Short Answer: In most California lane change accidents, the driver initiating the lane change bears primary fault. California Vehicle Code Section 21658 requires drivers to signal and confirm a maneuver is reasonably safe before entering an adjacent lane — placing the burden squarely on the merging driver. However, California’s pure comparative negligence system allows fault…
Continue reading ›By Steven M. Sweat, Founding Attorney — Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC | Updated May 2026 If you’ve been seriously injured in Los Angeles, you will be contacted by attorneys — or people claiming to represent them — within hours of your accident. You’ll see billboards on every freeway. You’ll hear radio ads…
Continue reading ›★ KEY STATISTICS — Quick Reference • California leads the nation in dog bite insurance claims: 2,417 claims in 2024, averaging $86,229 per claim (Insurance Information Institute) • California had 56,941 hospital-treated dog bite injuries in 2024 (California Health and Human Services / CalHHS) • Los Angeles ranked #1 in the United States for dog…
Continue reading ›★ KEY STATISTICS — Quick Reference • 392 people killed in large truck crashes in California in 2023 — 2nd highest nationally behind only Texas (FMCSA/NHTSA) • 12,243 large trucks involved in California crashes in 2024, resulting in 321 deaths and 5,097 nonfatal injuries (FMCSA) • 5,340 people killed nationally in large truck crashes in…
Continue reading ›★ KEY STATISTICS — Quick Reference • 145 bicyclists killed in California in 2023 — a 20.8% decline from 183 in 2022, but 56% above 2014 levels (OTS / SafeTREC) • 16 bicyclists killed in LA County in 2024 per CHP/SWITRS provisional data • Bicyclists represent approximately 3.8% of all California traffic fatalities despite being…
Continue reading ›★ 2025 KEY FINDINGS • 290 total traffic fatalities in Los Angeles in 2025 — more than 150 involved pedestrians (LAPD) • Traffic deaths exceeded homicides in LA for the third consecutive year • LA County: 175 pedestrian deaths, 526 total traffic fatalities (CHP/SWITRS 2025) • Pedestrians represent roughly 1 in 3 of all LA…
Continue reading ›★ KEY TAKEAWAY — California follows pure comparative negligence under Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal.3d 804 (1975), and California Civil Code §1714. Under this rule, a plaintiff can recover compensation even if they were 99% at fault for their own injury — their damages are simply reduced by their percentage of fault. There…
Continue reading ›★ QUICK ANSWER — California has an uninsured driver rate of 20.4%, ranking 8th highest in the nation according to the Insurance Research Council’s 2025 report on 2023 data. Nationally, 1 in 3 drivers (33.4%) is either uninsured or underinsured. If you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver in California, your own UM/UIM…
Continue reading ›Published: May 2026 • Data Sources: NHTSA FARS, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, GHSA • Author: Legal Research Team, Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC We analyzed four years of federal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the most recent findings from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety to…
Continue reading ›By Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC | 30+ Years California Personal Injury Practice | Super Lawyers Since 2012 | Avvo 10.0 Last updated: May 18, 2026 Free legal advice for car accidents in California is available through three primary channels: personal injury law firms offering free consultations, nonprofit legal aid organizations such as…
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