In Detroit, the streets can be dangerous for pedestrians. Every year, dozens of people are struck by vehicles while walking to work, running errands, or simply getting some exercise, and many of those crashes result in severe injuries or fatalities. The problem isn’t new, but it has gotten worse over the years.
A 2022 report from the City of Detroit Public Works Department revealed that pedestrian deaths have doubled nationwide over the past 14 years, reaching a 40-year high in 2021. It’s a trend mirrored on the streets of Detroit: from 2017 to 2021, an average of 108 people died in crashes annually, with 42 of those fatalities involving pedestrians or cyclists.
Pedestrian safety is a growing concern as Detroit expands bike lanes, greenways, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. However, identifying accident hotspots is the first step toward making the city safer. If you live, work, or walk in Detroit, knowing where these high-risk areas are could help you stay alert, and if you’ve been injured in a pedestrian accident, understanding these patterns could be important to your case.
Where Are the Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians in Detroit?
Certain roads and intersections in Detroit see far more crashes than others. When comparing pedestrian-involved crash locations to the city’s High Injury Network, some streets appear over and over again:
- Gratiot Avenue (Northeast of downtown)
- Grand River Avenue (Northwest of downtown)
- 7 Mile Road (Across both the east and west sides of the city)
- McNichols Road
- Plymouth Road
- Warren Avenue
These roads consistently show high crash rates. But what about pedestrian-specific risks? When filtering accident data to focus on only pedestrian and cyclist crashes, some additional danger zones emerge:
- Jefferson Avenue (both east and west of downtown)
- Mack Avenue (on the east side)
- Downtown and Midtown Detroit
- Morang Avenue (on the far east side)
- Vernor Highway and Michigan Avenue (in Southwest Detroit)
These locations don’t necessarily have the most car accidents overall, but they are particularly dangerous for people walking or biking. The data suggests that these corridors are hotspots for pedestrian accidents, even if they don’t have the highest volume of total crashes.
Why Are These Areas So Dangerous?
Certain streets are far more dangerous for pedestrians due to traffic patterns, road design, and a lack of pedestrian-focused infrastructure. These roads were built with motor vehicles in mind, so walking in the vicinity comes with serious risks.
High Traffic Volumes Mean Higher Risks
Over half of all pedestrian crashes in Detroit occur on roads where daily traffic exceeds 10,000 vehicles. Major corridors like Gratiot Avenue, Grand River Avenue, and Jefferson Avenue see thousands of cars every day: pedestrians in these areas face a constant flow of cars, delivery trucks, and buses, making it harder to cross safely. Intersections become even more dangerous during rush hour when aggressive driving and hurried turns increase the risk of collisions.
Unlike smaller neighborhood streets, these major roads often have multiple lanes of fast-moving traffic, meaning pedestrians have to cross long distances with little room for error. The heavier the traffic, the more likely it is that drivers won’t notice (or won’t stop for) people crossing the street.
Fast-Moving Vehicles Make Crashes More Severe
Streets like Gratiot, Grand River, and 7 Mile were built to move traffic quickly across the city. They often feature:
- Wide lanes that encourage higher speeds
- Long gaps between traffic signals, allowing cars to pick up speed
- Few pedestrian crossings, meaning people must wait longer for a safe moment to cross
Many of Detroit’s pedestrian accidents involve drivers speeding, failing to yield, or running red traffic lights. On wide, fast-moving roads, it’s easy for pedestrians to be overlooked, especially at night or in low-visibility conditions. Even when drivers obey posted speed limits, pedestrian survival rates drop considerably at higher speeds. A person hit by a car traveling at 20 miles per hour has a 90% chance of survival, but at 40 mph, the survival rate drops to just 20%.
Few Safe Crossing Points Put Pedestrians in Danger
Many of Detroit’s most dangerous pedestrian corridors have no designated crosswalks, pedestrian signals, or safe crossing points. Roads like Gratiot, Grand River, and 7 Mile stretch for miles, yet crosswalks can be spaced several blocks apart. For pedestrians, this presents a difficult choice: walk several blocks out of the way to find a designated crossing or cross at an unmarked location, risking their safety
Many choose the latter, especially in areas where long distances between crosswalks make detours impractical. People walking to work, catching a bus, or heading to a nearby store may not have the time (or ability) to go the extra distance.
Pedestrians are even more at risk on multi-lane roads where one driver might stop for them, but another lane of traffic continues moving. Without clear signals or designated pedestrian zones, using a crosswalk becomes a dangerous guessing game.
Limited Pedestrian Infrastructure Leaves People Unprotected
In many parts of Detroit, sidewalks are cracked, missing, or nonexistent. In addition, crosswalks are faded, pedestrian signals are limited, and few streets have designated bike lanes or pedestrian buffers.
