The great state of Connecticut sees its share of traffic accidents, and this includes intersection accidents, which are some of the most dangerous accidents out there. Intersections are the spots where traffic converges from all different directions and continues to travel in all different directions—at all different speeds, including those vehicles that are slowing down and preparing to stop and those vehicles that are picking up speed.

Intersections, in other words, are breeding grounds for dangerous accidents. Some intersections, however, are more dangerous than others, and knowing which Connecticut intersections to bypass or be more attentive to can help you stay safe out there. If you’ve been injured by another driver’s negligence in an intersection accident, you need the professional legal counsel of an experienced Connecticut personal injury lawyer.

Intersections: Driver Beware

Intersections seem to invite accidents, but knowing the ten most dangerous intersections (which includes on-ramp and off-ramp access) in Connecticut—according to GoLocalProv—can help you avoid becoming an accident statistic:

1. Merritt Parkway Mile Marker 46.42—47.03 in New Haven, Connecticut - Top billing goes to this Merritt Parkway intersection, which hosted 561 total crashes that included 125 injury-causing accidents. Fortunately, none of these 561 crashes resulted in fatalities.

2. Route 17 Mile Marker 21.55—22.14 in Middletown, Connecticut - This Route 17 intersection saw 372 total crashes, including 107 accidents that caused injury. Again, this dangerous intersection fortunately did not lead to any fatal accidents.

3. Route 44 Mile Marker 53.63 (Route 44 & Main Street) in Hartford, Connecticut - Connecticut’s third most dangerous intersection is right here in Hartford, and its accident-experience rate is 129—38 of which caused injury. Thankfully, there were no deaths involved.

4. Route 5 Mile Marker 9.35—9.36 in Wallingford, Connecticut - This Route 5 intersection made fourth billing by being the site of 51 total intersection accidents (22 caused injury). Again, this Wallingford intersection was able to avoid any fatal accidents.

5. Route 69 Mile Marker 18.39—18.49 in Waterbury, Connecticut - Though this Route 69 intersection saw fewer overall accidents than the Wallingford intersection above, it is weighted by the fact that far fewer of those accidents caused injury: 55 accidents overall, 14 injury-causing accidents, and 0 fatalities.

6. Route 127 Mile Marker .64 (Route127 & Barnum Avenue) in Bridgeport, Connecticut - Route 127 was home to 31 total crashes and 12 of those led to injuries. Thankfully, there were no fatal accidents.

7. Route 127 Mile Marker 1.02 (Route 127 & Stillman Street) - Bridgeport and Route 127 once again make the cut. This intersection saw 18 crashes overall, and 11 of these 18 accidents caused injury. In keeping with the previous six statistics, this intersection also avoided fatal crashes.

8. Route 83 Mile Marker 11.80—11.89 (Route 83 & Route 30) in Vernon, Connecticut - This stretch of Route 83 was the location of 25 total crashes, and 7 of them caused injury. Fortunately, there were no deaths involved.

9. Route 287 Mile Marker 1.58 (near Route 287 & Merritt Parkway) in Wethersfield, Connecticut - With 22 total intersection accidents—6 of which caused injury—this intersection in Wethersfield makes it into spot nine. In continuance of a streak of fortuitousness, there were no traffic fatalities at this location.

10. Route 8 Mile Marker 18.58—18.81 in Seymour, Connecticut - This stretch of Route 8 in Seymour makes it to the final Top-Ten spot. It is the location of 11 intersection crashes—five of which led to injuries.

We end this list on the happy note that none of the ten most dangerous intersections in Connecticut led to fatal crashes (within the parameters of the noted study).

Intersection Accidents: The Statistics

The fact is that intersections are dangerous, and national statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) back this up:

• Although intersections account for only a small percentage of our total roadways, they see far more than their share of accidents.

• The primary cause of intersection accidents is drivers who fail to pay adequate attention to the traffic that is converging all around them.

• The second leading cause of intersection crashes is drivers who blindly trust other drivers to do what they are meant to do (unfortunately these other drivers have minds of their own and often steer off course).

• The third-most leading cause of accidents in intersections is drivers who make turns in spite of obstructed views.

• Engaging in illegal driving maneuvers and driving while distracted are awarded fourth and fifth place—respectively—in the dangerous intersection-driving countdown.

While driving safely should always be your guide, keep in mind that intersections demand extra care.

Common Intersection Accidents

Intersection accidents are dangerous accidents that beget any number of serious injuries. There are, however, two instances that are most likely to cause serious injuries:

1. Side-impact - Side-impact accidents are common to intersections—exactly because intersections represent the spot where traffic traveling in all different directions converges. As such, T-bone accidents (or side-impact accidents) happen. Because the side of your car is less well protected than the front or the back, serious injuries are likely to ensue.

2. Rear-end - Rear-end accidents in which one vehicle hits another from behind are part and parcel to intersection traffic. Drivers entering and exiting intersections are often attempting to cheat time, which means they’re interested in beating yellow lights and jumping green lights—both of which can easily spell disaster.

If Another Driver’s Negligence Leaves You Injured in an Intersection Accident, Consult with an Experienced Connecticut Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Intersections demand every driver’s complete attention. After all, intersections represent that small section of roadway where drivers with very different intentions converge upon one another. Connecticut has its own Top Ten when it comes to intersection accidents, but if you’ve been injured by someone else’s negligence in an intersection accident, you need experienced legal counsel.

The dedicated personal injury attorneys at Leighton, Katz & Drapeau have the experience, skill, and knowledge to aggressively advocate for your claim’s most positive resolution. Our legal team has been serving Connecticut proudly for nearly thirty years, and we’re here for you. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at (860) 875-7000 today.