What’s the Difference Between a Highway and a Freeway?
Traveling along California roads just can’t be beat. The Golden State offers plenty of scenery, beautiful weather, and a varied landscape for tourists and locals alike to enjoy.
Many Californians choose to drive to get to their destinations, which is why various highways and freeways often get flooded with traffic daily. Now you may be thinking, aren’t all highways and freeways the same?
The truth is there are varying differences between the two road types. Read on to learn more about these differences and how car accident lawyers in California from BD&J have your back after an accident.
BD&J car accident attorneys are always available in the aftermath of an unexpected accident on the road.
Aren’t Highways and Freeways All the Same Thing?
Shockingly, no. While both words are used interchangeably, the truth is that highways and freeways are not the same thing.
Highways are major public roads that connect cities and towns.
Freeways are roads with controlled access that have uninterrupted traffic flow.
It’s generally agreed that all freeways can essentially be categorized as highways, but not all highways are freeways.
Key Differences Between a Highway and Freeway
Stoplights
- Highways have intersections, stoplights, and crosswalks, requiring drivers to come to a stop along their journey.
- Freeways do not have stoplights or intersections, and it’s expected that vehicles maintain a steady flow of traffic without any designated lights or crosswalks with pedestrians.
Access Entry and Access Points
- Highways can be accessed through stoplights and intersections. They also will typically have direct access to businesses and residential properties.
- Freeways are only accessed through designated on and off ramps. This roadway does not allow direct access to businesses or driveways of residential properties.
Pedestrian Access
- Highways may be accessible through crosswalks and intersections
- Freeways are not accessible for pedestrians, and in fact, California Vehicle Code § 21960 prohibits pedestrians from the use of freeways or expressways through specific signage.
Road Design
- Highways will often have a varied design depending on the area. For example, some highways in more rural areas can often only have one or two lanes for either direction. Other highways may be even more expansive, having multiple wide lanes for larger traffic volume.
- Freeways always have multiple lanes, including designated lanes for merging, ramps to enter and exit, and median barriers to separate the direction of traffic.
Where Do Accidents Happen More Often?
While freeway accidents may have more serious consequences, accidents on highways are much more frequent. This is often due to:
- Highways having more turns
- The presence of intersections in highways, which interrupt the flow of traffic
- Pedestrian presence at certain highway areas
- There is no barrier separating traffic going in different directions
Which Has More Risks, a Highway or Freeway?
While highways are traditionally where more accidents happen, both highways and freeways share risks.
Highways have the risk of pedestrian access, intersections with stoplights, left turns, and cross streets, which increase the potential for accidents.
Freeways carry the risk of faster speeds and merging cars, which can cause more severe accidents involving multiple vehicles in comparison to highways.
What Do I Do After an Accident on a Highway or Freeway?
After a vehicle accident on a highway or freeway, it is crucial not to panic. Instead, follow these steps to ensure the safety of yourself, other passengers, and the drivers around you:
- After an accident, it’s best to get to a safe area of the road, which may include the parking lot of a business or a shoulder on the street
- If you are on the freeway, you’ll want to move to the right where there’s a shoulder and also traffic is considerably slower
- Check yourself and your passengers for any immediate injuries that require attention
- Call emergency services to get an officer on the scene, as well as medical attention
- Exchange information with the other driver(s), and take photos of the accident scene and vehicles involved
- Request medical assistance, even if you don’t feel symptoms of injuries
- Talk to a car accident lawyer in California as soon as possible to get started on your case
Car Accident Lawyers in California Can Bring Your Legal Claim Forward
After a car accident, you’ll no doubt be dealing with painful injuries, a mountain of expenses, and forced time out of work to recover from broken bones, deep lacerations, and other injuries.
This is where accidents often cause financial strain, but fortunately, you can file a personal injury claim to help recover the expenses that were caused by this crash.
If you’re unsure of the legal process or where to even begin with your claim, a car accident lawyer in California can help. Attorneys specialized in representing these accidents can help with:
- Filing the initial claim in the appropriate jurisdiction
- Advancing all case costs to clients under a contingency fee basis, which means no upfront fees*
- Helping in the collection of evidence
- Interviewing expert witnesses who can testify on your behalf when it comes to injuries, recovery prognosis, and mental trauma from the accident
- Using specialized negotiation tactics to fight for fair compensation that covers current and future accident-related expenses
- Communicating with insurance companies and the other party’s legal representatives on your behalf
Navigating a car accident claim can be overwhelming and oftentimes difficult for people who aren’t familiar with the legal process. Fortunately, car accident lawyers in California can help get your claim started.
