As more than 40,000 accidents took place in Broward County in 2018, Fort Lauderdale led the pack as the city with the most hazardous driving conditions. In fact, Fort Lauderdale ranks as the most dangerous city to drive in the entire United States, beating out larger cities like Miami and New York. More than 3,000 drivers were injured and 20 were killed in auto accidents in Fort Lauderdale in 2018 alone.
If you've been injured in a car crash in or around the Fort Lauderdale area, you may think you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, a look at recent data suggests you may have actually been in the exact place destined for a crash. Is a car accident near Fort Lauderdale truly inevitable? Learn the facts from Fort Lauderdale auto accident attorneys.
Fort Lauderdale Leading Broward Accidents
Just a quarter of the way into the new year, there were nearly 10,000 reported crashes in Broward County by April of 2019. At this rate, 2019 will be equivalent to or even outpace 2018 for the total amount of reported crashes in the county. Of the thousands of Broward County traffic accidents, a staggering amount occur right here in Fort Lauderdale.
A hub of businesses, tourism hot spots, sparkling waterways, and residential neighborhoods force an incredible amount of traffic flow through the small city of Fort Lauderdale. Despite being almost 20 square miles smaller and having nearly half the drivers as Miami, the rate of car accident fatalities in Fort Lauderdale is actually drastically higher.
In Fort Lauderdale specifically, the local Police Department reported 5,445 auto accidents, leading to 3,217 injuries and 21 fatalities in 2017. When compared to other crash averages in Florida, the small city of Fort Lauderdale alone experienced more accidents than the entire counties of Baker, Bradford, Calhoun, Dixie, Flagler, Glades, and Okeechobee - combined. If you've been in an accident in the radius around Fort Lauderdale, you're simply one of thousands who have fallen into this trap.
Odds of Being in an Accident in Fort Lauderdale
Your odds of being in an accident increase as soon as you enter Broward County. In fact, in the past five years, more than 20,000 accidents occurred throughout a 42-mile stretch of I-95 running Southbound through Broward County. Resulting in 163 deaths and thousands of personal injuries, this stretch of highway was deemed the most dangerous highway in the country from 2004 through 2008.
Aside from I-95, Broward County is home to a plethora of deadly intersections. Coincidentally, a majority of these dangerous roadways are located centrally within Fort Lauderdale. The intersection of U.S. 1 and Atlantic Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale experienced more than 6,000 crashes in just one year. A1A and Las Olas Boulevard reported more than 1,000 injury-causing crashes in 2015 alone.
Other note-worthy intersections in Fort Lauderdale with a high rate of auto accidents include:
- Oakland Park Boulevard and Powerline Road
- State Road 7 and Oakland Park Boulevard
- Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 31st Street
Contributing Factors of Poor Traffic Flow
Poor traffic flow has plagued Fort Lauderdale for decades, but recent years have seen roadways become deadly. A 2012 survey of Fort Lauderdale residents reported that 39 percent of locals were satisfied with the overall flow of traffic. By 2016, that number plummeted to 20 percent. In 2018, satisfaction with traffic reached a dismal 15 percent.
Some believe that an uptick in commercial construction has contributed to the influx of traffic into Fort Lauderdale. With continuous additions to the expanding Fort Lauderdale skyline, more businesses, work opportunities, and out-of-town visitors have made their way to the city's center. However, South Florida in general has also seen a stark increase in distracted driving. Local law enforcement has cracked down on those texting and driving, posting to social media sites, and taking photos and videos while driving, however, with less attention on the road more accidents are bound to occur.
Other contributing factors to Fort Lauderdale accidents include:
- Tourism: In addition to hundreds of Fort Lauderdale residents getting to and from work or home, thousands of tourists flood Fort Lauderdale each year.
- Infrequent Drivers or "Snowbirds": Every winter Fort Lauderdale welcomes back thousands of part-time residents dubbed Snowbirds. Unfortunately, infrequent drivers as well as those unaccustomed to driving in the Sunshine State make roads a dangerous place.
- Road Rage: Getting cut off, seeing the person in front of you texting, and getting stuck behind a Snowbird going 30 in a 45mph zone can all be agitating. For many people these events can trigger road rage-related accidents.
- High Traffic Neighborhoods: The sheer amount of people merging onto major roadways or turning into high traffic neighborhoods is a catalyst for accidents.
Seeking Compensation For the Unavoidable
If you've been injured in a Fort Lauderdale accident, it can be easy to believe that your accident was a one in a million situation. Unfortunately, that's simply not the case. Each day, dozens of drivers are involved in crashes on Fort Lauderdale's dangerous roadways. Negligent or distracted drivers are around every corner in this city, and your accident may have been truly unavoidable.
However, that doesn't mean that you don't deserve compensation. In fact, it's quite the opposite. After being involved in an accident, reach out to Fort Lauderdale auto accident attorneys. At the Weinstein Legal Team, our dedicated attorneys are available 24/7 to help you in your time of need. Contact us today to seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries.