Warren has some of the busiest roads and intersections in Macomb County. For motorcyclists, navigating these areas can present additional risks because riders are smaller in a driver’s field of vision and have far less protection when a collision occurs.
Crash data does not mean that every collision at a high-crash intersection involves a motorcycle. However, understanding where large numbers of crashes occur can help Warren riders recognize locations where traffic volume, turning vehicles, freeway access, lane changes, and complicated intersection layouts may require additional attention.
If you were injured because another driver caused a motorcycle crash in Warren, a Warren motorcycle accident lawyer at Khamo Law can investigate the collision and help determine your options for pursuing compensation.
Call 248-466-0606 for a complimentary consultation.
Which Warren Intersections Have High Crash Numbers?
The City of Warren has previously identified several intersections with substantial numbers of reported crashes.
In a city planning document examining crash data from 2016 through 2020, Warren identified these among its highest-ranked intersections based on the annual average number of reported crashes:
- Van Dyke Avenue at 11 Mile Road
- 12 Mile Road at Dequindre Road
- 14 Mile Road at Schoenherr Road
- 14 Mile Road at Dequindre Road
- 12 Mile Road at Ryan Road
- Schoenherr Road at 13 Mile Road
- 12 Mile Road at Hoover Road
- 12 Mile Road at Schoenherr Road
- Dequindre Road at 11 Mile Road
- 10 Mile Road at Hoover Road
The city’s rankings were based on the number of reported crashes rather than crash rates adjusted for traffic volume, an important distinction when interpreting the data. The information appears in an official City of Warren planning document.
These figures apply to reported traffic crashes generally, not motorcycle crashes alone. Still, they provide useful context about where collisions have historically concentrated within Warren.
11 Mile Road, I-696 and Van Dyke Avenue
The area around 11 Mile Road, the I-696 service drive and Van Dyke Avenue deserves particular attention.
In 2024, there were 185 reported crashes and 26 injuries associated with the intersection area, according to an analysis of Michigan State Police crash-report data. The crash count includes reported crashes occurring within 200 feet of the intersection and can therefore include crashes involving ramps, service drives and nearby roadway configurations.
Khamo Law has already examined this location in greater detail in our article about the 11 Mile Road/I-696 and Van Dyke Avenue intersection in Warren.
For motorcyclists, the combination of multiple traffic movements in a relatively small area can be important.
A rider may encounter:
- Vehicles entering or exiting I-696
- Drivers moving between through lanes and service-drive lanes
- Left- and right-turning vehicles
- Sudden lane changes
- Drivers attempting to reach businesses along Van Dyke
- Heavy traffic during commuting periods
- Drivers concentrating on other vehicles rather than motorcycles
A crash at a complicated intersection should be investigated based on the specific movements of each vehicle rather than assuming fault simply from where the impact occurred.
12 Mile Road and Dequindre Road
The intersection of 12 Mile Road and Dequindre Road ranked second among the Warren intersections listed in the city’s earlier crash analysis, averaging approximately 49.6 reported crashes annually during the 2016–2020 period.
Motorcycle collisions near major intersections like this can involve several different scenarios.
A motorist may:
- Turn left across a rider’s path
- Enter the road without sufficient clearance
- Run a traffic signal
- Change lanes while approaching the intersection
- Fail to recognize the motorcycle before turning
When drivers provide conflicting accounts, evidence from the surrounding area can become especially important.
That can include photographs, witness statements, vehicle damage, surveillance footage and police documentation.
14 Mile Road and Schoenherr Road
Warren’s earlier city data ranked 14 Mile Road and Schoenherr Road among its higher-crash intersections.
Motorcyclists approaching a large intersection have to monitor more than the traffic signal itself.
Vehicles may be entering turn lanes, crossing multiple lanes, changing direction unexpectedly or preparing to enter nearby businesses.
One of the most important issues following a motorcycle collision is determining exactly where each vehicle was located immediately before the crash.
