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As Colorado re-opens after the pandemic-related closures, those of us who regularly drive in the Denver metro are reminded of the traffic congestion and risk of accidents at certain intersections. Denver has a lot of dangerous intersections.
We asked users on Facebook to share with us the most dangerous intersections they encounter. Some of the most dangerous intersections posted by people in Denver who drive these roads regularly include:
- 5th Avenue and Lincoln Street — This intersection has had more than 50 crashes reported in five years, according to Channel 9 News. The City of Denver has installed traffic signals and painted crosswalks to try to reduce crashes at the intersection.
- I-25 and 6th Avenue — This busy interchange is frequently the scene of multi-vehicle accidents. A large scale, weather related crash at this location in November 2019 involved more than 50 vehicles.
- W. Colfax Avenue and W. 6th Avenue — This is just one of a number of dangerous intersections on Colfax Avenue
- I-25 and I-70 Interchange — Nicknamed the Mousetrap, the Denver interchange where traffic converges from two interstates regularly makes the list of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the nation.
These are all dangerous intersections that it’s better to avoid if possible. A study by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) said there are about 220 traffic accidents in the Denver region every day. Many of these crashes occur at intersections and leave about five people seriously injured on a daily basis.
The Wilhite Law Firm works with victims of serious motor vehicle accidents in Denver every day. When the accident was someone else’s fault, we help our clients seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering. We’ve investigated accidents at locations all across Denver. Our investigators have visited some locations repeatedly, making them wonder whether some sites are inherently more dangerous than others.
Dangerous Intersections in the Denver Metro Area
Several Denver area news organizations have tried to identify the most dangerous intersections in Denver. NBC’s 9 News (KUSA TV) quoted Denver police statistics for motor vehicle accidents as released in January 2019 to cover 2018 and June 2019 to cover the first half of last year.
For all of 2018, the five worst intersections in Denver for car accidents involving multiple vehicles were:
- North Quebec Street and East Martin Luther King Boulevard – 40 accidents in 2018, 52 in 2017
- West Colfax Avenue and North Speer Boulevard – 37 accidents in 2018, 31 in 2017
- West 6th Avenue and North Kalamath Street – 35 accidents in 2018, 34 in 2017
- West Alameda Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive – 34 accidents in 2018, 29 in 2017
- West Evans Avenue and South Federal Boulevard – 34 accidents in 2018, 22 in 2017
For the first six months of 2019, the five worst intersections in Denver for car accidents involving multiple vehicles were:
- West Alameda Avenue at South Santa Fe Drive – 22 accidents in first half 2019, 34 in 2018
- West Colfax Avenue at Speer Boulevard – 15 accidents in first half of 2019, 37 in 2018
- West Evans Avenue at South Federal Boulevard – 13 accidents in first half of 2019, 34 in 2018
- West Alameda Avenue at South Federal Boulevard – 14 accidents in first half of 2019, 33 in 2018
- Quebec Street at East 36th Avenue – 15 accidents in first half of 2019, 22 in 2018
Denver Police Department statistics list the most dangerous intersections according to the number of pedestrians injured in auto accidents. At No. 1 on that list is the intersection of 20th and Market streets near Coors Field in downtown Denver.
In February, a Denver man pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury (felony hit and run) at 20th and Market streets after hitting two pedestrians in August 2019.
Accidents can occur at any intersection. But the intersections listed above regularly appear on lists of Denver’s most dangerous intersections.
Pedestrians Hit by Cars, Trucks Suffer Serious Injuries
It’s obvious that a person who is hit by a car, truck or even a motorcycle can be seriously injured. A pedestrian is likely to be injured by the initial impact of being hit and then hurt again by the secondary impact of being knocked to the ground. Sometimes people are run over. Sometimes a pedestrian is dragged by a vehicle along the pavement, causing horrible injuries in which large patches of skin are torn or worn away from the body.
The size and velocity of the vehicle, such as when hit by a truck and/or a distracted driver moving at speed, adds to the severity of injuries suffered in pedestrian accidents.
Many pedestrian accidents are fatal. The Denver Regional Council of Governments report says that between 2011 and 2013, an average of 1,363 pedestrian crashes occurred per year in the Denver region, resulting in 113 fatalities and 517 serious injuries.
In addition to cuts, bruises and abrasions, serious injuries we often see in pedestrian accidents include:
- Broken bones, particularly to the ribs and lower legs in the initial impact and hips and arms as the pedestrian falls.
- Head injuries, including concussion and more serious traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Back and spine injuries, which can cause paralysis if the pedestrian’s spinal cord is torn or severed.
- Chest and abdominal injuries, including ruptured internal organs, which leads to bleeding that can cause shock or sepsis, either of which may be fatal.
Our Lawyers Respond to Denver Area Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian injured in an accident that a motorist caused has a right to seek compensation from the driver’s insurance for all expenses related to their injuries. If there are injuries that require future medical care, the individual may seek compensation for ongoing care and treatment, as well as other expenses and losses related to their disability.
At the Wilhite Law Firm, we assist injured pedestrians by investigating the accident, interviewing witnesses and compiling evidence, such as nearby security camera footage that might have captured the accident and data downloaded from the vehicle’s “black box” event data recorder.
When we can show that the driver or another party was at fault, we press the obligated insurance companies in negotiations to pay a full and fair settlement to our client. If the insurance company refuses to do the right thing, we are ready to file a personal injury lawsuit and ask a court to hold the at-fault driver or others accountable.
If you or a loved one has been hospitalized and/or put out of work by injuries suffered in a Denver area pedestrian accident, contact us today or online to discuss your case and how we can help you.
