Fatal Accidents On The Rise In Clarke County

According to recent statistics from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s (IIHS), the probability of dying in a car accident has declined by more than one-third in the past three years.  The IIHS stats show that in 2012, there were 7,700 less fatal car accidents than 27 years ago. This decrease is believed to be linked to improvements in the design of vehicles which contributes to increased safety and decreased risk of car accident fatalities. However, over the past 3 years, Clarke County has seen an increase in traffic accident fatalities.  Why are fatal accidents on the rise in Clarke County?

Clarke County Most Dangerous Roads — 2017 Crashes

In 2017, there were a total of 275 car crashes in Clarke County.  Of those 275 crashes, more than one-third resulted in injuries, with an additional 3 fatalities.  According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, a few of the most dangerous roads in Clarke County in 2017 included:

Harry Byrd Highway — 26 crashes involving injuries with 1 fatality

John Mosby Highway — 13 crashes involving injuries

Lord Fairfax Highway — 11 crashes involving injuries

Blue Ridge Mountain Road — 4 crashes involving injuries

Senseny Road — 4 crashes involving injuries

In addition to these roads, both Buckmarsh Street and River Road had one fatality each. Apart from the reported injuries, there were numerous crashes involving property damage in 2017 with Harry Byrd Highway, John Mosby Highway, Main Street, and Buckmarsh Street appearing to have some of the highest occurrences.

2018 Crashes — Clarke County

In 2018, the roads in Clarke County that saw the most crashes resulting in injury included the usual players along with one or two other additions.  In all, there were 286 crashes in 2018 with 4 fatalities.  Of those 228 total crashes, 88 of them involved injuries:

Harry Byrd Highway — 32 injuries

Lord Fairfax Highway — 16 injuries with 1 fatality

John Mosby Highway — 12 injuries with 2 fatalities

Buckmarsh Street — 4 injuries

In 2018, there were two additional fatal crashes which occurred on Frogtown Road and Stonewall Jackson Highway.

2019 Crashes — Clarke County

So far, through mid-November, 2019, there have been 269 total crashes with 6 fatalities.  The majority of these crashes have been reported in the following areas:

Harry Byrd Highway — 29 injuries with 3 fatalities

John Mosby Highway — 10 crashes involving injuries

Lord Fairfax Highway — 16 crashes involving injuries with 2 fatalities

In 2019, an additional fatality occurred on Shepherds Mill Road.  The roads with the most numerous crashes involving property damage in 2019 include Lord Fairfax Highway, John Mosby Highway, and Harry Byrd Highway.

The Biggest Losers?

For the years 2017-2019, the roads in Clarke County with the most crashes involving injury were Harry Byrd Highway, John Mosby Highway, and Lord Fairfax Highway.  Obviously, these roads can be very dangerous. Please use extra caution when traveling these roadways!

How Long Can I Wait to Call a Lawyer?

When you’re injured in an auto accident in Virginia, you must be aware of the statute of limitations which applies in your particular case. The statute of limitations refers to the time you have following an accident to file a lawsuit.  In Virginia, this time limit depends upon the circumstances of your accident and injury.  The time limitation starts to run on the date of the accident.  Filing a claim with an insurance company does not extend or delay the time.

The longer you wait to contact an attorney, the greater the risk that the statute of limitations time limit will expire. If it does, you may lose your right to sue the at-fault party and recover compensation for your injuries. If you’ve been seriously injured and someone else is at fault, you should contact a personal injury attorney at the earliest possible time.  Contacting an experienced personal injury lawyer early in your case will help prevent deadlines from expiring and will allow your case to be properly prepared.

To be able to determine whether you have a case, your lawyer needs to thoroughly investigate the details about your accident and injuries. Investigating the accident and collecting information is much easier if it occurs quickly after the accident has happened. A time delay can result in many problems like lost evidence and witnesses who can’t be found.

When you hire a lawyer to handle your car accident claim, he or she will first negotiate with the insurance company to try to settle your claim. If settlement negotiations break down, your attorney will prepare to file a lawsuit and prepare your case for trial. For this reason, it is especially important that you get an experienced lawyer to help with your case, such as one certified through the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

Talk with a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered significant injuries in a car accident in Virginia, Ritchie Law Firm is here to help.  The experienced, certified attorneys at the Ritchie Law Firm has helped thousands of injured victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. Contact us by phone at 800-277-6124 or by using our online contact form.

Ritchie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm devoted to helping individuals who have suffered serious and catastrophic injuries or lost a loved one as a result of someone else’s negligence. Ritchie Law Firm serves all of Virginia, while helping clients in cities and surrounding areas of Winchester, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, and Staunton, and also serves clients in West Virginia, including Martinsburg, WV.

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