Watch Out for LA’s Most Dangerous Intersections

By Aghabegian & Associates on August 8, 2020

Driving through an intersection can be one of the most dangerous acts you do while operating a vehicle. Intersections are hotbeds for car accidents as drivers often ignore the right of way, get confused about who is supposed to go next, and even speed through without stopping. While intersections are often necessary, especially in a traffic-heavy city like Los Angeles, they are still incredibly dangerous. That is why we have compiled a list of the top five most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles.

The Most Dangerous Intersections in LA

Los Angeles has 221 of 444 most dangerous intersection in California, according to LA Curbed. That means the top five most dangerous intersections in this city are likely among the most dangerous in the entire state.

In Los Angeles, the most dangerous intersections, according to ABC News, are:

• Sherman Way and Sepulveda Boulevard – Located in Van Nuys
• Manchester Avenue and Figueroa Street – Located in Vermont Knolls
• Burbank Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard – Located in Van Nuys
• Van Nuys Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard – Located in Panama City
• Victory Boulevard and Coldwater Canyon Avenue – Located in Valley Glen

With how dangerous Los Angeles intersections are, you may be wondering why intersection accidents are so prevalent. Isn’t everyone stopping and waiting for their turn? In a perfect world, yes. Sadly, we don’t live in a perfect world.

What Makes Intersections Dangerous?

When two roads intersect, it creates a high traffic situation. With dozens of drivers waiting at each corner, people can become antsy and impatient. This impatience may drive them to act recklessly and negligently, endangering their own lives and the lives of those on the road.

Drivers don’t wait their turn: LA is known to be a city on the move. The main modes of transportation here are personal vehicles, such as cars, despite a growing public transportation system. Sadly, because everyone is in such a rush, it means very few people actually wait for their turn at an intersection. Often, when a driver is presented with a yellow light, rather than slowing down, they’ll speed up. This kind of behavior can often result in a T-bone collision.

Multiple points of entry: The roads in LA are lined with shops, big and small alike, as well as various homes. A normal intersection can be stressful enough, but if you add in a half dozen driveways leading to different buildings, you suddenly have to worry about cars on every side of you. With so many points of entry and exit, knowing when you can proceed safely can be difficult to determine. This confusion often lends itself to an increase in collisions.

Sharp and dangerous turns: When you learn how to drive a car for the very first time, you are usually taught to drive defensively, especially when taking sharp turns. Unfortunately, many people in LA seem to unlearn these skills as they spend more time on the road. Drivers will often make sudden and illegal turns at intersections in order to get to their destination faster, avoid traffic, or make sudden changes in their routes.

Blocking the box: In California, “blocking the box,” or sitting in an intersection, is illegal. It means that even if the cars on the perpendicular street have a green light, they cannot proceed because they are blocked from being able to cross. These laws in California are meant to help prevent gridlock, but they are also key in preventing accidents. A driver who is only paying attention to whether they have a green light or not, and not looking ahead to check traffic, could easily slam into a driver who blocked the intersection or collide with a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Recovering from an Intersection Accident

Intersection accidents can be devastating, and often lead to extreme property damage and catastrophic injuries. But the Los Angeles car accident attorneys at Aghabegian & Associates, PC are dedicated to helping those injured in traffic collisions since 1998 and can provide sound legal advice to accident victims. With decades of experience, we may just be the right law firm to represent you. If your intersection accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, call us at (818) 507-4311 and schedule your free consultation today.