Despite the importance of road safety, road debris can lead to accidents that injure drivers and put others on the road at risk. A recent study found that between 2011 and 2014, more than 200,000 police-reported crashes involved road debris and resulted in almost 40,000 deaths nationwide.
Debris can turn a quick jaunt on the road into a deadly obstacle course, leaving drivers only seconds to respond to incoming traffic. Most road debris incidents occur due to items falling from a vehicle or becoming loose, such as furniture being thrown out of a car or nails flying off a truck.
The AAA estimates that a driver can lose control of their vehicle in as little as 30 seconds when swerving to avoid road debris. Whether the road debris came from a truck, other vehicles, or even natural causes like a rock slide, it can lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
Accidents caused by road debris can be very difficult to determine who is at fault for them. This is because, often, a driver cannot know who dropped or tossed the debris before it was hit.
Fortunately, insurance companies recognize the risks involved in driving on a highway with road debris. If you are injured in an accident caused by debris, you may be able to recover your damages by filing a claim under your collision coverage or your comprehensive coverage.
