- Two deadly crashes that took the lives of three people in only two weeks recently occurred in Farmington Hills, a northwestern suburb of Metro Detroit.
- In 2018, there were 2,932 crashes reported in Farmington Hills and four people killed in fatal motor vehicle accidents.
- The dangerous intersection at 12 Mile Road near Orchard Lake has a long history of deadly and severe crash-related events impacting both motorists and pedestrians.
- Farmington Hills has one of the highest accident rates in the state related to incidents such as speeding, DUIs, unsafe intersections, and traffic violations and home to some of Michigan’s worst drivers.
Farmington Hills: Home of Two Deadly Crashes in Just Two Weeks
Michigan’s Farmington Hills sits in Oakland County. It is a suburban community home to both young commuting professionals and retirees adding to a growing population of 81,000. Sadly, the northwestern suburb of Metro Detroit was recently the location for two deadly crashes resulting in three related fatalities in a short span of just two weeks.
August 25: Double Pedestrian Fatality on 12 Mile Road
Two pedestrians died after being struck by a vehicle while trying to cross 12 Mile Road near Orchard Lake, as reported by Farmington Hills Police. A mother and her child were crossing the road around 10 p.m. when they were hit by a vehicle and killed. Police say the driver did stop at the scene. This is the first double fatal pedestrian accident in Farmington Hills this year.
Congested cross-traffic shared between motorists and pedestrians has made this one of the state’s most dangerous intersections. Michigan State Police traffic crash reporting unit documented 144 crashes at this intersection in 2018.
Pedestrian accidents can happen on any roadway including intersections, parking lots, roadsides and shoulders, parking lanes and no parking zones, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, medians and crossing islands, driveway accesses, shared-use paths or trails, and even in non-traffic areas.
September 8: Rollover Crash at the intersection of 11 Mile and Inkster roads
A weekend night rollover collision involving two vehicles in Farmington Hills left one driver dead and another in the hospital recovering from serious injuries, police told the Detroit Free Press. The accident happened at the intersection of 11 Mile and Inkster roads. Witnesses said that one vehicle was traveling southbound on Inkster and the other was heading eastbound on 11 Mile before colliding.
In July, two people died in a Farmington Hills crash in the area of Eight Mile and Inkster Road. Local police said a westbound car on Eight Mile struck a southbound vehicle on Inkster Road. Both cars had only one occupant, the drivers, and both died.
As crash investigations continue, our experienced legal team will continue to encourage all Michigan drivers to do their part in helping prevent further traffic fatalities in these areas. If any of our blog readers were witness to either of these incidents, please call the Farmington Hills Police Department at 248-871-2610 and share what you know.
Michigan Drivers Can Help Reverse Crash Trends
A good and bad driver report published in May 2019 ranked the most populated cities in Michigan by overall driver quality using data from over 500,000 insurance quotes. The analysts reviewed communities with the highest rate of incidents such as accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, and traffic citations to create the list. Farmington Hills was ranked No. 21, closer to the worst end of the 50 Michigan driving communities included.
In addition, although there has been a slight decrease in total motor vehicle accidents as well as serious injuries and fatalities in the past year across the state, Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reports numbers are still higher than they were in 2015 and 2014. Drivers need to be more courteous and less of a risk on the road to themselves and others.
- Treat the left lane as a passing lane.
- Do not use cruise control when passing a vehicle.
- Turn off your high beams when you see oncoming traffic.
- Keep a safe distance from the driver ahead of you and don’t tailgate.
- Do not stop at the end of on-ramps; merge with the flow of traffic.
- When approaching an intersection, keep alert and look twice for pedestrians.
- Watch out for motorcycles and bicyclists sharing the road with you.
- Always use your turn signal before changing lanes.
- Put your phone away! Texting, talking on the phone, using phone apps, and sending an e-mail will get you and others seriously injured or worse.
- Don’t speed.
- Never run a red light.
- Treat larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks, with respect.
- Never drive a vehicle after drinking alcohol or using drugs.
- Make sure all passengers are appropriately buckled up, including children who should be in the right size child seat.
- Maintain your vehicle.
If you live in or travel through the Farmington Hills area, please review this safe driving advice and share it with others.
Michigan Survivors’ Loss Benefit Claims for Accidents Through September 30, 2019
Following a death from a motor vehicle accident, dependents can claim up to $5,700 per month in survivors’ loss benefits through Michigan auto insurance carriers for Michigan motor vehicle accidents that occur between October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. Survivors’ loss benefits are payable to dependents for “contributions of tangible things of economic value” for up to three years from the date of the accident. This may include lost wages as well as lost fringe benefits, such as a pension, investment income, annuity income and disability coverage. Survivors’ loss benefits also include replacement services.
Michigan Families Who Have Lost A Loved One Can Seek Legal Help
If you or someone you love was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident in Farmington Hills or anywhere else in Michigan, you or your family may be entitled to compensation and survivors’ loss benefits to help with medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Call The Lee Steinberg Law Firm today for a FREE consultation with one of our experienced Michigan auto accident attorneys: 1-800-LEE-FREE.
Also read: 50 Michigan Cities Ranked by Worst and Best Drivers
