Fatal Car Accident on I-110 Southbound Near Imperial Highway Off-Ramp in South Los Angeles

On the night of February 28, 2026, a fatal car accident was reported on Interstate 110 Southbound just north of the West Imperial Highway off-ramp in South Los Angeles. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident — logged under CHP ID 2583 through the Los Angeles Communications Center (LACC) — occurred at approximately 11:38 PM. The collision resulted in at least one fatality along one of the most heavily traveled freeway corridors in all of Southern California.

At DC Law Group, our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this tragic loss. While the circumstances surrounding this particular incident remain under investigation by the CHP and local authorities, fatal collisions like this one are a painful reminder of the dangers that drivers, passengers, and pedestrians face every day on Los Angeles County’s freeways.

This article is intended to provide general information about fatal freeway accidents in California, the legal rights available to surviving family members, and the steps you can take to protect your family during an unimaginably difficult time.

Key Takeaways

• Families who lose a loved one in a freeway accident have powerful legal protections in California: Under the state’s wrongful death statute, surviving spouses, children, and other eligible family members can pursue compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, loss of companionship, and the emotional devastation caused by another party’s negligence.

• Acting quickly after a fatal accident is critical to protecting your claim: Secure the official CHP traffic collision report, preserve all evidence, refuse recorded statements from insurance adjusters, and speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible — California’s two-year statute of limitations begins running from the date of death.

• DC Law Group provides experienced legal representation with zero upfront cost: Operating on a contingency fee basis, Managing Attorney David Cohan works directly with every client and offers free consultations, 24-hour cash advances, and medical care coordination so your family never has to face the legal process alone.

Why Fatal Accidents Happen on I-110 in South Los Angeles

The Harbor Freeway — as Interstate 110 is commonly known — is one of the oldest and most congested freeways in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Running from downtown Los Angeles south through neighborhoods like Exposition Park, Willowbrook, and Watts before connecting to the port cities of Wilmington and San Pedro, the I-110 corridor carries an immense volume of daily traffic. The interchange zone near Imperial Highway, where this fatal collision occurred, sits in a particularly high-risk section where drivers navigate merging traffic, lane transitions, and off-ramp deceleration alongside vehicles traveling at full freeway speed.

The stretch of southbound I-110 near the West Imperial Highway off-ramp — close to major cross streets including Century Boulevard, Manchester Avenue, and El Segundo Boulevard — presents unique hazards that contribute to the frequency of serious and fatal collisions in this area.

While we cannot and will not speculate on the cause of this specific accident, fatal freeway crashes in the South Los Angeles area and along the I-110 corridor are commonly associated with factors such as:

• Speeding and unsafe speeds for conditions. Late-night traffic on I-110 can create a false sense of open road, leading drivers to travel at excessive speeds that dramatically reduce reaction time and increase the severity of any collision.
• Distracted driving. Texting, phone calls, navigation apps, and other in-vehicle distractions continue to be a leading contributor to fatal crashes across Los Angeles County.
• Driving under the influence (DUI). Late-night collisions carry a statistically elevated risk of alcohol or drug impairment, which significantly compromises a driver’s judgment, coordination, and ability to safely operate a vehicle.
• Aggressive driving and unsafe lane changes. The I-110’s older, narrower lane design — combined with heavy merging traffic near the Imperial Highway interchange — makes aggressive driving behaviors particularly dangerous in this corridor.
• Fatigued driving. Drowsy drivers on late-night commutes through South LA face diminished awareness, slower reflexes, and the risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
• Poor road conditions and limited visibility. Certain sections of the Harbor Freeway, particularly near older interchanges and off-ramp zones, can present challenges related to lighting, road surface quality, and signage that compound other risk factors.
• Commercial vehicle and truck traffic. As a critical link between downtown Los Angeles and the Port of Los Angeles, the I-110 sees significant commercial truck volume. Collisions involving large trucks often result in catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Your Legal Rights After a Fatal Car Accident in California

When a family member is killed due to another party’s negligence on the road, a wrongful death attorney can help surviving loved ones file a claim under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60.This legal action is designed to compensate families for the profound losses they have endured, which may include:

• Funeral and burial expenses incurred as a result of the death.
• Loss of financial support, including the wages, benefits, and financial contributions the deceased would have provided to the family.
• Loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, and moral support — commonly referred to as “loss of consortium.”
• Loss of household services and contributions the deceased provided to the family.
• Mental and emotional pain and suffering experienced by surviving family members.

