Most people in Detroit get around by car, but there are many severe accidents in the city daily, and sometimes they are fatal. Some of the most serious accidents happen in busy Detroit intersections – of the 24,687 auto accidents in the city in 2017, 10,288 happened in intersections, and more than 80% of those were freeway intersections.
Below is detailed information about the most dangerous intersections in the city, and you have been hurt in a car accident, speak to our Detroit car accident attorneys for assistance.
Gratiot Avenue
The year 2021 saw dozens of serious car accidents at Gratiot Avenue and Conner Street. Many of these crashes left people with injuries. Gratiot Avenue is situated in one of the country’s most dangerous zip codes.
Unfortunately, Gratiot Avenue is dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers. People living in the area say the road is similar to driving on a highway because people drive so fast. Speeding is one of the most common causes of fatal car accidents nationwide.
Conant Street And East Davison Street
One of the deadliest intersections in Michigan is Conant Street and East Davison Street. Many deadly accidents happened there in 2021, many of them because of drunk driving. If a drunk driver hurts you, there could be criminal and civil liability, so speak to a car accident attorney.
Linwood Street and West Davison Street
Linwood Street often has poorly maintained roads and sidewalks, making it more hazardous for drivers and pedestrians. A broken fire hydrant making a five-foot-deep divot in the road was not repaired for months. This caused many damaged vehicles and accidents. If you can file a claim for your losses, you might be able to file a claim against the local government for your losses.
Greenville Road And 7 Mile Road
In December 2022, several cars on Greenfield Road and 7 Mile Road were observed by police to be drifting. This is making a motor vehicle slide through a turn with the front of the car pointed in the opposite direction of the turn. The cars did several donuts and other reckless actions, including turning the vehicles in tight circles and stomping on the gas.
This is dangerous driving behavior that happens in more Detroit intersections and roads. No one was injured in this incident, but if you see drifting and other reckless driving actions, call the police immediately.
More Dangerous Detroit Intersections – Crash Statistics
Other intersections in the city are hazardous. Here are crash statistics for some of the most dangerous ones:
- 11 Mile Road, I-696, and Van Dyke Avenue – 194 auto accidents
- 18.5 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue – 165 auto accidents
- Telegraph Road and 12 Mile Road – 150 auto accidents
- Schoolcraft Road and Telegraph Road – 112 auto accidents
- Orchard Lake Road and 14 Mile Road – 144 auto accidents
- I-75 and Big Beaver Road – 120 auto accidents
- Ford Road and Lilley Road – 109 auto accidents
What Makes Some Intersections More Hazardous?
There are many factors that make some Detroit intersections more dangerous than others:
- More cars in less space: If you drive on a busy road and through chaotic intersections in Detroit, one wrong move by a driver can cause a chain reaction accident. If there are multiple injured parties and serious injuries, the no-fault auto insurance required in Michigan might not be enough to cover your damages.
- Aggressive driving: People driving in traffic tend to be more aggressive, leading to speeding and running red lights, among other aggressive behavior. Many severe accidents happen in busy Detroit intersections when one last driver tries to get through when the light turns red.
- Not understanding driving laws: Recent crash statistics in Detroit showed that about 25% of auto accidents in intersections involve drivers from 15-24. These are inexperienced drivers who may not understand right-of-way and other traffic laws.
- Distracted driving: As mobile phones have become commonplace, more drivers are driving distracted, taking text messages, and surfing the Internet when driving. This is against the law in Michigan, and needless to say, is dangerous behavior in busy Detroit traffic.
How To Avoid Car Accidents In Detroit
There are at least 6 million car accidents in the US annually, and many are in Detroit. Some accidents can be avoided by following these principles:
Intersections
At least 50% of auto accidents happen in intersections. There are several things to keep in mind when going through Detroit intersections:
- Do not accelerate through an intersection because it increases reaction times if something unexpected happens, such as a driver running the light.
- Do not hit the gas when there is a yellow light. You should only go through a yellow if you do not have enough time to stop safely.
- Avoid intersections with no left turn arrow if you can. The more times you must judge oncoming traffic to make the left turn safely, the greater the chances of an accident.
Trust
This means you should not trust that other drivers will act prudently. They may not make a wise decision, so follow these tips:
- You should not be in a position where an accident is avoided because the other driver acted. If you are at other drivers’ will on the road, the chances of accidents rise. For example, if you change into the left lane because the right is slowing down, assume another driver in the right lane might pull out suddenly.
- Do not follow the driver in front of you too closely. You do not know when a driver ahead will hit the brakes.
Speed
- More car accidents happen because of speeding than any other cause. So, remember these guidelines:
- On the highway, slower traffic is usually on the right. While often slower, driving in the right lane is safer than in higher-speed lanes.
- Keep to the speed limit. Driving already takes a lot of concentration and skill, and speeding only makes it harder and more hazardous.
Contact Our Detroit Car Accident Attorneys Today
Detroit has its share of hazardous intersections, and if you were hurt in a car accident, you probably need help with your medical bills and other expenses. Please contact our Detroit car accident attorneys at Ravid & Associates, P.C., at (248) 948-9896 for a free legal consultation.
Although the risk of distracted driving was not eliminated completely, a study showed voice recognition systems in cars reduced the time drivers looked at their devices when calling a contact or entering an address, according to a report by The Detroit News on Tuesday, March 3.
The study, which was conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab and Massachusetts Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), included 80 drivers between ages 20 and 66. Half of them drove a Chevrolet Equinox equipped with MyLink voice recognition system, while the other half drove a 2013 Volvo XC60 with Volvo Sensus. Both systems reduced the time drivers looked away when calling a contact using voice command to an average of 13 seconds, which was 2 seconds less than the average time when dialing a contact manually.
Distracted driving is quickly becoming one of the most common causes of road accidents in the country. If you believe a distracted driver caused your car accident and injuries, speak with our team of personal injury lawyers in Detroit at Detroit Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss the possibility of taking legal action. Call us at (248) 948-9696 today.