Thousands of commuters travel between Durham and Raleigh every single day. If you’re one of them, you already know how unpredictable Triangle traffic can be. It doesn’t matter if your route takes you down I-40, US-70, or NC-147. The daily commute comes with regular headaches and, as any experienced car accident lawyer in Durham, NC, will tell you, the potential for a serious collision.
At Kreger Brodish LLP, we pride ourselves on offering not only critical support and tenacious representation to our Durham clients but also important information on car accident risk factors. Protect both your safety and your rights by familiarizing yourself with the potential dangers of the Durham-to-Raleigh commute, what to do when an accident occurs, and how our Durham car accident attorneys can help.
Realities of the Durham-to-Raleigh Commute
The Triangle region is among the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, which is fantastic for local businesses and the job markets in and around Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. However, it also means more traffic on our already congested commuter routes, leading to a higher risk of car accidents.
The stretch of I-40 between the Durham Freeway and Wade Avenue is particularly notorious for its brutal traffic and the frequent rear-end collisions that accompany it. If your daily commute takes you down this or any similar route, it’s important to understand how to reduce the risk of car accidents.
Why Accidents Are So Common on This Route
There are several car accident risk factors that make the Durham-to-Raleigh uniquely hazardous, including:
- Heavy Congestion – More vehicles means more chances for an accident to occur. Long wait times due to heavy traffic also lead to some commuters driving aggressively and increasing the odds of an accident occurring.
- Distracted Driving – Distracted driving has become a leading cause of car accidents in North Carolina in recent years. Slow-moving traffic can lead to drivers becoming distracted by their phones or car radios, which can, in turn, cause preventable accidents.
- Frequent Lane Merges and Exits – Raleigh and Durham’s major roadways have several connections that can cause drivers to make sudden lane changes or miss exits. This unpredictable behavior can cause rear-end collisions or side-swipe accidents.
- Construction Zones – Ongoing roadwork along these routes means narrowed lanes, unexpected detours, and unpredictable drivers, all of which are significant risk factors for car accidents.
Common Types of Commuter Car Accidents
If you want to know how to reduce the risk of car accidents, it’s important to know the leading ways car accidents can happen. Some of the common types of accidents on the Durham-to-Raleigh commute include:
- Rear-End Collisions – The stop-and-go traffic that’s common during rush hour in the Durham-to-Raleigh commute is a recipe for rear-end motor vehicle accidents, especially when drivers are distracted.
- T-Bone Accidents – Side-impact collisions are common in intersection accidents or during highway merges. These car crashes are prevalent on NC-147 and US-70, which have many on-ramps.
- Single-Car Accidents – The narrowed lanes and unexpected reroutes that come with construction zones pose serious hazards, which can cause a driver to side-swipe a barrier or swerve off the road.
- Multi-Car Pileups – Heavy congestion can lead to accidents involving multiple cars at one time. One tailgater or distracted driver failing to hit the brakes on time can cause a domino effect where several commuters collide.
What to Do After a Car Accident on Your Commute
Getting into an accident on your commute can be incredibly stressful, but it’s crucial to take the appropriate measures to protect your safety and your legal rights. Remember that the risk of death in a car accident remains even after the accident has occurred, especially on a congested highway, so find a safe area on the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights, and then do the following:
- Call 911 – North Carolina law requires you to report an accident resulting in injury, death, or at least $1,000 in estimated property damage. Moreover, the report that responding police make about the accident will provide essential documentation when seeking compensation.
- Document the Accident Scene – Take photos and videos of vehicle damage, accident debris, weather and road conditions, traffic signs, visible injuries, and the surrounding area. This will provide visual aids to support your version of events.
- Collect Contact Information – Gather names, contact information, driver’s license and plate numbers, and insurance details of all involved parties, as well as contact information of any witnesses.
- Seek Medical Attention – Even if you seem unharmed, seeking medical attention as soon as possible is critical. Some serious injuries worsen over time or may not become apparent until well after the accident, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. Obtaining medical records can provide crucial evidence when seeking compensation.
- Contact a Lawyer – An experienced car accident lawyer in Durham, NC, can help you protect your rights and avoid critical errors while pursuing your claim. Contact one as soon as possible.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
The process of seeking compensation after a car accident is complicated and challenging. A knowledgeable attorney can dramatically simplify it by handling the legal work on your behalf. While you get treatment for your injuries and focus on getting better, your attorney will focus instead on building a substantial body of evidence to support your claim. They can obtain police reports, investigate the accident, seek out surveillance or dashcam footage, interview witnesses, and consult with experts to determine what happened and who is the at-fault driver. They can also work with medical professionals and accountants to understand the financial costs of your injuries, both now and in the future.
Insurance companies will attempt to weaken or outright deny your claim in any way they can. Your lawyer can thwart their tactics and advocate aggressively for a fair settlement at the negotiating table. If the insurers won’t make you a fair offer, your lawyer will file a lawsuit to keep up the pressure. An experienced trial attorney will then represent you in court and fight for a favorable verdict on your behalf.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers in Durham, NC, to Learn More
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident on your commute, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your rights. The team at Kreger Brodish LLP proudly represents injured Durham and Raleigh clients as they seek justice and fair compensation. Contact our Durham car accident lawyers today to schedule your free consultation.
