Fort Worth, Texas-based personal injury lawyers the Patterson Law Group has released its second annual crash report in an effort to help make the city’s roadways safer, with the study highlighting the adverse impact of construction work on Interstate 35.
Last year, the Patterson Law Group compiled five years’ worth of crash data from the traffic operation division of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to create the first interactive accident study for the city of Fort Worth. The goal was to reduce and prevent accidents at intersections that have historically been notorious for crashes. The legal practice then worked to advocate for increased safety at intersections like Henderson & Weatherford, which was revealed to be the most dangerous intersection in 2016 with 51 crashes that year.
This year, 2017 data illustrates a threat to driver safety greater than driver distraction at Henderson & Weatherford – road construction. The company says the ongoing construction work on I-35 has taken a terrible toll on safety. A total of 1,176 accidents occurred along I-35 in 2017. Moreover, six out of the ten most dangerous intersections, which includes highway overpasses for these purposes, in the city occurred along the I-35 corridor, with a cumulative total of 325 accidents and 107 injuries. The junction of I-35 and Western Center Blvd ranked at the top of the list, with a total of 81 crashes reported at or around the intersection.
Patterson Law says that to put things in perspective, six out of ten of the most dangerous intersections in 2017 had more accidents occur at them than the most dangerous intersection in 2016. The company has now created an Interactive Crash Report Map for the benefit of citizens and visitors that shows the full list of the most dangerous intersections in Fort Worth.
Patterson Law hopes the annual study will encourage drivers to pay extra attention on the road, especially while driving through work zones, as the study reveals that construction enhances the dangers. The company notes that TxDOT’s construction work on I-35 is scheduled to be completed this year.
Commenting on the results of the study, Travis Patterson, managing partner of Patterson Law Group, said, “To be honest, I am not surprised. My family has to drive through the construction on I-35 often. It is a treacherous place to drive. I know I’m not alone when I say that I’m ready for the construction to be over.”
