TOP 5 WORST INTERSECTIONS FOR CAR ACCIDENTS IN DENVER
With more than three million people living in the Denver area, traffic accidents happen every day. But some intersections are more dangerous than others. What are the most dangerous intersections in Denver? What can you do if you’re hurt in a dangerous intersection in Denver? Here’s what you need to know from our Colorado car accident lawyers.
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Most Dangerous Intersections in Denver
The most dangerous intersections in Denver are 20th and Market and North Quebec Street and East Martin Luther King Boulevard. For pedestrians, the most dangerous intersection is 20th and Market with five pedestrian accidents occurring in 2018. For motor vehicles, the most dangerous intersection is North Quebec Street and East Martin Luther King Boulevard with 40 motor vehicle accidents in 2018.
Most Dangerous Denver Intersections for Pedestrians
Here are the top five intersections for pedestrian accidents in Denver:
- Market and 20th
- North Lincoln and East Colfax
- North Broadway and East 13th Avenue
- Blake Street and 20th
- South University Boulevard and East Asbury Avenue
Each of these intersections had between three and five pedestrian accidents each in 2018. In addition, there are 40 more intersections that each had two or three pedestrian accidents in 2018.
Most Dangerous Denver Intersections for Motor Vehicles
Here are the top five intersections for motor vehicle accidents in Denver:
- North Quebec Street and East Martin Luther King Boulevard
- Colfax Avenue and North Speer Boulevard
- West 6th Avenue and North Kalamath Street
- West Alameda Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive
- West Evans Avenue and South Federal Boulevard
Each of these intersections had at least 34 accidents in 2018. There are five more intersections that had more than 30 accidents each year.
Denver Car Accident Statistics
According to the Denver Regional Council of Governments, 67.6 percent of traffic accidents in Denver involves two or more moving motor vehicles. 17.3 percent involve fixed objects, while 8.6 percent involve a parked vehicle. 1.3 percent of crashes involve a pedestrian, and 1 percent involve an animal. The Colorado Department of Transportation says that 85 percent of all traffic crashes in Denver are preventable.
Most Common Causes of Traffic Accidents in Denver
As many as 38 percent of Denver accidents involve careless driving. Following too close resulting in rear-end collisions, failure to yield, lane violations, and speeding are other top causes of traffic accidents in the city. Authorities say that distracted driving contributes to one in every four accidents.
Inexperience contributes to 17 percent of accidents, while aggressive driving contributes to 10.5 percent of crashes. Drunk driving contributes to 9.9 percent of accidents. Male drivers between the ages of 15-34 are more likely to be involved in an accident than other age and gender groups.
What Are My Rights If I’m Hurt in a Dangerous Intersection in Denver?
If you suffer from car accident injuries from a crash at a dangerous intersection in Denver, you have rights under both state and local law. All of the State of Colorado traffic laws apply. In addition, there may be special ordinances that apply to traffic in the City of Denver.
When an accident occurs, all of the standards of negligence laws apply. Colorado is an at-fault state. That means that when an accident occurs in the City of Denver, you may pursue a claim against the responsible party based on negligence as long as it’s within Colorado’s statute of limitations. If a driver violates a Colorado or Denver traffic law, the violation is strong proof of the driver’s negligence.
Can You Sue the City of Denver for a Car Accident?
Yes, in some cases, you can sue the City of Denver for a car accident. If the car accident occurs because the city fails to maintain the road in a reasonable condition, the victim may bring a claim against the city because of the accident. The victim may collect damages from the city based on Colorado’s negligence laws.
Suing the City of Denver for a Dangerous Road
Generally, the City of Denver is immune from lawsuits. But under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, the city waives immunity in some circumstances. Colorado Revised Statutes 24-10-103 is the governmental immunity law. But Colorado Revised Statutes 24-10-106 says that the city waives its immunity and allows lawsuits for negligence and premises liability when the city allows a dangerous condition to occur.
City of Denver Lawsuit Based on Unreasonable Road Conditions
To bring a lawsuit based on dangerous road conditions in Denver, you must show that the road is an unreasonable health and safety risk to the public. Where the condition of the road interferes with the movement of traffic, negligence laws allow the victim to claim compensation from the city. The dangerous road condition must both exist and interfere with the movement of traffic. The victim has the burden to prove that the government is not immune from a lawsuit.
Dangerous Road Lawsuits in Denver
In the Dennis v. City and County of Denver case, a motorcycle accident victim brought a dangerous road case against the city. The victim sought compensation for brain damage and other injuries. He presented proof that the motorcyclist was unable to stop his vehicle because the road deteriorated.
The court ruled that the victim had a valid lawsuit. The court said that it’s up to the jury to decide if the road was unreasonably dangerous. The city doesn’t have to upgrade roads or install new technologies to comply with the law. But they have to maintain the road in reasonable condition based on the way that it was constructed. The city must know or should know about the dangerous condition at the time of the accident. Based on the evidence of the dangerous road conditions, the court allowed the lawsuit to go forward.
Contact Our Denver Attorneys for Car Accidents
Were you in an accident in Colorado? Our legal team can help. At Bachus & Schanker, LLC, we fight on behalf of all accident victims. We help you explore all avenues to get top dollar for your car accident claim, including evaluating whether you have a claim based on dangerous conditions at an intersection.
Don’t become a victim twice. We are conveniently located at 5 Colorado locations near you in Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and Englewood. Our attorneys are ready to serve you and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today to see how we can fight for you. Your call is free and confidential.
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Written and Legally Reviewed By: Kyle Bachus
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,461 Google Reviews
Kyle is a member of the Colorado and Florida Bar associations and has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association for more than twenty years in total. Over the years, Kyle has achieved justice for many clients. He has served on numerous committees and repeatedly won recognition from his peers at both the state and national level. He is proud of the role he has played in the passage of state and national legislation to protect consumers and is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer.
