Quick answer: Brooklyn records more motor vehicle collisions than any other New York City borough, followed by Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. NYPD logged 24,303 collisions in Brooklyn during 2025 and 17,950 in Queens. Crash volume is not the same as danger, though — Staten Island saw roughly one-ninth of Brooklyn’s collisions but about one-fifth of its traffic deaths.
When you drive in NYC, you share the road with taxis, buses, delivery trucks, cyclists, pedestrians, rideshare drivers and millions of commuters every day. Traffic conditions vary significantly from one borough to the next.
Manhattan is dense and congested, with constant pedestrian activity at nearly every intersection. Brooklyn and Queens mix crowded local streets with major highways. The Bronx pairs several expressways with very busy neighborhood roads, and Staten Island has a more suburban, car-dependent network.
We at Binson Law understand that where a collision happens can shape everything from who is involved to what evidence is available afterward. Looking at borough-specific crash patterns helps New Yorkers understand the risks they actually face on the road.
What Does Recent NYC Crash Data Show?
NYPD collision data is published through NYC Open Data and broken out by borough, street, intersection, bridge and tunnel. Across calendar year 2025, the pattern was consistent: Brooklyn and Queens carried the highest collision totals, and Staten Island the lowest.
| Borough | Collisions (2025) | People injured (2025) | Traffic deaths (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 24,303 | 13,971 | 63 |
| Queens | 17,950 | 9,498 | 57 |
| Manhattan | 13,229 | 6,463 | 39 |
| The Bronx | 10,256 | 6,034 | 33 |
| Staten Island | 2,777 | 1,406 | 13 |
Collision and injury counts: NYPD Motor Vehicle Collisions data via NYC Open Data. Traffic deaths: NYC DOT. A borough is not recorded on every collision report, so citywide totals are higher than the sum of the five boroughs.
Fatality figures come from NYC DOT, which reported 205 traffic deaths citywide in 2025 — down from 253 in 2024, and the lowest total on record.
These figures give a useful overview, but they should not be read as a permanent ranking of borough safety. Total crash counts tell only part of the story, and injuries and deaths do not track crash volume evenly across the five boroughs.
Manhattan: Dense Streets and Constant Interaction
Manhattan’s biggest traffic challenge is density. Pedestrians, cyclists, buses, taxis, rideshare vehicles, delivery vans and turning traffic all compete for space within a relatively small area.
Major avenues and crosstown streets often move slowly, but lower speeds do not rule out serious injuries. Sudden stops, lane changes and conflicts at crosswalks can happen in an instant.
When someone contacts us after a Manhattan collision, we look at where the crash occurred, the direction of traffic, whether pedestrians or cyclists were involved, and what evidence may still be available. Speaking early with a Manhattan personal injury attorney can help an injured person understand the insurance and claims process, preserve important evidence, and make informed choices about what comes next.
Brooklyn: The Highest Collision Volume in the City
Brooklyn recorded more collisions than any other borough in 2025. That matters, but so does the context: Brooklyn has the largest population in the city, an extensive road network, and widely varied traffic conditions.
The borough includes quiet residential streets, busy commercial districts, heavily travelled intersections, cycling routes, and major corridors such as Atlantic Avenue, the Belt Parkway and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
When we review a Brooklyn accident, the road itself often matters. A highway collision raises very different evidence and liability questions than a crash involving a pedestrian at a neighborhood intersection. A Brooklyn motor vehicle accident attorney can help identify the records, witness accounts, photographs, video footage and insurance information that may matter to the claim.
Queens: Highways, Arterials and Airport Traffic
Queens consistently sees substantial collision volume. Its road network combines residential streets with large arterials and highways such as Queens Boulevard, the Long Island Expressway, Grand Central Parkway and the Van Wyck Expressway.
Traffic moving to and from JFK and LaGuardia adds taxis, rideshare vehicles, buses, commercial vehicles and drivers unfamiliar with local roads.
