Incidents of road accidents with severe injuries or even death are more common on interstates than they are on local roads. Interstate road accidents will often result in higher settlements or jury awards because there are more frequently wrongful death claims that are a part of the lawsuit. There are a number of risk factors present when driving on an interstate that are either more pronounced on the highway or are not present on the roads. If you have been in an interstate accident, contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your options for a car accident lawsuit. Below are some of the reasons why highway accidents may be more serious than accidents on local roads. 

Driver using smartphone behind the wheel; image by Alexandre Boucher, via Unsplash.com.

Distracted DriversTexting while driving or engaging in other forms of activity on one’s mobile device has heightened the risk for serious accidents. The risk from these accidents leaves drivers vulnerable to either swerving into the path of another car or rear-ending the car in front of them. This danger is even more pronounced when driving on the interstate since motorists may feel like they have more of an opportunity to check their device when driving a long stretch. Distracted driving is a factor in many fatal crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed over 3,000 lives in 2017. Drivers on the interstate are likely to be driving a long distance and mistakenly feel like they cannot be out of touch for an extended period.When an interstate accident causes injury or damage, a highway accident lawyer can help those injured and their families file a lawsuit to advance the process of receiving compensation for any harm experienced. In general, motorists must drive defensively on interstates to keep themselves as safe as possible notwithstanding the actions of other drivers.