- April 26, 2025
- Tucker Law
- Car Accident Lawsuits
Long Island covers over 1,400 square miles and includes hundreds, if not thousands, of miles of roads, streets, and highways. Those who live on Long Island and those who are visiting must be prepared for the possibility of being involved in a traffic accident somewhere on the island. If you are wondering about the most common accident locations, Long Island has several.
Accidents happen suddenly and can occur anywhere, even on quiet residential roads. However, highways, major arterial roads, and certain other streets tend to see a larger number of fatal accidents each year than others. Aside from being more dangerous, these streets are generally where car accidents of any severity are more likely to occur.
General Crash Statistics for Long Island
Between 2019 and 2023, there were a total of 1,693 fatal car accidents across the four counties of Long Island: Queens, Kings, Suffolk, and Nassau. Over 360 fatality wrecks occurred in 2021 and again in 2022, making these the two deadliest years of the entire period. However, there was no year with fewer than 300 fatality crashes.
Overall, the number of fatality crashes in these four counties peaked in 2021, when there were 363 fatal wrecks. Since then, the number of fatality traffic accidents has been slowly decreasing.
Generally, the west end of Long Island near New York City is more prone to accidents — including fatality crashes — than the east end. The farther east you travel on Long Island, the fewer fatality wrecks are reported. This suggests that the risk of being involved in any type of collision decreases as you travel away from New York City.
Contact Tucker Lawyers today at (516) 399-2364 to discuss your legal options if you have suffered harm because of a Long Island car accident.
Where Are the Long Island High-Risk Accident Areas?
Identifying the Areas Most Prone to Auto Accidents
The following roads and highways in Long Island have been the site of a majority of the area’s fatality crashes since 2019. While the precise number of car accidents that have occurred along these streets is not known, the following streets should be considered high-risk areas where traffic collisions are more likely to occur.
Those areas that experienced the greatest number of fatality accidents are more likely to be the areas where accidents in general occur.
Sunrise Highway
The Sunrise Highway is a major east-west highway that mostly runs parallel to Long Island’s southern coastline. Numerous fatality crashes have been reported along its length since 2019, including in the vicinity of the interchange with the Robert Moody Causeway, around the Connetquot River State Park Preserve, and near the intersection with Nicolls Road.
Long Island Expressway
As the other major east-west highway on Long Island, the Long Island Expressway should also be considered to have an elevated risk of traffic accidents. Although fatality accidents occurred over the years along its entire length, the area around Holtville is one area that saw a cluster of fatality accidents between 2019 and 2023.
Other areas along the Long Island Expressway that saw a high concentration of fatality accidents include near the interchange with the Sunken Meadow State Highway and around the Roslyn Heights area.
Sunken Meadow State Highway
Apart from where it connects with the Long Island Expressway, the Sunken Meadow State Highway records a large number of fatality crashes every year. This suggests that the area may be more prone to accidents of all severity levels, not just crashes that result in someone’s death. Drivers traveling along this north-south route should exercise caution.
The most dangerous areas are between and including the places where this highway connects with Sunrise Highway and the Long Island Expressway.
North Ocean Avenue
The stretch of this north-south road between Sunrise Highway and the Long Island Expressway near North Patchogue has seen a surprising number of fatal car accidents given its short length. No fewer than nine fatality wrecks have been reported here, or about two per year from 2019 to 2023.
Middle Country Road
This smaller road runs east-west toward the eastern end of Long Island. In the area east of Nicolls Road and near the communities of Seiden and Coram, eight fatality accidents were reported between 2019 and 2023. Although more fatality crashes occurred along Middle Country Road’s length, they tended to be more spaced out, suggesting a lower risk of a crash in those parts.
Why Do Crashes Happen on Long Island Roads?
How to Reduce Your Chances of Being Involved in a Long Island Wreck
Just like car accidents that happen elsewhere in New York, several factors frequently contribute to crashes on Long Island. The road you are driving on and its condition play a small role in determining the likelihood that you will be involved in a crash. Observing the following driving rules is more likely to help you avoid a collision:
- Obey the speed limit and reduce your speed during inclement weather.
- Do not engage in aggressive driving maneuvers like following other vehicles too closely or quickly changing from one lane to another without signaling.
- Obey all traffic lights and signs, especially stop and yield signs.
- Remember the state’s right-of-way laws and follow them when appropriate.
- Keep your car in good repair — especially your brakes and tires.
- Do not drink and drive or consume any illegal drugs before attempting to drive.
Other actions that tend to increase your chance of being involved in a traffic collision include driving while using your cell phone or driving after having consumed prescription medications. Driving while distracted makes it more difficult for you to stop or avoid a crash in time, and certain prescriptions can make you drowsy or dizzy.
Why Contacting an Experienced Long Island Accident Lawyer Is Crucial
Recovering compensation after a Long Island car accident is complicated, given the state’s no-fault insurance rules. Unless your injuries are significant, your recovery can be limited to your personal injury protection (PIP) policy’s limits. While these benefits can address your medical expenses, they do not pay for all the injuries and harm you can suffer in a crash.
Your Long Island car accident lawyer from Tucker Lawyers is dedicated to helping you seek the full value of your case. Your attorney can determine whether your injuries meet the threshold to file an at-fault accident claim against the person responsible for causing the crash. Doing so can lead to a settlement or verdict that addresses your medical bills and pain and suffering.
Your time to file a claim after a Long Island accident is limited, so contact Tucker Lawyers by calling (516) 399-2364 as soon as possible after your traffic crash.
Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.
John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]