February 28, 2024
Why Is Roosevelt Boulevard Dangerous for Drivers?
Philadelphia has one of the worst rates of traffic-related deaths in the country, double that of New York City and three times higher than Boston. One of Philadelphia’s most dangerous roads, Roosevelt Boulevard, is largely responsible.
Locally referred to as the “corridor of death,” Roosevelt Boulevard is an ill-designed 14-mile stretch that runs through Northeast Philadelphia. Initially a freeway, Roosevelt Boulevard morphs into a 12-lane highway passing through residential neighborhoods that extends to the city border.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, roughly 3,000 car accidents occurred on Roosevelt Boulevard in five years. The road is responsible for 13 percent of the city’s annual traffic-related fatalities. State Farm labeled two of the road’s intersections – Grant Avenue and Red Lion Road – as the country’s second and third most dangerous intersections.
What Makes Roosevelt Boulevard So Dangerous?
The main reason Roosevelt Boulevard is dangerous is its poor and ineffective design. Roosevelt Boulevard is a distracting and chaotic maze of differing traffic patterns, confusing intersections, and continuously shifting lanes of up to 90,000 vehicles daily. Additional features that make Roosevelt Boulevard dangerous include:
- Insufficient width: Despite its 12 lanes, Roosevelt Boulevard is not wide enough to accommodate Philadelphia’s daily traffic volume, and the numerous required lane changes overwhelm and confuse drivers.
- Confusing access points: Roosevelt Boulevard has numerous driveways and access points, many cutting through sidewalks, creating hazardous conditions between pedestrians and drivers.
- Complex intersections: Non-perpendicular intersections requiring complex turning movements, skewed side streets, and lengthy crosswalks create confusion and increase risks for pedestrian-car crashes.
- Lack of sidewalks: Six miles of Roosevelt Boulevard lack sidewalks, and other portions have limited sidewalk buffers, forcing pedestrians to cross the wide span of lanes without crosswalks.
- Slow bus traffic: Buses are the only means of public transportation on Roosevelt Boulevard. Their slow speeds and frequent stops disrupt traffic flow, posing additional hazards to drivers.
Roosevelt Boulevard’s design is especially hazardous to pedestrians and cyclists, with crosswalks spanning longer than a football field that requires four light cycles to cross fully. At night, it becomes a popular but deadly drag racing stretch.
Is Philadelphia Responsible for Accidents on Roosevelt Boulevard?
Philadelphia, the county, and the state can be responsible for accidents caused by poor road design or maintenance. However, cases against government entities are challenging to prove. To establish liability, you must demonstrate that the government was aware of the conditions and failed to address them in a reasonable amount of time.
In most cases, government agencies have sovereign immunity against lawsuits, but a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling established certain exemptions to the state’s Sovereign Immunity in certain circumstances.
One exception pertains to liability for real estate, highways, and sidewalks, and Roosevelt Boulevard is a highway well-known to city officials and residents as Philadelphia’s most dangerous road. If an accident occurs due to proven poor design on a state highway, you may be able to claim 250,000 in additional coverage and up to $500,000 in additional coverage if the accident occurred on a local street.
Philadelphia is hoping for federal money for a long-term redesign of Roosevelt Boulevard, which transverses the city’s most diverse and poverty-stricken neighborhoods. A new federal infrastructure law will provide a $5 billion federal aid package to cities through 2029 for safety improvements.
What Should I Do if I am in an Accident on Roosevelt Boulevard?
Gathering evidence following an accident can be beneficial to your claim. Following an accident, you should do the following:
- Report the accident and injuries to the police.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
- Minimize conversation with others.
- Photograph the scene, vehicle damage, injuries, road conditions, and other contributing factors.
- Gather witness statements and contact information.
- Seek medical attention for any unknown internal injuries that do not have immediate symptoms.
- Maintain all records and related correspondence.
- Hire an experienced car accident lawyer skilled at negotiating with insurance companies.
A Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer at the Law Firm of Anthony C. Gagliano III, P.C. Will Help You After a Crash on Roosevelt Boulevard
Roosevelt Boulevard is the city’s most dangerous highway. If you have been injured in an accident on Roosevelt Boulevard, a Philadelphia car accident lawyer at the law firm of Anthony C. Gagliano III, P.C. can help. Call 267-861-7100 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, we serve clients in Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Chester County, and Norristown.