The Most Dangerous Intersections in Pueblo, Colorado

How Pueblo Drivers Can Reduce Their Risk and Protect Themselves After a Crash

By Michael Clawson, Pueblo Personal Injury Attorney

Pueblo Intersections Where Drivers Should Use Extra Caution

Drivers in Pueblo travel through busy highway interchanges, commercial corridors, and neighborhood intersections every day. Most trips end safely. Still, local crash data show that some intersections see far more collisions than others. Knowing where those locations are - and changing how you approach them - can reduce your risk of a serious accident.

The Pueblo Area Council of Governments has published a ranking of the City of Pueblo's top crash locations using crash data analyzed through DiExSys. The list below is based on that local ranking. A high number of reported crashes does not mean an intersection is always unsafe or that every collision happened for the same reason. Traffic volume, roadway design, driver behavior, weather, visibility, and nearby businesses can all affect crash frequency.

The larger concern is the overall pattern. Pueblo's Comprehensive Safety Action Plan reports that, from 2018 through 2023, 200 people were killed and 682 were seriously injured in motor-vehicle crashes in the Pueblo area. The plan also identified a relatively small portion of Pueblo's roadway system as accounting for a large share of injury and fatal crashes.

The Ten Pueblo Intersections With the Most Reported Crashes

The same local report shows that rear-end crashes made up a substantial share of collisions at many of these locations. Several intersections also recorded broadside, approach-turn, pedestrian, motorcycle, fatal, or serious-injury crashes. That combination makes defensive driving especially important, even when you have a green light or the right of way.

Why These Pueblo Intersections Create Added Risk

Highway speeds meet local traffic

Several locations connect US 50, Highway 47, Pueblo Boulevard, Northern Avenue, or Thatcher Avenue with city streets and commercial entrances. Drivers may be slowing from highway speeds while others are entering, turning, or changing lanes. The difference in speed can turn a routine mistake into a serious collision.

Heavy traffic and frequent lane changes

Busy corridors create more opportunities for conflict. Drivers may change lanes late, follow too closely, stop abruptly, or focus on finding a business entrance instead of watching surrounding traffic. Congestion also increases the chance of rear-end crashes.

Left turns and broadside crashes

A left turn requires a driver to judge the speed and distance of approaching traffic. A misjudgment, blocked line of sight, or red-light violation can cause a broadside collision. Side-impact crashes are particularly dangerous because the side of a vehicle provides less space to absorb the force of impact.

Pedestrians motorcycles and bicycles

Intersections are shared spaces. A driver watching only for other cars may miss a person in a crosswalk, a bicyclist approaching from the side, or a motorcycle hidden in a blind spot. Pueblo's safety planning materials specifically recognize the need to protect vulnerable road users.

How to Protect Yourself at Busy Pueblo Intersections

Slow down before the intersection

Ease off the accelerator early. A lower approach speed gives you more time to react to a changing light, a sudden stop, or a vehicle entering your lane.

Leave more following distance

Do not rely on the driver ahead to stop gradually. Leave enough room to brake if traffic backs up unexpectedly.

Pause before entering on green

A green light does not guarantee that cross traffic has stopped. Look left, right, and left again, especially during the first seconds after the light changes.

Watch the wheels of turning vehicles

A vehicle's wheels often reveal movement before the driver completes a turn. Be prepared for a driver to turn across your path or drift into your lane.

Avoid changing lanes inside the intersection

Choose the correct lane before you enter. Sudden lane changes reduce reaction time and make your vehicle harder for others to predict.

Do not rush a yellow light

If you can stop safely, stop. Accelerating to beat the light increases the risk of meeting a driver who enters early from the opposite direction.

Keep your phone out of reach

Colorado's hands-free driving law and basic common sense point in the same direction: a phone should not compete for your attention while you are driving.

Expect pedestrians and motorcycles

Check crosswalks, mirrors, and blind spots before turning. Give motorcycles a full lane and allow extra following distance.

Use added caution after dark or in bad weather

Glare, rain, snow, ice, and poor lighting can hide lane markings and make it harder to judge speed. Reduce speed and increase following distance.

