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California’s Deadliest Crosswalks (2026 Data Study)
Published July 2026 · By Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC · Data study based on NHTSA FARS records, 2019–2024 – Reviewed and Updated by Steven M. Sweat, October 2026
| Article Summary: A new study released by Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, examined six years of federal traffic fatality records (2019–2024) to identify the California counties with the highest pedestrian risks and the most dangerous crosswalks in the state. The analysis found 1,036 pedestrian deaths in crosswalks across 1,025 separate fatal crashes — 15.6% of all 6,656 California pedestrian fatalities in that period. Los Angeles is home to two of California’s deadliest crosswalks: S La Cienega Boulevard at Obama Boulevard and S Central Avenue at E 89th Street, each with 3 pedestrian fatalities between 2019 and 2024. Los Angeles County leads all counties with 356 crosswalk deaths — four times more than second-ranked Orange County. |
Los Angeles has two of California’s deadliest crosswalks, according to a July 2026 report on pedestrian safety. A new study released by Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, looked at six years of federal traffic fatality records and pinpointed California counties with the highest pedestrian risks and the most dangerous crosswalks across the state.
S La Cienega Boulevard intersecting with Obama Boulevard and S Central Avenue crossing with E 89th Street have the most dangerous crosswalks in all of California, with 3 pedestrian fatalities each between 2019 and 2024.
In 2024 alone, crosswalks in Hesperia, Costa Mesa, and Compton each recorded 2 pedestrian fatalities.
Orange County is the second most dangerous California region for pedestrians, but it still sees 4 times fewer fatalities than Los Angeles.
The study used the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the US Department of Transportation’s national census of fatal traffic crashes, covering the 2019–2024 timeline, as 2024 is the most recent year with information available. The research examined every fatal crash in California within these years and identified cases in which a pedestrian was killed on a crosswalk. In total, the study identified 1,036 related pedestrian deaths across 1,025 separate fatal crashes.
| Intersection / Crosswalk | City | Fatal Crashes (2024) | Total Deaths (2019-2024) |
| S La Cienega Blvd & Obama Blvd | Los Angeles | 0 | 3 |
| S Central Ave & E 89th St | Los Angeles | 0 | 3 |
| Main St & Maple Ave | Hesperia | 2 | 2 |
| SR-55 Newport Blvd & Harbor Blvd | Costa Mesa | 2 | 2 |
| Compton Blvd & Matthisen Ave | Compton | 2 | 2 |
You can find the full report findings by following this link.
The Deadliest Crosswalks in California
Los Angeles has two of the most dangerous crosswalks in California. The intersection of S La Cienega Boulevard and Obama Boulevard in Baldwin Hills had 3 pedestrian deaths directly on the crosswalk between 2019 and 2024, the same as at the junction of S Central Avenue and E 89th Street. Crosswalks in Hesperia, Costa Mesa, and Compton each recorded 2 fatal crashes involving people on foot in 2024.
These findings echo a pattern our firm has documented before: fatal pedestrian crashes in Los Angeles cluster on a small number of high-volume arterial corridors. For a street-by-street breakdown, see our companion analyses of the 25 most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles and the most dangerous streets in Los Angeles.
| County | Crosswalk Pedestrian Deaths (2019–2024) |
| Los Angeles | 356 |
| Orange | 89 |
| San Diego | 86 |
| Santa Clara | 53 |
| Alameda | 51 |
High-Risk Counties for Pedestrians
Los Angeles County is the most dangerous for pedestrians, recording 356 deaths at crosswalks in 6 years. For scale, the Orange County that follows 2nd has 4 times fewer fatal accidents. The statistics are still too high, and Orange County and San Diego County almost match in risk profile, with 89 and 86 fatalities, respectively. Santa Clara and Alameda counties follow, with 53 and 51 fatalities, or around 8–9 crosswalk deaths a year.
