Driving in Columbia can be dangerous. How dangerous it can be may depend on which intersections you drive through in the city. Statistics show that you face a higher likelihood of getting into a car accident at certain intersections than you do at other ones.
Can you guess which one is the most dangerous?
According to statistics that The State compiled in 2017, the honor goes to the intersection at Assembly Street and Elmwood Avenue. In 2016, the intersection was the site of 50 reported crashes. The most dangerous spot in Richland County, overall, was the intersection of Broad River Road and Interstate 20 (I-20). It had 142 accidents in 2016.
Dangerous Intersections in Columbia: By the Numbers
The State relied on data which the S.C. Department of Public Safety’s Office of Public Safety and Justice Program provided. It reflects the number of crashes that the Columbia Police Department and South Carolina Highway Patrol investigated in 2016.
Based on this data, rounding out the top five most dangerous intersections in Columbia in 2016 were:
Intersection | Crashes |
I-20 and I-26 interchange in St. Andrews | 84 |
Broad River Road and I-26 | 78 |
Killian Road and I-77 | 75 |
Two Notch Road and Sparkleberry Lane | 64 |
Most reported collisions at these intersections occurred during the morning and afternoon rush hours, according to The State. Authorities believe that the sheer volume of traffic on these roads and at these intersections factored heavily into the number of accidents. For instance, a 2016 Department of Transportation study found that the morning rush hour fed 1,200 vehicles per hour from Broad River Road onto I-26.
In addition to traffic congestion, construction and intersection design also contribute to intersection crashes. However, the leading factor – by far – is human error. For example, distracted driving during the busy rush hour drive times can quickly lead to a crash. Speeding, tailgating, driving drunk or driving while overly fatigued are other examples of careless and reckless decisions and actions that cause crashes at intersections in Columbia. (You can also learn about dangerous intersections in Charleston, SC)
Serving Car Accident Victims in Columbia and Across South Carolina
If you are hurt in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t be forced to pay out of your own pocket for the costs of the crash. Fortunately, legal help is available to those who are hurt in Columbia and elsewhere in South Carolina in interstate crashes.
The experienced Columbia car accident lawyers of Joye Law Firm have stood by the victims of car accidents for many decades and successfully recovered millions of dollars in combined compensation for them. We know that medical bills and vehicle repairs can place undue stress and strain on your life – especially after an accident that was not your fault. You don’t want you to pay for someone else’s mistake.
When an auto accident turns your life upside down, you can turn to the legal team that so many others in Columbia and across the state of South Carolina have trusted to handle their injury claim. We can provide a free consultation through our Columbia office or through our offices in North Charleston, Myrtle Beach or Clinton. Just call Joye or reach us online today.