Melbourne saw over 4,200 traffic crashes in 2023. But these crashes were not random events. Statistics suggest that 94% of these collisions resulted from driving behaviors like speeding, failing to yield the right of way, and tailgating.
Geography plays an important role in the errors that cause car accidents. Road design, traffic congestion, and speed limits can cause or amplify mistakes that lead to traffic injuries and deaths. The attorneys at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law are well aware of the most dangerous roads and intersections in Melbourne, FL, and can fight for those injured on them.
If you need legal assistance, contact our office for a free case evaluation or call us at (321) 334-3929 for more help.
How Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Can Help You After a Car Accident in Melbourne, FL
Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law has recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured clients in Melbourne, Florida. Our attorneys have over 75 years of combined experience, including time as former insurance defense lawyers.
The firm’s Melbourne car accident lawyers can provide the following services if someone else’s negligent driving injures you:
- Analyzing your case and educating you about your options
- Gathering evidence and submitting your insurance claim
- Negotiating to resolve your claim without litigation
- Filing a lawsuit if negotiations fail
Crash injuries can disable you from earning a living, leaving you unable to pay for your own medical care. Contact our Melbourne personal injury lawyers for a free consultation to discuss the losses you’ve suffered and how we can help you recover compensation for them.
Why Do Crashes Cluster?
Traffic accident hotspots can develop for many reasons. A sharp curve might contribute to crashes during times of low visibility like rain storms or darkness. Unreasonably fast speed limits can encourage drivers to maneuver too fast for the traffic and road conditions.
Most importantly, traffic congestion plays a huge role in the number of driving mistakes. Crowded roads are simply less forgiving of driver errors than sparsely used ones. For instance, a distraction on US-1 in Melbourne might cause a rear-end crash that the same distraction on a quiet residential street might not.
Local statistics support this idea. In 2023, Melbourne had 4,243 total crashes, with 85 serious injuries and 27 deaths, according to the Florida Traffic Safety Dashboard. Had these accidents been random, the dashboard’s crash map would not show any patterns. On the contrary, though, the map shows that most crashes in Melbourne happen on a few specific roads.
Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne has several congested corridors that create the conditions for car accidents. Even minor errors in these locations can lead to crashes that result in serious injury or death.
When a collision causes significant, permanent injuries, Florida law typically allows a victim to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver. In other words, you may have an additional case other than your PIP insurance claim.
Accident victims prove liability by showing that the other driver acted negligently in causing the crash. A driver is negligent when they fail to exercise reasonable care by violating traffic laws or by performing some other action that exposes others to the risk of injury or death.
Importantly, location can play a role in determining negligence. Drivers must use reasonable care under the specific circumstances they find themselves in. Crash clusters suggest that a local condition exists that should push drivers to act with more care rather than less. For example, drivers must be more careful on crowded roads or during rainstorms.
Some locations where crashes tend to cluster in this way include the following:
Dangerous Roads in Melbourne
Road crashes often involve a rear-end collision.
This type of accident happens when a driver slams into the back of the car in front of them due to one of the following behaviors:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Tailgating
Accidents between intersections can also involve sideswipe crashes. These collisions happen when drivers change lanes without looking.
According to the Traffic Safety Dashboard, some roads with crash clusters include:
- US-1 between Horse Creek and Rivercrest Dr.
- Wickham Rd. south of Post Rd.
- Babcock St. between US-192 and Apollo Blvd.
Wickham Rd. and US-1 are two of the busiest roads in Melbourne, so crashes frequently happen on both.
Dangerous Intersections in Melbourne
Intersection collisions typically happen when a driver fails to yield the right of way to another vehicle.
You can violate right-of-way rules when you do the following:
- Run red lights or stop signs
- Turn left across the path of an approaching vehicle
- Turn right in front of an oncoming vehicle
- Fail to stop at an occupied crosswalk
- Proceed out of turn through a multi-way stop
Some dangerous intersections in Melbourne are as follows:
- FL-518/Eau Gallie Blvd. & US-1
- US-192 & US-1
- Babcock St. & Hibiscus Blvd.
- FL-518/Eau Gallie Blvd. & John Rodes Blvd.
- Wickham Rd. & Sarno Rd.
Pedestrian accidents also happen at intersections. Some dangerous locations for pedestrians are Babcock St. & NASA Blvd. and Wickham Rd. & Parkway Dr.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Melbourne Car Accident Attorneys
Car accidents on Melbourne’s most dangerous roads and intersections can lead to significant, permanent injuries. Contact Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law for a free consultation to discuss your crash and how we can help you fight for fair compensation.