Which Southfield intersection has the most crashes?
Telegraph Road at 12 Mile Road stands out as the Southfield intersection with the most crashes. A 2025 ranking based on Michigan State Police crash reports counted 121 crashes and 28 injuries there, placing it third statewide. Citywide, Southfield recorded 3,024 crashes in 2025.
If you drive Telegraph Road at rush hour, you already know some of Southfield's dangerous intersections by heart. You brace for the driver cutting across three lanes toward a median crossover, or the one who pushes a late yellow near the freeway ramps.
When a crash at one of those corners happens to you, the questions pile up fast. Who ran the light, and why is the other driver's insurer already calling? Meanwhile, you're trying to get to appointments while your car sits in a body shop.
Kajy Law Firm is based in Southfield, and car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are all we do. We gathered the official crash numbers for our own city so local drivers can see where the risk is and know what to do if a crash happens anyway.
If a crash at one of these corners left you with questions, you can call Kajy Law Firm at 248-702-6641 or contact us online to talk through your options.
Key Takeaways About Dangerous Intersections in Southfield
- Southfield recorded 3,024 crashes in 2025, more than any other Oakland County community, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts.
- Southfield's injury crashes rose from 671 in 2024 to 733 in 2025, even as total crashes fell.
- Telegraph Road at 12 Mile Road recorded 121 crashes and 28 injuries in 2025, placing it third on a statewide ranking based on Michigan State Police crash reports.
- When a traffic signal is dark or does not clearly show who has the right of way, drivers generally must stop and follow four-way-stop rules unless a police officer or another traffic-control device is directing traffic.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in Southfield Each Year?
Southfield recorded 3,024 traffic crashes in 2025, according to the 2025 Oakland County profile from Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, the state's official crash data source. That was more reported crashes than in any other city or township in Oakland County. With that many collisions, a Southfield car accident lawyer sees firsthand how often local crashes lead to serious injuries and disputed claims.
Southfield also led the county in injury crashes. Here's how it compared with the next-busiest communities in 2025:
| Community (2025) | Total crashes | Injury crashes | Fatal crashes | Share of crashes with injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southfield | 3,024 | 733 | 6 | 24% |
| Troy | 2,574 | 481 | 3 | 19% |
| Farmington Hills | 2,399 | 396 | 4 | 17% |
| Royal Oak | 2,118 | 356 | 1 | 17% |
| Rochester Hills/Avon Township | 1,882 | 380 | 2 | 20% |
| Pontiac | 1,861 | 398 | 12 | 21% |
| Oakland County overall | 35,292 | 6,660 | 80 | 19% |
The injury share column is our calculation from the state's figures. It shows that a reported crash in Southfield was more likely to injure someone than a crash in any of the other large communities listed. This higher injury risk highlights the importance of having a Southfield personal injury lawyer who understands the challenges accident victims may face.
How Southfield's numbers changed from 2024 to 2025
Comparing the 2025 profile with the 2024 Oakland County profile shows fewer crashes but more injuries:
- Total crashes fell from 3,313 to 3,024, a drop of about 9%.
- Injury crashes rose from 671 to 733.
- Deaths fell from 10 to 6, and suspected serious injuries fell from 32 to 23.
- Pedestrian-involved crashes fell from 31 to 24, and bicyclist-involved crashes fell from 11 to 7.
- Alcohol-involved crashes fell from 83 to 71.
Over a longer stretch, Southfield has logged between about 2,900 and 3,300 crashes every year since 2022.
Why Is Telegraph and 12 Mile So Dangerous?
Telegraph Road at 12 Mile Road packs heavy traffic, nearby freeway connections, and busy retail driveways into one signalized corner. In 2025, a ranking based on Michigan State Police crash reports counted 121 crashes and 28 injuries there, up from 106 crashes and 23 injuries in 2024.
That total placed Telegraph and 12 Mile third statewide and first among Oakland County intersections in the 2025 ranking. It remains Southfield's clearest high-crash intersection in the latest annual data.
