The country roads in California may not have as much traffic as the urban roads, but that doesn’t necessarily make them safer. Rural roads have narrower lanes and shoulders, which means passing vehicles can be a dangerous maneuver. Poor lighting makes it hard to drive on them at night. Rural roads tend to be closer to homes, so drivers may encounter animals and wildlife, and if they are inattentive, they may wind up losing control of their cars.
Much of the danger attributed to rural roads actually comes from the behavior of drivers. Many feel that since there isn’t much of a police presence in the countryside, they can break traffic laws without harming anyone. For example, they might forgo wearing their seat belts, speed, drink and drive, or go down the middle of a two-lane road.
Not wearing a seat belt will only cause more serious injuries for those in a car wreck. In addition, the faster one goes, the more severe a crash will be. Combine all of this with the fact that rural areas are far from hospitals and medical centers, and the chances of a driver being fatally injured in a crash naturally spike.
Drivers who are inexperienced with rural roads should remain alert and cautious. Defensive driving, where one does not assume that other individuals are driving safely, is a must.
Those who are not responsible for the motor vehicle accidents they were in may have a good chance of recovering damages through a personal injury claim. It can be hard to negotiate with the insurance companies for a fair settlement that will cover all medical expenses, lost wages and other applicable losses, so victims are advised to retain legal counsel. An attorney may handle all negotiations once the case has been built up with proof of the defendant’s negligence.
