TL;DR: Final INRIX data shows Los Angeles congestion improved slightly for a second straight year. Drivers lost 87 hours to traffic in 2025, down from 88 hours in 2024 and 89 in 2023. However, Los Angeles still ranked fourth among U.S. urban areas for congestion. Separately, the Los Angeles County Road Crashes Dashboard reports 388 fatal crashes from January through December 2025.
Los Angeles made only slight progress in 2025. Travel delays fell for the second straight year, but congestion costs rose, and the region remained among the nation’s most congested.
For year-over-year comparisons, this guide mainly relies on the final INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard. INRIX is a transportation data and analytics company that uses anonymous trip and roadway data to measure speeds, travel times, and congestion. Its probe-vehicle data is also used by government transportation agencies. The Federal Highway Administration makes INRIX data available to state and local agencies for travel-time and transportation-performance analysis.
INRIX provides matching data for 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the Los Angeles urban area, so the numbers can be compared directly. Crash safety is covered separately, using the Los Angeles County Road Crashes Dashboard.
Five Things About Los Angeles Traffic In 2025
- Drivers lost 87 hours to congestion. That was down from 88 hours in 2024 and 89 in 2023.
- Congestion still costs drivers more. INRIX estimated $1,602 per driver, up from $1,575 in 2024 and $1,545 in 2023.
- Los Angeles remained one of America’s most congested areas. It ranked fourth in the U.S. and 10th worldwide in 2025.
- Peak-period speeds improved. INRIX reports a 2025 peak speed of 24 mph, compared with 21 mph in both 2023 and 2024.
- Fatal crashes remain a serious concern. The Los Angeles County Road Crashes Dashboard reports 388 fatal crashes from January through December 2025. People injured because of another party’s negligence may be able to pursue a personal injury claim.
Table of Contents
California State Bar #249405
Admitted 2007
California Personal Injury Attorney
- September 2026
Why Los Angeles County Traffic Accident Cases Are Different
Los Angeles County includes incorporated cities, unincorporated communities, state highways, county roads, and local street systems. Where a crash occurs can affect the court, investigating agency, available evidence, and whether special government claim rules apply.
Where Your Case Will Actually Be Filed
A Los Angeles County personal injury lawsuit does not automatically go to one courthouse. Under Los Angeles Superior Court rules, a tort case may generally be filed in the judicial district where the accident or injury occurred. The court recommends using its Filing Court Locator to determine the appropriate courthouse by city, community, or ZIP code.
| Case Situation | How the LA Superior Court Handles It | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Crash occurred in a particular judicial district | The location of the accident or injury can determine the proper filing district. | The crash location may determine where the lawsuit is filed. |
| Central District personal injury case | Cases filed since January 8, 2024, are assigned to independent calendar departments at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. | The assigned judge generally manages the case through its major stages. |
| Crash outside the Central District | Another LA Superior Court district may be appropriate. | Not every LA County injury case belongs at Stanley Mosk. |
| Unclear city or community boundaries | The court advises checking the actual geographic location rather than relying only on the mailing address. | Some mailing addresses do not match the city or unincorporated area where the crash occurred. |
Source: Los Angeles Superior Court, “Where Do I File My Case?” and the Court’s December 14, 2023 notice regarding Central District personal injury filing procedures.
What The Local Data Says
Final INRIX data provides the clearest year-over-year comparison of Los Angeles traffic conditions through 2025.
| Traffic Measure | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours lost to congestion per driver | 89 | 88 | 87 |
| Estimated congestion cost per driver | $1,545 | $1,575 | $1,602 |
| U.S. congestion rank | #3 | #3 | #4 |
| Worldwide congestion rank | #7 | #8 | #10 |
| Peak-period speed | 21 mph | 21 mph | 24 mph |
| Last-mile morning speed | 19 mph | 18 mph | 17 mph |
Source: INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard. INRIX’s 2025 Los Angeles report lists 87 hours lost, $1,602 in estimated cost per driver, a #4 U.S. ranking, a #10 worldwide ranking, and a 24 mph peak-period speed.
Overall, the INRIX data shows small improvements rather than a major change. Drivers spent slightly less time in traffic in 2025 than in 2023, while peak-hour speeds increased. However, congestion cost drivers more, and speeds during the final part of the morning commute continued to fall.
Traffic safety is a separate issue. The Los Angeles County Road Crashes Dashboard reports 388 fatal crashes from January through December 2025. Along with broader figures on how many car accidents happen each day in Los Angeles, this shows that serious crashes remain a major concern.
INRIX measures congestion, delays, and travel speeds, while the County dashboard tracks crashes. Together, the data show that slightly better traffic flow did not necessarily mean safer roads.
How The Local Practice Market Operates
In our experience, an LA County traffic accident case often starts with two practical questions: Where did the crash happen, and who controlled the road? A County-maintained road may involve Los Angeles County Public Works records. A state highway may require Caltrans records. A collision inside an incorporated city may involve that city’s police, transportation, or public works departments.
