Where Do Most Serious Traffic Accidents Happen in Virginia?

Traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths are on the rise in Virginia. The Virginia Highway Safety Office reports more than 100,000 traffic accidents resulting in 50,000-60,000 injuries yearly. Each day, approximately 150 Virginians are injured in car crashes around the state, and the annual number of traffic fatalities in the Commonwealth has risen to more than 1,000. Most of these accidents result from speeding and reckless driving, but alcohol consumption and failure to use seat belts are also significant factors contributing to the increased accident rate.

Driving Safely on Dangerous Roads

While it’s always advisable to be careful and obey traffic laws when driving on any of Virginia’s thoroughfares, some are more dangerous than others. Below is a list of streets, roads, and highways identified by the Virginia Traffic Records Electronic Data System as locations of especially high numbers of vehicle accidents between 2020 and 2023. Motorists traveling in any of these areas should be aware of potential hazards and drive with caution.

Richmond

• I-95 near mile marker 78
• I-95 near mile marker 76
• I-95 near mile marker 75
• I-95 near mile marker 2
• I-95 near mile marker 77
• I-95 near mile marker 79
• I-64 near mile marker 191
• 17th St.
• 18th St.
• Broad St.
• Oliver Hill Way
• Belvidere St.
• Clay St.
• Leigh St.
• Munford St.
• Belvidere St.
• Cowardin Ave.
• Hull St.
• Richmond Hwy.

Norfolk

• I-64 near mile marker 284
• I-64 near mile marker 272
• I-264 near mile marker 7
• I-264 near mile marker 14
• I-264 near mile marker 8
• I-264 near mile marker 10
• Northampton Blvd.
• Premium Outlets Blvd.
• Wesleyan Dr.

Virginia Beach

• I-264 near mile marker 16
• I-264 near mile marker 15
• Indian River Rd.
• Kempsville Rd.
• Burton Station Rd.
• Northampton Blvd.
• Independence Blvd.
• First Colonial Rd
• Laskin Rd.
• Laurel Ln.
• Lynnhaven Pkwy.
• Bonney Rd.
• Onondaga Rd.
• Lynnhaven Pkwy.
• Lynnhaven Rd.
• Virginia Beach Blvd.
• Euclid Rd.

Fairfax County

• I-495 Ramp near mile marker 1
• I-95 near mile marker 162
• I-66 near mile marker 54
• I-66 near mile marker 6
• I-495 near mile marker 3
• I-495 near mile marker 9
• I-95 near mile marker 163
• I-66 near mile marker 63
• I-495 near mile marker 14
• I-95 near mile marker 173
• I-66 near mile marker 64
• I-66 near mile marker 65
• I-495 near mile marker 15
• I-66 near mile marker 60
• I-95 near mile marker 161
• Braddock Rd.

Arlington County

• I-395 near mile marker 10

Newport News

• I-664 near mile marker 6
• I-664 near mile marker 7
• I-664 near mile marker 8
• J Clyde Morris Blvd.
• J Clyde Morris Blvd. ramp
• Jefferson Ave.
• Jefferson Ave. ramp.
• Oyster Point Rd.
• Habersham Dr.
• Mercury Blvd.
• Mercury Blvd. ramp
• Bland Blvd.
• Bland Blvd. ramp

Hampton

• I-64 near mile marker 271
• Coliseum Dr.
• Coliseum Dr. ramp
• Kilgore Ave.
• Mercury Blvd.
• Power Plant Pkwy.
• Power Plant Pkwy. ramp
• Todds Ln.
• Aberdeen Rd.
• Armistead Ave.
• Cunningham Dr.
• Lasalle Ave.
• Lasalle Ave. ramp
• Thomas St.
• Fox Hill Rd.
• Big Bethel Rd.
• Hampton Roads Center Pkwy.
• Settlers Landing Rd
• Tyler St.
• Woodland Rd.
• Cherry Acres Dr.
• Orcutt Ave.

