Despite using all necessary caution, there’s still a chance that you’ll get into a traffic accident in New York City. Statistically speaking, this accident is likely to happen at or near an intersection. 

Where are the most dangerous roads and intersections in New York City? Why are accidents tend to happen there? Here’s what you need to know.

How Common Are Intersection Accidents?

Very. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are approximately 2.2 million intersection-related traffic accidents every year. That accounts for roughly 40 percent of all traffic accidents. Only rear-end collisions are more common.

Are intersection accidents more dangerous than accidents that happen somewhere else? Yes. The Federal Highway Association (FHWA) reports that half of all accidents causing injury or death involve vehicles approaching, moving through, or leaving an intersection. 

The Most Dangerous Single Lane Intersections in NYC

Intersections are particularly dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. That’s because this is when these unprotected travelers are most likely to cross paths with a motor vehicle. If there’s confusion about who has the right of way or if someone isn’t paying attention, accidents are likely to occur. That’s bad news for the bicyclists and pedestrians, who are vulnerable to catastrophic injuries in these types of collisions.

These accidents aren’t just happening at the busiest and largest intersections in the Big Apple. Rather, many are happening at intersections of single-lane roads. In fact, about 8 percent of accidents resulting in injury or death to a cyclist or pedestrian involve a one-lane intersection.

Studies reveal that some single-lane intersections in New York City see more bicycle and pedestrian accidents than others. According to crash data analyzed by Localize.city, these dangerous intersections are the ones cyclists and pedestrians might want to avoid:

Dangerous Brooklyn Intersections

  • Newkirk Avenue and Argyle Road (Ditmas Park)
  • Newkirk Avenue and Rugby Road (Ditmas Park)
  • South Fourth Street and Keap Street (Williamsburg)
  • South Third Street and Havemeyer Street (Williamsburg)
  • Hooper Street and South Fifth Street (Williamsburg)
  • Sterling Place and Kingston Avenue (Crown Heights)
  • Lawrence Street and Willoughby Street (Downtown Brooklyn)
  • Smith Street and Wycoff Street (Boerum Hill)

Dangerous Bronx Intersections

  • East 168th Street and College Avenue (Concourse)
  • Field Place and Creston Avenue (Fordham)
  • East 196th Street and Valentine Avenue (Fordham)
  • Goble Place and Inwood Avenue (Mt. Eden)
  • East Mosholu Parkway North and Hull Avenue (Norwood)

Dangerous Manhattan Intersections

  • Ludlow Street and Rivington Street (Lower East Side)
  • Clinton Street and Rivington Street (Lower East Side)

Dangerous Queens Intersections

  • 37th Avenue and 101st Street (Corona)
  • 37th Avenue and 99th Street (Corona)
  • 39th Avenue and 111th Street (Corona)
  • Woodward Avenue and Willoughby Avenue (Ridgewood)
  • 89th Avenue and 168th Street (Jamaica)

If you’ve been involved in an accident at one of these NYC intersections, it’s important to discuss your potential legal options. Contact Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. to schedule a free case assessment. Our NYC personal injury lawyers would be happy to offer some preliminary guidance and advice.

New York City is Home to Some of the State’s Most Dangerous Roads

Not all accidents happen at intersections. Sometimes a road is just dangerous. That might be because of its design, the sheer fact that it’s jam-packed with traffic night and day, or its location. Many of the most dangerous roads for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians in the state are in and around New York City. These top the list:

  • Amsterdam Avenue (Manhattan)
  • Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn)
  • Brighton Beach (Brooklyn)
  • Broadway (Bronx)
  • Grand Concourse (Bronx)
  • Hempstead Turnpike (Nassau County, Long Island)
  • Henry Hudson Parkway (Manhattan)
  • Hylan Boulevard (Staten Island)
  • Jamaica Avenue (Queens)
  • Kings Highway (Brooklyn)
  • Merrick Road (Nassau County, Long Island)
  • Middle Country Road (Suffolk County, Long Island)
  • Nassau Jericho Turnpike (Nassau County, Long Island)
  • Neptune Avenue (Brooklyn)
  • Queens Boulevard (Queens)
  • Sunrise Highway (Suffolk County, Long Island)
  • Union Turnpike (Queens)
  • Upper Broadway (Manhattan)
  • Woodhaven Boulevard (Queens)

These roads tend to report more traffic accidents, particularly those causing injury or death, than any other thoroughfares in the city.

Traffic, Congestion Leads to Crashes in NYC

There always seems to be traffic in New York City. It doesn’t matter where you go or what time of the day it is.

In fact, NYC ranks as the 4th worst in the nation for traffic. In an average year, drivers spend about 133 hours stuck in traffic in New York. Only drivers in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago spent more time behind the wheel in congestion. 

Why is this important? Traffic and congestion in NYC mean four things:

  • There are more people sharing the road
  • People are ditching their cars in favor of biking and walking
  • Drivers get impatient and engage in dangerous driving behaviors, particularly around intersections, and
  • Drivers might be more inclined to check or use their cell phones while sitting in traffic.

So, traffic accidents happen because drivers:

  • Attempt to beat red and yellow lights
  • Make unsafe left-hand and right-hand turns at intersections
  • Speed to make up for lost time
  • Follow other vehicles too closely and don’t leave enough space while passing
  • Are irritated that they’re sharing the road with cyclists, and fail to drive with caution, and
  • Are distracted.

Other causes of accidents at New York City intersections and on dangerous roadways include hazards, construction, weather, impaired driving, and defective equipment.

Traffic Accident Attorneys in New York City

Sometimes accidents happen even when you’re extremely careful. Many times, these accidents occur at intersections or on roadways that are particularly dangerous. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in NYC through little to no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation. Money won’t turn back the clock, but it can help with your medical bills, lost wages, and your pain and suffering. 

The experienced NYC car accident lawyers at Mirman, Markovits & Landau, P.C. can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery. With more than 200 years of combined experience and $1 Billion recovered for our clients, you can trust that your case will be in good hands. Give our NYC law office a call today to schedule your free consultation and learn more.