Pontiac crashes by the numbers
Pontiac, a city of 61,606 people at the 2020 census, had 1,967 police-reported crashes in 2024, about 32 for every 1,000 residents. That was the 7th-most of the 28 Oakland County communities on this site.
Someone was injured in 474 of them, 3 people were killed and 61 people were seriously hurt.
Of those crashes, 352 (17.9%) happened on an interstate and 42 involved alcohol.
Police also recorded 26 crashes involving a pedestrian and 19 involving a bicyclist.
Source: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Oakland County 2024 profile, tables of crashes and people by municipality. Covers calendar year 2024, the latest year with municipal tables when we checked on October 22, 2026. Counts are police-reported crashes located in the municipality. Compare communities in the metro Detroit crash data.
The firm’s only office is in Bloomfield Hills, on Woodward Avenue: see our Bloomfield Hills car accident and personal injury lawyer page for the address and directions.
How a Pontiac crash claim usually runs
- The crash report. Police services in Pontiac are provided by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (Pontiac substation, 110 E. Pike St.). Crash reports are sold online through Oakland County CLEMIS, or in person at the Sheriff’s Records Unit, 1201 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac (east side of the main jail), weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.: bring photo ID and $7 cash, and call 248-858-5011 first to confirm the report is ready. The Sheriff’s pages give different waits, 4 to 5 business days on the Records Unit page and 7 to 10 business days on the Pontiac page. Source: Oakland County Sheriff: Records Unit. If the State Police responded instead, use the Traffic Crash Purchasing System ($15 a report; it requires a MiLogin account).
- Treatment. Tell every provider the injury came from a car crash, so bills go to the no-fault insurer. See all metro Detroit trauma centers.
- Your no-fault claim. It goes to your own auto insurer (or a relative’s you live with). See what no-fault pays.
- If a lawsuit is needed. A no-fault claim of $25,000 or less usually goes to the 50th District Court, 70 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Larger claims and most suits against at-fault drivers go to the 6th Circuit Court, 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac. Where a case is actually filed depends on the facts, including where the crash happened and where the parties live or do business.
Pontiac courts, police and hospitals
| Crash reports | Oakland County Sheriff's Office (contract police services for the City of Pontiac) |
|---|---|
| District court | 50th District Court (70 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac). It also serves: City of Pontiac |
| Circuit court | 6th Circuit Court (Oakland County), 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac |
| Probate court | Oakland County Probate Court (Courthouse Tower, 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac) |
| Trauma centers | McLaren Oakland (Level II, in Pontiac); Trinity Health Oakland Hospital (Level II, in Pontiac) |
| Major roads | M-59 (Huron Street), US 24 (Telegraph Road), BL I-75 / Bus. US 24 (Woodward Loop), Saginaw Street |
Where crashes happen most in Pontiac
These are the intersections in Pontiac with the most reported crashes from 2021 through 2025, as ranked by SEMCOG, the region’s planning agency. The counts include minor crashes and aren’t adjusted for traffic volume, so they show where crashes concentrate, not how risky each trip is.
| Intersection | Crashes, 2021–2025 | 2025 | Rank in Southeast Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huron St W @ Telegraph Rd N | 209 | 33 | 42 |
| Huron St W @ Woodward Ave W | 198 | 43 | 52 |
| University Dr @ Woodward Ave E | 168 | 45 | 104 |
Source: SEMCOG High Frequency Crash Locations, intersections, retrieved October 25, 2026; some intersections combine several crash locations, such as both directions of a divided road. See the full regional rankings and method.
Road problems and local records in Pontiac
If a pothole, a missing sign or a broken signal played a part in your crash, which agency is responsible matters: claims against a road agency require written notice within as little as 120 days. See road defect and government vehicle claims.
- Pontiac residents report potholes and sidewalk problems through the city’s Citizen’s Request for Action (Public Works, 248-758-3600). MDOT takes reports for I-, M- and US-numbered routes online or at 888-296-4546. Pontiac: Citizen’s Request for Action
- Requests for Sheriff’s Office records beyond the crash report, such as video, go through Oakland County’s FOIA portal. Oakland County: FOIA
Driving in Pontiac
- Northbound Woodward Avenue (M-1) circles downtown as the Woodward Loop, and M-59 runs through the city. Source
- SMART Flex on-demand service, launched in March 2021, serves Pontiac. Source
- Pontiac recorded 61 suspected serious injuries in traffic crashes in 2024. Source
Written notice to your no-fault insurer within one year of the crash. The deadline calculator shows every date for your crash.
Other crash and injury guides
- Fatal crashes and wrongful death
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Drunk-driver crashes
- Motorcycle accidents
For matters outside auto injury, another firm sometimes works on a case with us; we tell you before you agree.
Nearby Oakland County communities
Oakland County car accident and personal injury lawyers (all Oakland County communities) All locations
Sources: Michigan courts directory, Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (2024), state trauma center designations and local agency websites, checked October 2026.
Questions people ask us
Where would a Pontiac car accident case be filed?
A no-fault claim of $25,000 or less is usually filed in district court, which for Pontiac is the 50th District Court (70 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac). Larger claims and most lawsuits against at-fault drivers go to circuit court, the 6th Circuit Court (Oakland County), 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Pontiac. Venue can also depend on where a defendant lives or does business.
Who takes crash reports in Pontiac?
Crashes in Pontiac are generally handled by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office (contract police services for the City of Pontiac). Get the report number at the scene or from the agency; this page explains how that agency sells copies.
Which trauma centers are near Pontiac?
McLaren Oakland (Level II, in Pontiac); Trinity Health Oakland Hospital (Level II, in Pontiac). In an emergency, call 911; paramedics choose the hospital.
