AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT LITIGATION

County residents are the most litigious in the state, at least in terms of automobile accidents. Although more than three times as many such suits were filed in Los Angeles County, the Orange County mark of 485.57 suits filed per 100,000 residents is the highest in the state. By comparison, the lowest rate among the 58 counties was 37.04 in Calaveras.

Orange County ranked second last year, with a per 100,000 resident rate of 484.13 while Los Angeles County had the highest rate, 506.90. But an 8.58 decrease in suits in Los Angeles County between this year and last helped move Orange County into the top spot.

Here’s a look at how we compare to the four contiguous counties as well as the state, this year and last:

1988-’89 1987-’88 Rate 1988-’89 Rate State Total Per 100,000 Per 100,000 Rank County Filings Residents Residents 1. Orange 11,073 484.13 485.57 2. Los Angeles 40,084 506.90 463.38 15. San Bernardino 3,144 220.39 237.35 16. Riverside 2,383 250.73 234.82 37. San Diego 3,524 194.62 145.73 Five-County Total 60,208 403.61 383.78 STATE TOTAL 89,667 332.28 312.84

1988-’89 State % Rank Change 1. +0.30 2. -8.58 15. +7.70 16. -6.34 37. -25.12 -4.91 -5.85

Source: Western Insurance Information Service