Where Do Most Car Accidents Occur?

Car accidents can happen anywhere, on the road or in a parking lot, in a city or on a long stretch of an interstate highway, etc. Certain types of locations, however, have a greater-than-average share of traffic accidents. Below, we discuss the types of places that see more than their fair share of crashes. If you’ve been hurt in a car crash in Texas, call a seasoned

Dallas car accident lawyer at Turley Law Firm for advice and representation.

Close to Home

Traffic safety experts agree that the majority of car crashes happen close to home. By that, they mean that most people who experience a car crash will do so within five or so miles of where they live. Although it sounds like an odd statistic, it makes sense: People are simply much more likely to be on the road near where they live. Every time you leave the house or return home, you pass through the same set of roads. You are more likely to have an accident there due to the sheer number of miles driven in that area.

There are other reasons for the heightened risk, as well. People are more comfortable driving on familiar roads, which can make them careless. People are more likely to drive while tired, intoxicated, or distracted on their way home or just after leaving home. Remember to stay attentive and alert even when driving roads you know.

Parking Garages and Parking Lots

Parking lots are a hotbed for rear-end accidents, T-bone crashes, and other low-speed collisions. Parking lots are, at best, organized chaos. There are rules–the driver in the through lane has right-of-way over a person backing out of a parking spot–but often these rules are all but forgotten as people desperately search for a spot or try to leave in a hurry. Fatal accidents are less common in parking lots, but a large percentage of fender-benders occur in lots and garages. Property damage can be extensive in these accidents, and whiplash can still occur at low speeds, even if critical injury is less likely.

Intersections

Intersections are also especially risky as compared to flat stretches of road. Vehicles may be coming from two or four different directions, and every driver must be careful to follow right-of-way laws and other rules of the road while maintaining awareness of all the vehicles around them. The risk of mistake is high, and with it, the risk of a collision.

Urban Areas: All Accidents

When comparing accidents across the type of municipality, urban freeways and highways carry a greater risk of car accidents. It’s not surprising; urban roads have the largest share of vehicles, increasing the risk that any type of collision would occur. Most accidents happen where most people are located.

During rush hour, especially, the risk of having an accident of some kind is especially high. There are more people on the road, as well as a variety of vehicles of different shapes and sizes, and people are more aggressive when they are stressed about getting to work or home.

Rural Roads: Fatal Accidents

Interestingly, although city roads have a much greater share of all accidents, the most dangerous accidents happen more frequently on rural roads. Most urban accidents are fender-benders and other less serious crashes, causing property damage and perhaps injury, but fewer fatalities. Rural roads, on the other hand, have an outsized share of deadly crashes.

There are a few reasons why. Rural roads often have poor or nonexistent lighting, the roads are often less well-paved or maintained, and there are risks you don’t see in cities, like wild animals crossing. There are more curvy roads and hills, as well, which enhance the risk of any negligent driving mistake. There’s also much less police patrol on any given stretch of rural road, which emboldens drivers to speed and engage in other risky maneuvers. These elements raise the risk of a catastrophic crash.

Get Help After a Car Crash in Texas

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Texas or the southeastern United States, get help from the experienced and successful Dallas personal injury attorneys of Turley Law Firm by calling or contacting us online for a free consultation.