While we are celebrating differently because of the state-ordered shutdown for COVID-19, Memorial Day traditionally sees more driving and consequently more accidents and fatalities than most weekends.
Typically, serious injuries and fatalities are more frequent for rural travelers than their urban counterparts. According to the NHTSA, rural drivers are more likely to be killed in a crash than urban drivers traveling the same number of miles. The report goes on to say that rural areas accounted for 45 percent of all traffic fatalities yet rural drivers make up only 19 percent of drivers and 30 percent of all miles driven.
This makes Memorial Day driving especially dangerous for Kentucky drivers in rural counties.
One Dead, Two Injured in Memorial Weekend Crash in Pike County
The Kentucky State Police say that a head-on crash Friday morning took one life and sent two others to Pikeville Medical Center. The accident happened when a vehicle crossed the center line of SR-122 in the Millard area and hit a second vehicle head-on.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were taken to the hospital with major injuries. It’s unknown what caused the car to cross the centerline, and no charges have been filed to date.
Rural Highway Accident
The reason rural driving is riskier and has a higher fatality rate than driving in urban areas is primarily because of the type of roads that are most traveled on in the country. Most rural roads are two-lane highways with only a few feet separating oncoming cars, and most have a speed limit of 55 or higher.
All it takes is a moment’s distraction and a car hits an oncoming car. These high-speed collisions also mean more rollover accidents and more ejections, both of which are high-fatality events.
Rural Highway Accidents
These higher-speed crashes, unfortunately, bring more serious injuries and more fatalities. The higher the speed, the more likely any crash will turn into a fatality or a more serious injury. At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, we have represented many Kentucky victims of accidents on rural country roads. Over the years, we’ve seen the pain and devastation that can happen when one driver isn’t being careful.
These injuries can change a person’s life forever, and we have dedicated our careers to helping victims get the compensation they deserve. Some of the more common injuries we’ve seen are:
- Blunt Force Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal Cord Damage
- Nerve Damage
- Broken/Displaced Ribs
- Broken Arms/Legs
- Organ Damage
- Paralysis
- Severe Burn Injuries
If you’ve been injured while driving on a rural Kentucky road, you owe it to yourself to talk to an attorney who can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance until you have had a chance to talk to an attorney.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney Today
Accident victims often wonder if they need an attorney, and the answer is almost always yes. The insurance company agents have years of experience and are good at their job which is to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. You need someone just as experienced to help you level the field.
Talk to a Louisville Personal Injury Attorney you can trust to be on your side and get you what is yours under the law. The attorneys at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the results they deserve. To discuss your case, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, by clicking here to contact them online.
