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Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina -  The Research Triangle of the Piedmont region

Raleigh and Durham are two cities that comprise The Research Triangle, commonly referred to as simply The Triangle, a region in the Piedmont of North Carolina, anchored by North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The eight-county region, officially named the Raleigh–Durham–Cary–Chapel Hill combined statistical area (CSA), comprises the Raleigh-Cary and Durham–Chapel Hill metropolitan areas and the Dunn, Henderson, Oxford, and Sanford Micropolitan Statistical Areas. A 2013 Census estimate put the population at 2,037,430, making it the second largest metropolitan area in the state of North Carolina behind Charlotte. 

Raleigh is the capital of the state, the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees, which line the streets in the heart of the city. The city covers a land area of 142.8 square miles. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 451,066 as of July 1, 2015. It is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The city of Raleigh is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established the lost Roanoke Colony in present-day Dare County.

Durham is the county seat of Durham County, though portions also extend into Wake County in the east and Orange County in the west. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 251,893 as of July 1, 2014. Major employers in Durham are Duke University and Duke Medical Center (39,000 employees, 14,000 students), about 2 miles west of the original downtown area, and companies in the Research Triangle Park (49,000 employees), about 10 miles southeast. 

Links to recent accidents in Raleigh and Durham

Here is information on the most recent accidents in region:

• Raleigh and Durham car accidents;
• Raleigh and Durham motorcycle accidents;
• Raleigh and Durham bicycle accidents;
• Raleigh and Durham bus accidents;
• Raleigh and Durham pedestrian accidents;
• Raleigh and Durham train accidents;
• Raleigh and Durham drunk driving accidents;
• Raleigh and Durham commercial truck accidents.

Major Freeways in Raleigh and Durham

• I-40 traverses the southern part of the city, connecting Raleigh to Durham and Chapel Hill toward the west, and coastal Wilmington, North Carolina to the southeast.
• I-440, Also known locally as the Raleigh Beltline, makes a loop around the central part of the city. The I-440 route labeling formerly encompassed the entire loop around the city, co-numbered though South Raleigh with I-40. In 2002, the NCDOT removed the I-440 designation from the co-numbered I-40 (southern and southwestern) sections of the loop, and the directional signage on the remaining I-440 portion was changed from Inner/Outer to East/West. The route designation changes were made to avoid driver confusion over the Inner/Outer designations, especially with Raleigh's new "Outer Beltline", as I-540 has become known.
• I-540/NC 540 is currently under development. It is a partially completed outer beltway that will run around the outer edges of Wake County and into a small portion of southeast Durham county. The route is complete and currently open between the NC 55 Bypassinterchange Holly Springs and the US-64/US-264 interchange in suburban Knightdale. The route is tolled between NC 54 in Cary to its current southwestern terminus at NC 55 Bypass. Completion of the loop is planned (but unfunded), and also contingent upon selection of an agreeable route around the town of Garner.
• I-495, designated in December 2013. The route will eventually connect I-440 to I-95 just east of Rocky Mount. It will be concurrent with U.S. 64 for its entire length, following the same roadway as currently exists. The segment from I-440 to I-540 is signed as I-495, while the segment to the east of I-540 is signed as "Future I-495". The highway is currently to Interstate standards only along the Knightdale Bypass, which runs from I-440 to the Business 64 exit between Knightdale and Wendell. East of this point, the road is a controlled access freeway, but does not meet interstate standards. The "future" designation will be removed as the road is eventually upgraded by improving the road's shoulders, which are currently too narrow to qualify for an Interstate Highway. 

Most travel in Durham is by private motor vehicle on its network of public streets and highways. Important arteries for traffic include NC 147, which connects Duke University, downtown, and Research Triangle Park, U.S. 15-501 between Durham and Chapel Hill, I-85, connecting Durham to Virginia and western North Carolina cities, and I-40 running across southern Durham County between the Research Triangle Park and Chapel Hill. The I-40 corridor has been the main site of commercial and residential development in Durham since its opening in the early 1990s. Over 95% of commuters use a car to get to work, with 14% of those people in carpools.

Durham maintains an extensive network of bicycle routes and trails and has been recognized with a Bicycle Friendly Community Award. The American Tobacco Trail begins in downtown and continues south through Research Triangle Park and ends in Wake County. The city is also considering furthering the progress on the Triangle Greenway System.

Information on the major hospitals in Raleigh and Durham:

Duke Raleigh Hospital;

WakeMed Raleigh Campus;

Duke Regional Hospital.

When someone is injured in an accident in Raleigh or Durham, it is important to gather information about what happens next.

Being injured in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary experience, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful. Accident victims are forced to deal with hospitalization, medical treatments, missed work, and lost income, often while trying to manage pain and disability from their injuries. And then the insurance adjusters start circling. When an accident or injury is serious, people need legal assistance.

Personal injury lawyers offer a no-cost claim evaluation to help you.

Since there is no cost to speak with a lawyer, it is a good idea to learn more about your potential personal injury claim. Learn more here about how a Raleigh Durham personal injury lawyer can help.