Auto Accident Statistics in Los Angeles County (2023–2025)

Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States, is also one of the most dangerous regions for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. With over 10 million residents and a sprawling network of freeways and urban streets, traffic collisions are a persistent public safety crisis. Recent data paints a sobering picture of rising fatalities and injuries across the region.

📊 Key Statistics (2022–2024)

Year	Traffic Fatalities	Pedestrian Deaths	Hit-and-Run Fatalities	ER Visits (Non-Fatal)
2022	1,059	375	~100	69,987
2023	1,100+ (est.)	400+	106	70,000+
2024	On pace for 1,000+	90 (Jan–Jul)	62 (Jan–Jul)	Ongoing

Source: California Office of Traffic Safety, LAPD Traffic Division

📊 Top Cities by Reported Accidents

City	Reported Accidents
Los Angeles	420
Long Beach	92
Lancaster	61
Pomona	53
Palmdale	43
Pasadena	39
Van Nuys	37
Santa Clarita	41
Hollywood	45
South Los Angeles	121

Note: These figures represent reported incidents and may not include unreported or underreported crashes.

🚦 Mid-Range Cities

City	Reported Accidents
Glendale	17
Inglewood	17
Burbank	17
Northridge	15
West Covina	15
Woodland Hills	14
Hawthorne	14
Carson	14
Compton	14

🛣️ Smaller Cities and Communities

City	Reported Accidents
Beverly Hills	10
Culver City	9
El Monte	10
Montebello	6
San Fernando	6
Signal Hill	1
Malibu	32
Santa Monica	13

📍 Observations

• Los Angeles City leads by far, with over 400 reported incidents, reflecting its dense population and complex road network.

• South Los Angeles stands out with 121 incidents, indicating concentrated risk in specific neighborhoods.

• Beach cities like Santa Monica and Malibu show moderate accident rates, often involving pedestrians and cyclists.

🚶‍♀️ Vulnerable Road Users

• Pedestrians: Account for over one-third of traffic deaths

• Cyclists: 39 killed in 2022; thousands injured annually

• Motorcyclists: 130 fatalities in 2022

• Children & elderly: Disproportionately affected in urban zones

🕒 High-Risk Areas & Timing

Neighborhoods with Most Fatal Crashes (2023–2024):

Neighborhood	Fatalities
Downtown LA	27
Sun Valley	20
Wilmington	16
Van Nuys	15
Pacoima, Northbridge	14 each

Peak Danger Times:

• Evening rush hours (4–7 p.m.)

• Late-night weekends

• Rainy days and poor visibility conditions

⚠️ Contributing Factors

• Distracted driving: Texting and phone use are leading causes

• Speeding: Especially on arterial roads and freeways

• Driving under the influence (DUI): Alcohol and drug impairment

• Hit-and-runs: Increasing year-over-year, with many cases unsolved

🚦 Policy Response & Vision Zero

Los Angeles launched the Vision Zero Initiative in 2015, aiming to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2025. Measures include:

• Safer street designs

• Speed cameras near schools and high-injury corridors

• Public education campaigns

• Enhanced traffic enforcement

Despite these efforts, fatalities have continued to rise, outpacing homicide rates in the city.

📍 Conclusion

Los Angeles County’s roads remain perilous, with over 300 traffic deaths annually in the city alone and more than 1,000 countywide. Vulnerable road users—especially pedestrians—face increasing risks. While infrastructure improvements and policy initiatives are underway, the data underscores an urgent need for more aggressive action.