Statistics have found that fatal accidents happen at a higher rate on rural roads. Some reports claim that the total number of deadly accidents is close to the same. You have roughly 50% of fatal accidents on city streets and 50% on rural roads. But there are far more drivers in the city, and they cover more miles every day – 31% of miles driven each day are in rural areas – so the fatal accident rate is higher on these more remote roads.
It sometimes surprises drivers to discover that they have higher accident risks on rural roads than those in the city. Country roads feel safer. They feel more spacious and less complicated. Why is it that they are actually more dangerous?
SPEED LIMITS ARE HIGHER
The first thing to remember is that speed limits on rural roads are often twice as high as they are on city streets. Speed has a direct correlation to the odds of an accident leading to fatal injuries. When most accidents occur at 55 or 60 miles an hour, it’s very natural for the fatality rate to be higher.
HELP IS FURTHER AWAY
Another thing to consider is that, when an accident does happen, the hospital is much further away. The authorities may not even discover a remote car accident for a significant amount of time. Transportation to a hospital can take 30 minutes instead of just the five minutes that it would take in the city. A delay in medical treatment increases the odds that the injuries will be fatal.
SEEKING COMPENSATION
If you’ve lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you may want to consider a wrongful death lawsuit. This is a potential tactic to seek compensation for funeral costs, medical bills, lost wages, and much more.