According to crash data, 78% of pedestrian-involved crashes occur where there is no pedestrian or bike infrastructure. That means nearly four out of five pedestrian accidents happen on streets without proper protections. Safe pedestrian design includes:
- Clearly marked crosswalks with traffic signals
- Pedestrian islands or refuge areas for crossing wide roads
- Sidewalks in good condition, free from obstructions
- Lighting and signage to increase visibility
Unfortunately, many of Detroit’s busiest roads lack these features, making walking more dangerous than it should be. Even in areas where new bike lanes and pedestrian pathways have been added, safety concerns remain: many Detroit streets were designed decades ago for cars only. Retrofitting these roads to include pedestrian safety measures is a slow process, leaving many areas vulnerable in the meantime.
When Do Most Pedestrian Accidents Happen?
Time of day, day of the week, and season all play a role in pedestrian accident trends.
- Most pedestrian crashes happen between 3 PM and 10 PM. The highest concentration occurs in the afternoon and early evening when traffic is heavy and visibility starts to decrease.
- Fridays and Saturdays see the most pedestrian-related motor vehicle accidents. This matches increased activity in downtown and entertainment districts, which often includes impaired driving and distracted driving.
- Pedestrian-related traffic crashes remain steady throughout the year, but they peak in August and September when more people are outside walking.
Understanding these patterns can help pedestrians stay alert during high-risk times and make it easier for city officials to determine where additional safety measures are most needed.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Pedestrian traffic accidents in Detroit impact people of all ages, but certain groups are disproportionately affected.
- Young adults (ages 20-29) are involved in the highest number of pedestrian crashes. This age group makes up 19.1% of pedestrian and cyclist crashes, higher than their 13.9% share of the city’s population.
- Pedestrians aged 50-59 also experience a high number of accidents, accounting for 18% of crashes despite making up only 11.8% of the population.
- Children are frequently victims of pedestrian crashes. Between 2017 and 2021, 15% of all pedestrian and cyclist crashes involved minors.
Additionally, pedestrian accidents disproportionately impact Detroit’s Black and Latino communities. Historical data shows that low-income and majority-minority neighborhoods experience higher rates of injuries and pedestrian fatalities, often due to a lack of pedestrian infrastructure and the presence of higher-speed roadways.
How Detroit Can Improve Pedestrian Safety
The City of Detroit has committed to making streets safer through initiatives like the Streets for People: Detroit Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, which aims to reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries. Expanding bike lanes, greenways, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure are all part of that effort.
But there’s still a long way to go. Data shows that most pedestrian crashes happen where there is little or no pedestrian infrastructure. The city’s current bike lane expansion and traffic calming projects may help, but only if they are implemented in the areas where pedestrian crashes are most common.
What to Do If You’ve Been Injured in a Pedestrian Accident
A pedestrian accident can leave you with serious injuries, medical bills, and uncertainty about what comes next. Whether you were hit while crossing the street, walking along a roadway, or standing on a sidewalk, you have legal rights, and knowing what to do next can help you protect your right to financial compensation.
- Seek Medical Attention Immediately: Even if you feel okay after being hit by a vehicle, get checked by a doctor right away. Many pedestrian injuries, such as concussions, internal bleeding, or soft tissue damage, don’t show symptoms immediately. Left untreated, these injuries can worsen over time. If you don’t need emergency care, schedule a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible and keep detailed records of your visits, test results, and treatments.
- Call the Police and Get an Official Report: A police report is one of the most important pieces of evidence in a pedestrian accident case. Officers will document what happened, take statements from you and the driver, and determine if traffic laws were violated. When speaking to the police, explain what happened without making assumptions or speculating. Even saying something as simple as “I didn’t see the car coming” could be used against you later.
- Gather Evidence at the Scene: If possible, collect as much information as you can before leaving the accident scene. Take photos and videos of the scene, including the vehicle, your injuries, traffic signals, and skid marks. You should also get the driver’s information and the contact details for any witnesses. If your injuries prevent you from gathering evidence, ask a bystander, friend, or family member to help.
- Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company: Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, meaning you can file a claim for medical expenses and lost wages under your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, even if the driver was at fault. If you don’t have auto insurance, you may still be covered under a relative’s policy or be eligible for Michigan’s Assigned Claims Plan, which provides PIP benefits for pedestrians without their own coverage.
- Watch Out for Delayed Injury Symptoms: Some pedestrian accident injuries, like whiplash, concussions, and nerve damage, can take days or weeks to fully appear. If symptoms appear later, go back to your doctor immediately. Medical records linking your injuries to the accident are key to getting compensation.
- Consult a Pedestrian Accident Attorney: Insurance companies are not on your side. Their goal is to pay you as little as possible, even if it means denying, delaying, or undervaluing your claim. An experienced pedestrian accident lawyer ensures your rights are protected and fights to recover full compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Get a Free Consultation From a Detroit Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accidents often result in injuries that range in severity from broken bones to traumatic brain injuries. If you’ve been hit by a vehicle while walking in Detroit, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At the Lee Steinberg Law Firm, we fight for pedestrians injured due to negligent drivers and unsafe road conditions. Our legal team is familiar with Detroit’s most dangerous streets, and we use data-driven evidence to build strong cases for our clients. To schedule your free consultation and confidential case evaluation, call us at 1-800-LEE-FREE or fill out our online contact form and we’ll respond promptly.