Common Causes and Locations of Car Accidents in New York City: Explained by Our Car Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn, NY  

Car accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injuries in the United States.  According to new data from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published this week, there were 5.25 million motor vehicle accidents in 2020 resulting in almost 39,000 fatalities and causing 2.74 million injuries.  While the number of crashes and injuries decreased from 2019, fatalities were much higher and near record levels in 2020.  Sadly, early estimates for the first half of 2021 indicate that these fatality numbers have increased, particularly with fatal crashes up 13% over 2020 figures.  Our car accident lawyer in Brooklyn knows that these are troubling statistics—particularly because injuries and fatalities are increasing right here in New York City too.

In just the New York City area for January 2022, there were over 7,700 motor vehicle accidents, with 2,372 resulting in either an injury or fatality.  Over 3,100 people were injured in these crashes and almost 20 people killed.  In just Brooklyn, there were just over 2,500 motor vehicle accidents resulting in approximately 1,000 injuries and four (4) deaths.  According to a report that was just released, a large contributor to these fatal accidents are red-light running violations, which were up 50% in the last half of 2021, and which further contributed to 23 traffic fatalities last month in NYC.  This makes February 2022 the deadliest month for traffic deaths since 2008.

While these numbers are shocking, our experienced car accident lawyer in Brooklyn, NY at the O’Connor Law Firm knows that there are ways to protect yourself and your family.  Indeed, knowing the common causes of motor vehicle accidents can help you prepare to manage these risks, avoid dangerous situations, and be more aware of the common causes to change how you drive.  The same is true about knowing the most dangerous intersections in Brooklyn so you can avoid them or use particularly care and attention at them.  If you have any questions after a car accident, especially if you were injured in one of these types of collisions, call our bodily injury law firm to schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about what your rights to compensation may be under New York law.

Common Causes of Brooklyn Car Accidents from NYC Accident Reports

NYPD issues traffic data reports for each month of the year.  This data includes motor vehicle collision information that is citywide and by borough.  The reports include the number of collisions, who was involved, and the breakdown of injuries and fatalities.  The data also includes the vehicle types and contributing factors, with the respective tallies indicating the amount.

Besides the data of injuries and fatalities, the most eye-opening data is the information relating to the common causes or contributing factors.  In January 2022, the most common causes of car accidents in Brooklyn included the following:

• Driver inattention and distraction (616) – one of the most preventable causes, typically due to cell phone use such as calling, texting, or even checking email
• Failure to yield to the right-of-way (182) – either at stop signs, yield signs, entering onto the roadway, or merging
• Following too closely (164) – these typically result in a rear end car accident
• Passing or lane usage improper (113) – includes crossing the double yellow or the white fog line
• Passing too closely (93) – especially with cars that are stopped to turn or parked
• Unsafe speed (84) – not just violating the speed limit, but also driving too fast for the weather conditions
• Backing unsafely (79) – in parking lots, but also backing into an active roadway
• Traffic control disregarded (69) – both traffic lights or signage
• Turning improperly (58) – including illegal U-turns, and
• Many other common causes.

Most Dangerous Locations of Car Accidents in Brooklyn, NY

The NYPD data reports also include separate pages on the general location of motor vehicle accidents and what happened, including the injuries, fatalities, and cause of the collision.  Using this data, you can see which intersections and roadways are particularly dangerous.  This can allow you and your family to pay extra attention at these dangerous intersections to help avoid and guard against collisions. 

For January 2022, the NYPD data reports for car accidents in Brooklyn, NY include the following (in order of the most collisions first):

• Atlantic Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue
• Rockaway Parkway and Shore Parkway
• Belt Parkway and Ocean Parkway
• Crescent Street and Linden Boulevard
• Flatlands Ave and Pennsylvania Avenue
• Dekalb Avenue and Knickerbocker Avenue
• Brighton Beach and Coney Island Ave
• Kings Highway and West 3 Street
• E 59 Street and Flatlands Avenue
• Church Avenue and Dahill Road
• Eastern Parkway and Nostrand Avenue
• Empire Boulevard and Schenectady Avenue
• Blake Avenue and Strauss Street
• Linden Avenue and Rockaway Avenue
• Atkins Avenue and Cozine Avenue
• Atlantic Avenue and Logan Street
• Jamaica Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue
• Jerome Street and Livonia Avenue
• Logan Street and Pitkin Avenue
• Pennsylvania Avenue and Pitkin Avenue
• Albany Avenue and St. Johns Place
• Atlantic Avenue and Grand Avenue
• Flushing Avenue and Marcy Avenue
• Walworth Street and Willoughby Avenue
• Aberdeen Street and Bushwick Avenue
• Dekalb Avenue and Knickerbocker Avenue
• Flatbush Avenue Ext and Tillary Street
• Gold Street and Tillary Street
• Atlantic Avenue and Grand Avenue, and
• Many other dangerous streets in Brooklyn, New York.

Were You Injured Due to One of the Most Common Causes of a Car Accident?  Call Our Car Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn, NY For Help

When a motor vehicle accident causes you unexpected medical bills, lost wages, and conscious pain and suffering, you may be entitled to compensation against a defendant or defendants who caused these damages.  This is particularly true if a defendant caused your damages due to one of the common causes noted above—which are often preventable causes of motor vehicle crashes.  This means that the harm you and your family suffered was needless and avoidable.

Call our experienced car accident lawyer in Brooklyn, NY to help you recover compensation for this needless harm by calling the O’Connor Law Firm to schedule a FREE consultation by dialing (718) 948-3500 or using our “Contact Us” box available here.