Latest Accidents
More Incidents
Interstate 75 Accident News and Resources
Interstate 75 is the seventh longest interstate highway in the United States. The roadway spans more than 1786 miles across multiple states.
States that Interstate 75 Passes Through
Interstate 75 is a major interstate highway that runs north to south across a total of six states. These states, starting from the southernmost point, include:
- Florida: A total of 470.88 miles of Interstate 75 are located in the state of Florida.
- Georgia: A total of 355.11 miles of Interstate 75 are located in the state of Georgia.
- Tennessee: A total of 161.86 miles of Interstate 75 are located in the state of Tennessee.
- Kentucky: A total of 191.78 miles of Interstate 75 are located in the state of Kentucky.
- Ohio: A total of 211.30 miles of Interstate 75 are located in the state of Ohio.
- Michigan: A total of 395.54 miles of Interstate 75 are located in the state of Michigan.
Collectively, these sections of the interstate add up to a total of 1786.47 miles of interstate. The northern terminus of the Interstate system is located on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the town of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, which borders Canada. The southern terminus is located in Miami, Florida. It reaches the southernmost point after cutting across the Everglades from the Gulf Coast.
I-75 passes through several major US cities along its route. These include:
- Miami, Florida
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Toledo, Ohio
- Detroit, Michigan
Interstate 75 provides travelers with a direct route to several areas. There are also several junctions that provide drivers a smooth transition to another major roadway.
Major Intersections Along Interstate 75
There are several major junctions across the interstate. Some of the most notable, from the south end to the north end of the interstate, include:
- Florida State Route 826/State Route 924 in Miami, FL
- Interstate 4 in Tampa, FL
- Interstate 10 near Lake City, FL
- Interstate 20 in Atlanta, GA
- Interstate 40 in Knoxville, TN
- Interstate 64 through Lexington, KY
- Interstate 70 in Vandalia, OH
- Interstate 80/Interstate 90 in Rossford, OH
- Interstate 94 in Detroit, MI
- Interstate 69 in Flint, MI
On the far northern end, the interstate crosses the Canadian border on the International Bridge at the Sault Sainte Marie Border Crossing Point in the Upper Peninsula.
Rear-end
Collisions:
This type of accident occurs when a vehicle hits the vehicle in front of it on the roadway. There are many reasons why this type of accident takes place, often due to driver error while on the interstate..
Truck
Accidents:
Roughly 50% of truck accidents on the interstate take over four hours to clean up. Extensive delays along these narrow roadways make traveling on the interstate even more hazardous.
Motorcycle
Accidents:
When a motorcycle accident occurs the results can be severe for a rider. That's because motorcycles & their riders have little protection when involved in an accident with a larger car or truck.
The Route of Interstate 75
As the interstate passes through each state between Florida and Michigan, it serves major southern economic hubs in various areas. These are outlined below.
The interstate begins in the Miami metropolitan area at the Hialeah-Miami Lakes border. After I-75 passes the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike and the interchange with Interstate 595 and the Sawgrass Expressway, it turns west across the Everglades near Alligator Alley. Once the interstate reaches the Gulf Coast near Naples, it turns north and passes through Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, and meets the Interstate 275 interchange.
The interstate continues as a six-lane highway system all the way to the Georgia border. The freeway proceeds through portions of Pasco, Hernando, and Sumter Counties as it makes its way toward Ocala and the Gainesville, Florida area. Once I-75 reaches Lake City, it intersects with I-10 before entering Georgia.
I-75 enters the state of Georgia near Lake Park. The road then continues north and passes through Valdosta, Tifton, and Cordele until it reaches the city of Macon. I-75 then crosses the eastbound side of Interstate 16. The roadway continues forward and passes no major intersections until it reaches the Atlanta metropolitan area where it meets Interstate 675.
I-75 then runs concurrently with Interstate 85 over the Downtown Connector until it intersects with I-20 in the Central Business District of Atlanta. After the two roads split, I-75 heads northwest through Marietta and Kennesaw. The road then traverses the Blue Ridge Mountains in north Georgia before heading toward the border of Tennessee.
I-75 makes its entrance in the state of Tennessee in the Chattanooga metropolitan area. It quickly intersects with I-24 and exits the city to the northeast. The interstate does not meet with any other freeways until passing Interstate 40 in the Farragut area. I-75 then heads east, entering the outskirts of Knoxville.
