The Bowery & Kenmare Street | Dangerous Intersections

Located in Lower Manhattan, the corner of Kenmare Street and The Bowery is one of the most dangerous intersections in New York City. Just a few blocks east of this intersection, the Williamsburg Bridge becomes Delancey Street until it intersects The Bowery and becomes Kenmare Street.

Since this is one of the most heavily trafficked intersections in New York City, it’s no surprise it’s also one of the most dangerous. The Barnes Firm’s best injury attorneys in Manhattan explain what makes intersections like the one at Kenmare and The Bowery so hazardous.

What Makes Kenmare Street & The Bowery A Dangerous Intersection?

Every year there are over 115 car crashes at this intersection alone. That’s almost three car accidents each week.

Some datasets have this intersection ranked as the sixth most dangerous in New York City, with over 400 crashes since 2019.

Here are some of the reasons accidents tend to happen more at this intersection than at others in NYC:

Location

The location is one of the driving factors that make Kenmare Street and The Bowery a dangerous intersection. Directing over 100,000 vehicles coming from the Williamsburg Bridge, the location in Lower Manhattan is one of the most heavily trafficked places in New York City.

It’s also dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists who frequent the area. As of 2022, there are no protected bike lanes; and no dedicated lanes for bicyclists.

Add all of this together, and there’s certainly a higher risk of an accident happening.

Left Turns

Many of the intersections in New York City can be confusing for drivers and pedestrians alike. The Bowery & Delancey Street/Kenmare Street is no different.

Many drivers intending to turn left are directed by left-turn traffic signals; however drivers are prohibited from turning left onto Kenmare from The Bowery, despite it being a two-way street. It’s also prohibited for drivers on Kenmare Street to turn left on The Bowery.

Additionally, these left turning drivers have a higher risk of being accidentally directed into pedestrians and bicyclists who are also sharing the street.

Right Turns

Turning is always a dangerous maneuver when driving a vehicle; but we complete it so often effortlessly that most drivers don’t give it a second thought. Here’s why you should at this intersection:

• Pedestrians are often using the crosswalks; even if vehicular traffic is being directed by a signal.
• There are challenging sightlines
• Heavy traffic can often congest intersections; making them more dangerous

Traffic Patterns

There are different and potentially confusing traffic patterns at the intersection of The Bowery & Kenmare Street in Manhattan. For starters, two sides of this intersection feature a median, which crosswalks intersect. The other two surface streets that meet at this intersection are two-way streets without medians, so traffic gets a little tighter.

Additionally, this intersection features delayed green lights and some of the traffic directions may be obscured by other vehicles.

What to Do If You’re Involved In An Accident

When someone has been hurt at the corner of Kenmare Street and The Bowery, you need a full investigation to determine what you could potentially be owed. Insurance companies often forego this step, as it’s in their best interest to pay you as little as possible. At The Barnes Firm, we think that’s wrong and we’ll fight hard to get you the maximum compensation you’re owed.

Our best car accident lawyers in Manhattan have decades of experience fighting the big insurance companies – even if it means taking them to trial. Have a question for our top lawyers? Our team is here to help 24/7 for FREE! Call our best attorneys now.

Have a question for our top lawyers? Call now. Our help is free.

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