New York City is no stranger to car accidents, occurring hundreds of times daily. High volumes of traffic coupled with never-ending pedestrian activity are just one of many causes of collisions. Nevertheless, there is one borough that beats out all the others when it comes to statistical highs. Based on recently posted NYPD statistics, Brooklyn makes up the highest percentage of motor vehicle crashes with a total of 32,788 accidents or almost one-third of all collisions citywide. That is a staggering number, even for the average U.S. city on its own.
The most common factors relating to these differences are Brooklyn’s ever-growing population and its traffic volume. The borough’s complicated streets, along with pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles competing for space, make speeding and reckless driving commonplace. These driver behaviors contribute to both the high number of crashes and the severity of injuries that victims sustain. However, other reasons exist that influence the prevalence of car accidents in specific neighborhoods. For example, locations with active nightlife tend to rack up more drunk driving incidents, while negligent sign placement or poor road maintenance can result in greater failures to yield or cause driver confusion. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, it is the driver’s responsibility to try and avoid accidents. From NYPD reports, here were the most common reasons for car accidents that occurred in Brooklyn:
- Driver inattention and/or distraction
- Failure to yield to the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Improper lane use
- Passing another vehicle too slowly
- Speeding
- Disregarding traffic control
A majority of motor vehicle accidents in Brooklyn happen in densely populated areas with lots of traffic. Areas such as Downtown Brooklyn, Flatbush, and Williamsburg are some of the most common neighborhoods that experience an influx of vehicles during rush hour. Many accidents also occur near major streets and intersections, including Atlantic Avenue, Eastern Parkway, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.According to the NYPD, Brooklyn intersections where multiple accidents often occur include:
- Tillary Street & Flatbush Avenue
- Jay Street & Tillary Street
- Avenue Z and Stillwell Avenue
- Graham Avenue & Grand Street
- Jay Street & Myrtle Avenue
- Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue
- Neptune Avenue and West 12th Street
- Roebling Street & South 4th Street
- Avenue V and Ocean Parkway
- 15th Avenue and Bay Ridge Avenue
Brooklyn is also the most dangerous borough for car accidents in fatality rates. Brooklyn trails behind Queens in total number of injuries from car accidents but leads with fatalities.
With almost 17,000 injuries and deaths each year, Brooklyn has a very large number of motor vehicle accidents.
In addition, Brooklyn also has the most bicycle accidents in New York City, totaling well over a thousand incidents each year. If you have been involved in a car accident in Brooklyn, getting qualified legal support is vital due to the complex nature of motor vehicle crashes. Whether dealing with injuries, property damage, insurance claims, or potential legal actions, having an experienced Brooklyn car accident lawyer can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.