Several risk factors meet at this corner:
- Telegraph Road is US-24, a state trunkline that carries heavy through traffic
- The interchange where I-696, M-10, and Telegraph meet sits just to the south
- Retail centers near 12 Mile, including Tel-Twelve, add a steady stream of turning drivers
- Left turns along Telegraph run through median crossovers, known as Michigan lefts
When drivers encounter all these factors at a single signal, crashes become much more likely.
Lawrence Kajy, the firm's founder, has a practical explanation for this corner's numbers. In his view, its crash totals have a lot to do with the sheer volume of traffic, since several highways feed traffic into the area and cars pass through all day.
Other Southfield Intersections With High Crash Histories
Telegraph and 12 Mile is not the only Southfield intersection with a history of frequent crashes. The City of Southfield's 2022 Master Plan ranked intersections using annual average crashes from 2017 through 2021. Other high-frequency locations included:
- Southfield Road at 10 Mile Road: 48.8 crashes a year.
- 12 Mile Road at Southfield Road: 36 crashes a year.
- Southfield Road at 13 Mile Road: 28.4 crashes a year.
- 12 Mile Road at Greenfield Road: 25.4 crashes a year.
These are historical averages, not 2025 totals, but they show that crash concentrations extend beyond Telegraph Road. The city also notes that the rankings are based on crash counts and do not adjust for traffic volume.
Michigan lefts and turning crashes
MDOT reports that about 30% of crashes in Michigan occur at intersections, and nearly 58% of those are head-on left-turn or angle crashes.
MDOT's Michigan left-turn guidance says median crossovers often cut crashes by 30% to 60% by eliminating direct left turns. The design still asks drivers to weave toward the crossover lanes.
Which Southfield Roads See the Most Crashes?
Half of Southfield's 2025 crashes happened on local streets, and most of the rest happened on state and U.S. routes. The same Michigan Traffic Crash Facts profiles break the numbers down by road type:
| Road type in Southfield | 2024 crashes | 2025 crashes |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate | 570 | 248 |
| U.S. route | 458 | 496 |
| State route | 752 | 756 |
| Local street | 1,531 | 1,522 |
These road-type categories total two fewer crashes than Southfield's citywide total in both years. The state profile does not explain the difference, so the table should not be read as a complete reconciliation of every reported crash.
The biggest change came on Southfield's interstate stretch, where crashes fell from 570 to 248. That drop lines up with MDOT's closure of eastbound I-696 between M-10 and I-75 starting in March 2025, although the crash data alone doesn't prove the closure caused it.
Crashes on U.S. routes, which include Telegraph Road, rose from 458 to 496. State routes such as M-10 held nearly steady at about 750 crashes a year.
Local streets deserve attention too. Neighborhood roads and city streets produced more than 1,500 crashes in each of the last two years, far more than the city's interstate stretch in either year.
What crash counts don't tell you
Raw crash totals are a starting point, not a full safety score. Keep these limits in mind when you compare intersections:
- The counts include only crashes reported to police.
- Busier intersections log more crashes partly because more vehicles pass through them.
- Different sources define an intersection crash differently, so totals can vary between reports.
- Construction and detours can shift crashes from one road to another in a single year.
Anyone who wants to dig deeper can use the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts query tools to filter Southfield crashes by location, year, and crash type.
What Should You Do When a Traffic Light Is Out in Southfield?
If a traffic signal is dark, shows conflicting lights, or otherwise fails to clearly indicate the right of way, MCL 257.649 requires drivers to stop, yield to vehicles that pose an immediate hazard, and proceed with ordinary care. Michigan State Police guidance says four-way-stop rules apply when no police officer or other traffic-control device is directing traffic.
Storms that knock out power across Metro Detroit put this rule to the test. Lawrence Kajy has pointed out that many drivers don't know it, which matters most when a whole corridor goes dark. At a dark signal, follow these steps:
- Stop at the stop line, or before the crosswalk if there's no line.