I-75 overlaps with Interstate 540 for a short stretch then meets Interstate 275. As the interstate passes through the Cumberland Mountains, it reaches its highest points of elevation while cutting through some of the uppermost peaks and bridges.
Interstate 75 enters Kentucky from the southern border with Tennessee. It enters through the hilly terrain of the Cumberland Plateau region. The interstate continues through London and Richmond before eventually reaching Lexington. I-75 then runs concurrently with Interstate 64 before splitting off toward Georgetown.
The interstate continues toward the border of Ohio while running concurrently with Interstate 75 for approximately 20 miles while both roads travel toward Cincinnati. The interstate traverses the Ohio River on the lower level of the Brent Spence Bridge and then continues into Cincinnati.
Immediately after passing through the Cincinnati metropolitan area, Interstate 75 remains due north until it intersects with the Interstate 275 beltway. The interstate passes through the Middletown area and through toward Dayton. At this point, I-75 intersects with Interstate 70, forming the Freedom Veterans Crossroads. I-75 continues north through Toledo and along the western shores of Lake Erie.
The roadway passes through downtown Toledo and several industrial areas before progressing toward Interstate 280, the last major junction with I-75 in Ohio. After passing by the Lake Erie neighborhoods of Shoreland and Point Place, it enters the state of Michigan.
Interstate 75 enters the state of Michigan on the southern border and continues to follow the northwestern shore of Lake Erie. I-75 continues toward downtown Detroit and meets with Interstate 275. In the downtown Detroit metropolitan area, the interstate meets with the interchange that leads into Canada over the Ambassador Bridge, Interstate 375, Interstate 94, Interstate 96, Michigan Route 8, and Interstate 696.
The interstate continues north through Flint and Saginaw, where Interstate 697 acts as a spur route off the interstate into the city area. As the interstate passes through Mackinaw City it makes an interchange with US Route 31 and US Route 23 before crossing over the Mackinac Bridge toward the Upper Peninsula. I-75 continues north through several areas before exiting Michigan north at the Canadian border.
Interstate 95 is long considered the most dangerous roadway in the state of Maryland. Hundreds of people are injured in accidents along the interstate every year, while numerous people lose their lives. Investigations found that nearly one-third of all fatal accidents reported on Interstate 95 in Maryland are alcohol-related.
In order to address the dangers associated with I-95 in Maryland, the state's transportation authority (MDTA) has proposed a series of route changes between 2018 and 2026. The most significant improvements to the interstate are scheduled between 2020 and 2026 in the I-95 ETL Northbound Extension.
This type of direct access provided by the interstate allows travelers to make it to major cities within each state more easily.
Why Do So Many Accidents Take Place on Interstate 75?
Reports provided by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), maintained by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), show that I-75 is the third most dangerous highway in the United States for truckers. Not only does the interstate present dangerous conditions for semi-truck operators, but all motorists are at risk of being harmed. Overall, the interstate ranks number 4 as the most dangerous interstate highway in the country. This roadway maintains a fatality rate above 47.2 fatal crashes per 100 miles.
There are several areas on the interstate that are more problematic than others. One spot, in particular, is located in the state of Tennessee. As I-75 passes the area just north of Chattanooga, it is met with dense fog. This is one of the most dangerous areas of the Interstate in the state of Tennessee. History shows that during 1990, a total of twelve people were killed and 42 others were injured as a result of a fog disaster on December 11.
In Florida, I-75 is a gateway to the rest of the state. Tens of thousands of people travel on the roadway every day, resulting in heavy traffic patterns. There are also many people who speed on the road, causing serious injury collisions with other vehicles. As the interstate travels through several major cities, it is prone to traffic congestion and other serious problems.
Winter weather in the northern states just makes it even more challenging to drive. Maneuvering icy roadways with any vehicle can be particularly challenging. However, we see many drivers engage in negligent acts while operating their vehicles along the interstate, making the circumstances even worse.
Most Common Types of Accidents that Occur on Interstate 75
We see a significant number of collisions take place on Interstate 75 every year. Some of the most common types of crashes that occur include:
- Truck accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- High-speed accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Sideswipe collisions
These and other types of crashes continue to impact the lives of travelers every day along the interstate. The majority of these accidents are completely preventable.
Staying out of the truck blind spot as often as possible.
Only pass semi-trucks while utilizing the left lane.
Do not follow too closely to semi-trucks and commercial vehicles.
Do not drive recklessly or in an aggressive manner while near a semi-truck.