Never drive impaired

Arrange a sober ride before drinking or using any substance that could affect judgment, coordination, or reaction time.

What to Do After a Crash at a Pueblo Intersection

Even careful drivers cannot control everyone around them. If you are involved in a collision, your actions in the first minutes and days can protect both your health and your legal rights.

1. Call 911 and report the crash. Ask for medical help if anyone may be injured.
2. Move to a safe location if you can do so without creating more danger, but do not leave the scene.
3. Photograph the vehicles, damage, debris, skid marks, traffic signals, lane markings, signs, weather, and the entire intersection.
4. Get the names and contact information of witnesses. Independent witnesses may leave before police arrive.
5. Exchange driver, vehicle, and insurance information without arguing about fault.
6. Seek prompt medical attention. Adrenaline can temporarily hide symptoms, and some injuries become more noticeable later.
7. Preserve dash-camera video and ask nearby businesses whether surveillance footage exists. Video may be overwritten quickly.
8. Report the collision to your insurer, but use caution before giving a recorded statement to another driver's insurance company.
9. Keep medical bills, repair estimates, wage-loss records, photographs, and insurance correspondence together.
10. Speak with an experienced Pueblo car accident attorney before signing a release or accepting a final settlement.

A Local Pueblo Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Preserve the Evidence

Intersection cases are not always simple. Drivers may disagree about the color of the light, who had the right of way, how fast each vehicle was traveling, or whether a turn was safe. Important evidence may include traffic-camera or business video, electronic vehicle data, cell-phone records, witness statements, vehicle inspections, and the police report.

At Clawson & Clawson, LLP, we represent people injured in car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and other serious accidents throughout Pueblo and Southern Colorado. With a Pueblo office at 503 North Main Street, Suite 411, our firm is available to help local families understand their options and deal with the insurance companies.

If you or a family member was injured at a Pueblo intersection, contact Clawson & Clawson, LLP for a free consultation. There is no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most dangerous intersection in Pueblo?

Based on the cited PACOG ranking, the Exit 101 area connecting US 50A and Highway 47 near Cesar Chavez Boulevard had the highest reported crash count, with 50 crashes. Rankings can change as new crash data are collected.

Why do so many crashes happen at intersections?

Intersections bring together vehicles traveling in different directions along with turning traffic, changing signals, pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles. Speed, distraction, impairment, following too closely, and failure to yield can increase the danger.

Should I see a doctor if I feel sore after a Pueblo car accident?

Yes. Prompt medical evaluation can identify injuries and connect your symptoms to the crash. If symptoms are severe or worsening, seek emergency care.

How long do I have to bring a Colorado car accident claim?

Deadlines depend on the facts, the parties involved, and the legal claims. Claims involving a governmental entity may require much earlier notice. Speak with an attorney promptly rather than relying on a general deadline.

What if the insurance company says I was partly at fault?

Colorado uses a modified comparative-negligence rule. Fault disputes can affect recovery, so preserve the evidence and obtain legal advice before accepting an insurer's conclusion.

Protecting the Rights of Injured Drivers in Pueblo

A car or truck accident can leave lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. While you focus on healing, it is important to understand your legal options and protect your rights.

For more than 32 years, Michael M. Clawson has represented individuals and families throughout Southern Colorado. He understands the challenges injured drivers face and is committed to providing personal attention, honest advice, and experienced legal representation every step of the way.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Pueblo, don't wait to learn about your legal rights. The sooner you act, the sooner important evidence can be preserved, and your case can begin moving forward.

Michael M. Clawson
Clawson & Clawson, LLP
Serving Pueblo, Colorado Springs, and clients throughout Southern Colorado

Email: michaelc@clawsonlaw.net

Sources for Editorial Review:

• Pueblo Area Council of Governments, City of Pueblo Top Crash Locations and 2024 crash summaries
• City of Pueblo and PACOG, Comprehensive Safety Action Plan materials
• Colorado Department of Transportation, Crash Data
• Clawson & Clawson, LLP, What to Do After a Car Accident on I-25 Near Pueblo