Detroit Car Accident Lawyers

Clearing Up the Confusion Surrounding Michigan Freeways

Part of the reason Michigan freeways cause stress for drivers is because they are such confusing places to navigate. To begin with, we need to clarify what a freeway actually is.

While many Michigan drivers interchange the terms “freeway” and “highway”, the term “highway” can technically be any public section of road. However, a freeway’s definition refers to a highway that has controlled or limited access–in other words, specific entrances and exits, with pedestrians, bicycles, and farm equipment not allowed to enter.

This is important to understand, since it can affect how an accident is handled. For example, there are different law enforcement agencies that will respond to an accident on a freeway, depending on the location of the accident.

This is because some areas are patrolled by the local police, whereas others are patrolled by Michigan State Police. This can lead to confusion about what to do after an accident, since many residents may not be sure who to call. The best thing to do in these situations is to call 911, tell them your exact location, and lett them send out the correct officer to assess your accident.

Why Detroit Freeways Are So Dangerous

According to recent car accident statistics published by the Michigan State Police, roughly 61% of all fatal car accidents occurred on freeways.

Here are four reasons why driving on Michigan’s freeways can be so dangerous:

Speed
The car accident statistics mentioned above also broke down the different causes behind fatal accidents. Not surprisingly, the greatest single cause of accidents was driving too fast, which caused 215 deaths in just one year.

Speed kills by reducing the time a driver has to react, brake, or swerve to avoid an accident, along with reducing the space they have to stop their car.

Since many Michigan freeways allow drivers to go 70-75 MPH, the average speed on a freeway is far greater than all other types of road, which leads to worse accidents.

Many entries and exits
The large number of entries and exits on freeways helps more drivers to get to their destination faster compared with taking other routes.

However, all of these freeway entries and exits may also overwhelm unfamiliar drivers who don’t know which exit to take to get to their destination, leading to them to focus on identifying their exit instead of driving safely.

In addition, more entries and exits means more people changing lanes or having to merge within a limited space, which can lead to more accidents.

Higher number of vehicles
With a larger number of lanes and greater number of access points, freeways are designed to allow the maximum number of vehicles to drive on them compared with any other type of road.

But with more vehicles comes more traffic and more chances of an accident taking place, especially during peak travel times such as rush hour or during holiday weekends.

Weather
Dangerous weather can develop in Michigan year-round. However, the winter months can especially be treacherous for driving on freeways, since higher speed and heavier traffic are made even worse by slippery driving conditions.

I-94 near Lake Michigan is especially dangerous in winter, since lake-effect snows can greatly reduce tire traction and driver visibility.

How to Avoid Car Accidents on Michigan’s Freeways

Even though Michigan’s freeways are among the most dangerous roads to drive on, there are steps you can take to help avoid an accident while driving on them.

Drive defensively
One of the best ways to avoid a Michigan freeway accident is being a defensive driver. That means giving yourself plenty of space in front of you, not driving too fast, staying out of other drivers’ blind spots, and anticipating other driver’s actions.

Avoid distractions
Avoiding distractions is another key step to take to avoid freeway accidents, since having your attention taken away from the road for even a split second can cause an accident.

One of the best ways to avoid distractions is to make sure you already have your phone set to a mode that won’t distract you before you begin driving. Also, avoid eating, doing your makeup, or any other types of multitasking while driving.

Plan ahead
Finally, plan ahead to make sure you already know where you’re traveling before entering the freeway. Afterall, traveling on a freeway at 75 MPH is not a safe place to begin searching for the correct route.

Instead, have your destination already entered into your GPS or your phone’s map and have it set to give audio feedback before you leave. This will allow you to listen to the directions without taking your eyes off the road, help you know how long you’ll be on the freeway, and anticipate which exit to take ahead of time.

What to do if You’re Involved in a Car Accident on a Freeway

As hard as you may try to avoid a freeway accident, you may still be an accident victim due to others’ actions or unexpected events.

What you do next is critical, since it affects your bills getting paid, receiving the medical care you need, and getting compensated for your injuries and damages.

Get out of further danger
If your vehicle can be moved and there are no apparent injuries that require immediate medical attention, the first thing you need to do is get out of the main traveled portion of the roadway.

This is in harmony with Michigan Law 257.618a, commonly called the “Steer It, Clear It” law. This is to prevent you from getting hit by another car while being in the flow of traffic due to the first accident. This also protects the safety of first responders who come to assess the accident.

Moving your vehicle does not imply fault, nor does it prevent police or insurance companies from analyzing the accident and establishing what happened.

Contact the police and wait for them
Once you are somewhere safe, call 911 and tell them you were in an accident and exactly where you are. Once they know where you are, they will send the proper law enforcement agency to respond.

This is important, since different agencies are in charge of different sections of freeways–including sections on the same freeway. You need the proper law enforcement agency to respond to create an accident report, which will be essential in your car accident case and help you receive the full compensation you deserve.

While waiting for the police, you may choose to not talk to the other driver, aside from telling them, “I’m waiting for the police”.

Some make this decision because they know the officer that comes to the accident scene will take down all of the accident details from you and the other parties involved, including driver’s license information, insurance company information, and vehicle information. While talking to the officer, get their name and badge number.

However, if you decide to talk to the other driver, only share your name, phone number, and insurance info. Do not tell them it was your fault, nor imply that it was by apologizing for what happened.

Document the scene if it is safe to do so
If you are able to move your car away from the flow of freeway traffic to a place that’s safe, you should take pictures of all the vehicles involved, the damages, and license plates.

It’s also important to document any injuries you suffered from the accident, along with getting the names, contact info, and testimonies of any witnesses to the accident.

Seek medical attention
After you talk with the police and document the accident, it’s important to seek medical attention soon after. This is true regardless of how you feel, since some serious injuries may not be immediately apparent.

It’s also crucial to follow up with any prescribed treatment or therapy, regardless of who was at fault. This will not only help you recover from the accident, but doing so can also affect the settlement amount you receive from the insurance companies.

Contact a Michigan accident lawyer
Having an experienced accident lawyer like those at Kajy Law will help you with every step of your accident. For example, they will help you get your bills paid and know how to handle the insurance companies who may try to take advantage of you after your accident.

On top of that, Kajy Law knows how to work up your case to get you the maximum compensation possible from your freeway accident.

Contact your insurance provider
Michigan law requires accident victims to contact their insurance companies soon after their accident.

But before you speak with them, it’s best to have a Michigan accident attorney on your side to help you with this conversation. They will make sure the insurance company doesn’t guide you into saying something that releases them from financial liability.

Keep track of your records
As you receive medical care, it’s important to keep track of these records to make sure they are paid by the insurance companies and not by you.

You also need to document any injuries, scarring, emotional changes, or other ways the accident has affected you, your wellbeing, your daily life, or family.

Keeping track of all of these records is crucial when it comes time to receive your financial settlement, since Michigan law permits accident victims to receive compensation for all of these damages.

Looking for More Answers About Detroit Freeway Accidents?

Our freeway accident attorneys treat you as an individual, not a number. That means we understand what you need and how to provide it for you, regardless of where the accident took place. This includes victims involved in Detroit car accidents, Southfield car accidents, or accidents anywhere else in Michigan.

If you want more information about what to do after a Detroit freeway accident, let us help. Contact us today by calling us or fill out our contact form to get free answers from our attorneys.

Contact Our Detroit Car Accident Lawyers

Our attorneys have won over 2,500 cases for residents like you all across Michigan. Let us use our legal experience and insights to help you with every step of your recovery and to get you the maximum compensation.

Contact us by calling us at 248-702-6641 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with our Detroit accident lawyers.