What Are Some of the Worst Car Accident Stories in the U.S.?

Millions of car accidents take place in the United States every year, and many people are seriously injured or lose their lives. The unfortunate reality is that many of these accidents were preventable and were caused by the negligence of drivers. If you were involved in a car accident or you lost a loved one, you should consider contacting a personal injury attorney right away to see what your options are. Morgan & Morgan is always available to help. As the largest personal injury firm in the country, we can help you no matter where you are located. We have offices and attorneys across the country, so don’t hesitate to contact us. Reach out to Morgan & Morgan today for a free consultation.

Worst Car Accident Stories in the US

The following are some of the worst car accidents stories in the US.

June 1956: 21 Migrant Workers Killed by Tractor-Trailer in Georgia

This was one of the worst car accident stories in US history. A tractor-trailer crashed into a van carrying migrant workers, killing 21 people. The driver of the tractor-trailer had been driving for over 24 hours and didn't see the van until it was too late. This accident could have been prevented if the driver had taken a break and gotten some rest.

July 26, 1988: 47 Killed in Bus Crash Near Dallas, Texas

On July 26th, 1988, a bus filled with passengers traveling from Houston to Dallas crashed on Highway 35 near Hillsboro, Texas. Forty seven people were killed in the accident, including 28 children. The cause of the crash was later determined to be faulty brakes on the bus. This accident could have been prevented if the bus company had taken proper safety measures to ensure their brakes were in working order.

December 1990: Fog Causes a 99-Car Pileup in Tennessee

A dense fog caused a 99-car pileup on I-40 in Tennessee. This should clearly be included in some of the worst car accidents in the US, as it resulted in 18 deaths. The fog was so thick that drivers couldn't see more than a few feet in front of them. This accident could have been prevented if the drivers had slowed down when they saw the warning signs for the fog.

May 2002: Bus Carrying Kentucky High School Students Crashes Injuring 27

A bus carrying high school students from Kentucky crashed while en route to Washington D.C., injuring 27 people. The bus driver lost control of the bus after hitting a patch of black ice on the highway. This accident could have been prevented if the bus driver had been more careful when driving in bad weather conditions.

April 2007: Truck Driver Falls Asleep at the Wheel, Causing 17-Car Pileup

A truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and caused a 17-car pileup on I-75 in Michigan. The accident occurred when the truck driver hit the median and his trailer began to sway back and forth. This caused other drivers to lose control of their cars and crash into each other. This accident could have been prevented if the truck driver had been more careful when driving.

November 1991: Dust Storm Causes a 104-Car Pileup in Arizona

A dust storm caused a 104-car pileup on I-40 in Arizona. This was one of the worst car accidents in United States history and resulted in 14 deaths. The dust storm was so thick that drivers couldn't see more than a few feet in front of them. This accident could have been prevented if the drivers had slowed down when they saw the warning signs for the dust storm.

February 2000: Snowstorms Causes a 114-Car Pileup in Virginia

Snowstorms caused a 114-car pileup on I-77 in Virginia. This was one of the worst car accidents in United States history and resulted in 12 deaths. The heavy snowfall made it impossible for drivers to see more than a few feet in front of them, which led to multiple head-on collisions throughout the day. This accident could have been prevented if people had stayed home because of bad weather conditions instead of driving into hazardous road conditions.

December 1909: Railroad Crossing Collision Kills 17

This is definitely included in some of the worst car accidents in the US, as two trains collided at an unmarked railroad crossing near Chatsworth, Georgia. The collision killed 17 passengers aboard both trains and injured 38 others. Eighteen rail cars were derailed in the accident and the wreckage was spread over a distance of 300 yards. This accident could have been prevented if the railroad company had installed warning lights or gates at the crossing.

March 2002: Heavy Fog Causes a Car Accident That Kills 4 People in Georgia

A heavy fog caused a car accident that killed four people in Georgia. The accident occurred when the driver of a van hit an SUV head-on. The fog was so thick that drivers couldn't see more than a few feet in front of them. This accident could have been prevented if the drivers had slowed down when they saw the warning signs for the fog.

