The Factors Contributing to On-Ramp and Off-Ramp Accidents

While driving on any highway can be unpredictable at any point, on-ramps and off-ramps can lead to especially tragic consequences and often lead to fatalities. A recent report in the media spotlights an example of the kinds of tragedies that can result from these kinds of collisions.

The Orlando Sentinel has reported that a 47-year-old Daytona Beach man recently died after he crashed into a barrier wall while entering an on-ramp onto Interstate 95 in Volusia County. The Florida Highway Patrol has reported that the man was traveling from eastbound Interstate 4 onto the I-95 north on-ramp when he lost control and crashed his 2013 Ford Focus into the cement barrier. The cause of the crash, which occurred just before noon on a recent Saturday, is still under investigation.

What Factors Contribute to On-Ramp and Off-Ramp Accidents? 

According to the Federal Highway Administration, ramps, ideally, allow motorists to make connections between different facilities in a safe, convenient, and comfortable fashion with little or no delay or impact on traffic. However, conditions on ramps frequently do not represent the conditions for which they were initially designed – and accidents occur. Factors contributing to these accidents include:

• Speeding on an off-ramp. Because ramps are typically higher than ground level and often contain curves, going too fast when entering one can easily lead to a loss of control of the car, potentially resulting in a vehicle rollover or collision with the barrier wall.
• Going too slow on an on-ramp. On-ramps typically have low-speed limits and in contrast, drivers are entering a high-speed highway. Cars that enter into a lane without accounting for the higher speed that the traffic is moving can end up causing a major accident.
• Being in a rush to get over. While we have all been running late before and not wanted to miss an exit, we have also all witnessed other cars undertake dangerous actions in an attempt to narrowly make an exit. This endangers the drivers undertaking these risky actions as well as cars in other lanes that may not see these quickly-merging vehicles until it’s too late.

Why Do I Need Legal Help if I am Injured in an On-ramp or Off-ramp Accident?

When these kinds of accidents happen at the fault of another driver, they can be especially difficult to substantiate. Because of the nature of ramps, collisions that occur on ramps are occurring in a location where traffic is constantly moving. Additionally, these accidents typically occur quickly, meaning that few people may witness what occurred and even when they do, potential witnesses often do not stop. Therefore, you need the help of an experienced personal attorney who can use the available physical evidence, such as the damage to the cars and marks left on the road, to help you prove liability and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Further, you may still be legally entitled to compensation for your injuries even if your vehicle was the only one involved in the accident. Alternatively, you may even be able to recover if there was another vehicle involved and the driver of the other vehicle can’t be located. An experienced personal injury attorney can also advise you of the best route to pursue in light of your individual circumstances.

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in an On-ramp Or Off-ramp Accident?

If you were hurt in this type of accident, you need experienced legal help to help you ensure that the events leading up to the accident are thoroughly investigated so that you obtain all of the compensation you are entitled to. Contact the experienced Orlando car accident attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm today so that you can begin obtaining the help you need.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach and Bradenton areas.

Resource:

orlandosentinel.com/news/volusia-county/os-ne-volusia-fatal-crash-20190518-dfiqkkoprrahfnrzyvviqnqrke-story.html

https://www.pendaslaw.com/young-drivers-and-rollover-accidents/