Tampa Ave & Nordhoff St | Los Angeles

The intersection of Tampa Avenue and Nordhoff Street is one of the most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles. Located in north LA east of CA27 and west of I-405, there have been over 400 accidents at this intersection over the last decade, making it one of the five most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles.

Both Tampa Avenue and Nordhoff Street are six lane roads which split into eight lane roads with two left turn lanes at this intersection.

What Makes Tampa & Nordhoff A Dangerous Intersection?

In 2020, more than 45 serious accidents happened at Nordhoff and Tampa. Since 2010, over 410 accidents have happened here, making it one of the most dangerous intersections in Southern California.

Although there are no nearby freeways, both Nordhoff and Tampa are heavily trafficked surface roads, hosting thousands of vehicles each day.

Here are some of the top reasons that make this intersection one of the most dangerous intersections in Los Angeles.

Location

Located between I-405 and CA27, Tampa Avenue is one of the main surface streets in North Los Angeles. It intersects Nordhoff Street just after the surface street makes a slight curve through a commercial district.

This adds to the chaos around Tampa & Nordhoff. With so many vehicles entering and leaving the flow of traffic, this intersection becomes host to many unfortunate accidents including t-bone crashes, rear-end collisions and sideswipe accidents.

In addition to nearby retail stores, the intersection itself is host to two retail stores, a gas station and a popular bank.

Right Turn On Red

Like most intersections, drivers are permitted to make right turns at a red light, given they stop and confirm the flow of traffic allows them to enter. However, this simple rule can get complicated at intersections like Nordhoff & Tampa.

Here, drivers are required to look across eight lanes of traffic to make sure a right hand turn is safe. Additionally, there’s no dedicated right turn lane which adds to the risks.

Finally, some lanes merge into others immediately after the intersection. For vehicles turning right, this can quickly put them in a difficult position of having to merge into oncoming traffic.

Left Turn Lanes

Left turns are often considered the most dangerous maneuver a driver will regularly have to perform. Traffic signals often make this easier for drivers; and at Tampa & Nordhoff, there are two lanes dedicated to drivers turning left onto either Tampa or Nordhoff.

The purpose is to relieve traffic congestion, but double turn lanes have several risks. For example, drivers turning right on red may not notice drivers turning left have the right of way, and the turn lanes direct them into lanes of traffic which may be occupied.

Finally, signage is important. Despite having two turn lanes, vehicles turning left onto south Tampa do not have any signage alerting them that there are two turn lanes. However, drivers turning in other directions have signage to help them navigate.

Speed

Speed is easily one of the main factors we see in most car accidents, and drivers who obey speed limits significantly reduce their risk of being in an accident.

While Tampa Avenue has a speed limit of 35 mph, Nordhoff Street allows drivers to travel up to 40 mph. Despite these posted speed limits, it’s common for many motorists to reach speeds of 50 mph or more when entering the intersection of Nordhoff and Tampa.

Keep in mind that this intersection is also host to several nearby retail stores and commercial zones. There could be pedestrians crossing the street in addition to other motorists.

If you think speed was a factor that led to an accident, The Barnes Firm’s best car accident lawyers in Los Angeles are here to help go over your options with you. Call (800) 800-0000 now for a FREE consultation.

What to Do If You’re In A Car Crash

After any car crash, it’s critical to first get medical attention. Even if you don’t believe you’ve been seriously injured, the impact of a crash can cause numerous injuries that may not manifest as pain for days or weeks. The second item on your to-do list should be contacting an experienced injury lawyer.

The Barnes Firm’s best car accident lawyers in Los Angeles can help determine what to say to an insurance company – and how to best protect your rights. With our team on your side, you can be confident you’ll recover the best result possible.

The Barnes Firm (800) 800-0000

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