Several interstate highways converge in Baltimore, Maryland. These interstates are so congested that the metro area also has a system of beltways that allows drivers to avoid passing through the heart of the city. I-695, also known as the Baltimore Beltway, encircles Baltimore so drivers can reach outlying communities like Dundalk and Towson.
Unfortunately, these beltways have their own problems. I-695 accidents in Baltimore occur frequently, often leading to injury or death. Our car accident attorneys from WGK Personal Injury Lawyers can help you pursue financial compensation for your injury-related costs and losses.
Call (410) 469-9349 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Baltimore personal injury attorneys. You can also contact us online. We handle various types of car accidents, including head-on crashes, rollover accidents, DUI-related accidents, intersection crashes, and more.
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How WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After An I-695 Accident In Baltimore, MD
Our family-operated law firm was founded in 1977 with the mission to provide exceptional legal representation to car crash victims in Baltimore, MD. We have more than 90 years of combined experience fighting for positive outcomes for those who suffer traumatic injuries.
When you hire us, our Baltimore personal injury lawyers can perform the following critical tasks after another driver takes unreasonable risks and causes a crash:
- Discussing your collision and explaining how to seek compensation
- Building your case with medical records, police reports, and other evidence
- Preparing a claim for the at-fault driver’s insurer and negotiating to fairly resolve it
- Pursuing a lawsuit against the negligent driver if their insurer denies your claim
A highway accident on I-695 or other high-speed roads can result in severe injuries and significant financial hardships. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Baltimore car accident attorney and learn more about how we stand up to at-fault drivers and auto insurers.
I-695 Crash Statistics
The Maryland Department of State Police provides detailed car accident statistics on its crash dashboard. If you filter the data by road, you’ll find that I-695 had 1,647 traffic collisions in 2024.
These accidents included the following:
- Five fatal crashes
- 407 injury crashes
- 1,235 property damage-only crashes
These numbers don’t indicate the total fatalities because these classifications are based on the most severe common injuries occurring in the collision. Therefore, a fatal crash might result in multiple deaths and injuries. Unfortunately, the dashboard doesn’t list the number of people who were injured or killed in these collisions.
If you filter the data further, you’ll see that these crashes involved the following:
- 203 large vehicle accidents (such as truck accidents), including two fatal collisions
- 11 motorcycle accidents
- Two pedestrian accidents, including one fatal collision
The pedestrian accidents are particularly odd because these road users aren’t allowed on interstates. However, the pedestrian collisions might have occurred when motorists exited their disabled vehicles and were struck while on the shoulder or in the roadway.
How Interstate Crashes Occur in Baltimore
Interstate accidents frequently take the form of a rear-end collision or sideswipe. Rear-end crashes happen when a driver collides with the vehicle in front of them.
The following risky driving behaviors can cause these accidents:
- Following too closely
- Speeding
- Driving while distracted
Distracted driving is a particular problem in Maryland. According to statewide statistics, distracted drivers caused more than 50,000 collisions in a recent year, resulting in nearly 21,000 injuries and more than 200 deaths. Even a brief distraction, such as glancing at a phone or navigation app, could have catastrophic consequences when traveling at freeway speeds.
Sideswipe crashes occur when a driver collides with a vehicle adjacent to them. Unsafe lane changes are a common cause of these accidents. For example, a driver who uses their mirrors to change lanes might fail to see a vehicle in their blind spot. When they change lanes, they might collide with the vehicle in the next lane.
Notably, crashes on I-695 increased from October to January. These months coincide with colder and wetter weather in Maryland, which can reduce visibility and create slick road surfaces. Moreover, days are shorter during these months. These environmental factors make I-695 more treacherous during the fall and winter.
Liability for Collisions on I-695
The liability for a car accident falls on the negligent driver. Negligence occurs when a driver fails to fulfill an expected duty of care. This simply means drivers must follow traffic laws and avoid taking unreasonable risks that could lead to injury or death.
Freeways like I-695 are rife with risky driving behaviors. Many drivers speed on the interstate. When traffic slows, vehicles tend to tailgate each other. Aggressive drivers may weave in and out of traffic, making unsafe lane changes. These motorists are often directly responsible when they cause accidents.
Contact Our Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A crash on an interstate freeway can cause disabling injuries or worse. Contact WGK Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your collision on I-695 or elsewhere. Our Baltimore car accident lawyers are ready to help you seek meaningful compensation under Maryland law.
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