Under California law, a wrongful death claim may generally be brought by a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children of the deceased, or — if none exist — other individuals entitled to the deceased’s property under California’s intestacy laws, including parents and siblings.

It is critical to understand that California enforces a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims. This means that legal action must typically be initiated within two years of the date of death. While two years may seem like ample time, building a compelling wrongful death case requires extensive investigation, evidence collection, expert consultation, and strategic negotiation with insurance companies — all of which demand time. Speaking with an experienced attorney as soon as possible gives your family the strongest possible foundation for pursuing justice.

Steps to Take if You Lost a Loved One in a Car Accident

The sudden death of a family member in a car accident is one of life’s most devastating experiences. No legal checklist can lessen the grief, but taking certain protective steps early on can safeguard your family’s rights and strengthen any future legal claim:

1. Obtain the official CHP accident report. This document is a critical piece of evidence containing details about the crash, the parties involved, road conditions, witness information, and any preliminary findings by investigating officers.
2. Preserve all evidence. Gather and securely store any materials related to the accident — photographs from the scene, medical records, death certificates, correspondence from insurance companies, and any communications received from other parties or their attorneys.
3. Do not provide recorded statements to insurance companies. Insurers often reach out quickly after a fatal accident, and their adjusters may seem compassionate and helpful. However, their primary objective is to minimize the company’s payout. You are under no obligation to provide a recorded statement, and doing so without legal counsel could significantly undermine your claim.
4. Track all expenses and losses. Begin documenting funeral costs, lost household income, childcare needs, and the practical and emotional impact your loved one’s absence has had on your family. Comprehensive records are essential to accurately calculating the full value of a wrongful death claim.

5. Consult an experienced auto accident lawyer who handles wrongful death cases. A qualified personal injury attorney can investigate the accident independently, handle all communications with insurance companies, identify every liable party, and pursue the maximum compensation your family is entitled to under California law.

How DC Law Group Can Help Your Family

At DC Law Group, PC, we know that nothing can undo the pain of losing someone you love. But we firmly believe that families facing this kind of tragedy deserve a legal team that will fight relentlessly for accountability and fair compensation — while treating you with the compassion and respect you deserve every step of the way.

Managing Attorney David Cohan, Esq. — recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2025–2026, a distinction earned by only 2.5% of attorneys in California — personally handles every case at our firm. You will never be passed off to a junior associate or lost in a queue. At DC Law Group, you work directly with your attorney from day one.

Our firm handles car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, rideshare accident, pedestrian accident, and wrongful death cases across all of California, with offices in Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sacramento, and additional locations throughout the state.

We operate on a 100% contingency fee basis — meaning you pay absolutely nothing unless we win your case. We also provide free consultations, 24-hour cash advances for immediate financial relief, medical care coordination, vehicle repair assistance, and even transportation help so that your family can focus on healing while we handle the fight for justice.

If you lost a loved one in a fatal car accident on I-110 near Imperial Highway, in the South Los Angeles area, or anywhere in Los Angeles County and throughout California, DC Law Group is here for you.

Call DC Law Group now at (833) 333-2523 for a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions, explain your family’s legal options, and help you take the first step toward holding the responsible party accountable. You can also visit us online at dclawgroup.com or schedule an appointment at dclawgroup.com/appointment.

This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique, and results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved. DC Law Group does not represent any party involved in the incident described above unless a formal attorney-client relationship has been established.