party was involved in reckless or illegal behavior at the time of the crash, assigning them full fault for the accident.

Even if you are found to be partly at fault for the accident, such as if you were jaywalking in a crosswalk, you may still be eligible to pursue compensation as a result of California’s comparative negligence laws. You’ll want to discuss the specifics directly with your personal injury attorney as soon as you can.

What is The Cause of Most Intersection Accidents?

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that over 96% of crashes and intersections are linked to driver errors. Over half of those involve recognition problems, such as distractions, inadequate surveillance, or inattention. This simply means that many drivers can overlook vital information like road signs, how other motorists are behaving, and traffic signals.

Decision errors also make up nearly 30% of these crashes, including making illegal maneuvers, misjudging the speed or gaps of other vehicles, and speeding. Performance errors can also contribute to intersection accidents, such as overcompensation or poor directional control of the vehicle. Vehicle-related factors and environmental factors make up less than 3% of crashes, highlighting just how many of these are caused by driver behavior.

How to prevent accidents and intersections. Preventing Los Angeles intersection accidents requires all drivers to adopt cautious and mindful driving habits. This can include things such as using proper signaling, obeying signs and traffic signals, minimizing distractions, staying alert, being mindful of cyclists and pedestrians, avoiding aggressive driving, approaching intersections with caution, and maintaining a safe following distance.

If you’re not sure how the accident happened, you may need to work with an accident reconstruction specialist to retell that story.

What if the Other Driver Tries to Blame Me?

The other party or an insurance company may try to argue that you are partly responsible for the accident. California has what is known as comparative negligence laws. So, if you are determined to be partly at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced in accordance with the percentage of blame assigned to you.

This is why quick and early action to gather evidence and build your side of the case is essential for your next steps. The right attorney can make a big difference in the outcome of your case and can be especially helpful if you disagree with the insurance company’s assignment of fault.

What Economic Damages Could I Receive After an Intersection Accident?

Economic damages refer to the financial losses you sustained because of the accident and your associated injuries. These may include loss of income, current and future medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, damage to your vehicle and personal property, and reduced earning capacity. In addition, your personal injury lawyer may also determine that you are eligible for non-economic damages.

These are more difficult to put a tangible value on because they attempt to account for your emotional and physical losses due to the accident that extend beyond the economic damages listed above. Non-economic damages in California can include emotional distress, loss of enjoyment, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and scarring or permanent disability.

In either of these situations or in cases when you are entitled to both, it is wise to work with a talented personal injury lawyer and file your claim as soon as possible.

What if I Have Long-Term Injuries?

Any injuries that you suffer in an intersection accident associated with another driver’s negligent or reckless behavior may become the subject of your personal injury lawsuit. One of the most challenging aspects for many seriously injured victims includes what to do if they have long-term injuries that affect their life. Long-term injuries may require you to have medical assistive devices, modifications to your home, or even significantly adjust your work schedule. Further, you may not be able to enjoy life as you did prior to the accident. It can be very difficult for an accident victim to properly calculate the money needed to compensate them for long-term injuries.

This is yet another area where a personal injury lawyer can have a big impact. These attorneys are familiar with how to calculate long-term injury costs and come up with a fair settlement amount. This can prevent you from signing an early settlement agreement from an insurance company that does not fairly compensate you for your long-term injuries.

You do not want the experience of signing a settlement offer and giving up your right to pursue a legal claim, and then later finding out that the funds you received may have covered you for your short-term expenses, but do not protect you well into the future. An attorney will ensure your rights are advocated for for the duration of the case.

What Can a Car Accident Lawyer Do After an Intersection Accident?

Your lawyer can play multiple roles in the management of your car accident claim, freeing you up to attend medical appointments and heal from your injuries as much as possible. This can also significantly reduce the stress you face while pursuing your injury claim.

Your lawyer can do things such as:

• Obtaining the police report
• Gathering evidence to support your case
• Identifying and interviewing witnesses
• Consulting experts like accident reconstructionists, life care planners, and economists
• Proving liability and negligence
• Developing a trial strategy
• Negotiating with insurance companies to pursue a fair settlement
• Preparing for trial and presenting your case in court if a settlement cannot be reached

If you or someone you know is already suffering the consequences of a pedestrian accident, you need to work with a qualified personal injury lawyer immediately to increase your chances of accident recovery.