Los Angeles is a driving city — and that sometimes means dangerous places to cross, turn, or merge. Over the past several years independent reporters and City datasets have identified which corners of LA see the worst crashes. In this article I’ll walk through the intersections that repeatedly show up on those lists, explain the common accident scenarios that happen there, show the California Vehicle Code provisions that commonly govern liability, link to practical resources on victimslawyer.com, and explain steps injured people should take (including how we can help at Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC).
Quick summary — the data & the hotspots
Recent analyses that compile LAPD collision reports and City datasets show clear clusters of severe crashes in South LA and along freeway ramps in the Valley. Independent trackers (like Crosstown LA) and local outlets collating LAPD data have published lists of the 50 most dangerous intersections; many of the intersections with the worst crash counts are near freeway exits and on major arterials such as Vermont, Florence, Slauson, Sepulveda, Roscoe, and portions of the 405/110 corridors. Crosstown+2ABC7 Los Angeles+2
The City of Los Angeles also maintains a “High Injury Network” (HIN) — corridors where crashes causing severe injury or death are concentrated — and the LA Geohub provides the underlying data for those corridors. That network overlaps many of the intersections named in media analyses. LADOT Livable Streets+1
(If you want the local list at a glance, reporting outlets published interactive lists this fall based on LAPD data — e.g., Crosstown/ABC7 coverage and local cycling/safety blogs summarized the worst intersections and the crash counts that place them at the top.) ABC7 Los Angeles+1
Intersections that repeatedly appear on “most dangerous” lists
Below are several intersections and corridors that consistently show up in reporting and city crash data. I list them because they exemplify the kinds of hazards that cause severe collisions in our city:
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Vermont Avenue & Slauson Avenue — identified as among the worst for severe collisions and hit-and-run felony crashes over recent multi-year windows. BikinginLA
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Sepulveda Boulevard & Roscoe Boulevard (San Fernando Valley, near the 405 ramps) — a high count of serious collisions, often linked to freeway traffic and ramp movements. Crosstown
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Vermont Avenue & Florence Avenue — listed by some analyses as one of the highest counts of injurious/fatal crashes in the city. MoneyGeek.com
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Intersections near the 405 and 110 freeway exits — many top crash intersections are adjacent to freeway on/off-ramps; speeds, complex merging, and short sight lines contribute. ABC7 Los Angeles+1
These hotspots are drawn from combined LAPD collision tallies, neighborhood reporting, and the City’s High Injury Network data. They’re valuable as examples because the crash patterns seen there (left-turn collisions, pedestrian strikes, red-light running, freeway-ramp merges) are common across LA. geohub.lacity.org+1
The most common accident scenarios at dangerous intersections — and the governing law
Below I explain the typical collision types at dangerous intersections and the California Vehicle Code (CVC) sections most often relied on when establishing fault (and, in many cases, negligence per se leading to civil liability).
Important legal point: breaking a Vehicle Code provision is not automatically civil liability — but violations are powerful evidence of negligence and, in many claims, provide the basis for negligence per se. Each accident is fact-specific; the code sections below are the usual legal touchstones for intersection crashes.
1. Left-turn collisions
Typical crash: A driver making a left turn or U-turn collides with oncoming traffic because they misjudged a gap or failed to yield.
Relevant law:
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CVC § 21801 requires the driver turning left (or making a U-turn) to yield the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles that are close enough to be a hazard until the left turn can be made with reasonable safety. That duty is central to many left-turn collision claims. Justia Law
Liability note: If a turning driver violates § 21801 and hits an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian, that violation is strong evidence of fault. Conversely, if an oncoming driver behaves unlawfully (speeding or failing to yield when required), liability can be shared or shifted depending on circumstances.
2. Failure to yield at stop signs / uncontrolled intersections
Typical crash: A driver enters an intersection without stopping or fails to yield, causing a T-bone or broadside collision.
Relevant law:
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CVC §§ 21800–21804 (various failure to yield rules at intersections and when entering a highway) govern who must yield and when. For example, the driver entering a road must yield to vehicles close enough to be a hazard. (See the Vehicle Code sections on yielding at intersections and when entering a highway.) FindLaw Codes+1
Liability note: Violation of these yielding rules is commonly used to prove negligence.
3. Pedestrian strikes in crosswalks
Typical crash: A pedestrian crossing (marked or unmarked crosswalk) is struck by a driver who fails to yield.
Relevant law:
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CVC § 21950 requires drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing in marked or unmarked crosswalks and to exercise due care. Drivers must stop and remain stopped as necessary to protect a pedestrian. LegiInfo+1
Liability note: Pedestrian victims often have strong claims when § 21950 is violated. Pedestrian cases can also implicate crosswalk visibility, signal timing, and city responsibility for safe crossings — all issues we investigate for clients. Victim-focused resources that explain pedestrian rights and claims are available on victimslawyer.com. Steven M. Sweat
4. Red-light and red-turn violations
Typical crash: A driver runs a red light or makes an unlawful turn on red and collides with another vehicle or pedestrian.
