In 2021, there were 39,796 reported motor vehicle accidents in Duval County, and more than 700,000 statewide. While motor vehicle crashes can happen anywhere, some areas are more dangerous than others. About 27% of Duval County collisions and 26% of traffic crashes across the state happen at intersections. The percentage of serious injuries occurring at intersections is even higher.
If you’ve been injured at a Jacksonville intersection, you should speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. The injury attorneys at Harrell & Harrell have extensive experience helping people who have been injured in car accidents recover fair compensation. We also help pedestrians and bicyclists who have been hit by cars and other motor vehicles.
High-Risk Jacksonville / Duval County Intersections
In Duval County, a small number of intersections account for a relatively high percentage of all intersection crashes. According to the Duval County Sheriff’s Office, three of the intersections with the highest number of collisions in 2021 were on Blanding Boulevard. These were:
- Blanding & Youngerman, # 1 with 135 crashes
- Blanding & Collins, # 2 with 106 crashes
- Blanding & Argyle Forest, # 4 with 94 crashes
Another Blanding intersection, at 103rd, tied for the # 25 slot with 56 crashes. In total, that’s 391 crashes at these four Blanding Boulevard intersections in 2021, or an average of more than one per day.
The rest of the top 25 included:
- 103rd & Old Middleburg, # 3 with 105 crashes
- Arlington & Cesery, # 5 with 93 crashes
- New Kings & Edgewood, # 6 with 86 crashes
- Beach & Southside, # 7 with 81 crashes
- 103rd & Ricker, # 8 with 78 crashes
- Baymeadows & Philips, # 8 with 78 crashes
- University Boulevard & Powers, # 10 with 75 crashes
- Arlington & Atlantic, # 11 with 74 crashes
- 103rd & Firestone, # 12 with 72 crashes
- Southside & Atlantic, # 13 with 71 crashes
- Gate & Southside, #14 with 70 crashes
- J Turner Butler & Southside, # 14 with 70 crashes
- University & Atlantic, # 16 with 67 crashes
- Emerson & Philips, # 17 with 64 crashes
- Claire & San Jose, # 18 with 63 crashes
- Southside & Touchton, # 19 with 62 crashes
- Collins & Rampart, # 20 with 61 crashes
- Lane & Normandy, # 21 with 60 crashes
- Philips & University, # 21 with 60 crashes
- Baymeadows & Southside, # 21 with 60 crashes
- Baymeadows & Old Kings, # 24 with 57 crashes
- McCormick & Monument, # 25 with 56 crashes
You’ll note that Blanding Boulevard isn’t the only street with more than its share of intersection accidents. Four intersections along 103rd also made the top 25, for a total of 311 traffic crashes in 2021. Southside didn’t make the top five, but is on the list six times for a total of 414 collisions. Atlantic, University and Baymeadows make three appearances each, totalling 212, 202, and 195 accidents respectively.
The list varies somewhat from year to year, but many of the most dangerous intersections are consistent. 18 of the top 25 were the same from 2020 to 2021, including all four of the Blanding Boulevard locations, two of the 103rd intersections and four Southside intersections.
Avoiding Jacksonville Intersection Crashes
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 96% of traffic crashes are attributable to driver error. In a sense, that’s good news. It means that a bit of extra care on the road can help you avoid most intersection accidents.
The driver errors that most often contribute to collisions at intersections include:
- Inadequate surveillance (44.1%)
- False assumption about others’ actions (8.4%)
- Turned with obstructed view (7.8%)
- Illegal maneuver (6.8%)
- Internal distraction (5.7%)
- Misjudgment of gap or other’s speed (5.5%)
- Inattention (3.4%)
To minimize the risks at intersections:
- Obey all traffic signals, and don’t try to beat a changing light–drivers running red lights cause a significant percentage of fatalities at intersections with traffic signals
- Be alert to the activity at and around the intersection, including other cars in, entering or approaching the intersection, pedestrians and bicyclists crossing, and foot traffic on adjacent sidewalks
- Don’t rely on guesses or assumptions about what another driver will do next–slow down and make sure before moving into the possible path of another vehicle
- Always use your turn signals, and don’t wait until the last second before you turn
- Pay attention to others’ signals, but keep in mind that occasionally a turn signal will remain on from a previous lane change or get bumped–make sure the driver’s actions match the signal before acting on it
- Err on the side of caution when it comes to deciding whether you have time to turn or pass through an intersection before an oncoming vehicle reaches that point–if you’re not sure, wait for the vehicle to pass
- Observe safe following distances–though the inclination is often to squeeze close to the vehicle in front to make sure you don’t miss the light, failing to maintain a safe distance increases the chances of a rear-end collision, and of a multi-car pileup if an accident does happen
- Never speed through an intersection–it’s important to allow yourself and others time to react when multiple vehicles traveling in different directions intersect
Liability for Intersection Accidents: Talk to an Auto Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a traffic crash at a Duval County intersection, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, damage to your vehicle, and other damages. Most often, the driver of one of the vehicles involved in a collision will be at fault. But, there are a number of other possible scenarios. For instance:
- The collision might have been caused–at least in part–by a third driver who wasn’t actually involved in the crash
- The collision might have been caused–at least in part–by faulty road maintenance, debris in the road, or even unsafe road design
- The actions of both drivers may have contributed to the accident, meaning that compensation will depend in part on how fault is apportioned between them
Your best resource for exploring the possible responsible parties in a Duval County traffic crash is to work with an experienced auto accident attorney. You can schedule a free consultation with a Harrell & Harrell car accident lawyer right now by calling 904-251-1111 or filling out the contact form on this page.