Whether driving Maine’s seacoast roads or busy Portland streets, you may have seen a vehicle whiz by you at a dangerous speed or negligently switch lanes – nearly causing an accident. If you think Maine is a dangerous state to drive in, it’s not your imagination. It’s supported by staggering crash statistics.
What makes Maine so dangerous for driving
A recent report by insurance company QuoteWizard has ranked Maine No. 1 for having the worst drivers in the nation.
The ranking comes on the heels of a Maine’s statewide 2017 crash report. The number of total crashes in 2017 was 34,958, an increase of 1,669 crashes from 2016. Approximately 8,449 crashes resulted in injuries.
In 2017, Maine saw a total of 157 fatal crashes and 166 fatalities. This marked a significant increase from 2016, which saw 148 fatal crashes and 157 fatalities.
The most common contributing driver actions included:
- Failure to yield right-of-way: 5,582 crashes
- Driving too fast for conditions: 3,874 crashes
- Following too closely or tailgating: 5,343 crashes
- Failure to keep in proper lane: 2,032 crashes
- Reckless driving: 1,470 crashes
Other factors included improper backing, improper turning, over-correcting steering, swerving, exceeding the speed limit, and wrong-way driving.
Driver actions weren’t the only factors in traffic accidents. Many statewide crashes were attributed to vehicular factors caused by parts defects or poor maintenance. These most commonly included:
- Brake failure: 309 crashes
- Tire failure: 369 crashes
- Body and door factors: 211 crashes
- Steering failure: 91 crashes
- Powertrain complications: 94 crashes
- Wheel failure: 71 crashes
From 2013-2017, rural areas had:
- 571 fatal crashes
- 2,311 incapacitating injuries
- 6,951 non-incapacitating injuries
- 13,764 possible injuries
Urban areas had:
- 114 fatal crashes
- 991 incapacitating injuries
- 3,957 non-incapacitating injuries
- 12,951 possible injuries
If someone else’s reckless behavior caused your crash, contact our law firm
Not all Maine drivers engage in reckless or irresponsible behavior. Those who do should be held accountable when their actions result in someone being injured or killed.
If you have sustained injuries in a crash, speak to a highly skilled auto accident attorney as soon as possible. The experienced legal team at The Law offices of Joseph L. Bornstein will fight tirelessly to bring justice to you and your family.
Worried about dealing with pushy insurance companies? Let us work for you. Schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation today by contacting our firm.
