SERIOUS ATTORNEYS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES
TRENDS
Dangerous Intersections and Accidents
Every year, over 1,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes at intersections in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). Overall, 26 percent of those who died on Texas roads in 2023 died in intersection crashes.
TEXAS IS ONE OF THE TOP STATES FOR DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS.
As the nation’s second-largest state and one of its most populous, Texas frequently ranks in the top three states for dangerous intersections. Several intersections with high rates of collisions, injuries, and fatalities are located in North Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding areas. Here, we examine the most dangerous intersections in North Texas.
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An Overview of Texas Accidents
In Texas in 2023:
- 4,283 people died in car accidents, including 1,120 who died in intersection collisions.
- 18,752 people suffered serious injuries in vehicle collisions.
- 250,335 people suffered mild or moderate injuries in vehicle collisions.
- 599 motorcyclists, 105 bicyclists, and 807 pedestrians died on Texas roads.
- Five separate crashes caused six or more deaths.
Many people think of urban areas when they think of intersection crashes. Yet deaths and serious injuries in dangerous intersections aren’t restricted to North Texas’s urban areas. In 2023, 52.84 percent of all traffic deaths in Texas occurred in rural areas. In that year, 2,263 people died in rural traffic collisions - including dangerous intersection collisions.
Accidents and Injuries in Texas's Largest Cities
TXDOT also recorded the following information about crash deaths and serious injuries in populous areas of North Texas in 2023:
City of Dallas
In 2023, 196 fatal crashes claimed a total of 205 lives in Dallas. Over 1,130 serious injuries were recorded, as well as 5,626 minor injuries. TXDOT recorded 31,678 collisions within Dallas’ city limits in 2023.
Dallas ranks second in traffic deaths among the US’s top 15 largest cities. Dallas also ranks first among Texas cities in traffic deaths. Between 2010 and 2019, Dallas roadway deaths increased, while For Worth’s deaths decreased.
City of Fort Worth
TXDOT recorded 13,445 vehicle crashes in Fort Worth in 2023. These included 111 fatal crashes that claimed 121 lives. Crashes also caused 515 serious injuries and 2,928 minor injuries.
Accidents and Injuries by County
Dallas County
The City of Dallas is not the only part of Dallas County in which serious accidents occur. The county recorded a total of 52,433 vehicle accidents in 2023, according to TXDOT. These crashes claimed 336 lives, caused 1,728 suspected serious injuries, and inflicted 9,993 non-incapacitating injuries.
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Collin County
Collin County recorded 14,628 vehicle accidents in 2023, according to TXDOT. These included 59 fatal crashes claiming 60 lives. They also include 327 “suspected serious” crashes causing 390 serious injuries. Another 3,099 minor or non-incapacitating injuries were also recorded.
Denton County
In Denton County, TXDOT reported 12,177 total vehicle accidents in 2023. Fatal injuries occurred in 52 collisions, causing death to 53 individuals. Over 300 serious or “incapacitating” injuries were recorded in Denton County vehicle accidents, along with 2,158 “minor” injuries.
Tarrant County
Tarrant County also ranks among the Texas counties with the highest number of annual car accidents, injuries, and deaths. In 2023, TXDOT recorded 29,105 collisions on Tarrant County roads. These crashes claimed 217 lives and caused 1,076 serious injuries. Another 6,786 people suffered moderate or minor injuries.
Trends in North Texas Intersection Accidents
According to TXDOT’s Crash Information Reporting System (CRIS), preliminary data on intersection crashes in Texas in 2023 shows that:
- Approximately 1,013 accidents in intersections caused at least one death.
- Several accidents caused more than one death: While 1,013 intersection collisions were reported, 1,120 deaths resulted from these crashes.
- Approximately 958 people were injured in intersection crashes in 2023.
First Harmful Event Trends
TXDOT tracks vehicle crashes by “first harmful event,” or the triggering event that resulted in injury or property damage. Common “first harmful events” in 2023 collisions included:
- Colliding with another vehicle on the road.
- Hitting a fixed object like a guardrail or sign.
