Midlothian Turnpike, also known as U.S. Route 60, was the first paved road in Virginia. Its original purpose was to support the local coal mines in Midlothian, located in northwestern Chesterfield County, southwest of downtown Richmond, by transporting the coal from the mines to the Manchester Docks on the James River.
The Midlothian coal mines no longer operate. But Midlothian Turnpike remains busy.
I know. My personal injury law firm’s office is on this road, and I drive on it many times each day, taking my kids to school or sports, shopping at Chesterfield Towne Center or one of the nearby grocery stores, picking up food at a local restaurant, attending church, or going to the gym.
So do many others. The Midlothian Turnpike is one of the most traveled roads in the Metro Richmond area, connecting Richmond to the suburbs of Chesterfield County (places like Bon Air, Woodlake, Brandermill, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Chester, Reams, and Hallsley).
Unfortunately, this amount of traffic leads to many Midlothian Turnpike car accidents. I see it every day.
You are not alone if you suffer injuries in a Midlothian Turnpike car accident. This article discusses the traffic volume and motor vehicle crash statistics for Midlothian Turnpike and what you can do if you get hurt in an auto accident on this road.
Keep reading to learn more.
Then call our top-ranked Chesterfield County car accident lawyers at 804-251-1620 or complete this form to see if we will accept representation in your case. We help accident victims recover personal injury damages to make them whole.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) publishes data sets showing annual average daily traffic volume estimates by route sections.
The most recent data shows the average Midlothian Turnpike traffic volume ranges from 30,000 to 55,000 vehicles daily.
Parts of the Midlothian Turnpike, such as intersections with heavily traveled highways like Chippenham Parkway or the Powhite Parkway or near commercial centers like Chesterfield Towne Center, Spring Rock Green, or Westchester Commons, see the higher end of this range.
In addition, you will encounter more traffic on the Midlothian Turnpike during morning and afternoon rush hour (mainly during the school year) and the holiday season, when areas near the mall are busier than usual.
Here are VDOT’s daily traffic estimates for some of the busier stretches of the Midlothian Turnpike:
Midlothian Turnpike car crashes contribute significantly to the total number of Chesterfield County auto accidents.
In 2023, Chesterfield County had 5,847 collisions, leading to 27 deaths and 2,200 injuries.
A closer look at this data reveals a high percentage of Chesterfield County accidents occur on the Midlothian Turnpike: 547 crashes – 9.3 percent of all county wrecks – and 235 injuries.
These accidents range from minor fender-benders that cause minimal property damage and no bodily injuries to serious T-bone and rear-end collisions involving multiple vehicles and causing traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries with paralysis, concussions, and herniated discs.
Several spots on the Midlothian Turnpike pose a greater risk to drivers.
Some of the most dangerous intersections and stretches along the Midlothian Turnpike include:
Your medical reports and treating doctors’ opinions have a significant role in your injury case. So, get health care immediately after the wreck.
If you get hurt on Midlothian Turnpike, you have several options for obtaining emergency medical care.
Local hospitals include:
We will work closely with the doctors who treat you initially, as well as the specialists who treat you for orthopedic injuries and psychological harm.
A drunk driver. Someone in a hurry to get to dinner. Or maybe someone who runs a red light.
If a negligent driver crashes into you on Midlothian Turnpike, a skilled local car accident lawyer can help you with the personal injury claim process.
Virginia is one of a few states that follows the contributory negligence doctrine. You will have difficulty negotiating a reasonable car accident settlement if you contributed to the accident – even just a little.
A Midlothian Turnpike car accident lawyer who knows the nuances of Virginia car accident law and can persuade a jury and build your claim can increase your chance of recovering fair compensation. These steps include investigating the crash scene, obtaining favorable reports from your treating physicians, hiring expert witnesses like accident reconstructionists or medical examiners, writing demand letters, and negotiating.
Accidents on Midlothian Turnpike often result in physical, emotional, and financial harm.
Having a skilled car accident lawyer familiar with the Chesterfield County Circuit Court and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, courts with potential jurisdiction over Midlothian Turnpike crashes, can help you be made whole.
Call (804) 251-1620 to see if we are the law firm for you.