Fatal accident rates are higher on rural roads than they are on urban streets. This is often a surprise to drivers who find the city to be congested and confusing, but who think that rural roads are generally simple and safe. Despite the differences in how it feels to drive in these areas, the statistics make it clear that rural roads are more dangerous.
One reason for this is quite literally that people feel safer, so they may be more likely to make critical errors. Drivers are less likely to be cautious under these conditions. They may be more likely to skip wearing a seatbelt, or they may daydream and get lost in thought while driving. They are just not as focused as they are in the city.
Speed and medical care
Another reason is that drivers on rural roads tend to be traveling at a higher rate of speed. Some of this is just because speed limits themselves are higher, but there is also an added component where people are more likely to break the speed limit. The faster someone is driving when they are involved in a crash, the more likely it is that they will suffer severe or fatal injuries.
When someone is injured, where that injury happens can make a big difference. How fast can they actually get medical care? Someone who gets injured in the city may be at the hospital in a few minutes. Meanwhile, the same injuries could be fatal if they happened on a rural road that is 45 minutes from the nearest hospital.
Have you lost a loved one or suffered injuries in a car crash caused by another negligent driver? Whether you are on an urban street or a rural road, you need to know what legal options you have to seek compensation.