Rural roads are very common, and it is typical for drivers to feel relatively safe while navigating them. Traffic levels may be lower, road designs are simple, and it does not feel like the risks of an accident are very high. People often think whimsically about spending an afternoon on the open road.
However, statistics show us that the fatal accident rate on a rural road is actually much higher than the fatal accident rate on an urban street. In that sense, rural roads are actually much more dangerous for drivers and passengers, despite feeling safe. What are some reasons why this is true?
Proximity to medical care
For one thing, when someone is injured in an accident, quickly getting to the hospital can be important. They could have issues like internal bleeding that need to be treated quickly before they pass away.
If that accident happens in the city, EMTs may be on the scene in just a few minutes. The hospital may only be a few miles away. But if the same accident happens on a rural road that is 30 miles from the nearest town, it can significantly delay when that person receives medical care.
Higher speed limits
Additionally, fatal injuries are more likely in accidents that happen at higher speeds. In the city, speed limits are often set at 25 or 30 mph. But rural roads often have speed limits of 55 miles an hour or even higher.
In other words, the same exact accident could take place in the city or on a rural road. But the rural accident is going to happen at a higher rate of speed, so people in that crash may suffer far more serious injuries.
Navigating a wrongful death case
Have you lost a loved one in a car accident that happened due to another driver’s negligence? If you have, it is crucial that you know what legal steps to take as you move through a wrongful death case and pursue compensation.