Some stretches of pavement in Long Island present a higher risk of serious crashes than others. Road conditions, traffic volume, and infrastructure problems all set the stage for motor vehicle accidents on certain routes and intersections. Add a negligent or reckless driver to the picture, and the risk of a devastating collision in these notorious locations soars.
Most car accidents in Long Island occur in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, where certain roads show up again and again in state crash reports. If you were injured in an accident on one of Long Island’s most dangerous roads, a negligent driver may be to blame, but often, they are just a major part of the bigger picture.
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Key Takeaways for Long Island’s Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections
- Long Island sees some of the highest traffic accident rates in New York State, especially in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
- Specific roads, like Southern State Parkway and Hempstead Turnpike, are consistently identified as high-risk for crashes and fatalities.
- Most accidents happen on roads with high traffic volume, poor lighting, or dangerous intersections, especially during peak hours.
- A Long Island personal injury attorney can help you identify liable parties and strengthen your case using crash data and local traffic reports.
What Are the Most Dangerous Roads in Long Island?
Some roads in Long Island have gained a troubling reputation over the years. These roadways are responsible for a disproportionate number of crashes, injuries, and deaths, especially when combined with negligent driving, poor lighting, or high pedestrian traffic.
Long Island’s most dangerous roads include:
Southern State Parkway
According to multiple reports, the Southern State Parkway has one of the highest accident rates in the region. Its sharp curves, narrow lanes, and lack of shoulders contribute to rear-end collisions, side swipes, and serious injury crashes.
- In one recent year, the Southern State Parkway saw more crash-related injuries and fatalities than any other road on Long Island.
- Speeding and aggressive driving are common along this route, especially near Exits 17 to 22.
- Traffic congestion during rush hour increases the risk of multi-vehicle accidents.
Sunrise Highway (Route 27)
Sunrise Highway stretches through densely populated residential and commercial zones, making it a major artery for both local and commuter traffic.
- Many sections lack sidewalks, leading to fatal pedestrian accidents.
- Several intersections along Route 27, such as Straight Path in Lindenhurst, are repeat crash locations.
- Its multiple lanes and heavy merging traffic increase the risk of lane-change collisions.
Hempstead Turnpike (Route 24)
Often referred to as one of New York’s most dangerous roads for pedestrians, Hempstead Turnpike presents numerous hazards.
- High-speed limits and minimal pedestrian infrastructure make this road especially deadly.
- According to Newsday and safety watchdog groups, this corridor sees alarmingly high rates of pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
- Drivers exiting parking lots or side roads often have limited visibility.
Top Crash Locations in Nassau and Suffolk Counties
Each year, Long Island law enforcement and transportation agencies compile crash data across both counties. This data helps identify not only which roads are dangerous but also the specific intersections and zones that contribute to crash clusters.
Nassau County car accidents
Nassau County’s mix of urban density, commuter routes, and outdated infrastructure makes it particularly prone to collisions.
Key accident-prone areas include:
- Long Island Expressway (I-495): A hotbed for high-speed collisions, especially in western Nassau County.
- Jericho Turnpike (Route 25): Multiple intersections see frequent accidents, particularly during evening rush hour.
- Hempstead Village: Intersections like Jackson Street and North Franklin Street are among the most dangerous on the island.
These roads consistently rank high in both volume and severity of crashes, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
Suffolk County car crashes
Suffolk County tends to have more suburban and rural zones, but its roadways still account for a significant share of Long Island traffic accidents.
High-risk areas include:
- Nicolls Road and Route 347 in Stony Brook: A common spot for intersection accidents involving left turns and speeding.
- Veterans Memorial Highway and Old Nichols Road in Islandia: Known for poor visibility and high-speed traffic.
- Route 25 between Ridge and Centereach: Long stretches with uneven pavement and frequent merging traffic.
In both counties, intersection crashes and rear-end collisions are the most common types of traffic accidents, often caused by distracted driving and sudden stops in heavy traffic.
When Do Most Car Accidents Happen on Long Island?