If you encounter an aggressive truck driver while traveling on Interstate-95, let them pass and stay away from their vehicles whenever possible.
Be aware of traffic patterns and the conditions around you.
Report any dangerous truck drivers you encounter to law enforcement as soon as possible.
Minimize any distractions in your vehicle whenever possible.
The Route and Dangers of I-95
Leading Causes of Interstate 75 Auto Accidents
Accidents take place on Interstate 75 every single day in all six states that it passes through. Although the road conditions are different between the states, we continue to see many common factors contribute to these collisions. Quite often, the actions of drivers are the leading cause of crashes.
Some of the most common causes of crashes along I-75 include:
- Inclement weather conditions
- Drivers who are speeding
- Drowsy drivers operating semi-trucks
- Drunk and impaired drivers
- Heavy traffic conditions
- Congestion
Accidents can take place for any given reason on the Interstate. Thankfully, every state that the interstate passes through has projects in the works that are intended to improve the safety of the roadway for travelers.
The Future of the Interstate
There are several projects planned for I-75 over the next decade. In Ohio, the I-75 Thru the Valley project was introduced to include several improvement projects that will be implemented in eight separate phases. These phases include:
- Phase 1 and 2: Widen Interstate 75 between Shepherd Lane and Glendale-Milford Road.
- Phase 3: Widen the roadway between Mill Creek and Ohio State Route 126.
- Phase 4: Replace the Norfolk Southern Railroad bridge. This phase also includes changes to realign the exit ramp to Galbraith Road.
- Phase 5: Widen I-75 SB between Shepherd Lane and Galbraith Road.
- Phase 6: Widen I-75 NB between Shepherd Lane and Galbraith Road.
- Phase 7: This phase was absorbed into the other phases of the project.
- Phase 8: Widening the interstate between the area of Glendale-Milford Road and Kemper Road.
These plans have the ultimate goal of easing congestion and improving safety.
In Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation is currently reconstructing the interstate in the area of Clark Road in Sarasota County. These improvements will help to reconstruct existing surfaces at the Diverging Diamond Interchange and add auxiliary lanes on the interstate. The project will also implement various improvements on Clark Road.
The state of Georgia is planning a Commercial Vehicle Lanes project that is intended to improve mobility and the safety of the road conditions for truck drivers and those traveling in passenger vehicles. This project will add two commercial vehicle-only lanes that are separated by barriers along the northbound lanes of the interstate near I-475. These lanes will extend to McDonough.
Tennessee is currently in the midst of a two-phase project to improve travel along the interstate. Phase one of the project was completed in August 2021. This phase included improved lighting, building and repairing several bridges, constructing seventeen retaining walls, implementing a noise wall, and various other changes.
The second phase of the I-75/I-24 interchange project is set to begin late in 2022. This phase includes widening several existing roads and ramps, increasing the radii of ramps, reconfiguring the entrance ramps from Interstate 24 and the exit ramps from Interstate 75, modifying the welcome center to improve traffic circulation, and shifting the interchange to the west.
Kentucky is in the process of implementing a major lane widening project, changing the road from four lanes to six lanes between KY 909 and London in the northern end of the state. The plans also include widening between mile points 40.7 and 48 and adding two new bridges over US Route 25.
Truck climbing lanes will be added in areas of steep grade along the roadway near Woods Creek Lake Dam. On the south end of Kentucky, the lanes will be widened from four to six lanes in the area between the 28.9-mile marker and the 33.2-mile marker in both directions.
In Michigan, a three-segment plan was started in 2016 to improve traffic and safety on the interstate. Segment one included reconstructing a 3.3-mile segment of the interstate while replacing six structures. The I-75/Square Lake Road interchange was also modernized.
Segment two, which started in the fall of 2018, will reconstruct a total of 8.5-miles of the roadway, repair 18 structures, and create diverging diamond interchanges at Big Beaver and 14 Mile roads. These two segments will also introduce the state's first High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, which will open in 2023.
Segment three of the plan addresses issues between 8 Mile Road to the north of 13 Mile Road. This project, which started in 2019, will reconstruct a total of 5.5 miles while replacing 22 structures and removing five bridges along the interstate. Furthermore, a four-mile-long drainage tunnel will also be added in the depressed section of the highway in the area between 8 Mile Road and 12 Mile Road.
Given the dramatic shift in population for areas along the interstate, we can only expect to see significantly more improvement projects come up over the next decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do so many accidents happen on Interstate 75?