- Hitting a bicyclist or pedestrian.
All three of these first harmful events can easily occur in a dangerous intersection. For example, vehicles can strike one another while passing through the intersection or turning. A poorly designed intersection can cause collisions with guardrails, medians, and other fixed objects. Busy intersections with few or no safety controls can also create serious risks for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially if drivers are not paying careful attention.
Day and Location Trends
Fatal intersection accidents were most common on the weekends. In 2023, 169 of the 1,013 fatal intersection accidents occurred on a Sunday, and 168 occurred on a Saturday. Tuesday (124 crashes) and Friday (126 crashes) were the least common days of the week for fatal intersection accidents.
In 2023, nearly 40 percent of all intersection deaths occurred at rural intersections. Urban areas with over 250,000 people, like the Metroplex, accounted for 28 percent of fatal intersection crashes. Smaller cities with a population between 100,000 and 250,000 accounted for 11 percent of fatal intersection crashes.
Breaking down trends in fatal Texas intersection accidents:
Day of the Week
Fatal intersection accidents are most common on weekends. In 2023, 169 of the 1,013 fatal intersection accidents occurred on a Sunday, and 168 occurred on a Saturday.
Rural Intersections
In 2023, nearly 40 percent of all intersection deaths occurred at rural intersections, and 11 percent happened in small communities.
Intersection Design
A poorly designed intersection can increase the likelihood of collisions. Busy intersections with few safety controls can also create serious risks for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially if drivers are not paying attention.
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Most Dangerous Intersections in North Texas
North Texas’s most dangerous intersections share several common features. Here are some of the intersections with the highest rates of crashes, deaths, and serious injuries.
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway (I-635) & Skillman Street
The crossing of I-635 and Skillman Street features several intersections, driveways, and highway ramps. Multiple lanes of traffic on both the interstate and Skillman Street make the area even tougher to navigate.
The nearby intersection of Skillman Street and Adleta Court also poses challenges. Multiple traffic lanes, no medians, small and widely-spacde traffic lights, and ongoing construction all make this intersection a tough one. Getting through it after leaving I-635 or to access I-635 can also pose navigation challenges, especially to visitors.
Commerce South & South Lamar Street
The intersection of Commerce St and South Lamar Street in Dallas also sees a high rate of collisions and injuries. Unlike I-635 and Skillman St, Commerce & Lamar doesn’t require drivers to navigate freeway ramps. However, the intersection of Commerce South and South Lamar St. features multiple lanes of traffic. Sightlines are limited for drivers by traffic, parked cars, trees, and buildings. Navigating rapid changes between parking and traffic lanes can also prove challenging, as can understanding and following signs for one-way streets.
The intersection of Commerce South and South Lamar Street is also a high-traffic area for pedestrians, especially those visiting the Greyhound bus station. While crosswalks are present, distracted or confused drivers may still cause a collision with a pedestrian at this intersection.
North Central Expressway & Lemmon Avenue
The intersection of the North Central Expressway and Lemmon Avenue can be extremely confusing for drivers - and dangerous for pedestrians.
The intersection features multiple wide, flat lanes for traffic, which may encourage drivers to travel at excessive speeds. Stoplights are spaced far apart and difficult to match with the traffic lanes they control. Identifying the correct lane from which to travel forward or make a turn can be challenging, increasing the risk that a driver will make a mistake and cause a collision.
While crosswalks do exist in this area, they are faded and not well-marked. Vehicles can easily miss them when coming to a stop - and miss that pedestrians may use them. On-street parking, low medians, and difficult-to-read signage further increase risks at this intersection.
West State Highway 114 and East Southlake Boulevard
The intersection of West State Highway 114 and East Southlake Boulevard in Grapevine poses multiple challenges. Wide, straight lanes make drivers feel safer traveling at high rates of speed, but multiple lanes make high speeds risky. Multiple driveways for various businesses enter both Highway 114 and E. Southlake Boulevard, creating additional points at which vehicles may collide.
