The roundabout at 18½ Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights has repeatedly appeared near the top of Michigan crash rankings.
In 2024, 162 crashes and 12 injuries were reported at the location, up from 135 crashes in 2023. Based on total reported crashes, it ranked second among Michigan intersections and first among Michigan roundabouts in the 2024 analysis.
But total crash counts don’t tell the entire safety story.
A Sterling Heights government review of crashes at the roundabout from 2019 through 2025 reportedly found no fatalities or serious injuries during that period. That distinction is important: a location can experience many reported collisions without those crashes necessarily producing the same severity of injuries associated with some traditional high-speed intersections.
For drivers involved in a collision here, the roundabout’s unusual roadway configuration can also make determining exactly how the crash occurred more complicated.
If you were injured in a collision at this roundabout or elsewhere in the city, Khamo Law’s Sterling Heights car accident lawyers can investigate how the crash occurred, identify available evidence, and evaluate the insurance issues involved. Car crashes are part of Khamo Law’s broader Sterling Heights injury practice, which also includes truck accidents, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian and bicycle injuries, premises liability, dog bites, and other negligence claims handled by our Sterling Heights personal injury lawyers.
Where Is the 18½ Mile and Van Dyke Roundabout?
The roundabout is located at 18½ Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue/M-53 in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
It serves traffic traveling through the Van Dyke corridor and connections involving 18½ Mile Road and the M-53/Van Dyke freeway.
The City of Sterling Heights has identified the North Van Dyke corridor beginning at 18½ Mile Road and extending north toward the Utica city limits near M-59 as an important area for transportation and redevelopment planning.
How Many Crashes Occur at 18½ Mile and Van Dyke?
The number has varied considerably from year to year.
Reported total crashes at the location were:
- 2019: 229 crashes
- 2020: 131 crashes
- 2021: 168 crashes
- 2022: 118 crashes
- 2023: 135 crashes
- 2024: 162 crashes
The 2024 total represented approximately a 20% increase from 2023.
There were also 12 reported injuries in 2024, compared with nine in 2023.
Those numbers explain why the intersection frequently appears on lists based on total crash volume.
However, crash frequency and crash severity are different measurements.
Is the 18½ Mile and Van Dyke Roundabout Really Dangerous?
Calling an intersection the “most dangerous” based solely on the number of crashes can oversimplify what the data actually shows.
The roundabout had a high number of reported collisions in 2024. At the same time, a Sterling Heights review of crashes at the location reportedly found no fatal or serious-injury crashes between 2019 and 2025.
Roundabouts are designed differently from conventional intersections. Vehicles generally travel through them at lower speeds, and the design reduces certain conflict points associated with traditional intersections.
That does not mean injuries cannot occur.
It means drivers should distinguish between:
How often collisions happen and how severe those collisions tend to be.
For a broader comparison with other locations in the city, see our guide to the most dangerous intersections in Sterling Heights.
Why Can Crashes Happen in a Roundabout?
Roundabouts require drivers to make several decisions in a relatively short period.
A driver may need to:
- Choose the correct lane before entering
- Yield to circulating traffic
- Watch vehicles in adjacent lanes
- Maintain the proper lane
- Identify the correct exit
- Watch for pedestrians or other road users
- React to drivers who enter or change lanes unexpectedly
A mistake during any of these movements can result in a collision.
Failure-to-Yield Crashes
Drivers approaching a roundabout generally need to account for vehicles already circulating within it.
A collision may occur when an entering vehicle proceeds when there is insufficient space.
When fault is disputed, investigators may examine where the vehicles entered, their direction of travel, lane position, and the location of the impact.
Lane-Change and Sideswipe Accidents
Multi-lane roundabouts can create lane-position disputes.
Two drivers may agree that they were both inside the roundabout but disagree about which vehicle moved into the other’s lane.
Evidence may include:
- Damage along the sides of the vehicles
- Photographs
- Dashcam recordings
- Witness statements
- Road markings
- Video from nearby properties
The location of the damage alone may not tell the entire story, but it can become one part of the investigation.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes can occur as vehicles slow or stop while approaching the roundabout.
A driver watching circulating traffic may stop unexpectedly, while the vehicle behind may fail to react in time.
Traffic congestion, weather, distraction, and following distance can all become relevant depending on the circumstances.
Wrong-Lane and Exit Conflicts
Drivers should select and maintain the appropriate lane for their intended movement through a roundabout.
Problems can arise when a driver:
- Enters from the wrong lane
- Attempts to change lanes while circulating
- Crosses another vehicle’s path to reach an exit
- Continues around when another driver expects the vehicle to exit
These collisions can produce sharply different accounts from the drivers involved.
What Evidence Matters After a Crash at This Roundabout?
Because lane position and vehicle movement can be central issues, evidence beyond the drivers’ statements can become particularly useful.
Potential evidence includes:
- Police documentation
- Photographs of vehicle positions
- Vehicle damage
- Dashcam footage
- Witness statements
- Photographs of lane markings
- Nearby surveillance footage
- Electronic vehicle information
- Medical records
If your vehicle has a dashcam, preserve the original recording.
Our guide to dashcam footage after a Michigan car accident explains why preserving the original file can matter.
Could Cameras Have Recorded the Crash?
Possibly, depending on the precise location and direction of the cameras.
