Los Angeles Car Accident and Injury Statistics

No matter how short, any trip can turn into a life-changing event if you are involved in a car accident. Car accidents are a daily occurrence in Los Angeles and far too frequently result in injuries in fatalities. The Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent data reports were killed or injured in traffic collisions in the city of Los Angeles in 2016 and 91,468 in Los Angeles County in the same year. Of the accidents resulting in injury or fatalities in the Los Angeles area in 2016:

• 7,647 involved alcohol;
• 18,823 were speed related;
• 6,086 involved pedestrians;
• 3,904 involved bicyclists; and
• 5,096 involved motorcycles.

Even though Los Angeles has created and enacted its Vision Zero program with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2025, the risk of injury or death is still very present in both the City and County of Los Angeles. 242 people were killed in the City during 2018, which is down from 235 in 2017 still an unnecessary loss of life. In Los Angeles County, a staggering 670 people lost their lives in 2018 due to traffic accidents. The elderly and children tragically make up a disproportionate number of those victims. If you were injured because of someone’s negligent behavior behind the wheel, contact the experienced Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys at Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC for help getting the compensation you need and deserve.

Even a car accident victim in Los Angeles is fortunate enough to survive their collision, they still often contend with common but potentially lifelong, catastrophic consequences including among others:

• Brain injuries;
• Neck and spinal cord injuries;
• Broken bones;
• Burns; and
• Paralysis.

In addition to their bodily injuries, victims can also suffer financial damage from the astronomical costs of medical treatment for their injuries, lost wages due to being unable to work after they were hurt, and the cost of repairing damage to their property from the car accident. Recently, the average property damage claim from an automobile accident was estimated at $3,144 and the average bodily injury claim was $15,443.

Once a party is legally liable for your injuries, you may be able to recover for damages you can prove in court. A victim may receive compensatory damages for well-documented injuries such as medical bills or property damage repairs, but they may also be able to recover for injuries related to emotional and psychological trauma such as pain and suffering.

If you were injured in a Los Angeles car accident, the most common way to seek recovery from the party responsible is through the legal system. Most injury victims argue the party they believe is responsible acted negligently and caused their injuries. Negligence is not limited to driver of a vehicle – if the car is defective you may be able to sue the manufacturer of the vehicle, and if the responsible driver was engaged in work at the time of the accident you may potentially seek recovery from the driver’s employer. In these situations, it’s advisable to consult a knowledgeable Los Angeles car accident attorney to understand your options.

If you were involved in a car accident, it’s important to take a few simple steps to protect your health as well as strengthen any legal claim you may bring.

• Notify and cooperate with the police in giving a detailed accident report;
• Seek medical attention as soon as possible and follow treatment plans exactly; and
• Contact an attorney with experience handling Los Angeles car accident lawsuits.

A skilled attorney will handle many aspects of the legal claim process on your behalf, including:

• Investigating the crash;
• Examining police reports;
• Interviewing witnesses and collecting data regarding the accident;
• Consulting experts; and
• If necessary, litigating through trial in your case.