The intersection of Hwy 114 and Southlake has brick crosswalks designed for drivers to be easier to see. However, the design of the roadway encourages drivers to focus straight ahead and travel quickly, increasing the risk they’ll hit pedestrians. The crosswalks are also the same color as the low median. While drivers can tell the median and crosswalks are different from the traffic lanes, they may not immediately recognize that the crosswalk is likely to contain pedestrians.
How Street Design Can Make Intersections More Dangerous
Examining the most dangerous intersections in North Texas reveals several common features that can make intersections more dangerous. Using extra care when driving in these areas can help prevent accidents.
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Wide, Straight Roads
Wide, straight, flat roads with wide lanes encourage drivers to drive faster. Narrow lanes and limited vision, by contrast, encourage drivers to slow down so they don’t risk a collision.
A study by the City of Dallas surveyed over 2,000 Dallas residents, asking for their views on dangerous intersections and roadway risks. The study found that over 60 percent of respondents said “driving too fast” was a major concern. Speeding is listed in 28 percent of severe crash reports in North Texas.
Many dangerous intersections in Texas occur where two wide, flat, multi-lane roads meet. Drivers may drive too fast in these areas or speed up to make it through a light. Serious injuries can result.
Roadway Distractions
Roadway distractions take many forms. Distractions inside a vehicle might include cell phones, the radio, eating food, or having a conversation. Distractions outside a vehicle might include confusing signs, busy traffic, the need to find and take a highway on- or off-ramp, businesses with signs and advertising, and other events.
Over 60 percent of Dallas roadway safety survey respondents said “distracted drivers” were a major problem contributing to dangers at intersections and throughout North Texas. Distraction risks increase in areas with many businesses or other challenges to navigate, like highway on- and off-ramps. Many dangerous intersections in North Texas have these features.
Intersection Signs, Signals, and Markings
“Drivers running red lights or stop signs” was cited as a “top three challenge” by over 40 percent of respondents to a Dallas street safety poll. Running a red light appears in 10 percent of severe crash reports in Dallas in the 2010s. Drivers failing to yield while making a left turn - another common event at dangerous intersections - also appears in 10 percent of severe crash reports.
North Texas’s most dangerous intersections often feature confusing signs, signals, and other markings. Lights that are spaced far apart can be difficult to match to traffic lanes, causing drivers to respond to the wrong signal. On multi-lane roads, identifying stop signs and other signs can be a challenge. Faded paint, missing or worn medians, and other barriers or lack of barriers can further challenge drivers - raising the risks of a mistake that leads to a crash.
Lack of Pedestrian Crosswalks, Signals, and Protections
Cars are the preferred way to travel in North Texas. According to the City of Dallas, 88 percent of Dallas travelers use personal vehicles to get around. Only 4 percent of travelers use the city’s public transportation system, two percent walk, and less than one percent use bicycles. Outside the Metroplex, cars are even more commonly represented.
In a City of Dallas poll about street safety, nearly 30 percent of respondents said “lack of pedestrian infrastructure” was one of their top three safety concerns in the city. The lack of pedestrian infrastructure in other parts of North Texas causes similar issues. “Drivers not yielding to pedestrians” was a concern raised by nearly 20 percent of respondents.
Although only two percent of travelers on Dallas roads are pedestrians, 30 percent of roadway deaths in any given year happen to pedestrians, according to the City of Dallas. Pedestrians are at a disproportionate risk of death and serious injury - and many of these accidents occur at dangerous intersections.
Contact an Experienced North Texas Intersection Injury Lawyer at Chandler Ross Today
If you’ve been injured at a dangerous intersection in North Texas, don’t wait. Talk to an experienced North Texas car accident attorney today. The team at Chandler Ross can help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. To learn more, contact our office today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation.
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Chandler | Ross, Injury Attorneys is a personal injury law firm representing people throughout Denton, Dallas, and the North Texas area. Contact us today for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Data Sources for This North Texas Dangerous Intersections Report
Data in this report comes from the City of Dallas, the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Records Information System (CRIS), Traffic Crash Facts reports, and Crashes and Injuries by City and County reports.