Road accidents are unfortunate and unexpected events that can leave one devastated and with severe injuries and damages. Concentration is paramount when driving on any road to prevent any potential accidents. However, certain roads may make one more apprehensive to drive on than others. For instance, you may feel that freeways are riskier to drive on than roads within residential areas. Let’s start with some of the factors that come into play when comparing the severity of accidents between freeways and residential areas.
- Speed and Severity
Freeway accidents tend to be more severe than those in residential areas due to the speeds encountered. Freeways have higher speed limits than residential areas, meaning vehicles travel at greater velocities. Even when drivers can anticipate potential accidents, they may not have enough time to react and implement evasive maneuvers that could stop a collision from happening. Consequently, the impact force during collisions is more significant, leading to more severe injuries and vehicle damage.
- Traffic Volume
Freeways often experience low traffic volumes during off-peak hours. This increases the likelihood of high-speed collisions, resulting in severe injuries. A study established that a 1% increase in traffic volume of freeways could reduce the percentage of fatal crashes by approximately 60%.
Freeways tend to also be dangerous during off-peak hours when the traffic volume is high. The increased volume of vehicles on the road increases the likelihood of multiple-vehicle accidents. Multi-vehicle collisions generally have a higher potential for greater severity due to the number of impacts involved. Additionally, the higher traffic volume on freeways can result in more complex accident scenes, making it challenging for emergency responders to provide immediate assistance, further worsening the severity of the situation.
- Driver Behavior
Driver behavior significantly contributes to the severity of accidents. Some drivers may exhibit aggressive behavior on freeways, such as speeding, tailgating, or abrupt lane changes. These actions and high speeds increase the risk of severe accidents. In residential areas, although speeds are much lower, failure to obey traffic signs and signals, distracted driving, or failure to yield can also lead to severe accidents due to the vulnerability of pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists.
- Limited Access Points on Freeways
Freeways typically have limited entry and exit points, resulting in an uninterrupted traffic flow. While this enhances efficiency, vehicles travel at high speeds without controlled intersections or traffic signals. As a result, freeway accidents often involve high-speed collisions, which tend to be more severe.
Types of Collision on Freeways
Freeway accidents consist of various types of collisions, including the following:
- Side-Impact Collisions
Side impact collisions occur when a vehicle is struck on its side. Side impact collisions on freeways can happen when a driver makes improper lane changes without checking blind spots or misjudges the speed and distance of other vehicles. They can also occur in merge-related accidents and cross-median accidents.
- Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions on freeways are common when a vehicle strikes the rear of another car traveling in the same direction. These accidents can occur due to high speeds, tailgating, distracted driving, reduced visibility, sudden lane changes, and deceleration. These collisions can lead to significant injuries, especially when vehicles travel at high speeds.
- Rollover Accidents
Roll-over accidents, often resulting from a combination of high speed, abrupt maneuvers, and top-heavy vehicles, can also lead to severe injuries on freeways due to the potential of roof crushing.
Leading Causes of Severe Accidents on Freeways
Several factors can contribute to the severity of accidents on freeways, such as:
- High speeds
- Aggressive driving
- Drunk driving
- Failure to wear seat belts
- Distracted driving
- Hazardous road and weather conditions
Most Common Types of Injuries on Freeways
On freeways, the most common types of injuries include:
- Fractures – Fractures on the limb and skull occur due to the interaction of gravitational force and the vehicle’s velocity during accidents.
- Face, head, and neck injuries – Motor vehicle occupants who do not use seat belts are at a higher risk of face, head, and neck injuries. This is because they experience a forward jerk during a collision, resulting in a higher injury rate.
- Abrasions and lacerations are the most common types of external injuries observed on freeways
Contact the Experienced Auto Accident Lawyers in Burbank, CA Today
If you have been involved in an auto accident in California, it is crucial to seek legal assistance promptly. The experienced auto accident lawyers at Avaness Law in Burbank are here to help. Contact us today at (818) 724-7222 to schedule a free case evaluation. We can help protect your rights and guide you through the legal process.