How To Keep Your Car Maintained for the Road
No matter what roadway you frequently travel on, good safety habits for drivers often start with keeping a car maintained and in good shape for the road. The following steps will help you keep your car ready for any commute:
- Check all vehicle fluids. – Ensuring the levels of coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, and power steering fluid are maintained is key to the operation of a car.
- Make sure your tires are in good shape. – Looking at the health of your tires, including inspecting the tread depth, checking for cracks and bulges, and ensuring your tire pressure is even, is another essential for any vehicle’s maintenance.
- Keep an ear out for brake issues. – Squealing brakes, a car that lurches to the side when braking, and a sharp, sweet, or metallic smell that signals overheated brakes or leaking brake fluid are a couple of signs of brake issues that should be addressed immediately.
- Try your steering wheel. – A steering wheel that shakes, is hard to turn, or feels loose is not a good sign, so be sure to take care of this before getting on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does Speeding Cause So Many Vehicle Accidents?
Speeding on the road can drastically cut reaction times for drivers and increase the distance a driver needs to make a complete stop, which can be a problem when sudden stops are needed.
Not only is speeding a frequent culprit behind many car accidents, but it also increases crash energy and impact strength.
What Type of Accidents Can Occur on Both Highways and Freeways?
Some of the most common accidents that happen on both highways and freeways include rear-end collisions, head-on accidents, sideswipe accidents, and multiple vehicle pileups.
When Should I Start a Car Accident Claim?
A car accident claim typically must be filed within 2 years of the date of the accident. However, it’s always recommended you sit down with a car accident lawyer in California as soon as possible to discuss the case and get started on a claim.
What if My Loved One Died in a Car Accident?
Losing a loved one in a car accident can be utterly devastating, but as a family member, you do have the legal right to seek compensation in an accident. Speaking with a wrongful death lawyer in California can help you learn more.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Case in California?
In the state of California, a spouse or legally recognized partner, children who were financially dependent on the deceased, and other financially dependent minors or heirs to the estate of the deceased can file a claim.
If the deceased did not have a spouse or children, then parents, grandparents, siblings, or even nieces or nephews can file a wrongful death claim.
Is a Freeway Safer than Taking the Streets?
About 90% of traffic fatalities in the country happen in 3 main areas, 2 of which are intersections and those involving pedestrians and bicyclists. While it’s important to remember that accidents can happen anywhere and those on freeways are particularly serious due to high speeds, streets and intersections have a greater risk for accidents.
Can I File a Claim if I Didn’t Get a Police Report After an Accident?
You can absolutely still file an accident claim without a police report. You will just need other substantial evidence to replace the lack of a report.
What Other Evidence Can Help My Claim?
Evidence that could help your claim includes photos and videos of the car accident (including dashcam footage), medical documentation of injuries, pay stubs and an employer letter verifying the days you were out due to injuries, and expert testimony on your injuries and emotional state from the accident.
Can I Find Out if My Used Car Has a Previous Accident History?
If you were involved in a car accident or are looking to purchase a used car for your daily commutes, you can view a past accident history on a vehicle. For this, you will need your vehicle’s VIN and to visit to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System database site.
Will BD&J Car Accident Attorneys in California Represent My Case?
Yes! BD&J attorneys have spent years fighting for victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, e-bike accidents, and other personal injury cases in California since our establishment in 2007.
With more than $3 billion* recovered in compensation, our dedicated team of legal advocates is always ready to help California victims fight for justice.
How Can I Speak with a Lawyer from BD&J As Soon As Possible?
Call us at 888-648-8102 or complete our online form now to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys.
Talk to An Expert Attorney After an Accident on Any Road
Highways, freeways, interstates, and other roads may have some key differences, but they all share one common thread: the possibility of a car accident. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a car accident, don’t wait to make your story heard.
BD&J is the law firm you can trust in California. Our expert car accident attorneys are always ready to answer a call for help when it comes to overcoming the obstacles of the legal process.
Book your consultation with a BD&J attorney available 24/7!