Here it is, folks—the Palm Beach Post 2022 annual roundup of the most dangerous intersections in Palm Beach County! The good news is that no intersection was the site of more than 100 crashes. The bad news is that two intersections came close, which means they are especially dangerous.
Accidents occurring in these dangerous intersections often involve dangerous speeds, multiple vehicles, and serious injuries. Where are the most frequent sites of accidents? The corner of Forest Hill Boulevard and State Road 7 in Wellington and Atlantic Avenue and Military Trail in Delray Beach topped the charts with 96 crashes each. That’s eight a month, or two a week. Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach’s popular strip was named the most cash-prone strip. In all, Palm Beach County saw more than 13,000 car crashes in 2021 resulting in 374 serious injuries and 66 traffic fatalities.
The second highest number of crashes in the County were recorded at PGA Boulevard and Military Trail in Palm Beach Gardens, with a toll of 91 crashes. Third in the lineup were Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and Spencer Drive-Village Boulevard, North Congress Avenue and 45th Street, and Okeechobee Boulevard and Wabasso Drive-Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard — each the scene of 76 crashes for the year.
The cities appearing on the top 20 list were Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres, Lantana, Wellington, and Boynton Beach. Fewer than 20 cities were on the list because some cities (Delray Beach, Lantana, Palm Springs, and West Palm Beach) had multiple dangerous intersections.
Local officials attribute the high number of crashes to speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and increased road traffic as the county emerged from lockdown, according to the Palm Beach Post. Also a contributing factor is robust commercial development, resulting in increased traffic coming and going to businesses, retail and office space, and shopping malls. Based on these statistics, traffic engineers are taking steps to prevent more accidents from occurring, such as providing better lighting or redesigning the intersection, but we anticipate this will have minimal impact on accidents that are most often caused by distracted and careless drivers. Drivers should also just say no to phone calls and text messages while driving, which most rarely do, resulting in accidents with injury and the need for assistance of an experienced car accident attorney like David B. Datny.
Some of the crashes that made the list were fatal, many caused personal injuries, and all caused damage to the involved vehicles, and several involved criminal prosecution, which most often is due to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
What should you do if involved in a car accident in Palm Beach County?
Make sure someone calls 911 or the police and remain at the scene until police arrive. Never leave the scene of a car accident without a report. Take photographs of the scene, exchange information with the other drivers, and notify your insurance company. Your top priority is to get medical attention immediately! Remember, in Florida you have 14 days to seek medical treatment or your auto insurance will not cover you. Officers may get statements from the drivers, passengers, and witnesses and make sure you get the names and contact information for anyone at the scene. After that, you should consult an experienced car accident attorney to help you with the long and complicated process of dealing with the insurance companies that follows.
If you have not had occasion to hire an attorney up until the time a dangerous driver collide with you, The Datny Law Firm is at your disposal with offices in Boca Raton and Wellington. We serve injured accident clients in Palm Beach County and throughout the State of Florida. We can help you get the compensation you are entitled to along with the medical care you need. We are experienced at investigating car accident crashes to determine the cause of the accident and responsible parties, reviewing medical records, negotiating with insurance companies, and representing you in Court, if need be. Do not go it alone after an accident or subject yourself to overbearing insurance companies looking to deny or diminish your claim. Protect your rights by calling us at today at 561-221-7474. Consultations are free and there is no fee unless we get you a financial recovery.
