Brooklyn’s vibrant neighborhoods—from Williamsburg and Flatbush to Crown Heights and Sunset Park—are among the most active and densely traveled areas in New York City. Unfortunately, this mix of cars, trucks, cyclists, and pedestrians results in some of the highest accident rates in the city—and many of those crashes happen at the borough’s most dangerous intersections.
If you or a loved one has been injured at one of these intersections, you may be entitled to compensation. The Brooklyn personal injury attorneys at Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. have decades of experience holding negligent drivers, commercial vehicle operators, and government entities accountable for serious car accidents.
Brooklyn Crash Statistics (Updated for 2023–2024)
Despite NYC’s ongoing Vision Zero initiative, Brooklyn continues to lead the city in car crashes and injuries:
- Brooklyn reported 11,980 total crashes in 2023, more than any other borough in NYC.
- The borough also experienced 63 traffic-related deaths, according to NYC DOT open data.
- Over 60% of these fatal crashes occurred at intersections—the highest rate of intersection-related traffic deaths in the United States.
- NYC experienced its deadliest first quarter of Vision Zero history in early 2024, with Brooklyn leading in both crashes and fatalities.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for increased safety—especially at intersections with high collision rates.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Intersections in Brooklyn
Based on NYC DOT and NYPD collision reports from 2023 and early 2024, the following Brooklyn intersections have some of the highest crash frequencies and injury rates in the city:
- Tillary St & Flatbush Ave Extension (Downtown Brooklyn / Prospect Heights) – A complex, multi-lane intersection with poor sightlines and heavy pedestrian traffic—averages nearly 180 crashes annually.
- Atlantic Ave & Pennsylvania Ave (East New York / Crown Heights) – Known for aggressive turning and high-speed traffic—over 130 crashes per year.
- Newkirk Ave & Argyle Rd (Ditmas Park) – Narrow roads and limited visibility make this residential junction especially dangerous.
- South 4th St & Havemeyer St (Williamsburg) – Tight turns, erratic traffic flow, and heavy cyclist activity contribute to frequent wrecks.
- Smith St & Wyckoff St (Boerum Hill / Cobble Hill) – A problematic zone for both drivers and pedestrians, with recurring pedestrian strike incidents.
- Sterling Pl & Kingston Ave (Crown Heights) – Common site of rear-end collisions and pedestrian injuries during peak hours.
- Flatbush Ave & Empire Blvd (Prospect Lefferts Gardens) – A massive intersection where several lanes merge—high crash rate involving buses and delivery vehicles.
- Hooper St & South 5th St (South Williamsburg) – Residential traffic mixes with commercial vehicles in a high-conflict zone.
- Pennsylvania Ave & Linden Blvd (East Flatbush) – A wide, high-speed corridor with complex traffic signals and a history of fatal crashes.
- Lawrence St & Willoughby St (Downtown Brooklyn) – Dense commercial traffic and poor lane discipline contribute to frequent side-impact collisions.
These rankings are based on NYC Open Data, Vision Zero reports, and monthly collision metrics from NYPD TrafficStat 2023–2024.
Common Causes for Car Accidents in Brooklyn
Many factors contribute to the thousands of car accidents that occur in Brooklyn every year. Of those causes, driver error is by far the most common, such as:
- Failure to Yield Right-of-Way
- Driving While Intoxicated or Impaired
- Improper Passing or Lane Usage
- Distracted Driving
- Driver Inexperience
- Following Too Closely
- Aggressive Driving (Road Rage)
- Passing Too Closely
- Unsafe Lane Changing
One of the biggest problems that lead to crashes is drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists not knowing or disregarding the road rules. New York City roadway laws apply to everyone who uses the roads and sidewalks.
Brooklyn Neighborhoods We Serve
Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. proudly represents injury victims throughout Brooklyn’s most crash-prone neighborhoods, including:
- Williamsburg
- Bushwick
- Crown Heights
- Flatbush
- Prospect Heights
- Sunset Park
- Red Hook
- Downtown Brooklyn
- East New York
- Park Slope
Our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers understand the traffic patterns, municipal liability issues, and insurance tactics that often impact these cases.
Call a Brooklyn Car Accident Lawyer for Help
If you are involved in a crash in Brooklyn, a car accident law firm near you is ready to help. The law firm of Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek, P.C. serves clients throughout Brooklyn and other boroughs in NYC. We help you navigate the insurance claims process after a wreck.
Call us today at (212) 490-5700 or use our online contact form to schedule a free, no-risk consultation.