These distinctions can affect where a lawsuit is filed, which agency holds important records, whether a public entity may share responsibility, and whether a shorter government claim deadline applies. A lawyer handling these cases should be able to identify the correct court district, roadway owner, investigating agency, available insurance, and any government claim requirements early. Arash Law’s Los Angeles car accident lawyers handle traffic injury claims involving these local issues.
What Causes These Crashes And Why It Matters For Your Claim
LA County crashes often involve a mix of heavy traffic, complex freeway systems, busy intersections, and driver error. Common causes include:
- Speeding and Aggressive Driving: Fast-moving freeways and crowded surface streets can make tailgating and unsafe passing especially dangerous.
- Distracted Driving: Phone use and other distractions can be especially risky in stop-and-go traffic.
- Unsafe Lane Changes: Multi-lane freeways and busy arterial roads can increase the risk of sideswipes and chain-reaction crashes.
- Driving Under the Influence: Alcohol or drugs can impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time.
- Fatigued Driving: Long commutes and commercial driving schedules can contribute to slower reaction times and poor decision-making.
Not every LA County crash involves driver error alone. Dangerous road conditions, failed traffic signals, or poorly maintained public roads can also contribute and may involve a city, the County, Caltrans, or another public agency.
What caused the crash can affect who may be responsible, what evidence should be preserved, and which legal deadlines apply. California’s pure comparative negligence rule also allows an injured person to recover compensation even if they share some fault, although their percentage of responsibility reduces their recovery.
Evidence That Can Support An LA County Traffic Claim
Important evidence can disappear quickly after a crash. Skid marks can fade, vehicles may be repaired or moved, and surveillance footage may be overwritten. Witnesses may also forget important details or become difficult to locate. Taking photographs, preserving records, and gathering contact information as soon as possible can help protect the facts needed to understand what happened.
| Issue | Evidence To Preserve |
|---|---|
| Driver fault | Dashcam footage, photographs, witnesses, vehicle data, and collision report |
| Hit-and-run | Surveillance footage, debris, witness details, 911 records |
| Dangerous roadway | Complaints, inspections, maintenance records, roadway plans |
| Serious injury | Medical records, imaging, wage records, photographs |
| Commercial vehicle | Electronic logs, dispatch records, and onboard vehicle data |
Businesses may overwrite surveillance footage. Vehicles can be repaired or sold. Road conditions may change.
Preserving evidence early can be especially important when a third party or public agency controls the records.
Filing Deadlines For Los Angeles County Traffic Claims
Different claims can have different deadlines, and the applicable time limit may depend on the type of claim, the parties involved, and when the injury or damage was discovered. Missing the deadline could prevent you from recovering compensation, so it is important to identify the correct filing period as soon as possible.
- Personal Injury Claims: California Code of Civil Procedure §335.1 generally provides two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against a private party.
- Property Damage: California Code of Civil Procedure §338 generally provides a 3-year statute of limitations for property damage lawsuits against private parties.
-
Claims Against Government Entities: A shorter deadline may apply when a government entity could be legally responsible.
Los Angeles County states that a signed written claim involving death, personal injury, or damage to personal property generally must be presented to the County within six months after the occurrence.
Presenting the government claim is only the first deadline.
- If the public entity gives written notice rejecting the claim in accordance with Government Code § 913, a lawsuit generally must be filed within six months after that notice is personally delivered or mailed.
- If a proper written rejection notice is not given, Government Code § 945.6 generally provides two years from when the cause of action arose.
This may become important when a crash involves:
- A dangerous public roadway
- A government vehicle
- A transit agency
- A public employee
- Another public entity
A crash occurring within Los Angeles County does not automatically create a claim against the County itself. The responsible agency depends on who owned or controlled the road, vehicle, or condition involved.
What To Do After A Los Angeles County Traffic Crash
After a crash, understanding how Los Angeles County’s 2025 traffic numbers compare with prior years can provide important context for a personal injury claim. Traffic volume, collision frequency, and the types of crashes occurring across the county may help explain how and why an accident happened. These statistics do not prove liability on their own, but they can support a broader claim when combined with police reports, medical records, witness statements, photographs, and other evidence.
- Get medical care. Seek prompt treatment for injuries, even if symptoms appear minor after a Los Angeles County collision.
- Report the collision. Contact the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, or local police agency when appropriate or required.
- Document the scene. Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, signs, lane markings, damage, and visible injuries.
- Get witness information. Collect names and contact details, and note whether anyone saw the collision or has relevant dashcam footage.
- Keep important records. Save medical bills, repair estimates, insurance correspondence, wage-loss documents, and records showing missed work or treatment.
- File the DMV SR-1 when required. California requires an SR-1 within 10 days when someone is injured or killed, or property damage exceeds $1,000.
- Preserve video and electronic evidence. Request nearby business, traffic camera, dashcam, and surveillance footage promptly, as some records may be erased or overwritten.
- Determine whether a public entity may be involved. If the collision may relate to a county road, city street, traffic signal, roadway design, or other public property, a six-month government claim deadline may apply.
If you were injured in a traffic crash, the countywide statistics do not determine your case. The crash location, available evidence, injuries, insurance, and responsible parties do.
Arash Law offers free case evaluations. Contact us at (888) 488-1391 to discuss your options.
