Southern California Traffic Incidents

Live Southern California Traffic Incident Tracker

Track Southern California traffic incidents as they happen. The live data below is pulled directly from California Highway Patrol dispatch communications and refreshed every 15 minutes, covering Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and the San Fernando Valley. Use the filter to narrow incidents by city or region. If you were involved in one of the crashes listed here or any other Southern California traffic incident, you can request a free case review at the bottom of this page.

Live CHP Traffic Incident Data for Southern California

The data above comes from the CHP Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, the same feed CHP officers, tow operators, and emergency responders rely on in the field. Each row represents a real incident logged by a CHP dispatcher: collisions, traffic hazards, disabled vehicles, hit-and-runs, and reports of debris or fluid in the roadway. Incidents update continuously throughout the day, so you may see the same incident change status as additional units arrive on scene and information develops.

A few notes on what you are looking at:

• Times shown are when the incident was first logged, not necessarily when the collision occurred
• Locations are typed by dispatchers and sometimes include shorthand for nearby cross streets and freeway exits
• An incident may be reclassified as more information arrives, for example from “Trfc Collision-Unknown Injury” to “Trfc Collision-Ambulance Enroute”
• Not every CHP incident appears on public maps; some are withheld for officer safety or active investigation reasons

How to Filter Incidents by City or Region

The dropdown above the incident list lets you narrow results to a specific area. The presets cover Southern California as a whole, Los Angeles County, the San Fernando Valley, and individual SFV cities including Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Reseda, and North Hollywood. Selecting an area filters the list to incidents whose dispatched location falls within that area’s boundaries. If your city is not listed, select the next-broader region that contains it.

What CHP Incident Codes Mean

CHP dispatchers use numeric “11-codes” to classify incidents. The most common codes you will see on this page:

• 1179 – Traffic Collision, Ambulance Enroute. A collision serious enough that emergency medical response is on the way. Injuries are presumed.
• 1180 – Traffic Collision, Major Injury. Severe injuries reported on scene.
• 1181 – Traffic Collision, Minor Injury. Injuries reported but not life-threatening.
• 1182 – Traffic Collision, No Injury. Property damage only, no reported injuries.
• 1183 – Traffic Collision, Unknown Injury. Collision reported, injury status not yet confirmed.
• 1125 – Traffic Hazard. Debris, fluid, animal, stalled object, or other obstruction in or near the roadway.
• 1126 – Disabled Vehicle. A vehicle stopped on the shoulder or roadway, not the result of a collision.
• 20001 / 20002 – Hit and Run. With injuries (20001) or property damage only (20002).
• 1144 – Possible Fatality. Used when a death is suspected but not yet confirmed by coroner or medical personnel.

An incident’s code can change as the situation develops. A “1183” frequently gets upgraded to “1179” once paramedics confirm injuries, and a “1182” can be upgraded to “1179” hours later if a driver realizes they were hurt and seeks medical attention.

What to Do After a Traffic Accident in Southern California

If you were just involved in a crash, the steps you take in the first few hours can affect your health, your insurance claim, and any future legal case. The priorities, in order:

Get Medical Attention Even If You Feel Fine

Adrenaline masks pain at the scene. Soft tissue injuries, concussions, internal bleeding, and spinal damage often do not produce noticeable symptoms until hours or days later. If paramedics offer transport, take it. If they do not, go to an urgent care or ER the same day. Beyond the obvious health reason, a gap between the accident and your first medical visit is the single most common argument insurance adjusters use to reduce or deny injury claims. The longer you wait, the easier it becomes for the at-fault driver’s insurance to argue your injuries came from something else.

Document the Scene and Exchange Information

If you are physically able to do so safely, before leaving the scene:

• Photograph all vehicles from multiple angles, including license plates, VINs, and damage detail
• Photograph the roadway, skid marks, debris field, traffic signals, and weather conditions
• Get names, phone numbers, and insurance information from every other driver
• Get names and phone numbers from any witnesses, including passengers in other vehicles
• Note the CHP officer’s name and badge number, and ask for the incident or report number
• Photograph your own injuries, including any that develop over the following days

California Vehicle Code requires drivers to exchange information after a collision and to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000 to the DMV within 10 days using form SR-1.

