Car accidents are a common occurrence in Orange County and throughout the state of California. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), 4,285 people died in statewide traffic accidents in 2021. Learn the most dangerous areas in Orange County based on crash data to keep yourself safe from accident risks.
Canyon Roads
OTS statistics specifically for Orange County show that there were 17,400 victims killed and injured in traffic accidents in 2021. While a car accident can take place virtually anywhere in Orange County, there are certain “hotspots,” or roads and areas that report higher numbers of accidents than others, each year.
One example is Orange County’s canyon roads:
- Laguna Canyon Road
- Live Oak Canyon Road
- Santiago Canyon Road
- The Ortega Highway
- Trabuco Canyon Road
Orange County is located along the Pacific Coast, but it is also situated among several major canyons carved from water flowing from the Santa Ana Mountains. These canyons can prove dangerous for drivers and motorcyclists due to large hills, crossing animals, falling rocks, sharp turns, low light conditions and drunk drivers.
City Intersections
Intersections are hotspots for car accidents in almost every city, including major cities in Orange County such as Fullerton, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa. Intersections, as the name suggests, are places where two or more directions of traffic intersect with each other. This makes them dangerous, as they pose a risk of collisions.
The most dangerous intersections in Orange County based on crash reports are:
- Alicia Parkway and Jeronimo Road in Mission Viejo
- Euclid Street and Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton
- Chapman Avenue and Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton
- Ellis and Newland in Huntington Beach
- Commonwealth Avenue and Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton
- Harbor Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton
- Chapman Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue in Fullerton
- Gothard and Heil in Huntington Beach
- Magnolia and Yorktown in Huntington Beach
- Acacia Avenue and Kimberly Avenue in Fullerton
City intersection accidents can occur due to many examples of driver negligence and recklessness, such as running red lights, failing to stop at stop signs, failing to yield the right-of-way to others, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and driving while distracted. These collisions often involve bicyclists and pedestrians.
Freeways
Orange County is home to many major freeways and interstates that serve as a vital transportation system for residents, commuters and tourists alike. Unfortunately, these freeways are the setting for hundreds of motor vehicle accidents each year, including many fatal collisions.
The most dangerous freeways in Orange County are:
- I-405 (freeway running through Westminster, Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa)
- El Toro Y (the intersection of the I-5 and I-405 freeways)
- Orange Crush Interchange (the I-5/SR-22/Orange Freeway interchange)
Hazards such as construction, confusing exit and on ramps, traffic congestion, and poor road conditions increase the odds of freeway accidents. The majority of these collisions are minor to moderate due to low vehicle speeds in congested traffic. However, serious high-speed accidents also occur each year on these freeways, typically due to dangerous driver behaviors.
If you or someone you know was recently injured in a car accident in Orange County, request a free consultation at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian to discuss your legal options with a car accident attorney in Orange County.