The Most Dangerous Intersections in Louisville
Motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of serious injury and death in Kentucky. Car accidents can occur anywhere, from a residential street to a major interstate. However, intersections are notoriously high-risk locations for road users. Every year, dozens of serious car crashes take place at intersections in Louisville. Learning the most dangerous intersections in the city based on compiled crash data could help you avoid becoming a victim.
List of the Most Dangerous Intersections in Louisville, Kentucky
In 2019, Time Magazine announced that the number one most dangerous intersection in Kentucky was located in Louisville, at the cross-section of Second Street and Broadway. It came to this conclusion after analyzing 10 years of data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In one year of data alone, 35 car accidents took place at this intersection in Louisville. Many of these accidents involved pedestrians.
Other dangerous intersections in Louisville include:
- 1-264 West near mile 13
- 1-64 West near mile 13
- 1-65 South on JFK Memorial Bridge
- 5400 block of New Cut Road
- Bardstown Road at Goldsmith Lane
- Bardstown Road at Grinstead Drive
- Dixie Highway at Pendleton Road
- Fourth Street and Broadway
- Fourth Street and Market Street
- Hurstbourne Parkway at Bunsen Way
- Preston Highway at Gilmore Lane
According to the Kentucky Transportation Center, intersection accidents accounted for 29.2 percent of all motor vehicle collisions and 19.4 percent of all fatal collisions in the state in 2021. While all intersections pose inherent risks, these intersections in particular, have been historically dangerous for both motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic in Louisville.
What Makes an Intersection More Dangerous Than Others?
Intersection accidents are almost always preventable. Identifying the cause of an intersection accident in Louisville is the first step in a victim seeking financial compensation for losses caused by the crash. These accidents often occur when drivers are negligent or fail to use reasonable care behind the wheel, such as by driving distracted, drunk, or drowsy. This could lead to the driver being held financially responsible for the crash.
In other cases, intersection accidents are caused by dangerous roadway designs. Complicated traffic signs and complex traffic patterns, for example, can confuse drivers and contribute to collisions. Too much traffic may be funneled into one area of town, resulting in an intersection that is too busy to be safe for motorists. Intersections with higher pedestrian traffic volumes are especially dangerous for these vulnerable road users.
If the intersection contains road defects, such as a broken traffic light, pothole, inaccessible pedestrian sidewalk, dangerous crosswalks or road hazards, this can further increase the odds of an accident taking place. The City of Louisville may be held responsible for intersection accidents caused by road defects if the government was negligent in maintaining a safe roadway.
Who Pays for an Intersection Accident in Louisville?
If a motor vehicle driver is injured in an intersection accident in Kentucky, he or she may seek compensation from his or her own insurance provider if the individual has personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This is the law under Kentucky’s “choice no-fault” car insurance system. In certain circumstances, however, such as for significant injuries or if the driver has opted out of no-fault insurance, the victim can pursue compensation from the at-fault driver.
After an intersection accident that is traced back to a dangerous road defect, the city or state can be held liable for negligent road design or maintenance. If you or a loved one has been injured at one of the most dangerous intersections in Louisville, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your medical bills, property damage and other losses from the at-fault party. Request a free case consultation with a Louisville car accident lawyer at Hendy | Johnson | Vaughn | Emery to learn more.