There are various reasons why car accidents frequently happen on Interstate 75. We see many accidents occur on I-75 due to drivers failing to follow traffic safety laws, with speeding-related accidents widespread on the interstate. The high speeds that drivers are traveling at make it more likely for an accident to occur. In addition to speeding, other forms of driver negligence continue to be a leading factor in accidents across I-75. A few other top causes of car accidents that occur on the interstate include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Aggressive driving
- Reckless driving actions
In addition, the number of vehicles on the road, traffic congestion, and poor road conditions can also contribute to car and truck accidents.
Interstate 75 is one of the busiest highways in the country, and there are often a lot of cars on the road. This can make it difficult for drivers to see what is happening ahead of them and lead to more aggressive driving. If one driver makes a mistake, it can cause a severe accident.
Many accidents on Interstate 75 happen during rush hour or in bad weather conditions. This is because more cars are on the road, and visibility is often poor. Depending on the location, I-75 may have snow, ice, heavy rain, fog, and other inclement weather that increases the risks for drivers.
Defective car parts can also lead to severe injury accidents. When defective car parts are present, it can result in vehicles failing to function properly. This can lead to brake issues, tire blowouts, and other dangerous circumstances that often cause devastating traffic accidents.
Who is at fault for an accident caused by dangerous road conditions?
When dangerous road conditions are present, the government agency responsible for creating and maintaining the roadway can be held accountable. Fault will be determined by the specific danger that led to the accident. If there are poor road conditions caused by potholes, severe debris, and obstructions, the highway agency can be held accountable. A government agency might be liable if a faulty road design led to your crash.
What should I do after being in an accident on Interstate 75?
After being involved in a car accident on I-75, you must take several steps to protect your legal rights and best interests. These steps include:
- Call 911 Immediately: Your first priority is ensuring everyone involved is safe and there are no severe injuries. It is crucial to see medical assistance to ensure you get proper care for your injuries. If you suffered severe injuries, you must get timely medical aid and begin documenting the injuries that you have suffered.
- Request Law Enforcement at the Crash: This will help ensure that the accident scene is properly documented. Once law enforcement arrives, they will likely investigate the cause of the accident and file a report. This report can be helpful in any subsequent insurance claims or legal proceedings.
- Secure the Scene: This means ensuring that all involved parties are safe and that no one is in danger of further injury. Once you have confirmed the safety of those involved, you can begin exchanging information with the other drivers or witnesses.
- Gather Evidence from the Crash Site: Gathering evidence from the accident scene is important. This includes taking pictures of the damage to your vehicle, getting any witnesses’ contact information, and collecting other relevant evidence. Once you have this evidence, you can start working on filing a claim with your insurance company.
- Cooperate With the Authorities: You must stay at the scene of the accident and provide your name, insurance information, and registration to the police officer or other investigating officers. It is important to be truthful when answering questions about what happened. However, you should avoid admitting fault or making any statements that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
- Contact Your Insurance Company: Your insurance company will need to know about the accident to investigate and process any claims. Be sure to have all of the necessary information ready when you call, such as the date and time of the accident, where it occurred, and the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Keep Records: You must hold on to the police report, medical bills, medical reports, and other information and documents about your crash. Keeping good records will help ensure that you have all the information you need if you need to file a claim with your insurance company or take legal action.
- Contact an Attorney: An experienced car accident attorney will know how to deal with the insurance companies and will fight for the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been seriously injured, an attorney can also help you recover compensation for your damages.
It is important that you seek legal guidance right away. Schedule a free consultation with a skilled car accident lawyer at your earliest convenience to ensure you are in the best position possible to get justice.
Be extra alert:
This seems obvious, but try to be extra alert when driving on dangerous highways. Act as if you’re driving in poor road conditions (heavy rain or snow or poor visibility).
Plan ahead:
If you’re traveling long distances on a road trip or for work or pleasure, plan ahead. Consider when you’ll hit heavy-traffic areas and the weather conditions throughout your trip.
Rest:
If you feel drowsy, take a break and let someone else drive or pull off in a safe place for a quick nap. Here are some keen warning signs of drowsy driving: yawning or blinking frequently, watering eyes, difficulty recalling the past few miles that you’ve driven, missing exits, or drifting from your lane.
Obey traffic laws:
Always obey traffic laws. Not only will this prevent you from receiving a ticket, but you’re less likely to get into a fatal car accident if you obey the speed limit and other traffic regulations.