New analysis from Fuller Personal Injury Law reveals a counterintuitive finding in Denver's traffic safety landscape: Tuesdays — not weekends — ranked as the city's most dangerous day for drivers in 2024, accounting for the highest number of vehicular accidents throughout the year.
The comprehensive study, based on Colorado Department of Transportation data, documented 15,256 accidents within Denver city limits last year, averaging 42 crashes daily. While many incidents resulted only in property damage, the human toll was significant: 3,841 crashes caused injuries to over 5,100 people, and 54 crashes proved fatal, claiming 55 lives.
Midweek Danger Peaks, Seasonal Patterns Emerge
Tuesday emerged as Denver's most hazardous driving day with 2,506 crashes recorded — nearly 800 more than Sunday, the safest day of the week. This unexpected midweek concentration, coupled with high incident rates on Thursdays (2,374) and Fridays (2,354), highlights weekday commuting periods as particularly risk-prone.
The calendar analysis revealed August as the year's worst month with 1,450 crashes, closely followed by October (1,430) and September (1,402). This late summer and early autumn surge coincides with Denver's tourism influx, school year resumption, and extended daylight hours keeping more vehicles on the road into evening hours.
In contrast, December recorded the fewest incidents at 995 crashes, potentially reflecting reduced local traffic during holiday travel seasons or more cautious winter driving behaviors.
Perfect Conditions, Imperfect Drivers
Challenging conventional wisdom about weather-related driving risks, the study found that over 85% of all crashes occurred during clear weather, and more than 90% happened on dry pavement. This counterintuitive data suggests driver complacency, not adverse conditions, may present the greater danger.
"What this tells us is that the perceived 'safest' driving conditions may actually be when drivers are most vulnerable," explained John Fuller, founder of Fuller Personal Injury Law and veteran Denver car accident lawyer. "When roads are dry and visibility is perfect, drivers tend to let their guard down — and that's precisely when accidents happen."
Urban Streets Prove More Dangerous Than Highways
The analysis dispels another common misconception: 61.1% of Denver crashes occurred on local streets, compared to just 21% on state highways and 17.4% on interstates. The complex urban environment, with its frequent intersections, pedestrian crossings, and stop-and-go traffic patterns, creates significantly more collision opportunities than higher-speed thoroughfares.
Rear-end collisions and left-turn accidents dominated the crash types, pointing to the persistent challenges of managing traffic flow, maintaining proper following distance, and executing safe turns in congested conditions.
Human Factors Remain Primary Crash Causes
Behind the statistics, human error continued to drive accident rates. Beyond cases with "no apparent contributing factor," the most frequently cited causes included:
- "Looked but did not see" — 1,768 crashes (7.3%)
- Distraction (interior and exterior) — 1,410 crashes (5.9%)
- Aggressive driving — 1,037 crashes (4.3%)
- Driver inexperience or area unfamiliarity — 801 crashes combined
These patterns underscore the need for heightened awareness campaigns focusing on attentiveness and patience—particularly on familiar routes where driver vigilance often wanes.
Legal Framework for Crash Victims
For Denver motorists involved in accidents, understanding Colorado's modified comparative negligence laws remains crucial. Drivers found less than 50% at fault may still recover damages, though compensation decreases proportionally with assigned fault percentage. This legal reality emphasizes the importance of thorough accident documentation, prompt medical evaluation, and informed decision-making before accepting insurance settlements.
"These statistics represent real people whose lives changed in an instant," Fuller noted. "As Denver car crash lawyers who work with crash victims daily, our goal in publishing this analysis is twofold: to help Denver drivers make safer choices and to ensure accident victims understand their rights to fair recovery."
Complete Findings Available
The full report includes additional analysis of crash factors including time of day, lighting conditions, vehicle types, and other contributing circumstances that provide a comprehensive view of Denver's traffic safety landscape.
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Media Contact
John Fuller
Fuller Personal Injury Law
1580 Lincoln St., Ste 200 Denver, CO 80203
[email protected]
https://personalinjuryco.com/
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