Most Dangerous Highways in Austin
Driving in Austin can be a hassle. With the massive increase in population over the past two decades straining our roads and highways, it can be difficult, even dangerous, to get where you need to go in Austin. But some roads are more hazardous than others. Let’s review the most dangerous highways in Austin and talk about your options after a crash.
What Are the Most Dangerous Highways in Austin?
Austin has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world. We regularly spend hours waiting in traffic, burning fuel, moving at a snail’s pace as we try to get to and from work and home. This bumper-to-bumper environment frequently leads to dangerous and severe accidents along the following roads and highways:
- Interstate 35. Interstate 35 runs from Texas’s southern border to Duluth, Minnesota, covering 1,568 miles. It is the ninth longest interstate highway in the United States and sees an average of 220,000 vehicles per day in Austin. I-35 is routinely ranked as the most dangerous road in Austin, seeing hundreds of fatal crashes every year.
- Mopac Blvd/Loop 1. Mopac, so named because it once shared its route with the Missouri Pacific Railroad, stretches just over 22 miles from south Austin to the State Highway 45 toll road in Round Rock. Loop 1 carries more than 180,000 vehicles each day and sees a large number of traffic accidents and injuries.
- State Highway 71/Ben White Blvd. Highway 71 covers over 250 miles from Brady to Blessing, Texas. As it stretches across south Austin, it becomes Ben White Blvd, named for one of Austin’s longest-serving city council members. During morning and afternoon rush hours, this road can be perilous.
- Highway 183. Highway 183 is another major north-south byway stretching 1,250 miles from Refugio, Texas to Presho, South Dakota. It serves as the main driving route for commuters moving to and from the suburban centers of Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park, and several other towns. The stretch from Mopac to Hwy 620 sees an average of almost 140,000 vehicles daily and is particularly dangerous at rush hour.
- US Highway 290. US Highway 290 is the main driving route from Austin to Houston and covers almost 275 miles. The section just South and West of Austin in Oak Hill is one of the biggest bottlenecks in the city during commuting hours and a prime spot for accidents and injuries.
Why Do Collisions Happen So Frequently on the Highway?
There are many reasons why collisions happen more frequently on highways, but there are two main factors that contribute more to freeway accidents than any others:
- Speeding. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, excessive speed is a factor in more than a quarter of traffic fatalities nationwide. Driving over the speed limit increases stopping distances, decreases response time, and increases the danger for everyone else on the road. Speeding also decreases the effectiveness of safety equipment in cars and trucks, greatly increases the chance of losing control of the vehicle, and causes far more damage than a low-speed accident.
- Distracted driving. Distracted driving refers to any activity that takes your eyes off the road. Texting, changing audio settings, eating or drinking, or talking to other people in the car all count as distracted driving, and all become more dangerous when traveling at highway speeds. Looking at a text for five seconds while traveling 55 mph means covering the length of a football field without looking.
Eliminating excessive speed and distracted driving would save thousands of lives per year, but these aren’t the only factors that make highways more dangerous. The plain fact is that vehicles on highways travel faster than vehicles on city streets.
Strangely, the inverse creates more traffic collisions as well. Driving in slow-moving, congested traffic on any highway means sharing the road with hundreds of other motorists, often with only a few feet between each vehicle, which can also lead to collisions.
Types of Highway Crashes
Several different crash types regularly occur on Austin’s highways, such as:
- Sideswipe accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Lane-change accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Speeding accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Inadequate maintenance accidents
- Inclement weather accidents
Injuries Suffered in a Highway Crash
Injuries from highway crashes will always be more severe than injuries from accidents occurring on city streets because higher speeds increase the danger for all involved. Some of the types of injuries we regularly see on Austin’s highways include the following:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Lacerations
- Abrasions
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Crushing injuries
- Sprains/strains
- Head and neck injuries
- Soft tissues injuries
- Organ damage
- Internal injuries
- Hip and knee injuries
- Burns
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Coma
- Death
How a Lawyer Could Help
If you suffered injuries in a highway accident due to another motorist’s negligent behavior, you may be eligible for monetary compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. A lawyer may be able to help you get the money to cover medical bills, lost wages, or property damage.
A personal injury claim is like an insurance claim. Your attorney would help you build a claim by gathering evidence to show the other party was at fault. They would demand compensation from their insurance company for the losses you sustained. They will explain how losses and damages work, conduct a thorough investigation to make sure there is enough evidence to show that the responsible party was at fault, and act as your negotiator to get you the maximum possible payout.
You may be eligible for compensation to cover the following damages:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Medical bills
- Property damage
Contact Loewy Law Firm
If you’re ready to fight for the compensation you’re owed after an accident, call Loewy Law Firm today for a free consultation. There’s no obligation, and it’s completely confidential. Don’t let a severe injury keep you from doing what you love. Call the Austin car accident lawyers of Loewy Law Firm at (512) 280-0800today.