That investigation may involve:
- Final vehicle positions
- Impact locations
- Debris
- Tire marks
- Video
- Witness accounts
- Traffic signals
- Vehicle electronic data when available
These details can help determine whether a driver failed to yield, changed lanes improperly or otherwise caused the collision.
14 Mile Road and Dequindre Road
The intersection of 14 Mile Road and Dequindre Road also appeared among Warren’s higher-crash locations in the city’s historical analysis.
Motorcyclists traveling through intersections near city boundaries can encounter significant traffic moving between Warren and neighboring communities.
A driver who fails to properly judge the motorcycle’s approach may attempt a turn when there is not enough time or distance to complete it safely.
Drivers sometimes describe these crashes by saying:
“I didn’t see the motorcycle.”
But that statement does not necessarily determine liability.
The important question may be whether a reasonably careful driver should have observed the approaching motorcycle before entering or crossing its lane.
12 Mile Road and Ryan Road
12 Mile Road at Ryan Road was another intersection included near the top of Warren’s historical crash rankings.
Motorcycle crashes around intersections commonly involve disputed right-of-way.
For example, one driver may claim to have had a green light while another says the opposite.
When that happens, attorneys may investigate whether evidence exists beyond the drivers’ statements.
Potential evidence could include:
- Nearby business surveillance
- Dashcams
- Traffic-camera information when available
- Independent witnesses
- Police observations
- Vehicle damage
- Crash-scene photographs
The sooner potentially useful evidence is identified, the better the opportunity may be to preserve it.
Schoenherr Road and 13 Mile Road
Warren’s city data also identified Schoenherr Road at 13 Mile Road as a location with a comparatively high annual average of reported crashes during the period examined.
At a busy multilane intersection, motorcycles can be particularly vulnerable to vehicles that move laterally.
Drivers may check their mirrors for another car yet fail to recognize that a motorcycle is occupying the adjacent lane.
An unsafe lane change can force a rider to:
- Brake suddenly
- Leave the lane
- Lose control
- Strike another vehicle
- Be sideswiped by the merging vehicle
A rider does not necessarily need to be directly struck by the negligent vehicle for another driver’s actions to become relevant to liability.
12 Mile Road and Hoover Road
The intersection of 12 Mile Road and Hoover Road was also included among Warren’s higher-crash intersections in the city’s analysis.
Commercial corridors can create another motorcycle risk: vehicles constantly entering and leaving driveways.
Drivers exiting businesses may be watching for larger vehicles while overlooking an approaching motorcycle.
A collision involving a driveway or parking-lot exit can require investigators to determine:
- How far away the motorcycle was when the vehicle entered
- Whether either driver’s view was obstructed
- Whether the entering driver stopped
- The motorcycle’s approximate speed
- Whether nearby cameras captured the vehicles
- Whether other traffic affected visibility
These cases should be evaluated using the actual evidence rather than assumptions about either driver.
12 Mile Road and Schoenherr Road
12 Mile Road at Schoenherr Road also appears in Warren’s historical top-intersection crash data.
One recurring danger at large intersections is a left-turning vehicle crossing the path of a motorcycle traveling straight.
Because motorcycles have a narrower profile than cars or trucks, drivers can sometimes misjudge their distance or simply fail to register them before beginning a turn.
A serious left-turn motorcycle crash may require examination of:
- Right of way
- Traffic-light phases
- Sight distance
- Vehicle speeds
- Turn timing
- Point of impact
- Surveillance footage
- Witness statements
The physical evidence can often provide information that is not apparent from a driver’s initial description of the crash.
Dequindre Road and 11 Mile Road
The city’s earlier ranking also included Dequindre Road at 11 Mile Road.
For riders, intersections connecting major Warren roads can create multiple potential conflict points within seconds.
A motorcycle may be traveling straight while another vehicle is:
- Turning left
- Turning right
- Entering from a side road
- Moving into another lane
- Leaving a business
- Accelerating toward an upcoming freeway entrance
When several traffic movements occur simultaneously, determining fault can require a detailed reconstruction of the seconds leading to impact.
10 Mile Road and Hoover Road
Rounding out the top 10 intersections identified in Warren’s historical city analysis was 10 Mile Road at Hoover Road.
