Most Dangerous Intersections and Streets in Los Angeles for Car Accidents

The most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles are concentrated in South LA, Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley. Top locations include Vermont Avenue and Florence Avenue, South Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue, Sepulveda Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, and Van Nuys Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard. Freeway proximity, pedestrian volume, and red-light violations are the primary causes.

California ranks among the states with the highest annual crash fatalities, and Los Angeles concentrates a disproportionate share of those incidents at a handful of recurring locations. Personal injury claims in California involving these intersections often turn on location-specific crash data that attorneys can pull from LAPD records. 

The Most Dangerous Intersections in Los Angeles

Los Angeles recorded over 38,700 injuries and fatal crashes in 2023, with roughly 86 intersections accounting for at least 10 of those each. The dangerous intersections in Los Angeles listed here consistently appear in LAPD collision data and Crosstown LA’s multi-year analysis of crash records.

1. Vermont Avenue and Florence Avenue (South LA): The most dangerous intersection in Los Angeles by LAPD crash data, with 19 injury or fatal collisions between 2020 and 2022. Multiple lanes, heavy pedestrian volume, and frequent unprotected left turns define the hazard. Underinvestment in crosswalk signals and lighting across South LA compounds the risk.
2. South Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue (Vermont-Slauson): Eighteen injury or fatal collisions in the same three-year period. Fast-moving traffic, limited visibility, and dense urban layout combine to create high risk during peak commuting hours. The mix of trucks, transit buses, and pedestrians on foot adds to the complexity.
3. Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue (Hollywood): Seventeen serious crashes per LAPD’s West Traffic Division, with more than 21 pedestrian-involved incidents over five years. Tourist foot traffic, rideshare pickup zones, and constant pedestrian crossings create conflict points that signal timing alone cannot resolve.
4. Sepulveda Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard (Van Nuys/North Hills): One of the most dangerous crossings in the San Fernando Valley. High-speed traffic on Sepulveda combines with heavy cross-street volume on Roscoe and close proximity to the 405 freeway. Failure-to-yield violations and red-light running are the dominant crash causes.
5. Van Nuys Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard (Panorama City): A corridor intersection with high pedestrian exposure and a history of serious injury crashes. Commercial density, bus stop activity, and multi-lane road width create gaps in pedestrian safety that contribute to frequent collisions.
6. Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue (Hollywood): Freeway proximity to the 101 transitions drivers from highway speed to surface street signals within a short distance. The speed differential between oncoming lanes and turning vehicles generates rear-end and broadside crashes at higher rates than most Hollywood corridors.

Most Dangerous Streets in Los Angeles for Car Accidents

Intersections concentrate crashes at a single point. Most dangerous streets in Los Angeles accumulate collisions across long corridors, making the hazard harder to avoid and easier to underestimate.

1. Western Avenue: one of the longest continuous streets in LA, running through South LA and multiple high-density neighborhoods. High pedestrian volumes, frequent bus stops, and inconsistent signal spacing contribute to a crash rate among the highest in the city.
2. Vermont Avenue: anchors two of the most dangerous intersections in LA (Florence and Slauson) and carries heavy traffic through South LA, Koreatown, and Hollywood. Long blocks and fast-moving vehicles reduce reaction time at crossings.
3. Sepulveda Boulevard: stretches from the South Bay through the San Fernando Valley, passing near LAX and multiple freeway interchanges. Speed transitions from freeway to surface street are a primary crash factor.
4. Figueroa Street: a major Downtown corridor with heavy truck traffic, construction zones, and pedestrian crossings near USC and Exposition Park. Collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists are disproportionately high.
5. Ventura Boulevard: the main commercial corridor through the Valley, with frequent left turns, driveways, and mid-block pedestrian crossings creating ongoing conflict points.

Crashes on these corridors often happen mid-block, where there is no signal or crosswalk to anchor fault. Without intersection data to rely on, the photos, witness statements, and dashcam footage you collect at the scene carry more weight. The steps after a car accident cover exactly what to document before leaving a corridor crash scene. 

