Last Updated on August 21, 2025

Most Dangerous Roads in Rochester

Rochester is home to New York's deadliest road, as well as a few other roads that have a high accident risk.

Rochester faces some particularly serious traffic safety challenges that should concern anyone who drives, walks, or bikes in the area. In fact, Monroe County, which includes Rochester, recorded the highest number of vehicle crashes in the entire region with 14,573 total crashes in 2023 alone. Even more troubling, the county also led the region in pedestrian-involved crashes, with nearly 300 reported incidents in a single year. Perhaps most alarming of all, Rochester is now home to what has been named as New York State's deadliest road—a tragic distinction that no community wants but highlights the urgency of addressing local road safety.

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Car Accident Lawyers in Rochester

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident or motorcycle accident anywhere in Rochester, you need to understand that you have rights and that there are ways to get the compensation you deserve for what you've been through. The Porter Law Group specializes in helping car accident victims throughout New York State, and we know how confusing and overwhelming everything can feel when you're trying to recover from injuries while also dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, and all the other complications that come after a serious accident.

What sets the Porter Law Group apart is our commitment to making legal help accessible when you need it most. We offer completely free consultations where you can sit down with our experienced team, tell us exactly what happened, and get honest, straightforward advice about your case without any pressure and without paying anything upfront. We also work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay us any attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for you. This approach means you can get the experienced legal representation you need without worrying about how you'll afford it during what's already a difficult and stressful time. Contact us today for a free consultation, and learn more about how we can help, by viewing the results we've achieved for previous clients.

Rochester's Most Dangerous Roads: A Closer Look

Lake Avenue: New York State's Deadliest Road

When traffic safety experts analyzed crash data from across New York State, they made a disturbing discovery: Lake Avenue in Rochester has earned the tragic distinction of being the deadliest road in the entire state. Over the past five years, this nearly seven-mile stretch of road has seen 10 traffic-related fatalities—a number that might not sound huge until you realize that this represents the highest death rate per mile of any road in New York State.

What makes Lake Avenue so dangerous isn't just one thing. It's a combination of factors that create a perfect storm for serious accidents. Residents and workers in the area frequently report cars swerving between lanes, drivers speeding, and even vehicles traveling the wrong way. These aren't isolated incidents—they reflect a broader pattern of unsafe behavior and suggest that something about the road’s design may be contributing to these risks.

One recent incident on Lake Avenue shows just how serious these crashes can be. A stolen vehicle speeding down the road crashed into a gas pump, hit another car, and finally smashed into a gate. This type of high-speed, multi-vehicle crash often resulting in serious injuries or deaths is tragically common along this corridor.

Lake Avenue’s challenge is that it serves too many purposes at once. It's a commuter route for people trying to get across town quickly, but it's also lined with businesses that people need to access, and it runs through residential areas where people live and walk. When fast-moving through traffic mixes with turning vehicles, pedestrians crossing the street, and people accessing businesses or homes, the chances of conflict and serious accidents increase dramatically.

Monroe County's Broader Safety Crisis

Lake Avenue is just one piece of a much larger traffic safety crisis in Rochester and Monroe County. The 14,573 crashes recorded in 2023 represent thousands of disrupted lives, grieving families, and communities grappling with the aftermath of preventable tragedies.

Pedestrian safety is a particularly urgent concern. Nearly 300 pedestrian-involved crashes occurred in Monroe County in 2023 alone. Unlike vehicle occupants who benefit from seat belts and airbags, pedestrians have no protection when struck by a car. These incidents often result in severe or fatal injuries.

Between 2017 and 2021, Rochester recorded 2,475 injuries and 62 deaths involving motor vehicles and either pedestrians or cyclists. To put that in perspective, that means a pedestrian or cyclist was involved in a crash an average of 1.4 times per day over that five-year period. These numbers show that the problem isn't going away on its own. Addressing it will require sustained, focused efforts to improve road safety for everyone.

The Four Corridors of Concern

Traffic safety experts have identified four specific corridors in Rochester that account for a disproportionate number of serious injuries and deaths: 

  1. North Clinton Avenue
  2. East Main Street
  3. Chili Avenue
  4. Lexington Avenue

Together, these four roads were the sites of 90 serious crashes between 2017 and 2021, including 22 pedestrian and 6 cyclist injuries or fatalities.

North Clinton Avenue is a prime example of a road struggling to serve multiple purposes. It’s a major route for cars but also a key pedestrian corridor connecting people to businesses, homes, and public transit. The street's design doesn't do enough to separate these different types of traffic, creating situations where fast-moving vehicles and pedestrians are competing for the same space.

East Main Street has similar challenges. As a major east-west corridor with heavy traffic, drivers often focus on reaching their destinations quickly. However, the high volume of pedestrian activity demands frequent stops and constant vigilance—conditions that don’t always align with driver behavior.

Chili Avenue and Lexington Avenue wrap up the list of high-injury corridors, each presenting their own safety concerns tied to traffic volume, speed, and the mix of road users. 

What all four corridors share is a fundamental design problem: they try to accommodate fast-moving traffic, local access, and pedestrian activity—without sufficient safety measures to balance these competing demands safely.

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Contact a Rochester Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident on Lake Avenue, any of Rochester's high-injury corridors, or anywhere else in the area, don't try to handle the legal and insurance complications on your own. The Porter Law Group has extensive experience representing car accident victims throughout New York State, and we understand the unique challenges that come with accidents on Rochester's most dangerous roads. Our team is committed to helping accident victims understand their rights and pursue the full compensation they deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and all the other ways that a serious accident can impact your life.

The period after a car accident can feel overwhelming and confusing. You're trying to recover from injuries while dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, lost income, and the stress of not knowing what's going to happen next. The Porter Law Group provides experienced legal advocacy during this difficult time, handling all the complicated insurance negotiations, investigating exactly what happened in your accident, and building the strongest possible case to get you the compensation you need and deserve.

Don't let insurance companies convince you to accept a settlement that doesn't fully account for your injuries and losses. Insurance companies are in the business of paying out as little as possible on claims, and they have teams of lawyers and adjusters whose job is to minimize what they pay. You need someone on your side who understands the true value of your case and won't back down from fighting for what's fair. Contact the Porter Law Group today at 833-PORTER9 or email info@porterlawteam.com to learn how we can help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve following a car accident in Rochester. Your initial consultation is completely free, and our experienced team is ready to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

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Michael S. Porter
Personal Injury Attorney
Originally from Upstate New York, Mike built a distinguished legal career after graduating from Harvard University and earning his juris doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law. He served as a Captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, gaining expertise in trial work, and is now a respected trial attorney known for securing multiple million-dollar results for his clients while actively participating in legal organizations across Upstate NY.
Legally Reviewed on June 6, 2025
Eric C. Nordby
Personal Injury Attorney
Eric, with nearly three decades of experience in personal injury litigation, holds a law degree with honors from the University at Buffalo School of Law and a Bachelor's Degree from Cornell University. His extensive career encompasses diverse state and federal cases, resulting in substantial client recoveries, and he actively engages in legal associations while frequently lecturing on legal topics.
This Article Was Professionally Reviewed
This page was Legally Reviewed by Eric C. Nordby on June 6, 2025. Our experts verify everything you read to make sure it's up to date. For information on our content creation and review process read our editorial guidelines. If you notice an error or have any questions about our content please contact us.
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