When you really think about it, driving is scary. We simply have to trust complete strangers to safely, calmly, and effectively pilot massive, potentially flammable vehicles, all while moving at high speeds that can reach the eighties or even the nineties. Drivers drink, fall asleep, and look at their text messages, and studies have assessed that human error is responsible for up to 93% of all auto accidents.
While it’s good to be vigilant, the preoccupation with human dangers tends to make us forget about risk factors which may be present with the roads themselves. In the first section of this blog series, the Philadelphia car accident lawyers at the Reiff Law Firm will examine a few of the most dangerous roads in America to try to determine why these particular stretches of asphalt are causing so many crashes. The vast majority of car accidents are caused by human error (a study cites numbers as high as 93%), but substandard road design can also contribute to deadly crashes, rollovers, and head-on collisions.
Contact our car accident lawyers for a free, private legal evaluation by calling The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.
AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” is Real, and it’s in Alabama
AC/DC had a smash hit with 1979’s “Highway to Hell.” Little did they know their famous song had a real-life counterpart in Alabama.
Highway 431
Highway 431 is so dangerous that it’s even attracted the notice of the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO publishes a Global Status Report on Road Safety every year, and part of the study calls for a “fear factor” rating for roads. This “fear factor” rating reflects variables like visibility, speed, lanes, and other potential hazards. In the 2013 report, Highway 431 garnered a four out of ten, ranking number four for the deadliest roads in America.
Unsafe Driving Conditions
What makes the “Highway to Hell” so bad? Drivers report bad visibility, abrupt changes in the number of lanes, and rampant speeding. One particular alignment of Highway 431, which ran from Pittsview to the border of Barbour County, was so dangerous it was eventually bypassed in 2008 — but not before claiming 31 lives from 1992 to 2006.
“The Highway of Death” and “Suicide 6” in Connecticut
I-95 meanders along nearly 2,000 miles of land, stretching from southern Florida to northern Maine. In Connecticut, I-95 covers about 112 miles and has earned a few nicknames over the years. One is “the Connecticut Turnpike.”
Another is “the Highway of Death.”
High Rates of Accidents
The worst section of the Highway of Death is an eight-mile stretch around the town of Norwalk in Connecticut’s southwestern finger. This tiny area alone has accounted for a staggering 10% of all CT Turnpike auto accidents, totaling 735 crashes, compared to the 600-crash average for a region of comparable size and congestion.
Severe Traffic Congestion
Indeed, congestion has been cited as one of the key risk factors for the Highway of Death. Connecticut is one of America’s smallest states: only Delaware and Rhode Island are smaller. But at the same time, it has one of the nation’s highest population densities, ranking fourth place. Southern Connecticut, which packs in commuters to
New York and large urban centers like Stamford and New Haven experience some of the worst congestion. Connecticut is also a hilly state, and the peaks, drops, and curves don’t exactly aid clear visibility.
From 2004 to 2008, the CT portion of I-95 claimed 85 lives — nearly one for every mile of road.
Fortunately, construction is now underway to alleviate traffic density by expanding the area around Exits 14 and 15 in Norwalk, where car accidents are most heavily concentrated.
U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut
Connecticut’s stretch of I-95 isn’t the only roadway the Nutmeg State should be worried about improving. U.S. Route 6 — also known as “Suicide 6” — runs horizontally across the state, spanning about 117 miles east to west, with the worst section stretching from Bolton Notch to Willimantic.
In 1998, NBC’s Dateline reported on Suicide 6, after causing 69 accidents in 1997 alone. Risk factors include too many turns and speed limit changes, along with too few shoulders. According to the state’s Department of Transportation, the span between Bolton Notch and Willimantic accounts for over 80% of all Route 6 accidents.
CALIFORNIA NIGHTMARE: “BLOOD ALLEY” VS. “BLOOD HIGHWAY”
Unfortunately, roads that fail to accommodate basic safety concerns are all across the country — even in sunny, care-free California. In fact, California is home to several of America’s most dangerous routes, including Route 138 and Route 12.
Or, as they’re respectively nicknamed, “Blood Alley” and “Blood Highway.”
