BBQ, Football, and … Car Wrecks?
A Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer’s Look at Our City’s Roads
Kansas City, Missouri– the city of fountains, home of the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs, where barbecue and jazz flourish, and auto accidents ensue at an alarming rate. One of these descriptions stands out more than the others, doesn’t it? In a city defined by history, culture, and character, this last distinction brings deep concern to residents and city leaders alike.
That concern is not misplaced. According to USA Today, Kansas City ranks among the top five most dangerous U.S. cities for drivers, based on a five-year fatality rate involving auto accidents. Forbes further reports that Kansas City experiences an 18% fatality rate in crashes. While the city may not lead the nation in total collisions—Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas hold that title—its statistics remain alarming because too many of these crashes are deadly.
As Kansas City natives, the team at Wallentine Injury Law is deeply committed to improving safety throughout our community. We’ve conducted our own research and identified what we believe to be the five most dangerous roadways in Kansas City, aiming to raise awareness and help drivers stay alert in areas with heightened risk.
If your day of football, jazz, or barbecue is ever disrupted by a serious crash, our Kansas City car accident lawyers are here to guide you through every step of the personal injury process. Although commuting in Kansas City can be hazardous, you don’t have to face the aftermath of a wreck alone. Call our team today for a free consultation so you can focus on recovery—while we handle the rest.
Why Does Kansas City Have So
Many Crashes?
From an outsider’s perspective, it may seem surprising that Kansas City has such a high rate of fatal crashes. It looks like any other major city—so why do collisions occur here so frequently?
The answer doesn’t lie in a single cause or even just in poor driving habits, though reckless or inattentive driving certainly contributes to many wrecks. Instead, much of the issue stems from the structural design of Kansas City’s roadways and the inherent risks tied to their development.
Whether you’re navigating KC traffic for the first time or making your daily commute, the city’s complex and often inconsistent roadway system can be challenging—and, at times, dangerous. According to Kansas City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan, city leaders have identified several roadway characteristics that significantly increase crash risk:
- Urban roads in disadvantaged areas: Crashes are 1.6 times more likely to occur.
- Roadways with more lanes: Multi-lane roads have a much higher crash risk than two-lane roads.
- Lack of dividers: Roads with multiple lanes but no physical divider—such as two-way turn lanes or raised medians—see higher collision rates.
- Speed limits of 35 mph: Crashes are three times more likely to occur on these roads compared to those with lower posted speeds.
As these statistics show, Kansas City isn’t simply home to bad drivers or an unlucky streak of auto accidents—the systemic layout and design of its roads, combined with varying enforcement levels, create a perfect storm for frequent and often deadly collisions.
Next, we’ll take a closer look at the specific roadways most commonly associated with these risks.
What are the Most Dangerous Roadways in Kansas City?
Unfortunately, Kansas City is home to numerous roadways considered “dangerous” due to their high number of crashes and reported injuries. Because there are so many, it’s impossible to analyze each one that frequently makes the news or carries a reputation for risk.
Instead, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers have identified five roads and highways that consistently receive negative attention for serious collisions and safety concerns. Later in this article, we’ll also take a closer look at Kansas City’s high-injury network—a group of roads officially recognized by the city for their elevated crash and fatality rates—some of which include the routes listed below.
I-435
I-435 is an 83-mile beltway encircling the Kansas City metropolitan area, spanning both Missouri and Kansas. This major interstate passes through several prominent suburbs, including Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood, Shawnee, and Claycomo, among others.
Because of its extensive coverage, heavy commuter traffic, and numerous intersections with other major routes such as I-70 and I-35, I-435 has become a frequent site for serious accidents. According to the Kansas City Police Department, 26 fatalities occurred on the interstate in 2022 and 2023 alone. In 2021, I-435 recorded 1,172 total crashes.
These alarming numbers—and the severe injuries and tragic outcomes associated with them—solidify I-435’s reputation as one of the most dangerous roadways in Kansas City.
Truman Road
Another roadway recognized for its high crash rate in Kansas City is Truman Road. While its total number of accidents may not match the interstates due to its smaller scale, the figures are still deeply concerning.
Identified as one of the 10 deadliest streets in Kansas City, Truman Road ranks second overall—just behind I-435—with 12 fatalities reported in 2022 and 2023. Because it experiences heavy traffic from both motorists and cyclists, Truman Road has become one of the most dangerous non-interstate routes in the city, consistently topping the charts for deadly crashes on local streets.
U.S. 71
Coming in third on the list is U.S. 71, which runs directly through Kansas City. This expressway recorded 11 fatalities between 2022 and 2023, just one fewer than Truman Road.
A combination of high-speed traffic and complex intersections contributes to its elevated crash rate compared to other Missouri expressways. Several sections of U.S. 71 are particularly hazardous due to closely spaced ramps and limited sight lines, including:
- U.S. 71 and Bannister Road
- Gregory Boulevard, 53rd Street, and 60th Street
- 63rd Street
I-70
For anyone who regularly drives in the Kansas City metropolitan area, it’s no surprise that I-70 made our Kansas City personal injury lawyers’ list of dangerous roads. As one of the nation’s major east–west interstates, I-70 stretches more than 2,100 miles from Utah to Maryland.
