What Is the Most Dangerous Road in Alabama? What Is the Safest?

What is the most dangerous road in all of Alabama? Route 431. We examine why.

Dangerous roads are a major contributor to vehicle accidents in Alabama, and the 353 miles of US Highway 431 is not only considered to be the most dangerous road in Alabama, but the fourth-deadliest road in the country, and one of the most dangerous roads in the world. Nicknamed the “Highway to Hell,” Route 431 is so dangerous because of the numerous hazards that exist, including:

• poor visibility
• sudden lane changes from two to four lanes and back
• lack of signage to indicate a reduction in lanes
• drivers who drive unsafely, speed, and make poor decisions.

There are plenty of other unsafe roads in Alabama, including:

• Interstate 20, 214 miles through the center of the state
• Interstate 65, 366 miles connecting Birmingham, Decatur, and Montgomery
• Interstate 85, 80 miles going through Alabama

According to Drive Safe Alabama, a traffic crash was reported every 197 seconds in 2018 in our state. Most crashes occurred in urban areas, but rural areas had the most fatalities.

If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident or someone has died in a crash on any of Alabama’s roads, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. At this difficult time, the attorneys of Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana can help by handling all legal matters involved with getting justice and the settlement you deserve, so you can concentrate on your family’s needs and recovery.

We offer a free consultation and work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing until we win a settlement for you. Call us today at (251) 444-7000 to discuss your individual situation and see how we can help.

What Is the Safest Road in Alabama?

While no road has been singled out as the safest road in Alabama, statistics from Drive Safe Alabama show that Geneva County in the southeast part of the state has the fewest crashes and fatalities. There were just 2 fatalities recorded in 2016, out of 452 crashes. The major roads in Geneva County are State Roads 27, 52, 54, 85, 87, 103, 123, 153, 167, and 196.

Contributing to the safe driving record is the low population and population density in the county. According to Wikipedia, there were less than 27,000 people reported in the 2010 census, and the density was 46 per square mile.

Causes of Accidents on the Deadliest Road in Alabama

While road conditions on road 431 are particularly bad, due to poor visibility, lack of signage, and unexpected lane changes, negligence also plays a major role, as it does on every road.

When an accident is due to someone else’s fault or negligence, that party can be held liable for the damages that result. Examples of driver negligence that can lead to accidents include:

• Distracted driving while texting or engaging in any other activity that takes attention off the road
• Reckless driving, such as speeding, failure to yield right of way, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

In addition to negligent drivers, sometimes there are other parties that can be held liable, such as:

• A manufacturer, if the accident was caused by a manufacturing defect, such as defective brakes that failed
• The road repair company or municipality responsible for repairs if there were road defects that caused the crash.

No matter the cause of your accident or the road involved, our legal team at Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana will look to hold all responsible parties accountable. We will seek to prove negligence by showing that the following elements existed:

• Duty — The responsible party owed you a duty of care not to cause harm.
• Breach — The party breached that duty of care by acting or failing to act.
• Cause — This breach caused or was directly related to the accident.
• Damages — You suffered damages as a result of the accident.

Damages You May Receive

In a successful Alabama personal injury lawsuit, you may receive a compensation award, called damages, for your losses. Compensatory damages include restitution for your …

• medical and rehabilitation expenses
• lost wages and projected future earnings
• property damage
• pain and suffering resulting from the accident.

Generally, there is no limit to the amount of compensatory damages you can recover in Alabama.

In some rare cases, there may also be punitive damages, designed to “punish” a defendant for especially egregious conduct such as fraud, malice, or acting with a conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others.

If a wrongful death is involved, Alabama awards only punitive damages to discourage careless or reckless behavior by punishing the party who is responsible. This damage award is paid directly to the heirs of the deceased person.

Injured on the Scariest Road in Alabama?  How Our Attorneys Can Help

Being in an accident makes every road scary, but our attorneys can take the pressure off you and support you all through the process. We can help by:

• Investigating your case to find out how the accident happened
• Gathering evidence from police and medical reports, and videos from traffic cameras
• Interviewing witnesses
• Handling communications and negotiations with the insurance company and their lawyers, who will try to get you to accept the lowest amount possible
• Hiring experts to reconstruct the crash scene and provide testimony on your behalf
• Building your case and taking it to court and handling all aspects of a trial if necessary.

Alabama has a statute of limitations for initiating a personal injury or wrongful death case that is generally two years from the date of the accident or death. If you fail to file on time, unless there are certain factors that can change the running of the clock, the courts will not hear your case.

The sooner you contact us after the accident, the sooner we can get to work and the greater the chances we can get the information we need to fight for maximum compensation, so don’t delay.

Call Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana at (251) 444-7000 to schedule a free consultation with our team today.