Most Dangerous Roads/Intersections in Houston, TX
Car accidents do not happen randomly. They result from a combination of traffic congestion, road design, weather conditions, and driving behaviors. These factors interact in predictable ways to create the most dangerous roads/intersections in Houston, TX.
Unfortunately, you cannot avoid many of these hotspots because they happen on the city’s busiest roads.
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers can help you pursue compensation if you crash in one of these dangerous locations. We’ve recovered some of the largest settlements and awards in state history, with billions of dollars won for our clients.
Contact our undefeated Houston personal injury lawyers at 888-603-3636 for a free case review.
Table of Contents
- How Our Record-Setting Lawyers Can Help You After a Car Accident in Houston, TX
- Why Do Crashes Cluster in Houston?
- Dangerous Places To Drive in Houston
- Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Attorneys – Call 888-603-3636
How Our Record-Setting Lawyers Can Help You After a Car Accident in Houston, TX
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers has been helping injured clients in Houston, Texas, since the firm was founded in 2006. Since then, our Houston car accident lawyers have successfully obtained settlements and damage awards totaling over $1 billion.
If you suffer an injury caused by someone else’s negligent or otherwise wrongful actions, we provide the following services:
- A free consultation to assess your rights and explain your options
- Investigation of your accident to gather evidence for your claim
- Aggressive negotiations and court representation when necessary
- Contingency fee representation so we get paid only when we settle or win your case
Injuries from a car accident can threaten both your physical and financial health. Contact our Houston personal injury attorneys to discuss your injuries and how we can help you pursue compensation for them.
Why Do Crashes Cluster in Houston?
Over 94% of crashes result from driver behaviors. This fact should contribute to the randomness of crashes. However, certain location-based features can amplify the effects of dangerous driving habits.
Some examples include:
- Traffic congestion makes errors like tailgating and speeding less forgiving
- Poorly designed intersections can confuse drivers and increase failures to yield
- Speed limits set too high can increase the likelihood and severity of speeding crashes
- Blind alleys and driveways create the risk of crashes due to limited visibility
As a result, crashes in Houston form clusters so intense that over 58% of the city’s serious injuries and fatalities happen on only 9% of its roads. The city’s Vision Zero implementation group uses crash statistics to develop a map showing Houston’s high-injury network of roads and highways.
Dangerous Places To Drive in Houston
Road and intersection crashes have different causes. They also cause different types of injuries. But most importantly, they tend to happen in different locations.
Most Dangerous Roads in Houston
Road crashes can take a few forms, including head-on, rear-end, and sideswipe collisions. Of these, the most common are rear-end and sideswipe crashes.
Rear-end collisions happen when a driver hits the back end of another vehicle.
These crashes typically result from:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving
The rear driver has the responsibility to follow at a safe distance. When they follow too closely, they will be liable for any resulting crash. The liability can also fall on the driver of the front vehicle when they leave too little space for the car behind them. This can happen when they cut off other drivers while passing.
Sideswipe crashes happen when drivers make unsafe lane changes. These crashes often cause property damage and minor injuries. Since the vehicles only hit side-to-side, they have very little crash energy.
Some of the most dangerous roads in Houston from the HIN map include:
- St. Joseph Pkwy. between Caroline St. and St. Emanuel St.
- Pierce St. between Jackson St. and S. Charles St.
- Emancipation Ave. between St. Joseph Pkwy. and Drew St.
- Telephone Rd. from Griggs St. to Roe Dr.
- Hwy. 6 south of I-10
- Westheimer Rd. east of Hwy. 6
- Gessner Rd. north of I-69
On the HIN map, these roads had at least two deaths or five serious injuries, plus one severe pedestrian crash.
Most Dangerous Intersections in Houston
Intersection crashes almost always result from a failure to yield the right of way.
This can happen in many ways, including:
- Disobeying yield signs, stop signs, and red lights
- Turning left across the path of an approaching vehicle
- Making a right turn into the path of an oncoming car
- Failing to wait at a two-way or four-way stop
Intersection crashes often lead to side-impact crashes. These crashes can cause severe injuries, especially when the impact occurs on the door. This weak point can collapse into the vehicle when hit, crushing the occupants.
Even if the passenger compartment remains intact, seat belts and frontal airbags are not designed to restrain you in a side-impact crash. When another vehicle hits you from the side, you can suffer injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen as you slide sideways into the door or console.
Some of Houston’s dangerous intersections from the HIN include:
- Smith St. and Jefferson St.
- Pease St. and Travis St.
- Pierce St. and Fannin St.
- Congress St. and Chartres St.
- Runnels St., Chartres St., and West Dr.
- Tuam St. and Smith St.
Pedestrian accidents also happen at intersections. The most dangerous intersections for pedestrians include Capitol St. and Milam St. and also Tidwell Rd. and Airline Dr.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With Our Undefeated Houston Car Accident Attorneys – Call 888-603-3636
Car crashes can happen anywhere. Contact Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to discuss your accident and the compensation you can pursue under Texas law.