Urban Auto Accidents: What You Should Know
Millions of drivers navigate busy city roads every day. Unfortunately, not all of these drivers pay careful attention to their surroundings or follow the rules of the road. Attorney Lynn Harris and our experienced legal team can assist victims of car accidents in pursuing just compensation for their physical, emotional, and financial damages. Given that cities are more densely populated and often have complex traffic patterns, urban drivers get into car crashes every day. In the following blog post, we explain the causes of urban auto accidents and describe how our Provo legal team can help victims obtain fair recompense.
Urban Auto Accidents Statistics
Given the chaos of city streets and the presence of reckless drivers, you might assume that urban auto accidents are more deadly than rural crashes. However, a 2010 study by the United States Department of Transportation found that: “Rural areas accounted for 54 percent (16,292) of the fatal crashes and 55 percent (18,026) of the fatalities as compared to urban areas which accounted for 45 percent (13,608) of the fatal crashes and 44 percent (14,546) of the fatalities.” While the likelihood of a fatal crash is slightly lower on urban roads, victims of these crashes can still suffer serious injuries.
Common Causes of City Car Crashes
There are many factors that contribute to urban auto accidents, including:
- High traffic volume. In general, the more drivers on the road, the more likely an accident is.
- Road rage. Jam-packed city streets can frustrate commuters, leading them to make more brash or aggressive maneuvers.
- Intersection mishaps. Researchers recently analyzed more than 45,000 urban auto accidents and found that 40 percent involved running a red light, failing to stop at a stop sign, or getting hit from behind when stopped at an intersection.
- Pedestrian, bus, and bike traffic. Drivers in populous cities must share the road, which can make driving more complicated.
- More complex urban layouts. Oddities like one-way streets and traffic circles can make driving in cities dangerous.
- Road damage. Potholes, degraded asphalt, or other issues could surprise drivers and lead to car accidents.
- Speeding. When city traffic opens up, some drivers might drive at an inappropriate speed.
- Close following. In heavy traffic, urban drivers often do not leave sufficient room between their vehicle and the car in front of theirs.
- Distracted driving. Texting, eating, and other behaviors could lead to a crash.
If You’re in an Accident
If you become the victim of an urban auto accident, you should:
- Record all pertinent information about your injuries and seek the medical attention you need, being sure to keep itemized receipts and records from your doctors.
- Exchange basic contact and insurance information with the other driver(s) involved in the accident.
- Note the damage sustained by your vehicle and take photographs to document it.
- Ask any witnesses to the accident for their contact information.
Building Your Case
Depending on the circumstances of your accident and the negligence of the other driver, attorney Lynn Harris can help you build a case for damages. Your compensation could cover:
- Lost wages due to recovery time or inability to get to work
- Medical costs
- Mechanical bills for vehicle repair
- Pain and suffering
To help you pursue these and other damages, attorney Lynn Harris and our team will review the information you provide about your accident, collect further data as needed, and present the evidence in your case.
Find Out More about Urban Auto Accidents
If you’ve been in an urban auto accident or would like to learn more about these types of cases, contact Lynn C. Harris - Attorney at Law today for a consultation.