Fredericksburg

• Plank Rd.
• Plank Rd. ramp
• Carl D Silver Pkwy.
• Carl D Silver Pkwy ramp
• Blue and Gray Pkwy.
• Lafayette Blvd.
• Lafayette Blvd. ramp
• Altoona Dr.

Spotsylvania County

• Plank Rd.
• Salem Church Rd.
• Jefferson Davis Hwy.
• Patriot Hwy.
• Southpoint Pkwy.
• Bragg Rd.

Waynesboro

• Lew Dewitt Blvd.
• Rosser Ave.

Albemarle County

• Emmet St.
• Hydraulic Rd.
• Seminole Trail

Henrico County

• I-195 near mile marker 2
• Broad St.
• Gay Ave.
• Laburnum Ave.
• Broad St.
• John Rolfe Pkwy.
• Pouncey Tract Rd.
• Pump Rd.
• Crump St.
• Mechanicsville Tpke.
• Tom Leonard Dr.
• Dickens Rd.
• Staples Mill Rd.

Roanoke County

• Electric Rd.
• Ogden Rd.

Stafford County

• Garrisonville Rd.
• Jefferson Davis Hwy.

Charlottesville

• Emmet St.
• Hydraulic Rd.
• Seminole Trail

Prince William County

• I-95 near mile marker 156
• Jefferson Davis Hwy.
• Mount Pleasant Dr.
• Richmond Hwy.
• Balls Ford Rd.
• Sudley Rd.
• Gordon Blvd.

Salem

• Apperson Dr.
• Electric Rd.

Loudoun County

• John Mosby Hwy.
• Loudoun County Pkwy.

Chesterfield County

• Midlothian Tpke.

Winchester

• Jubal Early Dr.
• Pleasant Valley Rd.

Arlington County

• I-395 near mile marker 10
• I-395 near mile marker 9

Colonial Heights

• I-95 near mile marker 53

Chesapeake

• I-64 near mile marker 292
• I-64 near mile marker 294

Steps to Take If You’re Involved in an Accident

Even careful, law-abiding drivers are sometimes involved in accidents on dangerous roads. No matter how cautious you are, you can’t control the driving of other motorists. If you’re the victim in a crash caused by another driver, you may file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company for your medical expenses, property damage, lost income, and pain and suffering.

You should not assume, however, that the insurer will just pay you what you deserve. Insurance companies train their adjusters to dispute, delay, devalue, and deny expensive claims in order to save money. You can strengthen your accident claim and increase your chances of obtaining fair compensation by taking the following steps after an accident if you are physically able to do so.

Call the Police If They Aren’t Already on the Way

As soon as you’ve moved to a safe area, call 911 to report your accident. Stay at the scene until law enforcement arrives to make an official report. This document is vital to your claim because it proves your accident occurred when and where you say it did. The police report also includes vital information about the wreck and helps you prove the liability of the at-fault driver. Answer the questions of the officers honestly, but do not offer extra information. Do not admit any fault for anything to anybody.

Take Photos of the Scene and Surrounding Area

While waiting for police to respond, take photos of the accident scene, the vehicles involved, skid marks, damaged poles or guardrails, and other evidence. If you have visible injuries, try to photograph them or ask someone else to do so for you.

Exchange Information With Others at the Scene

You should exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver(s) but do not converse beyond that exchange. Don’t discuss the accident or argue about fault. If there are eyewitnesses to the crash, try to get their contact information, as well.

Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible

If you’re not transported to a hospital, you should seek medical care as soon as possible, even if you don’t feel you’re badly hurt. A doctor’s exam and diagnostic testing can reveal an injury of which you’re not aware and get you started on treatment right away for a faster recovery. A doctor’s exam also documents the injuries you suffered in the accident, so it’s vitally important to your claim that you get medical care right away.

Notify Your Insurance Company

Even if you bear no responsibility for the wreck, you should inform your insurer that it has occurred. Do not speak to an adjuster from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. That person is not your friend and is talking to you only to trick you into saying something that will damage your claim. Do not release your medical records to this insurer.