Los Angeles Averages 1 Traffic Death Every 30 Hours in First Half of 2021

Los Angeles Averages 1 Traffic Death Every 30 Hours in First Half of 2021

Nov 29, 2021

Los Angeles can be a dangerous place for anyone sharing the roads – motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike. Since 2016, more than 200 people have been killed in traffic accidents on the streets of Los Angeles every year.

Los Angeles Car Accident/Traffic Crash Statistics 2021

• Los Angeles Traffic Crash Statistics for the First Half of 2021
• Los Angeles Fatal Crashes 2003-2020
• Fatal Crashes, City of Los Angeles, 2003-2020
• Recovering Financial Compensation After a Traffic Crash Injury or Fatality
• How to Hire the Best Car Accident/Traffic Crash Lawyer

In 2015, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the city’s Vision Zero program aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities by 2025 through improvements to street designs and addressing unsafe driver behavior. Deemed a “pro-pedestrian initiative” by media outlets including Forbes, Los Angeles was the third major U.S. city to adopt such a plan (along with New York and San Francisco).

The year after Vision Zero was launched, total traffic deaths spiked considerably in Los Angeles, from 186 overall fatalities recorded in 2015 to 261 recorded in 2016. Since then, total traffic fatalities (including motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists) in Los Angeles have decreased slightly:

• 2017: 247 traffic deaths
• 2018: 246 traffic deaths
• 2019: 246 traffic deaths
• 2020: 238 traffic deaths

However, a recent report from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) confirms that traffic crashes involving both severe injuries and fatalities are up in nearly every category tracked by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) through the first half of 2021.

Below we will review Los Angeles traffic crash statistics for the first half of 2021. We’ll also discuss whether you might be eligible for financial compensation if you’ve been injured in a car, truck, pedestrian, motorcycle, or other type of motor vehicle accident due to another’s negligence.

Los Angeles Traffic Crash Statistics for the First Half of 2021

A report in LAist.com from July outlined the increases in specific traffic crash categories per the LAPD’s data tracking system. According to Seleta Reynolds, general manager of LADOT, the number of pedestrians killed by drivers held “about even” when compared to 2020. 56 pedestrians were killed on Los Angeles streets in the first half of 2021 when compared to 60 at the same point in 2020.

But while Los Angeles pedestrian accidents appear to have remained steady year-over-year (keeping in mind, as LAist noted, that LAPD data reports are delayed by at least a couple weeks), virtually every other traffic crash category has seen an increase.

According to the LAist report, the following Los Angeles traffic crash statistics have been confirmed for the first half of 2021:

• DUI crashes increased 20% from 2020
• Severe DUI crashes where a serious injury occurred increased 73% from 2020
• Fatal DUI crashes increased 9% from 2020
• Fatal hit-and-run crashes increased 25% from 2020
• Severe hit-and-run crashes increased 20% from 2020
• Crashes where a driver seriously injured a pedestrian increased 45% from 2020
• Crashes where a driver seriously injured a bicyclist increased 34% from 2020
• Crashes where a driver killed a bicyclist increased 40% from 2020

Per the LADOT, traffic deaths increased significantly in certain Los Angeles regions, including South L.A. and the San Fernando Valley. 100 people reportedly died in crashes as of July 10 of this year (compared to 48 deaths combined in West and Central Los Angeles in 2020).

In terms of reducing Los Angeles traffic deaths, LADOT’s Seleta Reynolds stressed personal accountability in a statement to LAist.

“We need people to know that this is a preventable crisis,” Reynolds said. “Their actions as drivers can make the difference and their willingness to be open to big changes on streets that they feel are very familiar can also mean the difference between somebody’s family member coming home or not.”

The increase in traffic deaths through the first half of 2021 means that, on average, a person is now killed every 30 hours in Los Angeles. Prior to the 2021 increase, the average Los Angeles traffic death occurred every 36 hours.

Los Angeles Fatal Crashes 2003-2020

The LADOT’s data confirms peaks and valleys in overall fatal crashes throughout the City of Angels since 2003. But the past five years, in particular, have seen overall increases in most categories.

The following table has been provided by the LADOT:

Recovering Financial Compensation After a Traffic Crash Injury or Fatality

Victims who are injured in Los Angeles traffic crashes due to another’s negligence may be eligible to recover financial compensation for various damages. By filing a civil lawsuit, injured victims may be able to secure compensation for:

• Hospital bills
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Lost wages
• Diminished quality of life
• Lost earning capacity

When a tragic death occurs as a result of a traffic accident, the surviving family members may be eligible to recover financial compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Common damages that may be secured through a wrongful death claim include:

• Loss of financial support
• Loss of pension
• Loss of insurance
• Loss of companionship
• Funeral and burial expenses

The statute of limitations for most personal injury claims – car accidents, truck crashes, motorcycle wrecks, etc. – is typically two years from the date that the incident occurred. This is also largely true for wrongful death claims.

However, some incidents such as those involving public or government entities may have a more limited window of time in which an injured victim can file a claim – sometimes as short as six months. Accordingly, it is recommended that injured victims contact an experienced and qualified lawyer as soon as possible following an accident to ensure that their claim is filed within the applicable California statute of limitations.

Our experienced attorneys can help you pursue a financial award for your personal injury case. Contact us online or by phone for a free consultation today.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Intersections in Los Angeles Ranked

• What are the 2022 Top 10 Most Dangerous Intersections in Los Angeles?
• Why are Los Angeles Intersections so Dangerous for Drivers and Pedestrians?
• Additional Dangerous Los Angeles Intersections Identified in 2020 Report
• Dordulian Law Group’s Most Dangerous Highways and Roads in California
• Los Angeles-Area Freeways Ranked as Having Highest Congestion in the United States
• How to File a Car Accident Injury Claim for Financial Compensation
• Top 13 California Car Accident Injury & Fatality Statistics
• Los Angeles Car Accident Deaths and Injuries Increase in 2021

How to Hire the Best Car Accident/Traffic Crash Lawyer

Dordulian Law Group’s (DLG) experienced and dedicated car accident attorneys are available 24/7 for free consultations and to answer any questions you may have regarding the process of filing a civil lawsuit in pursuit of financial compensation.

If you’ve been harmed by another driver’s negligence, we will fight to help you make a complete recovery – physically and financially. Securing all applicable damages in a traffic crash incident – economic and non-economic – can require skill and experience. At DLG, we’ve helped countless injured car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and scooter accident victims recover maximum financial compensation.

With a 98% success record, DLG’s clients have successfully obtained more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts over the years. To learn more, contact a dedicated team member from our Car Accident Division today at 818-322-4056.