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North Mississippi car accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. However, accidents on rural roads can be particularly devastating because it takes more time for emergency services to arrive to render aid to those in need. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that rural areas tend to have larger proportions of passenger car, light truck, and large truck occupant fatalities than urban regions.
The personal injury team at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman has compiled some of the most common causes of accidents on rural roads to help you understand what to look for when venturing out on less traveled roads.
Rural Car Crash Statistics
The Governors Highway Safety Association estimates that between 2016 and 2020, 85,002 people lost their lives in crashes on rural roads. The organization also indicates that the risk of dying in a car accident was 62 percent higher on a rural road compared to an urban one. The statistics are shocking when considering how much traffic travels through urban infrastructure. However, many rural roads pose unique threats to motorists, such as a lack of safety resources, poor quality infrastructure, and slower access to medical and emergency services.
Rural accidents may also be particularly devastating because the quiet, isolated nature of these roads makes some drivers feel like they can drive carelessly without consequences. Due to the remote location of many rural roadways and the lack of police patrolling, drivers feel they are less likely to get caught and may be more inclined to engage in risky driving behaviors, which can lead to catastrophic or deadly accidents.
Common Causes of Rural Mississippi Car Crashes
Some of the most common causes of accidents on rural Mississippi roads include:
- Speeding –With little law enforcement oversight and fewer cars on the road, some drivers take the opportunity to speed far in excess of posted limits while traveling along rural roads. Speeding in rural areas is particularly dangerous because high speeds combined with dirt or winding roads or poorly maintained infrastructure make it much easier to lose control of a vehicle, causing significant accidents.
- Distracted driving – Driving through large, flat swaths of land can feel tedious. Some drivers turn to distractions to occupy them on long, lonely stretches of rural roadways. However, distracted driving is just as dangerous in the country as it is in the city.
- Tailgating and unsafe lane changes – Many rural roads have one lane each way. Slow-moving trucks or vehicles can make traveling on these roads frustrating. Some drivers engage in aggressive behaviors such as tailgating or unsafe lane changes to show their frustration. Unfortunately, these behaviors can lead to devastating rural road accidents, especially head-on collisions in the case of unsafe lane changes.
- Poorly maintained infrastructure – Rural roads may not be as meticulously maintained as streets in urban settings. Potholes, ruts, and a lack of guardrails can make navigating rural roads more hazardous.
- Drunk driving – Drunk driving is also a problem on rural roads. Some motorists believe because of the isolated nature of rural roads, they won’t encounter other people, making it “safer” to drink and drive. Drunk driving is dangerous and illegal no matter what road you use.
- Animals crossing the road – Animals crossing the road are another hazard many people in urban settings don’t have to worry about. Drivers should always use caution on country roads and look for animals, especially at dusk and dawn, when animals like deer are most active.
Talk to a Southaven & Hernando Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you get injured in a rural road accident, the Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman wants to help you recover the compensation you need. We commit ourselves to advocating for your legal rights and ensuring your case gets the personal attention it deserves.
Arrange a free initial consultation today by contacting our office.