Los Angeles County’s dominance in the rankings is consistent with what we found in our Los Angeles pedestrian safety report: the city’s pedestrian fatality rate is roughly three times New York City’s, and traffic deaths in L.A. exceeded homicides in both 2023 and 2024.
| Years | All CA Pedestrian Deaths | Crosswalk Deaths (Total) | % of Pedestrian Deaths in Crosswalks |
| 2019–2024 | 6,656 | 1,036 | 15.6% |
What the Numbers Say About Pedestrian Safety Across California
California ranks among the top 10 states with the highest pedestrian fatality rate per population, at 2.84 per 100K residents. These numbers seem low, but that translates to over 6.6K deaths across the state in the last 6 years, or 1.1K+ annually. Crosswalk deaths account for 15.6% of those, showing a huge issue with traffic control and management of different modes of transportation.
That last figure deserves emphasis. A marked crosswalk is precisely where the law places pedestrians and where drivers are legally required to yield — yet more than one in seven California pedestrian deaths happens there. When a pedestrian is killed doing everything the law asks of them, the question shifts from pedestrian behavior to driver conduct and roadway design.
Methodology
This study analyzed six years (2019–2024) of records from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s national census of fatal traffic crashes. 2024 is the most recent year for which data is available. Researchers examined every fatal crash recorded in California during the study period and isolated cases in which a pedestrian was killed on a crosswalk. Fatalities were then aggregated by intersection, city, and county to produce the rankings above. In total, the analysis identified 1,036 crosswalk pedestrian deaths across 1,025 separate fatal crashes. The full dataset and complete findings are available in the full report.
Expert Takeaway
Steven M. Sweat commented on the study:
| “Crosswalk fatal accidents often happen because of the poor infrastructure: cities don’t invest enough in road development, don’t divide traffic between streets, don’t accommodate the rising number of cars. But drivers are responsible, too. If you, as a pedestrian, were crossing the street on the green light, in the marked crosswalk, and you looked around before you started walking, the law is on your side. Any car crash involving a pedestrian is a major health or even life danger for them; the risk for the driver is much lower.” |
Who Is Liable When a Pedestrian Is Killed or Injured in a California Crosswalk?
California Vehicle Code § 21950 requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within any marked crosswalk — or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. We break down exactly how these rules operate in our explainer on California’s pedestrian right-of-way laws.
Liability is not always all-or-nothing. California follows a pure comparative fault system, established in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, meaning an injured pedestrian can recover damages even if they were partially at fault — their recovery is simply reduced by their percentage of responsibility. And where a dangerous intersection design, missing signal, or poor lighting contributed to a crash, a city, county, or Caltrans may share liability for a dangerous condition of public property — claims that carry a much shorter six-month government claim deadline.
Our firm has represented pedestrians struck in California crosswalks for over 30 years. Learn more about these cases on our pedestrian accident lawyer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadliest crosswalk in California?
Two Los Angeles intersections tie for the deadliest crosswalks in California: S La Cienega Boulevard & Obama Boulevard in Baldwin Hills and S Central Avenue & E 89th Street, each recording 3 pedestrian fatalities directly on the crosswalk from 2019 through 2024, according to a 2026 analysis of FARS data.
Which California county has the most crosswalk pedestrian deaths?
Los Angeles County, with 356 crosswalk pedestrian deaths between 2019 and 2024 — four times more than second-ranked Orange County (89). San Diego (86), Santa Clara (53), and Alameda (51) counties round out the top five.
What percentage of California pedestrian deaths happen in crosswalks?
15.6%. Of the 6,656 pedestrians killed in California between 2019 and 2024, 1,036 were killed while in a crosswalk — more than one in seven.
Who is at fault if a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk in California?
Under California Vehicle Code § 21950, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and in unmarked crosswalks at intersections, so the driver is usually liable. However, California’s pure comparative fault rule (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804) means fault can be apportioned, and a government entity can share liability if a dangerous roadway condition contributed to the crash.
How long do I have to file a pedestrian accident claim in California?
Generally two years from the date of injury for claims against private drivers. If a government entity may be liable — for example, for a dangerously designed intersection — a formal government claim must usually be filed within six months.
Injured in a Crosswalk? We Can Help.
Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC has represented pedestrians and their families across Southern California for over 30 years. If you or a loved one was struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk — including at any of the intersections named in this study — call us 24/7 at 866-966-5240 for a free consultation. We serve clients in English and Spanish, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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