Are Auto Accidents More Common in Rural or Urban Areas?

Car Accident - 14

Alabama’s crash statistics give us a good picture of how drivers are affected by auto accidents in Alabama. The most recent statistics from Drive Safe Alabama, part of the state Department of Transportation, reports that in 2020, 932 people were killed in 853 fatal crashes. For each one of those fatalities, there were about 40 injuries.

Where are these accidents most common?

With a greater population density, there are 75% more crashes in urban areas. This may be due to the fact that pedestrians and bicyclists are included in the crash stats.

But as far as fatalities, more occur in rural areas (62%). Given that Alabama has many rural roads, this statistic is a wake-up call to anyone who travels those roads, especially when they are tired, intoxicated, or in inclement conditions.

If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a fatal auto accident, a complimentary consultation with attorney Chip Nix may provide you with a roadmap for moving forward if the auto accident was caused by a negligent driver.

You may be able to recover what you have lost in economic and non-economic damages as well as punitive damages intended to punish the at-fault driver.

Leading Cause of Auto Accidents

The South, unfortunately, sees the most life-threatening auto accidents. Six southern States, including Alabama, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, have above-average traffic fatality rates, according to the industry group, Insurify.

Alabama drivers have a one-in-three chance of being in an auto accident in their lifetime. The number of total injuries, crashes, and auto accident fatalities has increased over the last decade.

The leading cause of auto accidents includes:

  • Distracted Driving – Including cellphone use, changing the radio, eating, or grooming behind the wheel. A texting driver is 23 times more likely to crash than a non-testing driver. And Alabama drivers are not deterred by the $25 ticket they can receive for texting and driving in the state, one of the lowest penalties in the nation.
  • Speeding – According to Alabama Crash Facts 2020, speeding is a top contributor to fatal crashes.
  • Under the Influence – Drivers intoxicated with drugs or alcohol are a leading cause of auto accidents. Not getting adequate sleep can mimic the effects of drugs or alcohol.
  • Seat Belts – Though they do not cause accidents, 58% of fatalities occurred among Alabama drivers not wearing a seatbelt in 2020.

In terms of recovery, your auto accident attorney will establish that there was a violation of laws:

  • Duty of Care – Every Alabama driver should be responsible when getting behind the wheel. If that person drives drunk, runs a red light, or passes a vehicle into oncoming traffic, they can be considered negligent and liable for the resulting damages.
  • Breached that Duty – To make a case, you and your attorney must prove the driver failed to live up to the duty of care. This can include drinking and driving or texting while behind the wheel.
  • You were Injured – Because of that breach, you suffered an injury that resulted in compensable losses.

Your Alabama Auto Accident Attorney

In his decades as a personal injury attorney, Chip Nix has represented countless people who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.

Alabama follows the “fault” state rules, meaning the person who caused the damages is responsible for paying for them.

Mr. Nix has also advocated for clients facing an insurer calling for the contributory negligence rule. Alabama is one of five states following this doctrine, which disallows any recovery if you have contributed as little as one percent to the accident. You can be sure the insurer on the other side will blame you for the accident so they do not have to pay.

Contacting an attorney as soon as possible is important because the two-year statute of limitations begins on the day the injury occurs. After that time, you may forever lose your opportunity to recover compensation.

Call attorney Chip Nix at his Mobile, AL office at (334) 203-6669 or message us online for a complimentary consultation to assess your accident.
Sources:

Drive Safe Alabama
https://drivesafealabama.org/serious-stats/

NOLO
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/alabama-car-accident-laws.html

Insurify
https://insurify.com/insights/states-car-accidents-2022/#:~:text=The%20South%20has%20the%20most%20life%2Dthreatening%20accidents.&text=South%20Carolina%20has%20both%20the,rate%20in%20the%20entire%20country.

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