Crash patterns tend to follow specific trends related to time of day, weather, and seasonal factors. These details reveal when crash risks are highest and why those factors might impact liability.
Time of day
Data from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) shows:
- The majority of crashes occur during afternoon rush hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
- Nighttime collisions are more likely to involve alcohol or driver fatigue
- Early morning accidents often happen during commutes, particularly on parkways and highways
Day of the week
Weekends tend to show more crashes involving alcohol and high-speed driving, while weekdays show a pattern of commuter-related collisions.
Weather conditions
Rain, snow, and icy roads reduce visibility and control, contributing to single-vehicle crashes or chain-reaction accidents on highways.
While you can’t control the weather or traffic conditions, this data reinforces the importance of driver awareness and identifying potential hazards before they escalate. You can be the safest driver in Long Island, but that’s still not enough to protect you from a driver who fails to adjust to risky road conditions, especially in snow, sleet, and heavy rain.
Why Certain Roads Have More Accidents Than Others
Many of Long Island’s most dangerous roads and intersections have design flaws, infrastructure issues, or poor signage that make them inherently more dangerous. These include:
- Aging infrastructure, such as worn-out pavement or broken traffic lights
- Lack of pedestrian crossings in busy urban areas
- Inadequate signage that fails to alert drivers to sharp turns or merge lanes
- Multiple lanes and poor visibility increase the risk of sideswipes and T-bone accidents
Some roads simply weren’t designed to handle the volume and speed of modern traffic. When roads aren’t updated, they become traps for injury-causing accidents.
Shared Fault and Legal Implications After a Crash
Many car accidents involve more than one driver making a mistake. In these cases, understanding your legal rights becomes even more important.
Most states use some form of comparative negligence to decide who pays what after an accident. In New York, the pure comparative negligence rule applies. This means:
- You can pursue compensation even if you were partly at fault.
- Your compensation amount gets reduced by your percentage of fault.
- A qualified attorney can help assess fault using official reports, traffic camera footage, and witness statements while protecting you from insurance companies that may try to blame you unfairly.
For example, if another driver rear-ends you on Sunrise Highway, but you had a broken taillight, you might share a small percentage of fault. Even so, you can still recover damages.
Why Are Intersections So Dangerous?
Many of Long Island’s worst car accidents happen at intersections. These locations are hotspots for crashes involving multiple vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Intersection accidents are often the result of poor planning or outdated design, especially where older roads meet expanding communities.
Some of the most serious crashes happen at intersections because:
- Drivers make unsafe left turns across multiple lanes of traffic
- Signal timing fails to account for turning traffic or pedestrian crossings
- Limited visibility from trees, signs, or curves obstructs approaching vehicles
- Inconsistent lane markings confuse drivers and cause hesitation
Busy intersections like Straight Path and Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst or Old Country Road and Broadway in Hicksville are known for frequent crashes. Even with proper signage, distracted driving or aggressive behavior can make these spots especially dangerous.
Traffic engineers look at signal timing, turning lanes, and visibility when assessing safety. If an intersection lacks these features, it increases the chances of:
- T-bone collisions (also called broadside accidents)
- Pedestrian impacts in crosswalks
- Chain-reaction crashes when one car brakes and others follow too late
Local governments are responsible for maintaining intersection safety, but sometimes improvements lag behind traffic volume increases.
Two Wheels, Two Feet, No Room: Bicyclist and Pedestrian Dangers
Long Island’s roads were designed mainly for cars, not people on foot or bikes. As a result, areas with high pedestrian traffic often see serious injuries and fatalities, especially on fast-moving roads without proper crossings or lighting.
Pedestrian and cyclist accidents happen frequently near:
- Bus stops or train stations without crosswalks or sidewalks
- Schools or parks where drivers fail to yield
- Commercial zones where people cross busy roads between shops
Hempstead Turnpike and parts of Sunrise Highway are especially hazardous for pedestrians. These roads often lack medians, countdown timers, or clearly marked crosswalks.
Even when pedestrians follow the rules, a distracted or speeding driver can cause devastating harm. High-impact crashes like these may lead to spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and long recovery periods.