Relevant law:
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Running traffic signals and improper turning movements are governed by various CVC provisions (e.g., duties at signals, turning rules like CVC § 22100 for required turning carriageways and positions). Violations of those signal or turning rules can support negligence claims.
Liability note: When the red-light violator is captured on camera or by eyewitnesses, liability is frequently straightforward. City signal timing and signage may also be relevant in complex cases.
5. Speeding and unsafe speed at intersections
Typical crash: A vehicle approaches an intersection at an unsafe speed and cannot stop or avoid a crash resulting from another driver’s legal movement.
Relevant law:
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CVC § 22350 (basic speed law) requires drivers to operate at a speed that is safe for current conditions. Where speed causes or contributes to an intersection crash, the speeding driver can be held liable. (Local speed limits and proximate conditions matter.) LegiInfo
Liability note: Speed is often a contributing factor where collisions are severe — especially near freeway ramps or on wide arterials.
6. Improper lane changes, merge collisions, and freeway-ramp incidents
Typical crash: A driver merges from an on-ramp or changes lanes near an intersection and causes a crash due to unsafe movement.
Relevant law:
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Rules about lane usage, overtaking, and passing (e.g., CVC §§ 21750-21754 and related provisions) provide legal standards for safe lane changes and passing. Where drivers fail to make safe lane changes or merges, those code provisions — together with traffic engineering factors at ramps — inform civil liability. (City planning and ramp design sometimes contribute.) Shouse Law Group+1
How the Vehicle Code ties into civil liability (brief primer)
Violating a Vehicle Code provision can have two important effects in a personal injury case:
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Evidence of negligence (and negligence per se): When a driver breaks a clear statutory duty (like failing to yield to a pedestrian under CVC § 21950), courts and juries often treat that violation as strong evidence of negligence. In many circumstances the violation will be treated as negligence per se, meaning the statute establishes the duty and a breach of that duty is actionable without further proof of the standard of care. LegiInfo+1
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Shifting of fault and comparative negligence: California follows comparative negligence. Even if a plaintiff bears some fault (e.g., a jaywalking pedestrian who misjudged traffic), the court apportions fault and reduces damages accordingly rather than barring recovery entirely. This is crucial in intersection cases where multiple parties’ actions interact. (The Vehicle Code violations are used to allocate percentages of fault.) Justia Law+1
For practical explanations of how intersection crashes lead to legal claims and what injured people can recover, see the practice-area writeups and client resources at victimslawyer.com, which provide guides on pedestrian accidents, intersection crash claims, and how attorneys pursue damages. Steven M. Sweat+1
Why some intersections are repeatedly dangerous — a mix of human behavior and road design
Crashes happen when human error meets a roadway that allows or amplifies that error. At LA’s worst intersections you’ll often find one or more of the following:
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Proximity to freeway ramps — short merge distances increase conflict, especially where on-ramp traffic encounters local cross traffic. Reporters have repeatedly flagged freeway-adjacent intersections as high in serious collisions. Crosstown+1
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High volumes of pedestrian and vehicle traffic — more exposure increases crash probability; corridors on the High Injury Network show exactly where exposure is concentrated. geohub.lacity.org
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Wide arterials and long crossing distances — they encourage higher speeds and give pedestrians longer exposure time. geohub.lacity.org
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Poor visibility, signal timing, or inadequate crosswalk features — these engineering issues are often discussed in safety audits and Vision Zero projects. LADOT’s Vision Zero program targets exactly these fixes. LADOT Livable Streets
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Frequent red-light running or street takeovers — deliberate risky behavior (e.g., illegal street takeovers) can create sudden, catastrophic intersection incidents. News reports document the kind of street-takeover incidents that severely injure pedestrians and bystanders. New York Post
What to do if you’re injured at a dangerous LA intersection
If you or a loved one are hurt in an intersection crash, these steps are critical:
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Seek urgent medical care. Your health comes first. Medical records also form key evidence in any claim.
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Call the police and get a collision report. The LAPD report and any citations (e.g., a CVC violation) are important evidence. Media collations of dangerous intersections rely on the same LAPD data that investigators use. ABC7 Los Angeles+1
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Document the scene if possible. Photos of vehicle positions, skid marks, traffic signals, and visible injuries help investigators.
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Get eyewitness contacts. Independent witnesses are invaluable, especially where the at-fault driver flees or disputes the facts. (Hit-and-run and felony hit-and-run trends have been highlighted at some intersections.) BikinginLA
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Preserve evidence and note timeline details. Times, weather, and light conditions matter. If signals were malfunctioning, note it.
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Call an experienced personal injury attorney early. Insurance companies move fast. A lawyer who handles intersection and pedestrian cases can preserve evidence (cellphone data, traffic camera footage, signal timing data), coordinate medical records, and build a damages case. Victimslawyer.com has guides on pedestrian injury causes and how attorneys pursue these cases. Steven M. Sweat+1
How attorneys use Vehicle Code violations and city data in building a case
In intersection cases we commonly:
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Pull the LAPD collision report and request the investigating officer’s notes.
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Subpoena traffic-camera footage and nearby private video (business CCTV, doorbell, dashcam). Many intersection cases hinge on video that shows red-light running or a turning driver’s movements.
