Car accidents can certainly cause serious injuries no matter where they occur. Many accidents happen in urban areas and cities, while others occur on rural roads.
One misconception that some drivers have, however, is that urban streets are the most dangerous. It often comes down to traffic volume. There are so many vehicles on the road, and the road systems tend to be more complex, so it often feels overwhelming and dangerous — especially to drivers who aren’t used to it. However, statistics actually show that rural roads have a much higher fatal car accident rate, making them more dangerous.
Higher speeds
One of the key reasons for this is higher speeds. It starts with simply having higher speed limits. Even if all drivers follow the limit, someone who’s driving at 55 miles an hour is much more likely to be killed in an accident than someone who’s driving at 25 miles an hour.
Additionally, some drivers on rural roads will break the speed limits, often because the road feels safe and wide open without much traffic. But for every mile per hour faster that they drive, the odds of a fatal accident go up.
Slower emergency responses
Another thing to consider is that emergency crews often have slower response times on rural roads. An accident in the city is likely to be witnessed by numerous people, and the hospital may be mere minutes away. An accident on a rural road may take time just to be reported. Further, it often takes more time for emergency crews to get to the scene and to transport the victim to a hospital. Many people die from injuries during this delay when they would’ve survived if they got to the hospital sooner.
Have you lost a loved one or suffered serious injuries in a car accident? Take the time to carefully consider all of your legal options for seeking financial compensation.
