Orange County Personal Injury Attorney: 2023 Accident Stats, Major Roads, and How LA Law Group Can Help

This article is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. No attorney-client relationship exists based on the review of this article and none of the information in this article is legal advice.

Many freeways and arterial roads cross Orange County, and crashes involving drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists happen there every year. This page summarizes the 2023 Orange County figures published by the California Office of Traffic Safety, names the major routes that cross the county, and explains in general terms some deadlines and steps that can matter after a crash.

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What the 2023 Orange County crash data shows

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) publishes county crash data on its Orange County 2023 page. For 2023, OTS lists an average population of 3,170,070 for the county and reports the following.

Victims killed and injured:

• 17,809 victims killed and injured in fatal and injury collisions
• 1,771 victims in alcohol-involved collisions
• 892 pedestrian victims
• 1,116 bicyclist victims
• 902 motorcyclist victims

Fatal and injury collisions:

• 4,062 speed-related collisions
• 1,286 hit-and-run collisions
• 1,827 nighttime collisions (9:00 pm to 2:59 am)

OTS counts people killed and injured together in these categories and does not list a separate county death total on this page, so this article does not state one. Each figure above is taken directly from the OTS page, and OTS may update its numbers.

Major routes that cross Orange County

Major freeways and highways that cross Orange County include Interstate 5, Interstate 405, State Route 91, State Route 55, State Route 57, State Route 22, State Route 73 and State Route 74 (Ortega Highway), along with Pacific Coast Highway through the coastal cities. Interchanges that locals know by name include the El Toro Y (I-5 and I-405) and the Orange Crush (I-5, SR-22 and SR-57).

Surface streets in cities such as Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove and Westminster also connect with these routes. This page does not rank roads or cities, because the OTS page above reports county totals and not road or city rankings.

Factors that can come up after a crash

Crash reports and claim files often discuss factors such as:

1. Speed
2. Alcohol or drug impairment
3. Distracted driving
4. Aggressive driving
5. Failure to yield at intersections
6. Following too closely
7. Hit-and-run

OTS tracks several of these, including alcohol involvement, speed and hit-and-run, in the figures above. Which factors apply to a given crash depends on its facts.

Types of accidents and injuries this page covers

LA Law Group handles personal injury matters that include:

• Motor vehicle collisions on freeways and surface streets
• Pedestrian accidents
• Motorcycle crashes
• Bicycle crashes
• Truck and commercial vehicle crashes
• Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) collisions
• Wrongful death claims
• Premises liability, such as slip and falls and unsafe property
• Dog bites and animal attacks

Injuries that can be involved in these claims include traumatic brain injuries and concussions, spinal cord injuries, fractures, scarring and burns, and psychological trauma such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress.

Steps people often consider after a crash

The following is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and what applies to you depends on the facts.

• Many people seek medical care and keep their medical records.
• Many people ask the responding agency, such as the California Highway Patrol or a city police department, whether a report was made and what its report number is. Which agency responds can vary.
• Some people photograph the scene, vehicles and visible injuries, and note names and contact details for witnesses.
• Some evidence, such as camera footage, may be overwritten after a period of time, and a vehicle’s event data recorder may hold information about a crash.
• Many people keep copies of bills, pay records and insurance letters.

Deadlines that can apply

California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 sets a two-year period for an action for injury to, or the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another. When a public entity may be involved, Government Code section 911.2 generally requires a claim for injury to a person to be presented not later than six months after the cause of action accrues. Those dates can differ based on the facts, so confirm yours with a California attorney. See also our general guide to the statute of limitations for personal injury in California.

What a claim may include

A claim seeking compensation for your losses may involve, depending on the facts:

• Medical expenses, past and future
• Lost income and reduced ability to earn
• Non-economic losses such as pain and suffering
• Property damage to a vehicle
• Loss of consortium for a spouse in some situations

Injury severity, how fault is assigned, and the insurance coverage available all affect a claim. No article can say what a particular claim is worth, and the figures above describe county crash data, not claim values.

Talking with LA Law Group

LA Law Group, APLC is based in Chatsworth and serves clients throughout California, including Orange County. Your initial consultation is free. It is worth asking how fees and case costs work and getting the terms in writing.

Call (866) 625-2529 or visit our California personal injury practice page.

Legal Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information about Orange County crash data and California personal injury law. It does not constitute legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with LA Law Group. Every accident case involves unique facts and circumstances that require individual legal analysis. Laws and regulations change, and this information may not reflect the most current legal developments.