Driving on rural roads can pose a serious safety threat for many drivers in Indiana, in particular those drivers who do not know the dangers and who assume that rural roads are safer than urban ones. The fact is that the countryside sees the majority of fatal accidents in this nation.
Rural roads are, first of all, narrow and tend to consist of only two lanes. This makes head-on collisions and run-off-road crashes very common. Such roads also have lots of wildlife and animals from nearby homes running across it, which can cause inattentive drivers to be spooked and lose control. Third, rural roads are rarely lit the way that urban roads are, and the reduced visibility naturally poses a challenge to nighttime drivers.
Drivers who are unfamiliar with rural roads may let themselves become negligent and, for example, exceed the speed limit or straddle both lanes on a road. They may even take off their seat belt or drink while driving alcohol, thinking it unlikely that they will be caught by police.
Such drivers are perhaps the greatest threat that rural areas offer. Safety-minded drivers must be on the defensive, then, and never assume that others have their back. If they become negligent and crash, they may have to wait a dangerously long time to receive medical attention.
Those who are injured in motor vehicle crashes and who are only partly to blame may be able to recover damages. It all depends on how their case holds up under Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule. A lawyer may help in this regard and even negotiate on victims’ behalf for a fair settlement out of court, litigating as a last resort. A successful claim could cover losses like medical expenses, vehicle repair costs and pain and suffering.