Long Beach Traffic Deaths Keep Rising: Wrongful Death Claims and When the City’s Street Design Matters

Long Beach is living through a stubborn surge in traffic deaths. The Long Beach Post reported on October 19, 2026 that the city has recorded 40 fatal crashes so far this year, more than double the number of homicides, and that traffic deaths in 2025 reached their highest total in more than 10 years. The report came after two teenagers were killed in separate crashes over the weekend, one in downtown Long Beach and one near El Dorado Park, according to police. Both investigations are ongoing.

Earlier coverage shows how heavily the toll falls on people walking. In an October 14 report, the Long Beach Post said the city recorded 53 fatal collisions in 2025, and that the number of pedestrians killed so far in 2026, 18 at that time, was one more than the city’s 17 homicide victims.

Behind every number is a family. Nothing on this page assigns fault for any crash. But families who lose someone on a Long Beach street often have the same questions: who can bring a claim, how long do we have, and could the design of the street itself have played a role?

In short: in California, certain close family members can bring a wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60. The general deadline to sue is two years. If a city, county, or other public entity may share responsibility, for example because of a dangerous condition of a street, a written government claim must generally be presented within six months.

If you lost a family member in a crash in Long Beach or anywhere in California, Win Attorneys handles wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims statewide. If you were hurt, seek medical care first.

Talk to us at (562) 296-5380 or reach out through our contact page to discuss your situation. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.

What the Numbers Show, and Why Counts Differ

Different sources count traffic deaths in different ways. The Long Beach Post figures above count fatal crashes. Some local outlets report the number of people killed, which can be higher because one crash can take more than one life, and counts can shift as reports are updated. When you read about traffic deaths, check whether a figure counts crashes or people, and the date it was current.

What the reports agree on is the trend. Long Beach’s 2025 total was the worst in more than a decade, and 2026 has continued at a pace that outstrips homicides by a wide margin, with pedestrians making up a large share of those killed.

Who Can Bring a Wrongful Death Claim in California

Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 lists who may bring a claim for a death caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another, either directly or through the decedent’s personal representative:

The surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and issue of deceased children. If there is no surviving issue, the persons who would inherit the decedent’s property by intestate succession, such as parents, may bring the claim.
Dependents. Whether or not they qualify above, a putative spouse, children of a putative spouse, stepchildren, parents, or legal guardians of the decedent if the parents are deceased, if they were dependent on the decedent.
Certain minors. A minor who lived in the decedent’s household for the previous 180 days and depended on the decedent for at least half of the minor’s support.

When a teenager is killed, the parents are often the people entitled to bring the claim, because a minor usually has no spouse or children. Every family is different, so it is worth confirming who has standing early.

What a Wrongful Death Claim Can Recover

Under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.61, damages in a wrongful death action may be awarded that are just under all the circumstances of the case. These damages focus on the family’s losses, such as the loss of financial support and the loss of love, companionship, comfort, and care, along with funeral and burial expenses.

Separately, the decedent’s own claim can survive death under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30 and be brought by the personal representative or successor in interest. Section 377.34 sets the limits on what that survival claim can recover, such as losses the decedent incurred before death. Section 377.62 allows the survival and wrongful death claims to be joined.

No amount is automatic. The value of any claim depends on the facts, the evidence of fault, and the available insurance or other sources of recovery.

The Deadlines

Two years for a lawsuit. Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 sets a two-year deadline for an action for the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.
Six months for a government claim. If a public entity may be responsible, Government Code section 911.2 requires a written claim for death or personal injury to be presented no later than six months after the cause of action accrues. Under section 945.4, a lawsuit generally cannot be filed until the claim has been presented and acted on or deemed rejected.
Late claims. Section 911.4 allows a written application to present a late claim within a reasonable time not to exceed one year, with reasons for the delay. Relief is not guaranteed.
After rejection. Section 945.6 generally gives six months after written notice of rejection to file suit.

Families are often grieving and overwhelmed in the months after a death. The six-month claim deadline is easy to miss, which is why it helps to get advice early.

When the City’s Street Design Matters

Most fatal crashes involve at least one driver, and the driver’s conduct is usually the first focus. But California law also allows claims against a public entity when a dangerous condition of public property contributes to an injury or death.

