Accidents on the rise in St. Louis since Highway 40 closure
A recent St. Louis Post Dispatch report, which analyzed data from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, shows that Missouri car accidents are on the rise on Interstate 44 in the St. Louis area since the construction on Highway 40 began.
The report suggests that the narrowing of lanes on I-44 to accommodate the extra traffic has caused a 27 percent jump in injury accidents over the first half of 2008 as compared to the first half of 2007.
While injury accidents were rising, the number of fatal crashes fell over that same period. There were two fatal crashes on the local stretch of I-44 in the first half of this year compared to seven in the first half of 2007, according to the Post Dispatch.
Standard highway lanes are 12 feet wide or wider. Since the Highway 40 construction began, the lanes on I-44 were cut to 11 feet wide.
Just as St. Louis drivers have gotten used to the change in the highway system, the second phase of the Highway 40 construction will once again alter traffic patterns. On December 15, the western portion of Highway 40 will open and the section from I-270 to Kingshighway will close.
We urge you to take it slow on the highways these next couple months and to always wear your seatbelt. The highway switch may alter your normal commute and when you mix in winter weather, the risk of a serious crash is greatly increased.
If you are involved in an accident on any Missouri highway, one of the first things you should do after seeking medical attention and exchanging insurance information is to contact a personal injury lawyer. Highway collisions can be very complicated cases and the counsel of an experienced attorney will ensure that you receive the help you need to cover any medical expenses that resulted from the crash.
