How Charlotte’s Growing Traffic Congestion Is Leading to More Accidents

As Charlotte continues to expand, so does the time drivers spend sitting in traffic. In 2024, it’s estimated that Charlotte’s drivers spent about 9% more time on the road compared to the year before. Overall traffic congestion jumped 11% as well. With more cars crowding the city’s roads and highways, it’s more likely that accidents will happen.

How heavy traffic leads to accidents

Every year, heavy traffic causes thousands of car accidents. When roads fill up, small mistakes can become much more dangerous. Here are some of the most common reasons accidents happen when the roads are more congested:

Distracted driving at stops and slowdowns

When traffic crawls, many people use their phones or get distracted by something else. Someone glancing at a text when the light turns green might react a little late. This can be unexpected for the people behind them, who assume they will start moving as soon as the light changes. This could, unfortunately, lead to accidents, especially when there are a lot of cars on the road.

Aggressive moves in tight spaces

Heavy traffic tests everyone’s patience. It is easy for tempers to flare. People get frustrated waiting for slow drivers or red lights. In response, some drivers speed up, weave between lanes, tailgate, or slam the brakes out of frustration. These risky behaviors can lead to serious accidents on the roads.

Busy intersections and left turns

Many of the accidents that happen as a result of congestion happen at intersections. Left turns especially become dangerous in crowded conditions. Vehicles often speed through yellow lights to make it before it turns red, or people turning left often continue to turn even if the light is red. Both of these can lead to crashes.

Danger for pedestrians and cyclists

Heavy congestion is more than a problem for drivers. In busy areas near bus stops, stadiums, or shopping centers, pedestrians and cyclists are in danger as well. It puts pedestrians and cyclists at risk because drivers have less visibility and often focus on the cars around them. In crowded areas, people on foot or bikes might cross between vehicles, and drivers may not see them until it’s too late.

Proving fault after a traffic-related crash

Heavy traffic can make car accidents more complicated when it comes to proving who is at fault. With so many vehicles and possible distractions, establishing what happened takes solid evidence from several sources. Here are some types you need to obtain and present to get the compensation you are entitled to:

Police report and diagrams

The police report lays the groundwork for investigating fault. Officers often make notes about how the collision supposedly happened and may draw diagrams of how they understand the accident to have occurred. It should also make note of whether anyone on the scene received a traffic citation for violating the law. You need to get a copy of this report, which can help prove you weren’t responsible for the accident.

Traffic and video footage

Busy roads, especially those with many intersections, often have traffic cameras operated by local governments, departments of transportation, or businesses lining the roadway. If a private security, red-light, or law-enforcement camera might’ve captured your crash, act quickly—those recordings are often overwritten on a short schedule (note that many traffic cameras provide live views only and are not recorded). Also, look around to see if any doorbell cameras may have captured the incident.

Take note of whether you or the other driver has a dash cam, as this can also be incredibly helpful.

EDR (black-box) data

Modern vehicles, especially commercial trucks or newer personal vehicles, store information in an Event Data Recorder (EDR) or black box. These devices capture details like speed, throttle position, and when brakes were applied. If your case involves a truck accident or you know the other car is newer, make note of that. Often, law firms can subpoena this information, which can help back up your story about what happened.

Phone records

Many collisions happen when someone is not paying attention. You want to know whether a driver was texting, talking, or otherwise distracted just before impact and be able to prove it. Your lawyer can subpoena phone records for the relevant timeframe leading up to the crash. This can show if the other driver was on their phone, which gives you cause to argue that they were distracted and therefore at fault for the accident.

If you believe someone else caused the accident and that you could be entitled to compensation, these are some of the most important pieces of evidence to collect. A personal injury lawyer can help you do this and then present the information to the insurance company or in court, if necessary.

North Carolina’s contributory negligence – what happens if you’re partially at fault for the accident?

If you’re hurt in an accident in North Carolina, you need to know about contributory negligence. North Carolina uses this very strict law. It says that if you are found even just 1% at fault for your injury, you likely won’t be able to get any money in a lawsuit or insurance claim. There are narrow, but notable exceptions (such as the ‘last clear chance’ doctrine or grossly negligent conduct by the other driver).

Insurance companies often lean heavily on this rule. When you file a claim, the adjuster might try to prove that you did something, even a little, to cause the crash or worsen your injuries. They might point to something as small as you going 5 miles per hour over the speed limit. Don’t panic if an insurer blames you, but make sure you get legal help immediately.

Contact Price Petho & Associates, Attorneys at Law, to schedule a free consultation

If you’ve been involved in an accident and believe someone else was to blame, our team can help you prove this and get the compensation you need. With over 40 years of legal experience and tens of millions of dollars recovered for our clients, you can trust that we know what we’re doing. Reach out to Price Petho & Associates, Attorneys at Law, to schedule a free consultation.