The Long Island Expressway (LIE) is the section of Interstate 495 that runs through Nassau and Suffolk Counties. With 200,000 vehicles using the LIE daily, it’s one of the busiest and historically one of the most dangerous local routes.
There were 110 fatal crashes on the LIE between 2010 and 2024. The Suffolk County section is statistically more deadly than Nassau’s end.
If you were injured on the LIE, a personal injury attorney at The Raimondo Law Firm is available to review your case, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you may be entitled to. If you use this expressway regularly, understanding its history and its risks can help to keep you and your passengers safe.
Key Takeaways
- There were 110 fatal crashes and 120 deaths recorded on the LIE in Nassau and Suffolk between 2010 and 2024.
- Suffolk has more fatal crashes, but Nassau’s busy exits also record frequent accidents.
- Speed, congestion, and night driving (combined with fatigue and low visibility) are the leading risk factors.
What are the Most Dangerous Parts of the Long Island Expressway?
Fatal crashes on the LIE are clustered in specific communities. Melville and Manorville have the most reported deaths and crashes.
More than half of all reported fatal crashes occur between 8 PM and 6 AM.
While fatal crashes attract the most public attention and are often featured in local news, the numbers are much higher when you look at non-fatal accidents. Exit 39 (Glen Cove Road) has the highest rate of accidents along the expressway. Several technical factors contribute to this.
- Short merging distances mean drivers have only brief windows to slow down, change lanes, and adjust to traffic on the service road.
- There are several service road intersections with signal lights. This can back traffic up onto the off-ramp, forcing drivers traveling at high speed to brake abruptly. This significantly increases the risk of rear-end collisions.
- Speed differentials also play a role when you look at the wider area. Exit 39 routes traffic to commercial zones and residential corridors. The transition from expressway to suburban speeds, multiple lane splits, and driveway cuts all contribute to driver errors.
If you are involved in an accident on the LIE, or on a service road or Glen Cove Road itself, the facts are likely to be complex. Determining who is at fault isn’t always straightforward, especially with the complexity of the various intersections. An accident attorney can review your case and investigate to identify who is at fault for injuries and property damage. This process often involves independent accident reconstruction professionals.
Proving fault is essential in serious injury cases. Drivers in New York are barred from suing for pain and suffering if they share more responsibility for an accident than another driver.
Increasing Your Safety on the LIE
Speed, congestion, fatigue, and complex merging and interchanges all make driving on the LIE more dangerous than most roads on Long Island. Some simple steps and changes to how you drive can help improve safety.
- Leave more following distance than you think you need, especially when approaching exits.
- Match your speed to the traffic and conditions, not the fastest moving vehicle.
- Don’t use your phone when you are driving.
- Take extra care between sunset and dawn. Reduced visibility and fatigued drivers increase the danger.
- Follow all posted lane rules and speed signs. Slow down around road construction and emergency lights.
Have You Been Hurt on the Long Island Expressway? Talk to the Team at the Raimondo Law Firm
If you are injured on the Long Island Expressway, seek medical attention and then call an accident attorney immediately. Fast action can protect your rights, ensure that you adhere to all legal requirements, and it helps to preserve any necessary evidence that you might need for a serious injury claim.
The Raimondo Law Firm will evaluate your case for free. Talk to a Long Island personal injury attorney at (631) 471-1222 today.