Why Los Angeles Intersections and Streets Are So Dangerous

Five factors drive the crash concentrations at Los Angeles car accident hotspots: speed transitions from freeways, multi-lane complexity, entertainment corridor congestion, high pedestrian exposure in South LA, and driver behavior violations.

• Freeway exit speed transitions: drivers exiting the 101, 405, or 110 carry highway momentum onto surface streets where signals and pedestrians appear with little warning. The adjustment window is short and the consequences of misjudging it are severe.
• Multi-lane complexity: wide arterials with four or more lanes create blind spots for turning drivers and reduce the predictability of vehicle movements for pedestrians crossing mid-block.
• Rideshare and tourist congestion: Hollywood and Downtown corridors combine high foot traffic with erratic stopping patterns from Uber and Lyft drivers, creating unpredictable conflict points.
• Pedestrian exposure in South LA: residents in South LA walk and use transit at higher rates than in wealthier neighborhoods, on streets with fewer crosswalk signals and less lighting.
• Red-light violations and failure to yield: LAPD data consistently identifies these as top contributing factors in intersection crashes citywide.

When fault is disputed after an intersection crash, how insurance companies handle disputed liability claims directly affects what the injured party recovers.

What to Do After a Crash at a High-Risk Los Angeles Intersection or Street

The steps you take in the first hour after a crash at any of these locations directly affect what evidence is available and how much compensation you can recover.

1. Call 911. LAPD does not always respond to non-injury crashes, but the call creates a record. If officers do not respond, request the incident number for documentation purposes.
2. Document the intersection. Photograph traffic signals, lane markings, street signs, skid marks, vehicle positions, and the cross street from multiple angles. Video captures context that photos miss.
3. Get the police report number. Request the DR number before leaving the scene. The LAPD Traffic Collision Report is a primary piece of evidence in any fault dispute.
4. Seek same-day medical care. Even minor symptoms should be evaluated immediately. Delayed treatment weakens the causal link between the crash and your injuries.
5. Do not speak to the other driver’s insurer. Adjusters use recorded statements to establish or shift fault. Consult an attorney before providing any statement.
6. Preserve signal and design data. Intersection signal timing records, crosswalk data, and LAPD crash history for specific locations can be requested and used as evidence. This is a step most injured victims miss.

Los Angeles car accident lawyers can request this data before it is overwritten. Once you have documented the scene and sought care, the next stage involves personal injury claims in Los Angeles and what the process looks like from demand to resolution.

Get a Free Case Review From a Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer

We handle Los Angeles car accident cases on a No Fee Unless We Win basis. If you were injured at one of these intersections or streets, contact us today for a Free Consultation with a lawyer who can review the evidence, assess fault, and tell you what your claim is worth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most dangerous intersection in Los Angeles?

Vermont Avenue and Florence Avenue in South LA is the most dangerous intersection in Los Angeles by LAPD crash data, with 19 injury or fatal collisions recorded between 2020 and 2022. South Figueroa Street and Slauson Avenue ranks second with 18.

What is the most dangerous street in Los Angeles?

Western Avenue consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous streets in LA, running through high-density South LA neighborhoods with high pedestrian volumes and frequent bus stops. Vermont Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard also appear repeatedly in crash data.

Does the location of a crash affect a personal injury claim in California?

Yes. A crash at a documented high-risk intersection can support your claim by showing the location has a history of collisions. LAPD crash records, signal timing data, and intersection design reports are all usable as evidence.

What evidence should I collect at a dangerous intersection after a crash?

Photograph traffic signals, lane markings, skid marks, vehicle positions, and all cross street signage. Get the police report DR number and collect witness contact information before the scene clears.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in California?

Two years from the date of the accident for most personal injury claims. Claims against a government entity require an administrative notice within six months.

¿Hay abogados que atiendan en español a víctimas de accidentes en Los Ángeles?

Sí. Atendemos a víctimas de accidentes en Los Ángeles en español. Contáctanos hoy para hablar con un abogado sobre tus opciones. La consulta es gratis y no cobramos a menos que ganemos tu caso.