The dangerous condition rule

Under Government Code section 835, a public entity can be liable for injury caused by a dangerous condition of its property if the property was in a dangerous condition when the injury occurred, the condition proximately caused the injury, the condition created a reasonably foreseeable risk of that kind of injury, and either a public employee’s negligent or wrongful act created the condition or the entity had actual or constructive notice of it in time to protect against it.

Section 830 defines a dangerous condition as one that creates a substantial, not minor or trivial, risk of injury when the property is used with due care in a reasonably foreseeable manner. Section 835.2 explains actual and constructive notice.

What street conditions can be relevant

Depending on the facts, issues that may be examined include:

Crosswalk placement, visibility, and lighting
Signal timing and missing or obscured signs
Lane configuration and speeds the design encourages
Sight lines blocked by landscaping, structures, or parked vehicles
Broken pavement, missing markings, or poorly maintained bike lanes
A history of prior crashes or complaints at the same location, which may bear on notice

Defenses a city may raise

A city may argue that a condition was minor, that the people involved were not using the property with due care, or that the design itself is immune. Under Government Code section 830.6, design immunity can protect a public entity from liability for an injury caused by an approved plan or design of an improvement, if substantial evidence shows a reasonable official could have approved it. These questions are technical and often require traffic engineering experts, public records, and crash history.

Comparative fault also applies. If a driver, a pedestrian, or a rider shares responsibility, damages are divided according to fault.

Evidence Families Should Try to Preserve

The police report and investigator contacts. Long Beach police collision investigators often ask witnesses to come forward.
Photos and video of the location, including signals, crosswalks, lighting, and sight lines, taken as close as possible to the time of the crash.
Nearby camera footage, which many businesses and homes overwrite within days.
Public records about the location, such as prior crash data, complaints, and work orders, which a lawyer can request.
Vehicle data, which may need a preservation letter to protect.
Medical and coroner records.

Other Sources of Recovery

The at-fault driver’s liability insurance, if a driver is responsible.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on the family’s or the decedent’s own auto policy, depending on policy terms, if the driver was uninsured, underinsured, or fled.
Employer or vehicle owner coverage, if the driver was working or driving someone else’s car.
Life insurance and other benefits, which may apply regardless of fault.

For people injured while walking, riding a scooter, or riding a bicycle, see our pedestrian and micromobility accidents page. For more on public entity claims, see our government claims page.

How Win Attorneys Can Help

After a fatal crash, families should not have to manage deadlines and investigations alone. We can help identify who may bring the claim, preserve evidence, request public records about the street, present a timely government claim when one is needed, and deal with insurers. Our team speaks Spanish and Vietnamese.

Long Beach Traffic Death FAQs

How many traffic deaths has Long Beach had in 2026?

The Long Beach Post reported on October 19, 2026 that the city had recorded 40 fatal crashes so far this year, more than double the number of homicides. Counts differ by source depending on whether they count crashes or people.

Who can file a wrongful death claim in California?

Under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, the surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and issue of deceased children may file, or, if there is no surviving issue, those entitled to inherit. Certain dependents and minors in the household may also qualify.

Can parents bring a wrongful death claim when a teenager is killed?

Often, yes. When a minor dies with no spouse or children, the parents are usually the persons entitled to the decedent’s property by intestate succession, which gives them standing under section 377.60.

How long do I have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California?

Generally two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public entity may be responsible, a government claim must generally be presented within six months under Government Code section 911.2.

Can a city be responsible for a fatal crash in California?

It can, if a dangerous condition of public property contributed to the death and the requirements of Government Code section 835 are met. Defenses such as design immunity under section 830.6 may apply.

What damages are available in a California wrongful death case?

Under section 377.61, damages may be awarded that are just under the circumstances, such as loss of financial support and loss of love, companionship, and care. A separate survival claim may recover certain losses the decedent incurred before death.

What should a family do first after a fatal crash?

Get the police report number, preserve photos, video, and records, and avoid recorded statements to insurers before getting advice. If a public entity may be involved, keep the six-month claim deadline in mind.

Disclaimer

This page is general information for educational purposes. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Traffic death figures are attributed to Long Beach Post reports of October 14 and October 19, 2026, and may change as reports are updated. No fault is assigned to anyone involved in any crash. Outcomes depend on the facts of each matter. Seek medical care for injuries. Consult a licensed California attorney about your situation.