Every driver in Southern California knows how quickly a normal day on the road can change. One wrong move, a distracted glance, or a misjudged merge, and a routine commute becomes an emergency. So, where do most car accidents happen? Across California, most collisions occur at intersections, on freeways during lane changes, and in busy parking areas where vehicles and pedestrians share tight spaces.
In Long Beach, congestion near major routes such as the I-405, Pacific Coast Highway, and Lakewood Boulevard often turns small mistakes into serious crashes. Understanding these accident hotspots helps you stay alert and know whether someone else’s negligence might be responsible for your injuries.
If you’ve been hurt in a crash, The Beliz Law Firm can help. Attorney Michael A. Beliz, Esq., a Long Beach resident and personal injury lawyer since 2006, provides one-on-one legal guidance, investigates every detail, and pursues full compensation for those injured by unsafe drivers.
Where Do Most Car Accidents Happen in California?
In 2023, 4,061 people were involved in fatal crashes in California. Hundreds of thousands more were injured. In fact, car crashes killed more people in California in 2023 than homicides.
Los Angeles consistently ranks as the number-one city for car accidents in California, often followed by San Diego. However, common factors overlap across regions: driver distraction, speeding, and rapidly changing freeway conditions. Whether you’re driving along PCH through Belmont Shore or merging onto the 710, recognizing the most common place to get in a car accident can help you plan your route more safely and strengthen your legal case if another driver causes harm.
1. What Is the Most Common Place to Get in a Car Accident: Freeways and Major Roadways
Any roadways, freeways, or highways are high-risk for car accidents. The most common type of accident is a rear-end type. Rear-end collisions occur when traffic ahead slows down and a distracted or speeding driver is unable to stop in time, resulting in a crash with the vehicle ahead.
Rear-end auto accidents may happen at any point on a roadway, freeway, or highway. However, drivers should be especially alert for traffic slowing or accelerating while entering, exiting, or merging onto a highway. At these points, there may be sudden slowdown or speedup, so the need to be alert and cautious should be high.
Another area to be alert to is near the carpool lanes. In Southern California, double yellow lines next to the carpool lane leave drivers with a short window to enter or exit the lane. Drivers may need to accelerate or decelerate quickly to merge with oncoming traffic, which may cause crashes with inattentive drivers.
Key risk zones include:
- I-405 and I-710 interchanges—where lane-changing congestion creates rapid stop-and-go traffic;
- Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1)—with frequent cross-traffic, pedestrians, and unpredictable merging; and
- Carpool-lane transitions—where double-yellow restrictions leave short openings for entry or exit.
Staying alert near ramps and merge zones, which are the same areas where attorneys see some of the most serious injury cases in Long Beach, can prevent chain-reaction crashes.
2. Intersections: Where Split-Second Decisions Collide
In California, dense grid layouts amplify the risk of intersection crashes. Similar to roadways, freeways, and highways, most crashes at intersections are rear-end collisions. This is because there is a braking element at an intersection. A driver needs to pay attention and be aware of intersections in case other vehicles suddenly stop.
Long Beach intersections along Broadway, Ocean Boulevard, and Atlantic Avenue combine heavy pedestrian flow with impatient turning traffic.
Accidents here often result from:
- Drivers running red lights or stop signs,
- Failure to yield when turning left without a protected arrow, and
- Rear-end collisions from sudden braking.
When two drivers dispute the right of way, the first vehicle to arrive, or the one on the right, has priority. Still, misjudgment or distraction frequently overturns that rule in practice.
3. Hidden Danger Accident Hotspots: Parking Lots and Pedestrian Areas
It surprises many drivers to learn that one of the common accident hotspots isn’t the freeway but the parking lot. Low speeds give a false sense of safety. But every day, crashes occur when drivers back out of spaces without checking mirrors, or when shoppers walk behind moving vehicles while juggling phones or bags.
Typical scenarios include:
- A motorist reversing into a passing car,
- Two drivers competing for the same space, and
- Pedestrians struck while walking between parked rows.
In California, you can’t start a vehicle from a parked position until it’s safe to do so. In legal terms, failure to look before backing can constitute negligence. These claims often involve nearby businesses or shopping centers, where property-owner footage provides clear evidence.
Where Do Most Car Accidents Happen in Long Beach?
While statewide data shows urban congestion as the greatest risk factor, certain Long Beach corridors see disproportionate crash volumes, including:
- Pacific Coast Highway at Cherry Avenue—consistently ranks among the city’s highest-collision intersections;
- Lakewood Boulevard near Carson Street—records frequent rear-end impacts during evening commutes;
- The 405 and 710 connectors—notorious for sideswipe and chain-reaction accidents caused by sudden lane merges; and
- East Anaheim Street, 7th Street, and Long Beach Boulevard—also report high crash volumes.
Local awareness makes a difference. Residents who drive these corridors daily often underestimate how small distractions, such as grabbing a drink or adjusting navigation, can lead to severe injury.
Take the Next Step Toward Recovery
At The Beliz Law Firm, attorney Michael A. Beliz built his practice around one principle: Clients deserve individual attention and practical answers. Since opening The Beliz Law Firm in 2011, he has recovered more than $10 million in settlements and verdicts for accident victims.
Here’s what sets the firm apart:
- Personal communication. You speak directly with your attorney.
- Local insight. Michael lives and works in Long Beach, understanding its unique traffic and community.
- Focused experience. The firm handles only personal injury matters, devoting full attention to each case.
Call or reach out online for a free consultation today. We investigate collisions, identify fault, and fight for full compensation so you can move forward. Let us help you rebuild after an accident in Long Beach or anywhere in Southern California.
Additional Resources
- UC Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS). Link