Even intersections farther from Warren’s largest commercial corridors can produce serious motorcycle collisions.
The consequences for a rider can be substantial because there is no passenger compartment, seat belt or surrounding vehicle structure to absorb the impact.
Motorcycle crashes can result in injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Leg and knee injuries
- Internal injuries
- Road rash
- Nerve damage
- Scarring
- Permanent impairment
Riders suffering serious head trauma can learn more about how Khamo Law approaches these cases on our Warren brain injury lawyer page.
Why Intersections Can Be Especially Dangerous for Motorcyclists
Intersections bring multiple traffic paths together.
For motorcyclists, several factors can increase the potential consequences of a driver’s mistake.
Left-Turning Vehicles
A driver may attempt to turn left in front of an approaching motorcycle.
These crashes can become severe because the motorcycle may strike the side or front of the turning vehicle with little time to stop.
Drivers Entering From Side Roads
A driver stopped on a side street may look for approaching cars but fail to recognize a motorcycle before entering the road.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Drivers approaching an intersection may move suddenly between lanes because they realize they are in the wrong lane for an upcoming turn.
A motorcycle traveling beside the vehicle can become trapped in the driver’s blind spot.
Red-Light Violations
A vehicle entering an intersection against a traffic signal can leave a motorcyclist with almost no opportunity to avoid impact.
Distracted Driving
A driver looking at a phone, navigation system or another distraction may fail to notice a motorcycle stopped or moving through the intersection.
Commercial Driveways
Many Warren roads include closely spaced stores, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses.
Vehicles entering or exiting those properties can cross a motorcyclist’s travel lane.
Warren’s Van Dyke Corridor Presents Broader Traffic-Safety Concerns
Warren has also studied transportation safety along major city corridors.
The city’s Van Dyke Corridor Plan examined pedestrian and bicycle crash patterns and identified substantial numbers of vulnerable-road-user crashes along portions of Van Dyke, 12 Mile Road, Nine Mile Road and other corridors.
Those pedestrian and bicycle statistics should not be interpreted as motorcycle crash statistics. However, they demonstrate why Warren continues examining safety issues involving people traveling without the physical protection of a passenger vehicle.
Motorcyclists face their own distinct risks but share one fundamental vulnerability: when a motor vehicle causes a collision, there is comparatively little protection between the person and the roadway.
What Evidence Can Help After a Warren Intersection Motorcycle Crash?
A motorcycle accident investigation should begin with the evidence that actually exists.
Depending on the crash, useful evidence may include:
Police Reports
Police reports can identify drivers, witnesses, vehicles, insurance carriers and an officer’s observations at the scene.
Intersection and Business Video
Businesses near Warren’s commercial roads may have security cameras facing parking lots, entrances or portions of the roadway.
Footage can sometimes establish vehicle positions or movements immediately before a crash.
Because recording systems may automatically overwrite old footage, preservation can become time-sensitive.
Dashcam or Helmet-Camera Footage
A motorcycle-mounted camera, helmet camera or another vehicle’s dashcam can provide an independent view of the collision.
Witness Statements
Drivers, pedestrians, employees at nearby businesses or people waiting at an intersection may have observed part of the crash.
Physical Evidence
Damage patterns, debris, tire marks, scrape marks and final vehicle positions can help investigators understand how the collision occurred.
Electronic Vehicle Information
Depending on the vehicle and circumstances, electronic data may provide information relevant to the moments surrounding a crash.
A more extensive investigation may also involve an accident reconstruction professional.
What If the Other Driver Says the Motorcyclist Was at Fault?
Motorcyclists sometimes encounter assumptions about speed or rider behavior immediately after a collision.
Those assumptions are not evidence.
If a driver claims the rider was speeding, weaving through traffic or otherwise responsible, the allegation should be compared with objective evidence.
Investigators may examine:
- Damage
- Vehicle positions
- Video
- Witnesses
- Roadway evidence
- Electronic information
- Police documentation
- Reconstruction findings
Michigan’s comparative-fault rules can make disputes about responsibility financially significant.
