Fresno is taking a harder look at why so many crashes happen at its intersections, and the changes coming to city streets may affect what evidence is available if you are hurt in a collision. On May 21, 2026, the Fresno City Council voted on the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan, a road-safety framework aimed at ending traffic deaths and serious injuries. The plan arrives alongside a separate push to bring automated red-light cameras back to some of the city’s crash-prone intersections.
If you drive, walk, or ride a bike in Fresno, here is a plain-English look at what these developments mean and what to do if a crash leaves you injured.
Why Fresno Is Focused on Its Intersections
The numbers behind the plan are sobering. According to city figures cited during council discussions, Fresno recorded 217 fatal crashes and 629 severe injury crashes between 2019 and 2023. City engineers also reported that roughly 89% of all fatal and severe injury crashes happen on just 14% of the road network, which means a small number of streets and intersections account for most of the harm.
That data is why the Vision Zero effort concentrates on specific corridors. Streets and crossings that have come up in the city’s safety discussions include Blackstone Avenue, along with intersections such as Clinton and Van Ness avenues and Shields and First avenues. These are places where high traffic volume, wide lanes, and frequent turning movements combine to raise the risk of a serious collision.
What Red-Light Cameras Could Change for Injured Drivers
Fresno’s proposed red-light camera program is still moving through the approval process, and city leaders have said funding and further votes are needed before cameras go live. If the program does move forward, it would place automated cameras at intersections identified as having the highest crash risk.
For someone injured in a crash, camera footage can matter. Intersection collisions often come down to one question: who had the right of way. When a driver runs a red light or turns unsafely, independent footage can help document what happened instead of leaving it to conflicting accounts. Even where city cameras are not present, nearby businesses, traffic signals, and doorbell cameras may have recorded the moments before impact, and that evidence can disappear quickly if no one requests it.
What to Do If You Are Hurt in a Fresno Crash
The hours and days after a collision are when the most useful evidence is still available. If you are able, these steps can help protect your health and preserve the facts:
- Call 911 and report the crash so officers create a written collision report.
- Get medical attention promptly, even if you feel only sore, because some injuries surface later.
- Photograph the scene, the vehicles, the signal or signage, and any visible injuries.
- Note the exact intersection and the direction each vehicle was traveling.
- Ask nearby businesses whether they have security cameras that may have captured the crash.
- Exchange insurance and contact information, and collect names of any witnesses.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you understand your rights.
Taking these steps does not require you to know who was at fault. It simply keeps your options open while the details are fresh.
How a Local Injury Claim Comes Together
After a serious crash, an injury claim is really about documenting what happened and what it cost you. That includes the collision report, medical records, proof of lost income, and any footage or physical evidence from the scene. When those pieces are gathered early and organized carefully, it is easier to present a clear picture to an insurance company.
Deadlines matter too. California generally gives injured people two years from the date of a crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, and shorter deadlines can apply when a government entity may share responsibility, such as a claim involving a poorly designed intersection or a malfunctioning signal. Missing a deadline can end a claim before it starts, so it helps to understand the timeline early.
Getting Help After a Fresno Collision
Fresno’s Vision Zero plan and the discussion around red-light cameras reflect a simple reality: a handful of intersections cause an outsized share of injuries, and drivers passing through them deserve safer conditions and fair treatment when a crash occurs. If you were injured in a collision in Fresno, our team can help you understand your options, gather the records and footage that support your account, and deal with the insurance company on your behalf.
NMF Law Group handles car accident claims across California, and you can learn more about our work for injured drivers in the area on our Fresno car accident lawyer page. We work on a contingency basis, which means no attorney’s fees unless we win.
Source: GV Wire, "Fresno Council Hopes Red Light Cameras Will Eliminate Driving Deaths" (May 2026)