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Use crash reconstruction and expert testimony to show speed, impact angles, and whether a left-turner violated CVC § 21801 or a driver violated CVC § 21950 by failing to yield to a pedestrian. Justia Law+1
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Bring in traffic engineers to analyze signal timing or design defects when the roadway itself contributed to the crash — for example when sight lines are blocked or crosswalk design is unsafe. LADOT Vision Zero project lists and the City HIN data help identify systemic problems at corridors and intersections. LADOT Livable Streets+1
Victim-focused resources on victimslawyer.com explain common causes and legal approaches for pedestrian and intersection claims — you can find practical client guides there that mirror the investigative steps attorneys take. Steven M. Sweat+1
Sample scenarios — how the Vehicle Code applies (short case studies)
Case study A — Left turn into oncoming vehicle (typical at wide arterial)
Facts: Driver A makes a left turn at a busy intersection and collides with Driver B who is proceeding straight.
Law in play: CVC § 21801 — Driver A must yield to oncoming vehicles close enough to be a hazard. If A fails to yield and causes the crash, A is usually liable. Justia Law
Case study B — Pedestrian struck in crosswalk at signalized intersection
Facts: Pedestrian in crosswalk is struck by Driver C entering the intersection while the pedestrian has the right-of-way.
Law in play: CVC § 21950 — Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks. Violation supports a negligence per se claim. LegiInfo
Case study C — Merge crash coming off freeway ramp
Facts: Driver D fails to yield while merging from an on-ramp and sideswipes Driver E or forces E into another lane.
Law in play: Lane-change and yield rules plus safe-speed duties (CVC §§ regarding passing/merging and § 22350 basic speed law). City ramp design and signage may also be relevant to fault allocation. geohub.lacity.org+1
These are representative — real cases require the records, reports, and often expert testimony.
Resources & further reading
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LADOT Vision Zero maps and project pages (for HIN and intersection safety projects). LADOT Livable Streets
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Los Angeles High Injury Network dataset (City Geohub). geohub.lacity.org
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Recent compilations of the city’s worst intersections (journalistic surveys based on LAPD data): Crosstown LA, ABC7 coverage, Biking in LA and MoneyGeek summaries of dangerous intersections and crash counts. These pieces provide concrete intersection lists and multi-year crash tallies. MoneyGeek.com+3Crosstown+3ABC7 Los Angeles+3
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California Vehicle Code sections frequently relied on in intersection claims — examples include § 21801 (left turns / U-turns), § 21950 (pedestrians), § 22100 (turning rules), and § 22350 (basic speed law). These statutes set duties that form the legal backbone of many civil claims after intersection crashes. (See the official code pages and annotated resources for full text and context.) LegiInfo+3Justia Law+3LegiInfo+3
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Victim resources on intersection and pedestrian claim basics, published by Steven M. Sweat’s firm: pages on the most dangerous intersections in LA, pedestrian accidents in intersections, and the top causes of LA pedestrian accidents. These explain how claims are handled and what victims can expect. Steven M. Sweat+2Steven M. Sweat+2
Final thoughts — safety, accountability, and getting help
Los Angeles has made notable progress through Vision Zero projects, targeted engineering fixes, and enforcement, but the patterns — freeway ramp clusters, busy arterials, and South LA corridors — persist. Knowing where collisions happen, understanding how the Vehicle Code defines duties at intersections, and acting quickly after an injury are essential.
If you or a loved one were injured at one of LA’s dangerous intersections, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. We investigate collision reports, obtain traffic camera footage, work with crash reconstructionists and traffic engineers, and take on insurers so our clients can focus on recovery. You’ll find practical client guides and explanations of common causes of intersection and pedestrian collision claims on our practice pages. Steven M. Sweat+1
Call to action
If you were injured in an intersection crash in Los Angeles, call Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC for a free consultation. We handle intersection, pedestrian, and freeway-ramp collisions throughout Los Angeles and will fight to hold negligent drivers — and, when appropriate, other responsible parties — accountable. Call 866-966-5240 or 310-592-0445, or visit our practice pages to learn more. Steven M. Sweat
Author note
This article summarizes common legal principles and public safety data to help injured people and concerned Angelenos understand where crashes concentrate and how the law generally treats intersection accidents. It is not legal advice — each claim depends on its facts; please contact our office for a case-specific consultation. LADOT Livable Streets+1
Selected sources referenced in this article
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Crosstown LA / “The most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles.” Crosstown
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ABC7 / KABC reporting summarizing Crosstown LA’s list. ABC7 Los Angeles
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Biking in LA coverage of dangerous intersections. BikinginLA
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LA City Vision Zero and maps. LADOT Livable Streets
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LA City High Injury Network dataset (Geohub). geohub.lacity.org
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California Vehicle Code § 21801 (left turns / U-turns). Justia Law
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California Vehicle Code § 21950 (pedestrian right-of-way). LegiInfo
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Victimslawyer.com — practice area pages on “Most Dangerous Intersections in Los Angeles,” pedestrian accidents in intersections, and causes of pedestrian accidents. Steven M. Sweat+2