Potential sources can include:
- Nearby businesses
- Commercial properties
- Parking areas
- Other vehicles’ dashcams
- Residential or privately operated cameras in the surrounding area
There is no guarantee that a camera captured a particular crash or that a recording will remain available.
For that reason, potential video sources should be identified as early as reasonably possible.
What Should You Photograph After a Roundabout Crash?
Only collect evidence when it is safe to do so.
Useful photographs may include:
- Damage to every involved vehicle
- Wider views of the crash location
- Lane markings
- Yield signs and other traffic controls
- Vehicle positions
- Debris
- Skid or tire marks when present
- Weather and roadway conditions
- Nearby properties that may have cameras
Do not walk into active traffic or remain in an unsafe location to obtain photographs.
Who Is at Fault in a Roundabout Accident?
There is no rule that automatically assigns fault simply because one vehicle was entering or exiting a roundabout.
The actual movements of the vehicles must be evaluated.
Relevant questions may include:
- Which vehicle was already circulating?
- Did an entering driver fail to yield?
- Did either driver leave the proper lane?
- Did a vehicle cross another lane while exiting?
- Was either driver following too closely?
- Was speed a factor?
- Was either driver distracted?
- What do the physical evidence and video show?
Michigan’s comparative-fault rules may also affect certain damages when more than one person contributed to a collision.
What If the Drivers Disagree About What Happened?
This is where independent evidence becomes particularly valuable.
A driver may insist that another vehicle entered their lane while the other driver says exactly the opposite.
Dashcam footage, witnesses, vehicle damage, roadway markings, photographs, and other evidence may help reconstruct the vehicles’ movements.
Our guide to common car accidents in Sterling Heights explains how evidence can differ depending on the type and location of a collision.
What Should You Do After an 18½ Mile and Van Dyke Crash?
Your immediate health and safety come first.
When circumstances allow:
- Move away from immediate danger.
- Report the collision when required.
- Request emergency medical assistance when necessary.
- Photograph the vehicles and scene if it can be done safely.
- Obtain witness contact information.
- Preserve dashcam recordings.
- Note nearby properties that may have cameras.
- Keep medical, repair, insurance, and employment records related to the crash.
Seek appropriate medical care if you are injured.
Michigan No-Fault Benefits After a Roundabout Accident
A person injured in a qualifying Michigan motor-vehicle accident may be entitled to Personal Injury Protection benefits.
Depending on the applicable policy, statutory rules, and selected coverage, PIP benefits can include qualifying medical expenses, work-loss benefits, replacement services, and other allowable expenses.
Determining which insurer is responsible can depend on the circumstances and Michigan’s statutory priority rules.
Our Michigan No-Fault insurance lawyer resource explains these benefits in greater detail.
Can You Recover Compensation From an At-Fault Driver?
Potentially.
Michigan separates No-Fault PIP benefits from certain liability claims against an at-fault driver.
A person who satisfies Michigan’s legal requirements may be able to pursue damages that can include noneconomic loss and other legally recoverable damages.
The availability and value of a claim depend on the injuries, insurance coverage, fault evidence, damages, and other circumstances.
Sterling Heights Personal Injury Claims
A roundabout collision is one type of accident that can result in a serious injury in Sterling Heights.
Khamo Law also handles claims involving truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian and bicycle collisions, unsafe property conditions, dog attacks, and other injuries caused by negligence.
Our Sterling Heights personal injury lawyers provide a broader overview of these claims, the evidence used to establish liability, and the compensation that may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many crashes occurred at 18½ Mile and Van Dyke in 2024?
There were 162 reported crashes and 12 injuries at the Sterling Heights roundabout in 2024.
Was it Michigan’s most dangerous intersection?
Based on total reported crashes in the 2024 ranking, it was Michigan’s second-highest crash intersection. It ranked first among the roundabouts included in the analysis.
Does that mean the roundabout causes serious crashes?
Not necessarily. Crash frequency and severity are different measurements. A Sterling Heights government review reportedly found no fatalities or serious injuries at the roundabout from 2019 through 2025.
When did the Van Dyke and 18½ Mile roundabout open?
The roundabout opened in 2005.
Who has the right of way in a roundabout?
Drivers entering a roundabout generally must account for and yield to traffic already circulating, subject to the actual traffic controls and circumstances at the location.
What if another driver moved into my lane?
Lane markings, vehicle damage, photographs, witnesses, dashcam footage, and other evidence may help determine the vehicles’ movements.
Can a dashcam help prove what happened?
Yes. Dashcam footage can sometimes show lane position, vehicle movement, entry into the roundabout, or the moments immediately before impact.
Talk With a Sterling Heights Car Accident Lawyer
Roundabout crashes can produce difficult disputes about lane position, yielding, entry, and exiting.
Khamo Law Accident & Injury Lawyers maintains a Sterling Heights office at 36250 Dequindre Road, Suite 110, Sterling Heights, MI 48310, available by appointment. Our attorneys bring more than 40 years of combined legal experience to personal injury matters and have recovered more than $40 million for clients.
If you were injured in a collision at 18½ Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue or elsewhere in Sterling Heights, contact Khamo Law for a free consultation.
Call 248-466-0606 or learn more about our Sterling Heights car accident lawyers.