The hazards of driving on rural roads

On Behalf of Lake Tindall, LLP | February 8, 2023 | Car Accidents

There is a risk of getting in an accident regardless of where you travel in Mississippi. However, suppose you are traveling in a sparsely populated area. In that case, getting help for a blown tire after hitting a pothole or timely treatment for injuries may be difficult. Educating yourself about rural road hazards before leaving home may help you avoid or manage an accident or incident.

There may be fewer lights

Rural roads are often dark, due to a lack of streetlights and homes or businesses with outside lighting. You may have difficulty seeing animals, pedestrians or other objects in your path unless your car’s headlights are in good condition.

Animals may wander along the road

During the spring and fall months, animals will often travel in search of food or mates. Therefore, you may be more likely to encounter them walking alongside the road or even in your path while traveling through a rural community. During the warmer months, you may also see them alongside or on the road playing, hunting or otherwise existing.

Help is harder to find

With fewer cars on the road, your odds of flagging someone down to help are lower than if you were in a populated area. Additionally, cellphone service may be less reliable in rural communities, which means that calling a tow truck or an ambulance after a motor vehicle accident may be difficult or impossible to do. Finally, even if you can get an ambulance to your location, it may take hours to get to a hospital.

If you are involved in an accident, it may be possible to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages or car repairs. However, this is generally only true if damages were incurred because of another party’s negligence.