Road Departure Car Accidents in St. Louis

One of the most dangerous types of car accidents that can occur on St. Louis roads are the ones in which the vehicle leaves the road entirely.

Road departure car accidents occur when a vehicle swerves out of control and crosses the median line or any other road marking and leaves the roadway. The accident can be even more dangerous if the car leaves the road and falls into a field, ditch, or another dangerous off-road area.

Causes of Road Departure Accidents

Road departure accidents are common and very dangerous. According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2013, more than 18,000 fatal road departure accidents occurred in the United States. There are some common causes behind most road departure accidents, which include:

• speeding
• distracted driving
• fatigued driving
• driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated
• poor road conditions
• sudden swerving
• bad weather
• mechanical failure

Why Road Departure Accidents Are So Dangerous

Road departure accidents present many dangers including:

• If a road departure accident occurs over a bridge, the car may enter a body of water and pose a serious drowning hazard.
• The car may depart from the road and fall into a ditch and cause additional serious injuries.
• When a car leaves the road and enters rough off-road conditions, the vehicle may roll over.
• The vehicle may crash into a guard rail or another barrier.

Injuries Caused by Road Departure Car Accidents

Road departure accidents can involve a single vehicle or multiple vehicles. Injuries sustained in road departure accidents are often serious because they involve significant force. Such accidents often lead to injuries such as spinal cord injuries, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and other serious types of injuries leading to temporary or permanent disability.