- Yield to any vehicle already in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard.
- Let drivers go one at a time in the order they arrived.
- Watch for pedestrians crossing without a walk signal.
- Proceed only when your path is clear.
Failing to stop can be strong evidence of fault, but responsibility still depends on the circumstances of the crash and each driver's actions.
Who's at fault when a signal is out?
A dark signal does not erase the normal right-of-way rules. Fault can turn on who failed to stop, who entered first, or whether a driver pulled into the path of another vehicle that posed an immediate hazard. Witness statements, video, the crash report, and vehicle damage can help establish what happened.
How Kajy Law Firm Helps After a Southfield Intersection Crash
Intersection claims usually come down to one question: who had the right of way? Both drivers often say they had the green light, so the case turns on proof. Gathering proof after a Michigan collision is especially important after a Southfield intersection crash. Our team gathers this evidence:
- Video from businesses and gas stations along Telegraph Road and other busy corridors
- Witness names and statements, including from bus riders and pedestrians
- The crash report from Southfield police or Michigan State Police
- Photos of vehicle damage, which show the angle of impact
- Event data from newer vehicles showing speed and braking
Many businesses record over their video on a set schedule, so early requests matter most.
While fault gets sorted out, PIP benefits for medical care and lost wages are paid according to Michigan's no-fault priority rules under MCL 500.3114. For many people, that means their own policy, but exceptions apply. A claim against the at-fault driver can cover pain and suffering after a car accident once your injuries meet the threshold in MCL 500.3135.
Rear-end crashes at red lights follow a clearer rule. Under MCL 257.402, a driver who strikes the rear of a car stopped at a light is presumed negligent, although evidence such as a sudden emergency can rebut that presumption.
Our team also handles the insurance side while you heal. That includes filing claims for personal injury protection in Michigan, tracking medical bills and wage loss, and dealing with adjusters so you don't have to handle recorded statements on your own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southfield Intersection Crashes
Who is at fault in a car accident at an intersection in Michigan?
Fault in a Michigan intersection crash usually depends on who failed to yield. Under MCL 257.650, a left-turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic that poses an immediate hazard. Michigan compares each driver's fault, and a driver more than 50% at fault can't recover pain-and-suffering damages. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in Michigan may also provide protection when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage.
How does a Michigan left turn work?
To make a Michigan left, drive through the intersection, move into the left lane, and turn into the median crossover. When traffic clears, make the U-turn, then turn right at the original intersection if you're heading onto the cross street. Obey any signal or sign at the crossover.
Can you turn left on a red light in Michigan?
Michigan allows a left turn on red in only one situation. Under MCL 257.612, after a full stop, a driver may turn left from a one-way or two-way street onto a one-way street carrying traffic in that direction, unless a sign prohibits it. The driver must still yield to pedestrians and other traffic in the intersection.
What county in Michigan has the most car accidents?
Wayne County recorded the most crashes in Michigan in 2025, with 49,282, according to the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts statewide summary. Oakland County, home to Southfield, logged 35,292 crashes. Statewide, Michigan recorded 290,221 crashes and 1,065 deaths that year.
What is being done to reduce crashes at busy Southfield intersections?
Recent road projects in and around Southfield have focused on pavement and signals. A 2024 Road Commission for Oakland County project on 12 Mile Road from Telegraph Road to Northwestern Highway included signal upgrades at four intersections.
The county also resurfaced and modernized signals on Southfield Road between 11 Mile and 12 Mile, a stretch the city described as carrying about 37,000 vehicles a day.
Talk to Kajy Law Firm About Your Southfield Intersection Crash
Kajy Law Firm has handled 5,000+ cases and recovered $100M+ for injured clients across Metro Detroit. Call our Southfield office 24/7 at 248-702-6641 or contact us online for a free consultation about your crash. You pay no fee unless we win.