Michael P. Ehline Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Los Angeles is a large city with a large population. The majority
of the residents of LA own cars. This has been a contributing factor for
the increase in the number of car accidents in Los Angeles. In the year
2002, the LA Department of Transportation reported over 50,317 car
collisions.

Caltrans had prepared a report called the "5 Percent
Report" in response to a federal mandate which directed all states to
investigate the incidence of car accidents and identify areas which have
high accident rates. The Caltrans Report rated Los Angeles as the
number one city in California where one is at risk of a car accident.
This report was prepared on the basis of data from the year 2004 to
2006.

There are many factors which contribute to the high accident
rate in in the city. The roads in many places have high traffic volumes
which in turn increases the probability of accidents. There is a
considerably long distance between traffic signals. This encourages
drivers to speed. Drivers who approach intersections at high speed pose a
big risk of accidents since they may collide with other vehicles which
are passing through the intersection. Some intersections seem to witness
more car accidents than others. City planners identified around 19
intersections in Los Angeles which have a very bad accident record. In
total, around 39 problematic intersections were identified.

The
Valley intersection of Reseda Boulevard and Parthenia Street had
witnessed most accidents annually. The intersection of La Brea Avenue
and Adams Blvd also witnessed a high number of car collisions. Another
accident prone area is the Sunset Blvd and Highland Avenue intersection
in Hollywood. Some of the other dangerous intersections include: Roscoe
Blvd and Canoga Avenue, Winnetka Avenue and Sherman Way, Victory
Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard, Victory Boulevard and Canoga Avenue.

A
number of steps have been taken to reduce the number of accidents in
Los Angeles. Trees lining the roads have been trimmed and left turn
signals have been installed. Traffic light timings have also been
adjusted and cross walks have been restriped. License plate cameras have
been installed at some intersections to catch drivers who ignore the
red-light. Traffic police have also stepped up vigilance and increased
ticket-writing in an attempt to discourage drivers from rash and
negligent driving.

Every day, hundreds of drivers are injured or
killed while driving on the freeways, intersections and streets of Los
Angeles. Caution is the byword while driving in this city.