As a Los Angeles resident, you are very familiar with how dangerous the roads can be, particularly for pedestrians. In 2021, 294 people lost their lives as a result of traffic collisions in Los Angeles, an increase of about 22% compared to 2020. Of those fatalities, nearly half (132) were pedestrians, and another 18 were bicyclists.
The trend of rising pedestrian accidents is not new. According to data reported by LA Weekly, pedestrian accidents have risen steadily over the last decade. Safety advocates in Los Angeles say the city has made it a priority to improve car travel conditions at the expense of everyone else sharing the roads with cars and trucks.
Knowing which parts of Los Angeles are the riskiest for pedestrians can help people stay alert and aware when they are walking the city. In this blog, we cover which intersections are LA’s most dangerous.
Which Intersection is the Most Dangerous in Los Angeles for Pedestrians?
Los Angeles County experiences the highest number of pedestrian fatal and serious injuries in California. According to preliminary 2021 collision data from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the intersections indicated on the map below pose the highest risk for traffic accidents in each Los Angeles city region, including the most unsafe areas to walk and ride a bicycle.
As you can see on the map above, the following intersections are the most hazardous for pedestrians:
- South Los Angeles:
- Avalon Boulevard and Imperial Highway
- San Fernando Valley:
- De Soto Avenue and Lassen Street
- West Los Angeles:
- Hollywood Boulevard and North Highland Avenue
- Central Los Angeles:
- East Cesar E Chavez Avenue and North Soto Street
It Isn’t Just LA – Traffic Collisions Are on the Rise in California and Across the Nation
The rise in pedestrian injuries and deaths from traffic accidents is not unique to Los Angeles. In California, pedestrian deaths increased by 18.7% from 2015 to 2019.
The increase mirrors nationwide data. According to data from the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 20,160 people lost their lives in traffic collisions in the U.S. during the first half of 2021, which is an 18.4% increase compared to 2020. This is the highest number of estimated deaths in that time period since 2006.
Last year, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the rising traffic accident rate “a crisis.” Behavioral studies show that drivers are now speeding and choosing to drive without a seatbelt more frequently than before the Covid-19 pandemic. It is possible some of the pedestrian deaths around the streets of Los Angeles could be connected to speeding and other dangerous activities, such as using handheld mobile phones while driving.
In fact, according to a UC Berkeley study, pedestrians and bicyclists note that the most common safety problems they encounter include:
- “Cars going too fast.”
- 56.4% of survey respondents.
- “Cars not stopping.”
- 49.5% of respondents.
- “Distracted driving (by cell phones).”
- 44% of respondents.
A Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help Injured Victims
If you sustain serious injuries in an accident with a car or truck through no fault of your own, you may be able to pursue compensation to help pay for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.
The Los Angeles pedestrian accident lawyers at Wisner Baum understand how traumatic these incidents can be for victims. Some of the worst accident cases we have litigated involve pedestrians because they are completely exposed to the blunt force of a car or a truck.
We understand that finding the best pedestrian accident lawyer near you can be a challenge, especially considering that Los Angeles has thousands of injury attorneys to choose from. No matter who you turn to for legal help, we highly recommend that you read client reviews and ask any prospective lawyer the following questions:
- How long has the attorney litigated pedestrian accident cases?
- Does he or she have experience negotiating settlements insurance companies? If so, what are some settlement examples from pedestrian accidents they can share?
- Has the attorney handled cases that are similar to yours? If so, how did those cases turn out?
- Does the lawyer and his or her law firm have the staff and resources needed to win your case?
- Does the attorney have trial experience? If so, what are some example verdicts?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our skilled team right away if you have any questions about the legal process after an accident. Contact our office by calling (855) 948-5098 or submitting an online contact form today to schedule your free consultation with one of our skilled accident attorneys.