That is one reason serious motorcycle crashes deserve careful investigation before an injured rider accepts an insurer’s version of what happened.
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Crash at a Warren Intersection?
Your immediate priority should be safety and medical treatment.
When circumstances allow, useful steps can include:
- Call 911 and report the collision.
- Seek medical attention for injuries.
- Obtain the other driver’s information.
- Photograph the motorcycles, vehicles and crash location.
- Photograph traffic signals, signs and roadway conditions.
- Identify witnesses.
- Look for nearby businesses or residences with cameras.
- Preserve riding equipment and damaged property.
- Avoid giving unnecessary recorded statements before understanding your rights.
- Speak with an attorney if the collision resulted in significant injuries or disputed liability.
Khamo Law has a more detailed guide explaining what to do after a motorcycle accident in Michigan.
Can You Recover Compensation After a Warren Intersection Motorcycle Crash?
Potential compensation depends on the circumstances of the collision, applicable Michigan law, available insurance and the rider’s injuries.
A claim may potentially involve compensation for losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages or income
- Future medical care
- Reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Other legally recoverable damages
Michigan motorcycle insurance issues can differ substantially from ordinary passenger-vehicle claims.
Our Michigan motorcycle accident lawyer resource explains those broader legal and insurance considerations.
Who May Be Responsible for an Intersection Motorcycle Accident?
Depending on the evidence, potential responsibility may rest with:
- A negligent passenger-vehicle driver
- A commercial driver
- A driver’s employer
- A vehicle owner
- Multiple motorists
- Another responsible person or entity
A commercial-vehicle collision may involve additional evidence such as driver records, dispatch information and business records.
If the collision involved a commercial truck, see our Warren truck accident lawyer resource.
How a Warren Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Investigate the Crash
A motorcycle accident attorney may investigate issues such as:
- Which driver had the right of way
- Whether a motorist failed to yield
- Whether an unsafe lane change occurred
- Whether distraction played a role
- Whether video exists
- Whether witnesses can be located
- What the physical evidence shows
- Which insurance policies may apply
- Whether more than one party bears responsibility
- The extent of the rider’s injuries and losses
For collisions involving significant injuries, building the case early can help prevent important evidence from disappearing.
Warren Motorcycle Intersection Accident FAQ
What is the highest-crash intersection in Warren?
Based on 2024 crash data analyzed from Michigan State Police reports, the area around 11 Mile Road/I-696 and Van Dyke Avenue recorded 185 crashes and 26 injuries.
Khamo Law has a separate article specifically covering the 11 Mile and Van Dyke intersection.
Are these statistics specifically motorcycle crashes?
No. The intersection rankings discussed above primarily measure reported traffic crashes involving all vehicle types.
They are useful for identifying locations with significant crash activity, but they should not be represented as motorcycle-only statistics.
Can a driver be responsible if they say they never saw my motorcycle?
Potentially.
A driver’s failure to notice a motorcycle does not automatically excuse a failure to yield or another negligent action.
Fault depends on the complete circumstances and evidence.
What if there is no video of my motorcycle crash?
A case does not necessarily require video.
Police records, witnesses, physical evidence, vehicle damage, photographs, electronic information and accident reconstruction may help establish what occurred.
What if I was partly responsible?
Michigan comparative-fault rules may affect the compensation available in a negligence claim.
The effect depends on the type of damages and the percentage of fault attributed to each party, so a disputed-fault motorcycle accident should be evaluated individually.
How quickly should surveillance footage be requested?
As soon as practical.
Private businesses and other camera owners may retain footage only temporarily before their systems overwrite it.
Injured at a Warren Intersection? Contact Khamo Law
A motorcycle collision at a busy Warren intersection can happen within seconds, but determining why it happened may require a detailed investigation.
Khamo Law can examine police documentation, witnesses, available video, vehicle damage and other evidence to help determine who was responsible and what compensation may be available.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Warren, contact a Warren motorcycle accident lawyer at Khamo Law.
Call 248-466-0606 today for a complimentary consultation.