The danger on rural roads is something that people often overlook. They tend to think of these roads as relatively safe, or at least no more dangerous than roads in any other area. But the statistics tell a different story.
For example, there are far fewer people driving on rural roads because most people in the United States live in urban areas. This means that the fatal accident rate is disproportionately high. According to some studies, it is at least three times as high on rural roads, and it could be up to 10 times as high in certain areas.
These are often high-speed crashes
The main reason why rural roads have higher fatal accident rates is that these crashes simply tend to happen at a much greater rate of speed.
If the speed limit is 25 miles an hour in an urban area, even if a driver is speeding, they may only be going 30 or 35 mph. But many rural roads have the speed limit set at 55 miles an hour and sometimes higher, so a speeding driver could be going 60 or 65. Higher speeds cause greater injuries and make fatalities more likely, even when drivers are following the speed limit.
The remote location itself
Another risk factor is simply that these roads are remote, so medical care isn’t nearby. Accidents sometimes happen and there’s a delay before emergency services are even notified because no one sees the accident occur. It also takes a significant amount of time for emergency personnel to arrive at the accident scene or transport any injured individuals back to a major hospital. The wait times are far longer in rural areas than they are in the city, where a major hospital may be just minutes away.
Have you lost a loved one in a serious car accident that another driver caused? You may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and much more.
