Nicole Richie was taken to hospital after a paparazzo's car collided with her vehicle in Los Angeles.

Photographer Eduardo Arrivabene allegedly drove into the back of the Simple Life star on Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, at 2pm on Monday afternoon.

"Ms. Richie was driving with a passenger around 2 p.m. when she was struck by two photographers driving in one vehicle behind her," said Lt. Tony Lee of the Beverly Hills Police.

"She complained of pain...Her car sustained moderate damage. No paramedics were called to the scene.

"She told officers she was going to seek her own medical treatment, so it's unknown if she's headed to a hospital or not."

It's believed Nicole was driven to Cedars-Sinai hospital by a friend for observation. She was later joined by her partner and father of her two children (who were not in the vehicle at the time of the accident) Joel Madden.

Arrivabene was arrested for driving without a license, according to Radaronline.