Rural roads are where most of the fatal accidents happen every year in the US. This is despite the fact that only 30 percent of the people live in rural areas. So, what makes rural roads so dangerous? One of the factors is the prevalence of large commercial trucks.
One Seriously Injured in Semi-Truck and Pickup Collision Near Rosalia
On Tuesday, November 19, 2019, a 63-year-old man was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after being in a collision with a semi-truck. The accident happened on State Highway 195 when a 2005 Peterbilt semi-truck was stopped to take a turn onto Cache Road five miles south of Rosalia.
Police at the scene say that the driver of a 2000 Dodge 2500 pickup truck was unable to stop and rear-ended the semi-truck causing serious damage to the pickup. SR 195 was blocked for several hours while EMS and officials worked the accident.
Rural Driving Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end accidents are the third most deadly type of collision in rural roads according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Most of these happen on curvy stretches of roads and at crossroads and intersections.
One factor that makes these so deadly is the speed of the vehicles. On rural roads, the speed limit is usually 50 mph or higher, and just a moment’s distraction can reduce the ability of the driver to stop for another vehicle in the road.
Semi-Trucks
When that vehicle is a semi-truck or other large commercial vehicle, the chance of a serious injury increases dramatically. This is because of the size and mass of the truck. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs. and outweighs a typical passenger vehicle by as much as a factor of 20.
Rural Response Times
Another factor in rural road accident fatalities is the response time for EMS. By definition, many of the accident sites on a rural highway can be remote taking first responders much longer to arrive on the scene. This can increase the risk of death or serious injury in certain cases where the initial injuries are more severe.
Contact a Spokane Car Accident Lawyer.
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary, Clark, Domanico, & Chuang, P.S. is committed to providing our clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation. If our Spokane Car Accident Lawyers represent you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice which is in your best interest.