March 2009: Pileup on I-35 Kills 13 People in Texas

A pileup on I-35 in Texas killed 13 people and injured more than 100 others. The accident occurred when the driver of a box truck lost control after hitting ice patches on the road, hit another car, and then slammed into multiple other vehicles including 18 wheelers. It was raining at the time, so this accident could have been prevented if drivers had slowed down instead of speeding up to pass each other during bad weather conditions.

December 2010: Heavy Fog Causes Hundreds of Car Accidents in Kentucky

Heavy fog caused hundreds of car accidents across Kentucky that left 17 people dead and more than 100 injured. This accident could have been prevented if the drivers had slowed down when they saw the warning signs for the fog.

November 2002: 216-Car Pile Happens in Los Angeles

A 216-car pileup happened in Los Angeles after the driver of a tractor-trailer lost control and hit several cars. This was one of the worst accidents that caused 40 people to be injured, including 18 critically with broken bones, head injuries, internal bleeding and open wounds. This accident could have been prevented if drivers had slowed down when they saw warning signs for the construction work ahead on I-710 South Freeway near Atlantic Boulevard.

December 1972: Pileups as a Result of Black Ice Cause 11 Deaths in New York City

11 people died from car crashes as a result of black ice conditions on West 96th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan at an intersection where two roads met up. There were also 14 other non-fatal accidents in this area. This accident could have been prevented if the city had salted roads during a storm instead of waiting until the rain turned to ice on streets and highways.

January 1985: 85-Car Pileup on I-75 in Michigan Kills 17 People

Seventeen people died in an 85-car pileup on I-75 near Detroit when a snowstorm caused drivers to lose control of their vehicles. The pileup stretched for over two miles with some cars ending up wedged underneath tractor-trailers. This was one of the worst accidents that involved icy roads and resulted in many fatalities. This accident could have been prevented if drivers had slowed down when they saw warning signs for the snowstorm.

November 2007: 108-Car Pile Up in Fresno Injures 36 People

Thirty-six people were injured when fog caused 108-car pile ups on Highway 180 in Fresno, California.
This was one of the worst accidents involving fog that killed five people and led to many others being hospitalized with broken bones, internal injuries, head trauma, and open wounds.

Drivers lost control because they couldn't see more than 15 feet ahead due to heavy fog which limited visibility severely. This accident could have been prevented if drivers had slowed down instead of speeding up during low visibility conditions so they wouldn’t crash into other vehicles ahead of them.

What should I do if I've been involved in a car accident?

You should contact the police right away so they can come make an official report and document what happened. You should also consider seeking medical attention even if you aren’t visibly hurt. Many injuries can be internal or don’t show up right away, so it’s a good idea to let a professional take a look. You should then contact an experienced personal injury attorney to see if you have any recourse for the accident and any injuries or property damage you suffered.

What is comparative negligence?

Comparative negligence refers to the percentage of responsibility that each party bears for an accident occurring as a result of negligent behavior. For example, if you file a personal injury claim for a car accident and the court determines that you were 20 percent at fault, any compensation you are awarded will be reduced by 20 percent.

How much does a personal injury lawyer cost?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means they don't get paid unless you win your case and receive a settlement or verdict in your favor. This usually costs the injured party nothing upfront. A typical percentage is between 30 and 40 percent. While this might seem like a lot, it’s important to remember that there’s no financial risk to you, as you don’t pay anything unless you win. This allows a wide array of people to receive quality legal representation without money being a factor.

What is the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim?

The statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to file a legal claim after an accident occurs. In most states, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. This changes from state to state, though, so it’s a good idea to contact a lawyer and make sure you don’t miss the deadline.

Morgan & Morgan Can Help

As you can see, some of the worst car accident stories in the US were preventable and caused by negligence. If you or a loved one was in a car accident and believe another negligent party was to blame, Morgan & Morgan can help. We have recovered more than $20 billion dollars for our clients across the United States. We operate on a contingency fee basis, so you never pay us anything unless we win or settle your case. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free consultation.