By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
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Crashes per mile: the Crosstown rankings
The Los Angeles news site Crosstown ranked 24 freeway segments by reported crashes per mile over one year (Crosstown, July 8, 2018). The article does not say which year or which agency’s data it used. Its five highest segments:
| Rank | Freeway and segment | Direction | Crashes per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-110, 105 to 101 | North | 162.8 |
| 2 | I-405, 110 to 10 | North | 154.5 |
| 3 | I-5, 10 to 405 | South | 138.6 |
| 3 | I-10, Santa Monica to 5 | East | 138.6 |
| 5 | I-10, 5 to Santa Monica | West | 131 |
The 101 between the 5 and Topanga Canyon had the lowest figure on the list, 33 crashes per mile.
Two weeks later, Crosstown counted crashes at single freeway locations using accident data from January through November 2017 (Crosstown, July 22, 2018). The northbound 5 at the northbound 605 led with 261 crashes. Next came the northbound 605 at Telegraph Road with 185 and the westbound 105 at Long Beach Boulevard with 174. Those counts are from 2017.
Deaths and driving scores
The ABC7 report from July 3, 2024 covers a ConsumerAffairs study that used National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. For 2022, it listed the 15 in San Bernardino County as the deadliest stretch in the state with 48 deaths, and the 10 in Los Angeles County eighth with 14 (ABC7). That is a count of deaths, so a long, busy freeway will score higher than a short one.
In August 2025 the Los Angeles Times scored 25 Southern California freeways on the driving experience, using Caltrans data on average speed, delays and fatal crashes. KTLA reported that the 10 came in last at minus 1,300 on a scale meant to run from minus 500 to 500, followed by the 605 and the 405 (KTLA). Traffic delay is part of that score, so it is a broader measure than safety.
What Caltrans’ own crash data shows
Caltrans publishes yearly crash totals for state highways, built from CHP and federal crash records. Its 2023 report, prepared in April 2025, shows District 7 with 42,801 crashes, 273 people killed and 20,413 injured. Its fatality rate was 0.66 per 100 million vehicle miles, below the statewide rate of 0.90.
District 7 covers Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Caltrans district profile lists 886 freeway and highway miles in Los Angeles County and 105 million vehicle miles driven each day across the district. Heavy traffic can push the rate per mile driven down even when the raw number of deaths is high.
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When the freeway itself is part of the cause
Many freeway crash claims are against another driver or a trucking company. See our pages on freeway sideswipes and semi-truck crashes on the freeway. A freeway’s place on a ranking does not make the road legally defective.
A claim against Caltrans needs a “dangerous condition,” which Gov. Code 830 defines as one creating a substantial risk of injury when the property is used with due care. Under Gov. Code 835, you must also show the condition caused the injury and that an employee created it or the state had notice in time to fix it. Examples are debris left in a lane, a broken barrier or missing striping in a work zone. Our page on pothole and dangerous road crashes covers the basics.
Freeway cases add two hurdles. Gov. Code 830.6 gives design immunity when an approved plan caused the injury and a reasonable official could have approved it. And under 23 U.S.C. 407, data compiled to find hazardous spots for federal safety programs cannot be used as evidence in state or federal court. Proof often has to come from the scene itself.
Who investigates, and the claim deadline
Vehicle Code 2400, subdivision (d), gives the CHP primary jurisdiction to investigate crashes on state freeways, with an exception for the largest cities unless their council asks the CHP to take over. The officer’s card or the exchange form will name the agency that holds your report.
A claim against the state goes to the Department of General Services (Gov. Code 915) within six months of the injury (Gov. Code 911.2). If you miss it, Gov. Code 911.4 allows an application for a late claim, filed within one year and explaining the delay. Video matters here too, and our guide to getting traffic camera footage in Los Angeles explains where it comes from.
Freeway claims in Texas and Washington
| State | Where the claim goes | Deadline or rule |
|---|---|---|
| California | Department of General Services | Six months (Gov. Code 911.2) |
| Texas | The state agency, such as TxDOT | Notice within six months (CPRC 101.101); state liability capped at $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence (CPRC 101.023) |
| Washington | Office of Risk Management, on its standard form (RCW 4.92.100) | Wait 60 days before suing (RCW 4.92.110); three-year lawsuit deadline (RCW 4.16.080) |
Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou.
What this means for your case
A ranking tells you a freeway sees many crashes. It does not tell an insurer or a jury who caused yours. Your case is built from the CHP report, photos of the lane, the damage to each car, witness names and any dashcam video. If road debris or a missing barrier played a part, write down the exact mile marker or exit and photograph it the same day, and keep the six-month claim date in mind. Our Los Angeles car accident lawyers can order the records and present any claim against the state on time.
Common questions
Which LA freeway has the most deaths?
In the ConsumerAffairs study ABC7 reported, the 10 was the Los Angeles County stretch on the statewide list, with 14 deaths in 2022. The study counted deaths, not deaths per mile.
Is the 405 the most dangerous freeway in LA?
Not in any of the rankings above. Crosstown put the northbound 405 between the 110 and the 10 second for crashes per mile in its 2018 analysis, behind the northbound 110.
Can I sue Caltrans for a crash on a dangerous freeway?
Only if a dangerous condition of the road helped cause it and the legal elements of Gov. Code 835 are met. A high crash count alone is not enough, and design immunity can apply.
How long do I have to file a claim against Caltrans?
Generally six months from the injury, presented to the Department of General Services. A late claim application is possible within one year, with a reason for the delay.
Do Caltrans freeway cameras record crashes?
No. The Caltrans camera FAQ says the video is not recorded and the images are not saved. Our traffic camera guide lists other places to look for video. Questions about other roads and claims are answered on our FAQ page. Beverly Law offers a free case review in English or Spanish at (310) 552-6959. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
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Related pages
Sources
- Caltrans, Live Traffic Video FAQ (video.dot.ca.gov)
- Crosstown, "What's the Most Dangerous Freeway in LA?" (July 8, 2018) (xtown.la)
- Crosstown, "Watch Out! Here Are the Top 10 Spots for Freeway Accidents" (July 22, 2018) (xtown.la)
- ABC7, "Stretches of 15, 10 and 5 freeways in SoCal among the deadliest roads in the state, report says" (July 3, 2024) (abc7.com)
- KTLA via Yahoo News, "The 405 isn't the worst freeway in Southern California, analysis finds" (Aug. 19, 2025) (yahoo.com)
- Caltrans, 2023 Crash Data on California State Highways (prepared April 30, 2025) (dot.ca.gov)
- Caltrans, District 7 Profile (dot.ca.gov)
- Cal. Vehicle Code § 2400 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 830 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 830.6 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 835 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 911.4 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 915 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- 23 U.S.C. § 407 (Legal Information Institute) (law.cornell.edu)
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.023 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- RCW 4.92.100 (app.leg.wa.gov)
- RCW 4.92.110 (app.leg.wa.gov)
- RCW 4.16.080 (app.leg.wa.gov)
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.