BLOOD HIGHWAY: STATE ROUTE 12
“Blood Highway” runs across over 140 miles of terrain, but the stretch from Lodi to Rio Vista is the main culprit behind State Route 12’s alter ego. Officials estimate more than 70 people have lost their lives traveling this segment of asphalt. An unusually high number of blind spots, in conjunction with heavy traffic from truckers en route to Interstate 5, contributes to the high number of fatalities.
Carrie Bowen, director of the California Department of Transportation’s District 10, says Route 12 began its life as a minor rural road, and new developments are needed to help make it safer for dramatically increased usage by motorists. “Thousands of motorists use this on a daily basis,” says Bowen.
BLOOD ALLEY: STATE ROUTE 138
State Route 138 actually has multiple nicknames, including “Pearblossom Highway,” and the far less appealing “Blood Alley” and “Death Trap Highway.” It’s also been referred to as “Death Road” in a morbid nod to a terrifying mountain pass in Bolivia, which some estimate causes hundreds of fatalities each year.
State Route 138 is relatively small, spanning only about 105 roughly horizontal miles. But for a short highway, 138 packs in an alarming number of accidents. The L.A. Times reports that during a single five-year period prior to 2000, “Blood Alley” experienced 56 fatalities and another 875 injuries, including 410 serious injuries. While data analysis revealed that other highways in L.A. County had higher accident rates, accidents on Route 138 were most likely to result in death.
POORLY DESIGNED ROADS
With so many crashes plaguing Death Trap Highway, it seems preposterous to chalk the phenomenon up to sheer coincidence. One factor that contributes to Route 138’s high fatality rate is its numerous serpentine twists — never a good combination with the high speeds of highway driving.
Though widening construction is underway, attempts to pass using 138’s two lanes have led to head-on collisions. Narrow shoulders, which are also slated for construction to improve safety, don’t exactly mitigate the other hazards.
AVOIDING DANGEROUS ROADS IF POSSIBLE
A quick visit to the website TripAdvisor gives an insight into how the motorists who actually use 138 feel.
“Drive at sunset, but carefully,” one review suggests. “This road can be very dangerous!”
Another review warns against coming for the sunset view, cautioning, “HWY 138 is notorius [sic] for the number of fatal collisions along its path. It is a very bad choice to drive at dusk or dawn and to be avoided at night if possible.”
Yet another review is titled “Be HYPER-Aware on this dangerous highway!” The review says, “Dangerous — Avoid this if you have other choices.”
NO GUARDRAILS, STEEP INCLINES, AND SHARP TURNS ON COLORADO’S MOUNTAIN-HUGGING 550
U.S. Route 550 in Colorado is known as the “Million Dollar Highway”— but just because its nickname is friendlier than others we’ve encountered so far, doesn’t mean it’s any less of a threat to unwary motorists. While Route 550 covers only about 25 miles of Colorado territory, its poor design makes it a terrifying hazard even for careful drivers.
DANGEROUS MOUNTAIN ROADS
Colorado is known for its massive mountains. While those peaks and crags seem scenic from afar, it’s a very different story when you’re trying to navigate their twists and turns by vehicle. Route 550 meanders through the San Juan Mountains’ Red Mountain Pass, carrying drivers at an elevation of 11,000 feet above sea level — with no safety guardrails to speak of.
The rationale behind the lack of safety rails is that their absence facilitates snow removal in the winter. This may be true, but the trade-off is the constant peril of plunging down a mountain cliff. 550’s light use of shoulders only aggravates this hazard.
TWISTING HIGHWAYS AND UNSAFE TURNS
To avoid driving over a mountain while traveling on 550, motorists also have to contend with sharp hairpin turns, sharp inclines, and skinny lanes, which fail to provide any sort of redundancy or cushion in the event of an accident. Writer Peter Koch described the “Million Dollar Highway” as “steep, twisting, and completely unforgiving of driver error.”
In 2013, USA Today called 550 one of the “World’s Most Dangerous Roads.” From 1990 to 2010, there were 302 accidents resulting in nine crash fatalities.
While Colorado Department of Transportation spokesperson Nancy Shanks assures drivers that 550 is actually “below average for accidents,” it’s hard to say this mountain-hugging pass looks very safe.
