Which Intersections Are the Most Dangerous for Philadelphians?

According to a report from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, or BCGP, certain intersections in the Philadelphia area sustain the highest incidence of traffic-related accidents involving bicyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicle occupants. The BCGP reports that approximately 100 individuals die in traffic-related accidents in the city each year and that a pedestrian is hit by a car every five hours. It is important to know which intersections pose the greatest risks so that you and your loved ones can take additional precautions to keep both yourselves and others safe.

Intersections With the Highest Number of Accidents

The Coalition has published many reports over the years, observing problematic and persistent local accident trends. For example, out of 102 Philadelphians who died in traffic-related accidents in 2022, 36% were over the age of 50, 5% were under 18, 46% were pedestrians, 3% were bicyclists, and a quarter of all killed were left by drivers who abandoned the scene. Pedestrians and bicyclists are particularly vulnerable to sustaining catastrophic and potentially life-ending injuries in accidents involving motor vehicles, since they lack the added physical protection of being inside a vehicle equipped with restraints and other bodily protective systems.

This year, there have been four fatalities involving bicyclists so far. The most recent was a member of the BCGP and an advocate for bicycle safety. Sadly, he lost his life after being hit by a speeding driver at an intersection that is part of Philadelphia’s High Injury Network. Philly’s High Injury Network is an identifier for the city’s corridors with the highest rate of serious injuries and fatalities per mile. In Philadelphia, 80% of traffic-related deaths occur on just 12% of the city’s streets, or the High Injury Network.

The Bicycle Coalition reports that the city’s most dangerous, accident-ridden streets for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians are:

• Fifth Street and Olney Avenue
• Broad Street and Girard Avenue
• Broad Street and Race Street
• Cottman Avenue and the Roosevelt Boulevard
• Broad Street and Lehigh Avenue
• 40^th Street and Market Street
• Chelten Avenue and Wayne Avenue
• Broad Street and Olney Avenue
• Market Street and 11^th Street
• Market Street and 12^th Street
• Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue
• Cobbs Creek, Market Street, and Broad Street

What Types of Injuries Do Accident Victims Experience?

Individuals who are involved in traffic-related incidents involving motor vehicles, bicyclists, and/or pedestrians can sustain a wide range of injuries. Here are just a few examples of what they experience:

• Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. Traumatic brain injuries vary in severity, but often cause complications like difficulty concentrating, headache, dizziness, nausea, mood swings, and loss of consciousness.
• Upper extremity (arms and wrists) and rib fractures. Pedestrians and bicyclists frequently experience upper extremity and rib fractures due to trying to shield themselves or being thrown onto the ground.
• Lower extremity fractures of the legs, hips, and pelvis. Like upper extremity fractures, cyclists and pedestrians also face high risks of sustaining these injuries.
• Spinal cord injuries, which sometimes lead to partial or even full paralysis. Some individuals who sustain spinal cord injuries will need medical and supportive care for the rest of their lives.
• Soft tissue injuries like cuts, lacerations, road rash, sprains, and strains.
• Internal bleeding.
• Organ damage.
• Psychological injuries, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and/or depression.

Were You Injured in an Accident? Speak with an Attorney

Although the City of Philadelphia has a Vision Zero plan, which aims to dramatically reduce the number and severity of traffic deaths that occur in the city annually and eventually, to eliminate traffic deaths altogether, accidents happen every day. At Galfand Berger, our attorneys have been representing injured victims of traffic-related accidents for decades. Here are some of our recoveries:

• Our client was fatally struck by a construction truck when it pulled onto a highway at night from an unmarked turnaround. The Defendant argued that our client should have known to watch for trucks since they were in a construction zone, but our team was able to settle the matter in favor of our client’s family for $2,000,000.00. Read more about this recovery at: https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/auto-accidents/46-2/.
• Our client, a pedestrian who was performing their job and directing traffic at a construction work site, was struck by a motor vehicle. Our client suffered a closed-head injury and lost his leg due to the severity of his injuries. Initially, the driver’s insurance denied coverage. We challenged this and won at trial, settling the matter with the insurance company for $1,500,000.00 in favor of our client. You can learn more about this case at: https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/auto-accidents/43-2/.

Whether you were injured as a pedestrian, a bicyclist, or as the passenger or driver of a motor vehicle, someone at our firm can help. We represent clients inside and outside of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. If you would like to speak with someone about filing a claim for your injuries, contact a representative online now.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.