In rankings of dangerous highways, Interstate 85 accidents in Montgomery, Alabama, always come up. However, even as safety improves, I-85 consistently ranks among the deadliest highways in the state.
I-85 collisions frequently result from careless driving. If you’ve been involved in an accident, call Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers at 334-518-6098 to schedule a free consultation. Our Montgomery car accident attorneys can analyze your crash to identify the parties responsible for your losses.
How Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After an Interstate 85 Accident in Montgomery, AL
Our Montgomery personal injury lawyers have over a century of combined legal experience representing accident victims in and around Montgomery, Alabama. Since the firm’s founding, we’ve recovered more than $400 million in compensation for our clients, helping them cover their medical costs, living expenses, and other losses resulting from negligence.
We can guide you through the following steps of the legal process when a negligent driver injures you in a car accident:
- Discussing your accident and strategies for pursuing injury compensation
- Gathering medical records, crash reports, and other evidence to prove your case
- Preparing an insurance claim and negotiating for a fair resolution
- Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if their insurer refuses to settle
Highway accidents can be particularly destructive because they often occur at high speeds. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Montgomery car accident attorney and learn more about how we can help you seek compensation from the driver responsible for injuring you.
Common Causes of I-85 Accidents in Montgomery by Vehicle Type
The causes of motor vehicle accidents on I-85 can vary based on the circumstances and vehicles involved. Here are a few of the most noteworthy scenarios by vehicle type.
Car Accidents
Careless driving is frequently to blame for collisions between automobiles. For example, rear-end collisions are common occurrences when traveling at highway speeds. These accidents occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the rear of the vehicle ahead.
Common causes of rear-end crashes on I-85 include following too closely, speeding, and driving while distracted. Tailgating is often the result of impatience or aggression. Drivers who tailgate may lack the time and space to brake safely when encountering traffic jams, objects on the highway, or poor road conditions.
Along some stretches of I-85 through Montgomery, the speed limit drops from 70 to 50 miles per hour due to traffic congestion and an increase in exits, entrances, and interchanges. However, many drivers continue to drive at high speeds, significantly increasing the risk of hitting slower vehicles, merging vehicles, or vehicles maneuvering toward an off-ramp.
Distracted driving happens when drivers attempt to multitask while driving. A driver may be unable to react to changing traffic conditions because their eyes, hands, or mind are occupied. As a result, they may cause distracted-driving accidents in which they run off the highway or collide with vehicles or fixed objects.
Truck Accidents
According to one analysis, I-85 is the most dangerous interstate in the country for truck drivers. The analysis focused primarily on crashes in adverse weather, such as rain or snow. In these conditions, slick surfaces, wind, and poor visibility can all significantly increase the risk of a truck accident.
However, I-85 can be dangerous even in clear, dry weather. Large trucks can have difficulty navigating heavy traffic in dense urban areas like Montgomery.
Small errors by truck drivers, such as drifting out of a lane, can cause massive damage and serious injuries at highway speeds. Congestion can also amplify mechanical failures like defective brakes or lost loads, as a driver could hit dozens of cars after losing control of their vehicle or its cargo.
Liability for Highway Collisions in Montgomery
The liability for a traffic accident falls on the negligent party. Negligence means a person or entity failed to exercise reasonable care under a given set of circumstances. Under the law, drivers must take reasonable care by following traffic laws and avoiding exposing other road users to the risk of injury or death.
A driver acts negligently when they violate Alabama’s laws on speed limits, following distances, passing, signaling lane changes, and other traffic maneuvers. They may also act negligently when they do something legal but unreasonably dangerous.
For example, Alabama doesn’t have a law against eating while driving. However, when driving at highway speeds, eating can be a distraction. Therefore, a driver might be liable for a collision that occurred while they were trying to eat a sandwich.
Trucking companies can also be liable for truck accidents, typically due to employee negligence or policies that create an unreasonable risk. For instance, a company that fails to properly maintain its fleet of trucks could be found liable for an accident caused by malfunctioning brakes.
Contact Our Montgomery Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Crashes on I-85 most often result from risky driving behaviors like speeding, tailgating, and distracted driving. Contact Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your accident and the possibility of recovering your losses by filing a personal injury claim.
Our Montgomery car accident attorneys work on a contingency basis, so you will not owe us anything up front for our services.