Los Angeles, CA Car Accident Lawyers

DUI crashes remain a serious source of fatal and catastrophic injury collisions in LA County. California Vehicle Code section 23152 makes it unlawful to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher (lower for commercial drivers and rideshare drivers on duty). When a drunk driver causes a crash, civil recovery runs alongside the criminal case, and California Civil Code section 3294 may allow punitive damages for conscious disregard for safety. Evidence that strengthens a DUI claim includes the police report, breath or blood test results, body-worn camera footage, and dram-shop evidence pointing to a bar or restaurant that overserved the driver.

Intersection crashes on Wilshire, Sunset, Vermont, and Olympic frequently involve a driver who blew a red light or rolled a stop sign. California Vehicle Code section 21453 requires drivers to stop at a steady red signal before the limit line, and section 22450 requires a complete stop at a stop sign. T-bone collisions caused by signal violations often produce serious side-impact injuries because the door pillar offers far less crush space than the front or rear of the vehicle. Surveillance video from nearby businesses, traffic-signal timing records from LADOT, and witness statements are the evidence that resolves these cases.

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass and the I-10 through downtown produce a steady stream of sideswipe and merge collisions. California Vehicle Code section 22107 requires a driver to make a lane change only when it can be done with reasonable safety and after giving an appropriate signal. Blind-spot crashes, weave-and-cut collisions, and lane-drift incidents are easier to prove with dashcam footage, vehicle damage patterns (paint transfer along the doors and quarter panels), and statements from drivers in adjacent lanes. Telematics data from newer vehicles can also document steering inputs and turn-signal use.

Street racing, weaving through traffic at high speed, and aggressive driving show up regularly in South LA, the Valley, and along PCH. California Vehicle Code section 23103 defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. When a reckless-driving crash injures someone, the conduct can support a punitive damages claim under Civil Code section 3294. Evidence that helps includes 911 calls reporting the driving before the crash, traffic camera footage, witness video from other motorists, and the criminal court record if the at-fault driver was charged.

Speeding is a top contributor to fatal crashes statewide, according to the California Highway Patrol. California Vehicle Code section 22350 (the basic speed law) prohibits driving at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent for conditions, and section 22349 sets the maximum speed at 65 mph (or 70 mph on certain rural highways). On urban surface streets, posted limits typically run 25 to 45 mph. Event-data-recorder downloads, GPS data from rideshare or fleet vehicles, and crash reconstruction can establish actual speed at impact and translate that into a clear liability picture for the jury.

Stop-and-go traffic on the I-110, I-5, and the 101 produces a constant stream of rear-end crashes. California Vehicle Code section 21703 prohibits following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent. The rear driver is presumed at fault in most California rear-end cases, but that presumption can shift in chain-reaction pileups, sudden-stop scenarios, or when brake lights were inoperative. A clear breakdown of how California treats fault in these cases is available in this article on rear-end collision fault in California. Helpful evidence includes dashcam footage, EDR data, brake-light functionality records, and photographs of the front-end damage on the rear vehicle.

Wrong-way crashes on LA freeway off-ramps and divided highways are rare but disproportionately fatal. California Vehicle Code section 21651 prohibits driving across or on a divided highway in the wrong direction, and section 21657 requires drivers to obey one-way street signs. Wrong-way driving frequently overlaps with impairment, GPS confusion, or medical events. Evidence that helps prove these cases includes Caltrans traffic camera footage, 911 calls from other motorists, toxicology results from the at-fault driver, and signage and lighting documentation at the entry point.

Hit-and-run is a persistent problem in LA County, and California Vehicle Code section 20002 (property damage) and section 20001 (injury or death) make leaving the scene a crime. From a civil standpoint, you may still recover through your own uninsured motorist coverage even if the fleeing driver is never identified. A los angeles hit and run accident lawyer can pull LAPD records, canvas for surveillance video before it overwrites, and file the required notices on time. Helpful evidence includes a partial license plate, vehicle make and color, debris left at the scene, and any witness who saw the direction of flight.