DANGEROUS HIGHWAYS FOR VACATIONERS IN FLORIDA
Florida is a pretty densely populated state, and the population only increases during the peak summer months, as Florida is one of the nation’s most popular vacation destinations. Many of Florida’s beaches are connected by highways, and they are not always safe.
INTERSTATE 4
Interstate 4 is located in Central Florida and is considered to be a very dangerous highway. Traffic is often heavy, especially during peak tourist season when vacationers fill the highway.
The highway is about 132 miles long and connects Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona Beach. The highways are known for intense traffic congestion, and parts of them are very often under construction, leading to confusion and more congestion.
While Florida officials claim that efforts are being made to improve the highway’s infrastructure to reduce the rate of accidents, it should still be approached with caution.
U.S. HIGHWAY 1
One of the longest and most notorious highways in the country is U.S. Highway 1. It runs all the way from Maine down through Florida. While there are numerous hotspots along the highway for traffic and accidents, sections of the highway in Florida are known to be particularly dangerous.
In the area of South Florida, around the Florida Keys, accidents on Highway 1 are common. Again, this is often related to the surge in traffic from tourists during peak travel seasons. Many accidents on this stretch of highway are severe, and some are fatal.
FAQs About Legal Action for Highway Accidents
How Can a Lawyer Help You After a Highway Accident?
An attorney can help you understand how the accident happened, whether another driver is to blame, and what you can do to get fair financial compensation for your injuries. The aftermath of a severe highway accident is often a whirlwind, and you may need a long time to recover. While you recover, your lawyer can start building your case, gathering evidence, and assessing damages.
What Should You Do Immediately Following an Accident on the Highway?
Highway accidents can be frightening and confusing, and many injured drivers are unsure of what to do. Your very first step should be to call 911 and ask for help. Tell the 911 dispatcher your location and wait for help to arrive. If you can, move your vehicle to the side of the highway for safety. If the vehicles cannot be moved, wait for help to arrive. While waiting, photograph the area if it is safe to do so and exchange information with other drivers involved in the accident.
How Soon After a Highway Accident Should You File a Lawsuit?
If you want to file a lawsuit after a highway accident, you must do so within the statute of limitations for personal injuries in your state. The state may vary from state to state, so it is important to ask your attorney about the right time to file. Generally, many states give plaintiffs several years, usually about 2 to 3, to file their case, although other states may differ.
How Do You Gather Evidence of a Highway Accident?
Gathering evidence after a highway accident can be difficult, as the highway itself may be too dangerous to stop and look around for evidence. Also, the authorities will likely clear away the accident quickly in the interest of highway safety. Even so, photos from the accident scene, dashcam footage, and testimony from witnesses may all be extremely helpful in your case.
What if I Do Not Know The Name of the Driver Who Caused an Accident on the Highway?
After an accident, drivers must exchange information so they can file insurance claims and, if necessary, file lawsuits. Unfortunately, some drivers either refuse to provide this information or flee the scene. If the driver refused to give you their name, we may be able to obtain it from the police report, as they cannot refuse to identify themselves to the police.
If the driver struck you and fled the scene, call 911 and report the accident as a hit and run. If you can provide a description of the other driver’s vehicle, the police may be able to apprehend and arrest them shortly after the accident. At that point, we can identify them and begin legal action.
Are Highway Accidents More Serious Than Other Kinds of Car Accidents?
While each accident is different, many highway accidents are more dangerous than those on local streets and tend to lead to more serious injuries. On major highways, speed limits are much higher, and a crash may be much more severe. Fatalities may be more likely, depending on how the accident occurred. As such, when highway accident victims file lawsuits, they tend to claim much more serious damages.
Call Our Car Accident Attorneys to Discuss Your Legal Options After a Crash
When highway engineers and city planners fail to design and maintain safe roads, innocent drivers can be left to pay the ultimate price. If you or someone you love was injured on a dangerous road due to negligent maintenance, you may have a strong personal injury claim.
To get a free, confidential legal review with an experienced attorney, call the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers at The Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940, or contact us online.
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