Results Arash Law Has Recovered In Traffic Cases
Arash Law has represented people injured in serious traffic crashes throughout California. The following case results show the types of claims and injuries our team has handled.
$12 Million — Pedestrian Case: Our 74-year-old client was struck while crossing a street and sustained severe injuries requiring extensive medical care. The case was resolved on the courthouse steps just before jury selection began. This result reflects the senior pedestrian risk pattern documented in the county data. Pedestrian claims against local agencies require immediate evidence preservation and adherence to strict tort deadlines.
$1 Million — Hit-And-Run Recovery: We obtained a $1 million recovery for a rideshare driver injured in a hit-and-run crash. The at-fault driver struck the client and fled the scene. After years of arbitration involving the client’s underinsured motorist policy, the case resolved for the maximum policy limits one week before the arbitration trial.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results depend on the unique facts and legal circumstances of each case.
Frequently Asked Questions About LA County Traffic in 2025
The 2025 data raises common questions about congestion, fatal crashes, and what the numbers mean for people traveling in Los Angeles County.
Did Los Angeles Traffic Improve In 2025?
Slightly. INRIX reports that congestion delay fell from 88 hours per driver in 2024 to 87 hours in 2025. It was also below the 89 hours recorded in 2023. However, Los Angeles still ranked fourth among U.S. urban areas for congestion.
Was Los Angeles Traffic Better In 2025 Than In 2023?
By INRIX’s congestion measures, slightly. Drivers lost two fewer hours to congestion, and peak-period speed increased from 21 mph to 24 mph. However, the estimated cost per driver increased from $1,545 to $1,602.
How Many Fatal Crashes Did Los Angeles County Have In 2025?
The Los Angeles County Road Crashes Dashboard reports 388 fatal crashes when filtered from January through December 2025. The dashboard is updated as crash information becomes available, so the figure should be treated as current rather than permanently final.
Does Less Congestion Mean Fewer Crashes?
Not necessarily. INRIX measures travel times, speeds, and congestion. The County’s Road Crashes Dashboard measures crashes. Conditions that affect congestion and conditions that contribute to serious crashes are not always the same.
Does The Six-Month Government Claim Deadline Apply To Every Crash?
No. It generally matters whether a public entity may be legally responsible, such as when a government vehicle, a public roadway condition, or a transit operation contributed to the collision.
Schedule A Free Case Review For Your Los Angeles County Traffic Crash Claim
Los Angeles drivers spent slightly less time in congestion in 2025 than during the previous two years, but 388 fatal crashes across Los Angeles County show that serious traffic safety risks remain.
Statistics do not determine what an individual’s personal injury claim is worth. The cause of the crash, injuries, available evidence, insurance coverage, responsible parties, and filing deadlines all matter.
Arash Law’s Los Angeles car accident lawyers help injured people evaluate their options after traffic collisions.
Call (888) 488-1391 for a free case evaluation. Arash Law handles most personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront attorney fees.
Make ‘Em Pay, Call AK.
About This Guide
This guide uses the final INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard as its primary year-over-year comparison. INRIX measures congestion, travel delay, commuting patterns, and speeds across the Los Angeles urban area. Its Scorecard incorporates multiple years of data for comparison.
Traffic safety information comes separately from the Los Angeles County Road Crashes Dashboard, maintained by the Los Angeles County EMS Agency. The dashboard provides crash-related information for Los Angeles County and allows users to select specific dates and geographic areas.
Because INRIX and the County dashboard measure different aspects of traffic and use different geographic definitions, their figures are presented separately rather than combined into a single crash rate.
Sources
- INRIX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard and Los Angeles Scorecard: 2025 congestion, cost, rankings, and speed data.
https://inrix.com/scorecard-city/?city=Los+Angeles+CA&index=7- INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard: 2024 Los Angeles congestion data and 2023 comparison.
https://inrix.com/press-releases/2024-global-traffic-scorecard-us/- INRIX 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard: 2023 Los Angeles congestion, cost, and rankings.
https://inrix.com/press-releases/2023-global-traffic-scorecard-us/- Los Angeles County EMS Agency, Road Crashes LA County Dashboard: Countywide crash and post-crash data.
https://dhs.lacounty.gov/emergency-medical-services-agency/home/dashboard/- Federal Highway Administration: Use of INRIX probe-vehicle data by transportation agencies.
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop20028/- Los Angeles Superior Court: Civil filing location and Central District personal injury procedures.
https://www.lacourt.org/division/civil/CI0014.aspx
https://www.lacourt.org/newsmedia/uploads/1420231214155823NTA23NEWPROCEDURESPIHUB.pdf- Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors: Claims for damages against Los Angeles County.
https://bos.lacounty.gov/claims-for-damages/- California DMV: SR-1 traffic accident reporting requirements.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/accident-reporting/Disclaimer
This page provides general legal information about traffic crash claims in Los Angeles County and is not intended as legal advice for any specific situation. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Arash Law or any of its attorneys. Every case depends on its own unique facts and legal circumstances, and outcomes vary. If you have been injured in a crash, consult a licensed California attorney to evaluate your specific situation. Past case results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
