The Most Dangerous Intersections in Boston

Make sure you drive defensively and know the hazards

Many Boston car accidents happen at busy intersections. And in many cases, these accidents cause serious injuries that may require emergency medical care at Massachusetts General Hospital or another nearby medical facility.

Our Boston intersection accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone know what’s at stake. That’s why we want to meet with you. We can investigate your intersection accident and develop a strategy that suits your specific needs. Contact us to learn more about your legal rights. You can come to our office on Oliver Street in Boston or any of our 10 locations throughout Massachusetts.

What are the most dangerous intersections in Boston?

On average, there are an estimated 4,000 car accidents reported to police each year in Boston, according to accident statistics compiled by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many of these accidents occur at specific intersections.

In many cases, many of these collisions occur at specific intersections. State and federal car accident data has identified several intersections where the most car accidents happen each year, including:

Morton Street & Harvard Street
North Washington Street & Boston’s Central Artery
Summer Street & Purchase Street
Boston Street & Columbia Road
Berkeley Street & Back Street (Storrow Drive entrance)
Newbury Street & Gloucester Street
Frontage Road & West Broadway
Massachusetts Avenue & Melnea Cass Boulevard
Walk Hill Street & American Legion Highway
Frontage Road & West Fourth Street
Blue Hills Avenue & Morton Street
Massachusetts Avenue Connector & Frontage Road
Beacon Street & Charlesgate East
MA-2 & Charlesgate West
Commonwealth Avenue & Charlesgate W
Brookline Avenue & Fenwood Road

These intersections stand out for several reasons. Some have complex and confusing configurations that make it more difficult for motorists and other road users to understand who has the right of way. Others have a high volume of traffic and motorists may be impatient. Inadequate signage and road markings can also contribute to highway crashes. But regardless, drivers in Boston have a legal responsibility to drive defensively, share the road, and avoid intersection crashes.

Why do intersection accidents happen?

In general, intersection collisions involving other cars, pedestrians and cyclists occur because one driver was doing something they should not have been doing behind the wheel. Specific reasons why intersection accidents often occur in Boston include:

Distracted driving, especially texting while driving.
Speeding or driving too fast in heavy traffic or during snowstorms or other inclement weather, including heavy rain and sleet.
Aggressive drivers who weave in and out of traffic or don’t stop for stop signs, red lights or crosswalks.
Drunk drivers or drivers under the influence of drugs, including marijuana and other cannabis products.
Tired drivers who fall asleep at the wheel, especially in late-night car accidents.

What are common intersection accidents?

Some of the most common types of accidents at four-way and three-way intersections in Boston include:

Rear-end accidents, especially when a distracted driver crashes into the back of another car.
T-bone or side-impact accidents, which often occur when one driver runs a red light or a stop sign at a four-way intersection and drives into the side of another vehicle.
Left-turn accidents, which often occur when one driver turns left into oncoming traffic or another driver is legally turning left when they’re struck by another car at the intersection.
Head-on collisions, if a driver runs a red light while another driver is making a left turn.
Pedestrian accidents, since distracted or aggressive motorists may not yield to pedestrians.
Bicycle accidents, especially when drivers making a left turn don’t yield to an oncoming bike.

What are common intersection accident injuries?

Intersection accidents can be especially deadly when vehicles are hit from the side, but even rear-end crashes and other types of collisions can cause serious injuries. Some of those injuries include:

Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Whiplash and other neck injuries, especially in rear-end accidents.
Skull fractures and other head injuries.
Broken bones, including broken arms and legs.
Back injuries, including spinal cord injuries.
Serious internal injuries, including organ damage and internal bleeding.

What should I do if I’m involved in a Boston intersection accident?

If you have been injured in an intersection accident in Boston, you need to take action right away. Such steps often include:

Call 911. The dispatcher can notify the Boston Police Department, which will likely send a police officer from the nearest police precinct to investigate your accident.
If you or anyone else appears seriously injured, ask the 911 dispatcher to send an ambulance.
If you are healthy enough to do so, start gathering evidence at the scene of your crash.
- Take photos of your crash site.
- Get the names and phone numbers of anyone who saw your intersection accident.
- Look to see if there are any traffic cameras or security cameras that may have videotaped your collision. You need to act quickly to preserve footage.
Get the other driver’s contact information, including their name, driver’s license number, address and insurance information.
Give the same information to the other driver.
Once you have exchanged information, do not discuss your accident with them or anyone else. Anything you say could later be used to deny your accident claim.
Get the Boston police officer’s name and badge number. That way, you can contact them later if necessary to obtain a copy of your official Massachusetts motor vehicle accident report.
Even if you feel fine, make sure you see a doctor and have them examine you. Certain injuries take several days to develop after a collision, including whiplash, concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Follow your doctor’s advice. Your health comes first.
Call a lawyer as soon as possible to help you with your intersection accident claim.

Who’s responsible for paying for my intersection accident?

Massachusetts has a “no-fault” car insurance system. This means you generally need to first file your claim with your own insurance company, regardless of who was at fault. So in certain situations, your own insurance company might be one that pays for your accident.

But if your accident-related expenses exceed your insurance coverage, you might need to seek financial compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This might sound straightforward. But be prepared for the other driver’s insurance company to put up a fight and refuse to pay for your accident.

This is why you need a Boston lawyer on your side as soon as possible after your intersection accident. Your attorney can investigate your case and search for all possible funding sources to pay for your accident-related expenses.

Who’s at fault in an intersection accident?

That’s not always an easy question to answer. In some situations, especially if you were rear-ended, fault may be relatively clear. But in other situations, it may not be clear who had the right of way. Physical evidence may be ambiguous and witnesses may disagree on what they saw. Needless to say, the insurance company will interpret the evidence in a manner that saves them money – which means paying you less, or not at all.

One of the reasons you need an experienced attorney is to thoroughly investigate your accident and get to the bottom of what happened. Your lawyer can protect your interests from start to finish.

How much is my accident claim worth?

There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to Boston intersection accidents. Your accident claim might be worth a few thousand dollars or a lot more. The bottom line is you should be financially compensated for all your accident expenses, including future anticipated ones. Such expenses can include:

Cost of all medical care, including future anticipated medical expenses.
Vehicle repairs or the cost of buying a new car if your vehicle is a total loss.
Replacement income if you need time off from work to rest and recover from your injury.
Lost future income if you cannot return to work due to a permanent disability.
Pain and suffering in certain circumstances.

Should I file a car accident lawsuit?

Sometimes, the best way to get the money you deserve for your Boston intersection accident is to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Only an attorney can tell you whether it makes sense to file a lawsuit on your case.

In Massachusetts, you usually have three (3) years from the date of your car accident to file a car accident lawsuit. This three-year deadline (known as the statute of limitations) might seem like a long time. But the longer you wait to take legal action, the harder it often is to find the evidence you need to build a strong, successful legal case. Plus, other deadlines can apply in some circumstances, such as if your accident involved a city vehicle – so it’s always best to get legal advice sooner than later.

How can a Boston intersection accident lawyer help?

Getting all the money you rightfully deserve for your Boston intersection accident will likely be very challenging. Because there’s often a lot of money at stake, insurance companies and anyone else responsible for paying for your accident will often do everything they can to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all.

The experienced Boston intersection accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone know exactly what to do in such situations. We understand how the legal system works in Suffolk County. We know which strategies are often the most effective.

Our legal team brings fighting spirit to every case we tackle. We’re not afraid to go to court if necessary to win your case. Give your intersection accident claim “The Salomone Advantage.” Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a Boston car accident lawyer who knows how to win.

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