When to Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Not every collision needs a lawyer. A minor fender-bender with no injuries and clear liability can usually be handled directly with insurance. You should consider speaking with an attorney if any of the following apply:

• You went to a hospital, urgent care, or doctor for accident-related symptoms
• The other driver was uninsured, underinsured, or fled the scene
• The insurance company is pressuring you to give a recorded statement or accept a quick settlement
• Liability is disputed or being assigned to you when you believe it should not be
• A commercial vehicle, rideshare driver, or government vehicle was involved
• You are unable to work or returning to work in reduced capacity

Most personal injury attorneys, including Yaghmai Law Firm, offer free initial case reviews and work on contingency, meaning no fee unless your case recovers compensation. There is no cost to find out where you stand.

Common Causes of Traffic Accidents in Southern California

Southern California’s combination of dense freeway traffic, year-round driving conditions that encourage motorcycle and bicycle use, and a high concentration of commercial vehicles produces a distinct accident profile. The patterns we see most often:

• Distracted driving. Phone use, infotainment systems, and navigation apps remain the leading factor in rear-end and lane-change collisions.
• Impaired driving. Alcohol, prescription medication, and cannabis impairment are frequent contributors, particularly on weekend evenings and during major event traffic.
• Speeding and unsafe lane changes. Freeway closures and HOV lane congestion produce frequent merging conflicts at 65 to 80 mph.
• Following too closely. A significant share of LA freeway collisions are rear-end impacts during stop-and-go traffic.
• Failure to yield. Particularly at unsignalized intersections, parking lot exits, and freeway on-ramps.

Most Dangerous Freeways in Los Angeles County

The 405, 101, 5, and 110 freeways consistently account for the highest collision volumes in LA County by both raw count and per-mile rate. Stretches of the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass, the 101 through Cahuenga Pass and the Valley, the 5 through downtown and the East LA Interchange, and the 110 through South LA see persistent congestion-related rear-end collisions, sideswipes during merging, and higher-severity crashes during off-peak hours when speeds increase.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in the San Fernando Valley

The Valley’s wide arterials, long block faces, and limited mid-block crossings produce a pedestrian collision pattern distinct from denser parts of Los Angeles. Ventura Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard, Roscoe Boulevard, and the major north-south corridors through Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood see recurring pedestrian and cyclist injuries. California’s Freedom to Walk Act (AB 2147), which took effect January 1, 2023, decriminalized most jaywalking but did not change civil liability rules. A pedestrian struck while crossing outside a crosswalk can still recover damages, though comparative fault may reduce the recovery if the pedestrian’s conduct contributed to the collision.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traffic Incidents

How accurate is CHP traffic incident data?

Why is this incident report missing details?

CHP withholds certain incident details from public dispatch feeds, including some collisions involving fatalities (pending next-of-kin notification), incidents involving juveniles, active law enforcement actions, and any incident where releasing details could compromise officer safety or an ongoing investigation. Some incidents are also logged on local police or sheriff’s CAD systems rather than CHP and will not appear here at all.

How long does it take CHP to clear an accident scene?

A typical no-injury collision on a freeway shoulder clears in 30 to 60 minutes. An injury collision blocking lanes generally clears in 1 to 3 hours, depending on tow availability, fluid cleanup needs, and whether a Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) response is required. Fatal collisions involving full freeway closures can keep lanes shut for 4 to 8 hours or longer while investigators document the scene.

Can I use a CHP incident report in my injury claim?

Yes. The official CHP 555 collision report is one of the foundational documents in a California car accident injury claim. It contains the officer’s diagram of the collision, statements from drivers and witnesses, identification of any code violations, and the officer’s opinion on causation. Insurance adjusters give significant weight to the report’s findings, particularly the assignment of fault. The dispatch entries shown on this page are not the official report but can help you locate the correct incident and request the report from the appropriate CHP office.

Free Case Review

If you were injured in a Southern California traffic collision, you have a limited window to act. The California statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Claims against government entities, such as a collision involving a city vehicle or a roadway design defect, can have deadlines as short as six months. Evidence, witness availability, and vehicle damage all degrade quickly. Acting early protects your case.

Contact Yaghmai Law Firm, APC for a free case review. No fee unless we recover compensation for you.