If you had to choose to drive on a rural road or a city street, with your sole goal being maximum safety, which would you choose? For many, it would be the rural road, which tends to feel less confusing and to have less traffic. It seems safer.
However, statistics show us that rural roads are often more dangerous than other roads. Granted, this considers the risk of a fatal accident, not just the risk of getting involved in an accident at all. Why is this?
The distance to the hospital is greater
A remote crash is more likely to be fatal than a crash near a city center because everything takes more time. It takes longer for someone to discover the accident, longer for the authorities to arrive and longer for the patient to get to the hospital. Minutes and even seconds often matter with major injuries, and stretching out the timeframe makes it more likely someone will pass away.
The speed limits are higher
Generally, rural roads also have speed limits that may be twice as high as city streets — or more. It feels comfortable to drive at these speeds, and they are considered “safe” for the road design. However, if an accident does happen at these speeds, those in both cars may suffer far greater injuries due to these higher speeds. That’s also why you have a lot of minor city crashes in which life-threatening injuries are unlikely.
Have you been injured in a wreck?
If someone else caused an accident on any type of street and you were seriously injured as a result, or if you lost a loved one, it’s crucial to know what options you have to obtain compensation for your losses. Working with an attorney is the best way to protect your interests.