How Crash Data Helps Build a Strong Injury Claim
If you’ve been injured in a car accident on Long Island, crash data can play a crucial role in your legal case. Data from the New York State DMV, NYPD, or municipal traffic safety reports helps establish patterns that support your claim.
Examples of How Data Strengthens Your Case
- Location-specific crash history can prove a known hazard existed
- Intersection reports may reveal previous complaints or needed improvements
- Traffic volume metrics help contextualize why a driver’s actions were dangerous
For example, if your crash happened at Veterans Memorial Highway and Old Nichols Road in Islandia, and traffic reports show multiple prior incidents at that same spot, your lawyer can use that data to show it was a high-risk area, possibly even contributing to the accident itself.
Crash Location Can Shape Your Injury Claim
Where your accident happened can influence everything from how your case is handled to how insurance companies evaluate fault.
In high-crash zones, insurers may be more aggressive in challenging claims or trying to assign partial fault. That’s why it’s so important to document everything from the beginning, including the exact location, direction of travel, and road conditions.
Some questions your lawyer may seek to answer while investigating your accident may include:
- Was there a pattern of crashes at this intersection or stretch of road?
- Are there city maintenance records that show a known problem?
- Could the road design have contributed to the crash?
Your attorney may even request traffic camera footage to review the accident, work with accident reconstruction experts, and gather statements from nearby witnesses who understand how dangerous the location has been over time.
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FAQs for Where Do Car Accidents Most Occur in Long Island?
What is the deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit in New York?
In most personal injury cases in New York, the statute of limitations is three years from the date of the accident, according to the New York Civil Practice Law & Rules Section 214. If a government entity is involved, you must file a notice of claim within 90 days.
Are Long Island’s rural roads safer than its highways?
Not necessarily. While rural roads may have less traffic, they often lack lighting, have narrower shoulders, and see higher speeds, all of which can increase crash severity.
Do I have to use my own insurance after a crash in Long Island?
Yes. New York follows a no-fault insurance system. That means your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays for medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash, up to policy limits. Only if your injuries meet the “serious injury” threshold can you pursue a claim against the at-fault driver.
How do New York’s “serious injury” requirements affect car accident claims?
Under New York Insurance Law § 5102(d), you must prove a “serious injury” to step outside the no-fault system and bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Examples include significant disfigurement, permanent loss of a body function, a significant limitation, or an injury that prevents you from performing daily activities for 90 of the first 180 days after the crash.
What happens if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?
If you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, you may turn to uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage on your own policy. In New York, UM coverage is mandatory under New York Insurance Law § 3420(f)(1). UIM coverage is optional but strongly recommended.
Are municipal roads treated differently when filing a claim?
Yes. If your accident happened on a road maintained by a town, city, or other municipal entity, you may have a claim against that entity for negligent road design or maintenance. New York law requires you to file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the accident before suing.
Can out-of-state drivers still be sued for crashes on Long Island roads?
Yes. Even if the at-fault driver lives in another state, New York courts still have jurisdiction if the crash occurred in New York, such as in Nassau or Suffolk County. These cases often involve additional steps for service of process under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 253, which allows service on the Secretary of State when nonresidents are involved.
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?
At Rosenberg & Gluck LLP, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you do not pay any upfront costs for legal representation. Our fees are only collected if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf. This approach allows you to focus on your recovery without worrying about hourly bills or out-of-pocket expenses.
Getting Help After a Serious Car Accident on Long Island
Whether your accident happened on the Southern State Parkway, a residential road in Nassau County, or a busy intersection near downtown Stony Brook, the injuries and stress can follow you for months or even years. Medical bills, missed work, and long-term recovery leave many families struggling.
Rosenberg & Gluck LLP has helped thousands of injured clients across Long Island, including Nassau and Suffolk Counties. We build compelling cases backed by solid evidence, data, local knowledge, and strategic insight.If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in a crash, don’t wait. Call (631) 451-7900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We’re available for home and hospital visits, and you won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.