Key Points of This Article:
- A new report shows that over 1,000 roads in Michigan had fatal accidents from 2017 to 2019, with I-94 ranking as the deadliest.
- The Detroit Metro Area is home to 7 of the ten deadliest 5-mile stretches in Michigan, but roads in Flint, Grand Rapids, and Luddington roads made the list too.
- Michigan communities with roads or highways with multiple intersections, high traffic density or commuter congestion, fluctuating speeds, drunk drivers, and reckless drivers contribute to the roads’ hazardousness.
- Despite Michigan’s climate, only 5% of fatal accidents occur during wintry conditions, and most fatal accidents occur during the summer months.
More Than Half of All Michigan’s Deadliest Roads Are Located in Metro Detroit
A 2021 report has been released that reviewed 2,751 car and truck accidents from 2017 to 2019 and identified ten roads in Michigan associated with the most fatal crashes. It makes sense that Metro Detroit, home to Michigan’s most populated urban communities, accounted for the most traffic accidents, pedestrian injuries, and congestion-related fatal crashes. The Motor City is also home to the majority of the deadliest roadways in Michigan, with six of the roads on the list located in Metro Detroit.
- Detroit: Gratiot Avenue Between E. Grand Boulevard to 7 Mile Road
- Flint: Dort Highway (M-54) Between E. Pierson Road and E. Morris Road
- Grand Rapids: 28th St (M-11) Between Eastern Avenue SE & Byron Center Avenue
- Detroit: I-75 Between I-96 and I-94 Interchange
- Grand Rapids: US-131 Between Wealthy Street SE and 44th Street SW in Wyoming
- Wayne County: Telegraph Road Grand River to Joy Road
- Detroit: 7 Mile Road between Telegraph Road and John C. Lodge Freeway
- Ludington: US-10 between N. Stiles Road and N. Washington Ave
- DTW: I-94 Between Viking Road and Telegraph Road
- Detroit: East Davison Street Between Conant Street and I-96
(Source: Using data from fatal crashes between 2017 and 2019, MoneyGeek has provided this list.)
Driving, bicycling, and walking in Detroit can be especially dangerous when drivers are careless. According to the city’s crash statistics, there were 24,930 accidents in the city in a single year that involved 6,511 injuries and deaths. The top types of crashes include rear-end crashes, angle/t-bone crashes, left-turn crashes, head-on crashes, and sideswipes. Also, the Michigan intersection with the highest increase (62%) in car crashes year after year is located at 18 ½ Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in a core suburb of Detroit, according to Michigan State Police crash and traffic statistics.
It’s important to note that a fatal crash can happen anywhere at anytime. Still, there are always several preventable crash factors to consider, including speed, distractions like cell phone use, drugs and alcohol, and aggressive driving. Drunk driving-related accidents remain the most common factor in fatal accidents in Michigan.
Follow These Steps If Involved in a Dangerous Michigan Car or Truck Accident
If you find yourself in a severe car wreck and suspect injuries to yourself, others, or fatalities, think quickly to help yourself and those involved. Follow these cues to help others.
#1: Always Call for Help (even if there appears to be no injuries)
Emergency services and Michigan’s first responders are true life-savers. If you find yourself in an accident, call 911 right away. Be sure to provide the necessary information for an effective response, such as the crash location, how many vehicles are involved, and how many people need medical attention. Internal injuries may not always present in the first moments after a crash. Everyone should be evaluated on the scene.
#2: Gather Contact Information and Witness Statements
If your injuries allow, you should gather contact information from the individuals involved in the crash. It will be necessary to support your claim. When the police arrive, be sure to share your account of the crash events with the officers. In the days and weeks following the collision, your statement and witness statements will be needed for reporting, insurance, or legal purposes, so don’t skip out on providing all the information needed.
#3: Use Your Cell Phone to Gather Evidence
Use your phone to document the accident scene, including all vehicles and injuries. If you don’t have a phone, take good notes using pen and paper. Legal teams and police can use digital images, and your first-hand account to provide the evidence needed to support crash injury claims, including Michigan No-Fault claims.
#4: Go to the ER or Urgent Care for a Medical Evaluation
If you are seriously injured, first responders will transfer you to the appropriate medical center for treatment. If you can leave the scene on your own, work to get yourself to a local emergency room or urgent care as soon as possible. As a follow-up, schedule a visit with your primary doctor. Car accident injuries sometimes arise days or even weeks after a crash. If you still cannot do pre-crash activities or are unable to work, make a journal noting how the accident has disrupted your life, including all injury symptoms and signs of pain and suffering. Ask your doctor to provide and send you a list of restrictions and a work loss disability script. The documentation will be needed to make your claim and ensure benefits will be in your favor.
#5: Schedule a Consultation with a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer
It’s always in your best interest to work with an attorney before discussing your contract, making a deal, or a transaction with an insurance adjuster or another person’s legal team. Michigan car insurance carriers are known for aggressively denying claims and refusing to pay Michigan No-Fault benefits by alleging fraud or material misrepresentation in the purchase of the policy.
We understand that proving another driver’s negligence can feel like a lot of work. But at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm, P.C., we have the required expertise in leading crash investigations, gathering evidence, working with demanding insurance companies, and remain highly successful in holding Michigan drivers accountable for their poor actions.
We Can Start Working for You Today
If you have any questions, please call us today at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733). With our ability to serve clients all over Michigan, the Lee Steinberg Law Firm P.C. can help you win the justice and compensation you need, and we pride ourselves in being right there – when you need us most. Contacting us is free, and there are no fees or costs until we win your case.
Also read: Top-Rated Detroit, Michigan Personal Injury Attorneys
