This page provides general legal information about car accident accidents in Los Angeles, California. It is not legal advice. Consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your case.
car accident Accidents in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County records approximately 40,000 traffic collisions annually. The at-fault driver’s liability insurer is the primary recovery source; California’s updated $30K/$60K/$15K minimums from SB 1107 frequently require supplemental UM/UIM recovery for serious injuries.
Vehicle accidents in Los Angeles proceed through the same California negligence and comparative fault framework as accidents anywhere in the state. What distinguishes Los Angeles practice: the Stanley Mosk Courthouse IC departments maintain specific case management rules; LAPD stopped responding to non-injury minor crashes in 2020 (self-report at lapdonline.org); government entity claims against the City, County, or Metro require a six-month administrative filing; and the Port of LA cargo corridor on I-710 and I-405 generates particularly high commercial truck accident litigation volumes.
California now requires minimum liability coverage of $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 for property damage — the first update to mandatory minimums since 1967.
Los Angeles County has approximately 16–17% uninsured drivers statewide; specific LA ZIP codes have higher rates. UM/UIM coverage under Insurance Code § 11580.2 is the primary recovery mechanism for hit-and-run and uninsured motorist crashes. SB 371’s reduction of TNC UM/UIM coverage for rideshare drivers is particularly relevant in LA given its high Uber/Lyft activity.
California Law That Applies to Your Case
California’s pure comparative fault system from Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975) applies to all Los Angeles vehicle accidents. A driver found 40% at fault recovers 60% of damages — recovery is never eliminated. Proposition 51 (Civil Code § 1431.2) limits joint and several liability for non-economic damages in multi-defendant cases.
Vehicle Code violations are negligence per se under Evidence Code § 669. In Los Angeles, the most commonly litigated Vehicle Code provisions are: CVC § 21453 (red light violation), CVC § 22107 (unsafe lane change), CVC § 21703 (following too closely), and CVC § 21801 (left turn failure to yield).
Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 gives two years from the date of injury. Claims against the City of LA or LA County require a six-month Government Claims Act administrative claim under Government Code § 911.2.
"Within two years: An action for … injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another." Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1
Courts and Procedures in Los Angeles
New personal injury cases in the Central District are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 830-0803, and assigned to Independent Calendar departments. As of January 8, 2024, all new Central District unlimited civil PI cases are assigned to IC departments at Stanley Mosk.
E-filing is mandatory for represented parties. The LASC filing locator at lacourt.org/page/PR0102 confirms the correct courthouse for non-Central District ZIP codes. The Mandatory Settlement Conference Program resolves a majority of Los Angeles PI cases before trial.
For accidents on City of Los Angeles streets, the Traffic Collision Report is obtainable from LAPD Records, 100 W. 1st St., Los Angeles (allow 7–10 business days). For freeway accidents, CHP Traffic Collision Reports are obtainable from the relevant CHP Area Office.
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
What to Do After a car accident in Los Angeles
- Call 911 for any injury accident. For non-injury minor accidents in LA, use LAPD’s online self-report at lapdonline.org — LAPD no longer responds to these in person.
- Photograph all vehicle damage, plate numbers, lane markings, and intersection conditions before anything moves.
- Collect the other driver’s complete insurance information. For rideshare accidents, screenshot the active trip in the app before it closes.
- File the DMV SR-1 within 10 days of any injury accident or damage over $1,000 under Vehicle Code § 16000.
- Identify government entity involvement. City vehicle, Metro bus, pothole damage? Government Claims Act six-month deadline runs from the accident date.
- Seek immediate medical evaluation. Emergency records link injuries to the specific incident and document pre-existing condition baselines.
- Send litigation hold demands to any carriers or commercial operators involved — ELD and dashcam data overwrite within days.
FAQs — car accident in Los Angeles
California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 provides two years from the date of injury. Claims against the City of Los Angeles or County entities require a Government Claims Act administrative filing within six months under Government Code § 911.2.
Central District unlimited civil cases are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Filing location for other districts depends on the ZIP code of the incident — use the LASC filing locator at lacourt.org to confirm the correct courthouse.
Yes. California’s pure comparative fault from Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) applies throughout the state. Recovery is reduced by your fault percentage but never eliminated. Los Angeles juries apply the same comparative fault standard as courts throughout California.
LASC Local Rules govern case management. New PI cases at Stanley Mosk are assigned to IC departments and typically receive an Initial Status Conference within 180 days. The court’s Mandatory Settlement Conference Program staffed by ABOTA and CAALA attorneys resolves a significant percentage of cases before trial.
File a Government Claims Act administrative claim within six months. City of LA claims go to the City’s Claim Administration Unit at claims.lacity.org. County claims go to County Risk Management. LA Metro/MTA claims are filed at metro.net. Missing the six-month deadline permanently bars the government entity portion of the lawsuit.
California does not cap damages in vehicle accident, premises liability, or product liability cases. Economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, future care), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress), and punitive damages under Civil Code § 3294 are all available subject to standard California requirements. MICRA caps non-economic damages only in medical malpractice cases.
Other Accident Types in Los Angeles
Slip and Fall in Los Angeles
Civil Code § 1714 duty, constructive notice doctrine from Ortega v. Kmart, and six-month government claims deadline for City/County property falls.
Slip and Fall in Los Angeles →Dog Bite in Los Angeles
Civil Code § 3342 strict liability, no prior bite required, homeowner’s coverage, and landlord premises liability when prior knowledge is established.
Dog Bite in Los Angeles →Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles
CVC § 21950 yield duty, High Injury Network corridors, UM coverage for pedestrians, and City of LA infrastructure claims under Gov. Code § 835.
Pedestrian Accident in Los Angeles →Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles
Legal lane splitting under CVC § 21658.1, OmniBike Bill lane-change requirements, CVC § 27803 helmet rule, and freeway reconstruction comparative fault.
Motorcycle Accident in Los Angeles →Truck Accident in Los Angeles
FMCSA regulations, ELD preservation demands, Port of LA carrier liability, and multi-defendant allocation under Proposition 51.
Truck Accident in Los Angeles →Find a car accident Attorney in Los Angeles
This page is educational. To find a licensed California attorney who handles car accident cases in the Los Angeles area, use these verified directories.