I-70 plays a major role in Kansas City’s transportation network—not only because it runs directly through the city, but also because of its key intersections and landmarks along the way, including the Lewis and Clark Viaduct, I-35 interchange, I-435 loop, and Truman Sports Complex.
Like U.S. 71 and I-435, I-70 experiences frequent speeding, distracted driving, heavy truck traffic, driver aggression, ongoing construction, and complex interchanges—all of which contribute to its high crash rate and reputation as one of the city’s most dangerous roadways. In 2022 and 2023 alone, 11 fatalities occurred along I-70 in the Kansas City area.
Additionally, the Missouri Department of Transportation’s I-70 Crash History Report found that nearly 24% of crashes on this interstate within Kansas City involved personal injury between 2003 and 2007. As these statistics show, I-70’s heavy traffic volume directly correlates with its alarming accident numbers.
Prospect Avenue
Rounding out our list is Kansas City’s Prospect Avenue, a roadway recognized by Vision Zero as one of the city’s top 10 corridors for fatal and serious injury crashes. Prospect Avenue poses a significant risk to both drivers and pedestrians alike.
In 2022 and 2023, there were nine fatalities reported on Prospect Avenue. The road’s crash rate of 30.7 per 100,000 residents is nearly double Kansas City’s overall crash rate of 16.9, highlighting its elevated danger level.
As with other high-risk roadways, several factors contribute to the high crash frequency—including tight intersections, signal timing issues, and frequent traffic violations. However, the most preeminent contributor remains the combination of dense vehicle traffic and heavy pedestrian activity, which greatly increases the likelihood of serious accidents.
High Injury Network
While the roadways listed above are often recognized as some of the most dangerous in Kansas City, not all of them fall within the city’s designated High Injury Network. According to the City of Kansas City’s official Vision Zero plan, the High Injury Network highlights the specific roads where the most fatal and serious crashes occur. These areas primarily consist of non-highway streets where accidents involving vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists are most frequent.
The five primary roads included in Kansas City’s High Injury Network are:
- Truman Road
- Independence Avenue
- Prospect Avenue
- Troost Avenue
- Ward Parkway
By raising awareness of these high-risk roads and supporting the city’s ongoing safety initiatives, the goal is to reduce accidents and injuries over time. However, if you or a loved one has been injured, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers are ready to help you recover and move forward.
What is Kansas City Doing to Address
the Issue?
Raising awareness about high-risk roadways is important, but it alone cannot stop car accidents or prevent serious injuries. While education can encourage drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists to exercise caution, it cannot address the underlying infrastructure and road design issues that contribute to so many crashes. Real change requires commitment and action.
Fortunately, Kansas City leaders have recognized this need and developed a strategic plan to tackle roadway safety. As previously mentioned, this initiative is called Vision Zero: Road Safety Action Plan. Introduced in 2022, Vision Zero is the city’s primary strategy to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries across Kansas City.
Through Vision Zero, the city aims to make all roads safe for all users. To achieve this goal, the plan emphasizes eight core safety principles:
- Prioritized safety
- Safe speeds
- Safe streets
- Safe intersections
- Complete streets
- Safe users
- Safe and equitable law enforcement
- Accurate data and reporting
By implementing these strategies, Kansas City aims to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2030. Wallentine Injury Law fully supports this plan and hopes it will significantly reduce crash-related injuries throughout the community.
How Can a Kansas City Car Accident Lawyer Help After a Crash?
While we hope for a future without car accidents and the injuries they cause, the reality is that accidents still happen. That’s why it’s important to know what steps to take and who to contact if you are involved in a crash.
After addressing any immediate medical needs, we strongly encourage reaching out to a Kansas City car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Our dedicated team of attorneys and paralegals will guide you through the post-accident process by:
- Determining whether you have a viable personal injury claim
- Connecting you with top medical providers for treatment and documentation
- Gathering evidence to establish negligence and liability
- Advocating on your behalf against insurance companies
- Pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries
Contact Wallentine Injury Law
If you or a loved one has been impacted by a car accident on these or any other roads in the Kansas City area, spanning Missouri and Kansas, contact Wallentine Injury Law today. We take the time to listen to your concerns and ensure all your needs are addressed throughout the recovery process.
Don’t navigate the aftermath of a car accident alone—call our team at 816-934-6333 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation. We’re here to help you focus on healing while we handle the rest.
References
- 41,000 people were killed in US car crashes last year. What cities are the most dangerous? – Sara Chernikoff and N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today
- Half of KC’s traffic deaths in the last two years happened on these 10 streets – Josh Merchant, The Beacon Kansas City
- High Injury Network – Kansas City Government
- I-70 Crash History – MODOT
- Prospect Avenue Safety Improvements – Kansas City Government
- The Cities Where You’re Most Likely To Get In A Car Accident – Christy Bieber, Forbes
- Vision Zero – WSP