That makes the precise crash location especially important. A car accident lawyer in NYC will need to consider lane configuration, traffic signals, roadway design, surveillance footage and, in some cases, multiple insurance policies, depending on how the accident occurred.
The Bronx: Expressways Meet Neighborhood Streets
The Bronx combines highway and neighborhood driving. Major through routes include the Cross Bronx Expressway, the Major Deegan Expressway and the Bruckner Expressway, while the surrounding areas hold schools, shopping, bus routes, pedestrians and commercial traffic.
That mix means crashes here range from high-speed highway collisions to turning accidents and pedestrian and cyclist collisions on local streets.
In assessing these cases, we look at the particular circumstances rather than making general assumptions about the borough. Talking with a New York personal injury attorney helps tie the accident facts, insurance coverage, medical consequences and available evidence into a clearer picture of the claim.
Staten Island: Fewer Crashes, Different Risks
Staten Island recorded the fewest collisions of any borough in 2025, but a lower crash total does not mean every road there carries less risk. The borough saw roughly one-ninth of Brooklyn’s collisions, yet its 13 traffic deaths were close to a fifth of Brooklyn’s 63.
Staten Island is more car-dependent than much of NYC, with longer driving distances, suburban-style layouts, and roads where vehicles travel at higher speeds. Hylan Boulevard and the Staten Island Expressway create traffic conditions quite different from Manhattan’s grid.
The severity of an individual collision therefore matters far more than a borough-wide ranking.
So, Where Do Most NYC Car Accidents Happen?
Brooklyn and Queens record the highest overall collision totals, but that does not automatically make either borough the most dangerous by every measure.
A borough with the most crashes may not have the highest fatality rate. Population, traffic volume, roadway mileage, vehicle speeds and pedestrian exposure all influence the numbers.
In many cases, the specific road or intersection matters more than the borough itself. High-volume arterials, highway ramps, commercial corridors, school zones and areas with heavy pedestrian or cycling activity can create very different risks within the same borough.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in NYC?
If you are involved in a collision, your first priority should be safety and medical care. Contact police or emergency services as needed, photograph the scene, exchange driver and insurance information, collect witness details, and keep medical records, bills, repair estimates and any other documents related to the crash.
We also advise injured people to be cautious about accepting a quick insurance settlement before the full extent of their injuries and losses is clear.
If you are unsure what comes next, our guide on what to do in the first 72 hours after a car accident in NYC walks through the immediate steps in more detail.
We Help Injured New Yorkers Understand Their Next Step
Crash risks look different in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island, but the need for clear guidance after a serious accident is the same everywhere.
At Binson Law, we take the time to understand how the collision happened, where it occurred and how it has affected you. You work directly with attorney David Binson, who reviews the circumstances of your accident and explains the options that may be available.
If you were injured in an NYC car accident and are unsure what to do next, contact Binson Law to discuss your situation and get clear answers before making important decisions about your claim.
Which NYC borough has the most car accidents?
Brooklyn. NYPD recorded 24,303 motor vehicle collisions in Brooklyn during 2025, ahead of Queens (17,950), Manhattan (13,229), the Bronx (10,256) and Staten Island (2,777).
Is Brooklyn the most dangerous borough to drive in?
Not necessarily. Brooklyn has the highest number of collisions, but it also has the largest population and the most road miles. Staten Island had far fewer crashes yet a higher share of them proved fatal, so severity and volume are two different measures.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in New York?
New York generally allows three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence. Separate and much shorter deadlines apply elsewhere: no-fault benefit applications are normally due to the insurer within 30 days, and claims against the City of New York or the MTA usually require a notice of claim within 90 days. Because the deadlines differ, it is worth confirming which apply to your situation early.
Do I have to report a car accident to the NYPD?
In New York, a written accident report must generally be filed with the DMV within 10 days if anyone was injured or killed, or if property damage to any one person exceeded $1,000. Calling police to the scene also creates an official record that can be valuable later if fault is disputed.