Believe it or not, a person is more likely to be involved in a fatal auto accident on a country road than on an urban road. Even though more than half of our nation’s population resides in the country’s 50 most populous urban areas – cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia – only 40 percent of auto accident fatalities occur there, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, auto accidents still occur in urban areas, and catastrophic injuries and deaths often result. While auto accidents on rural roads are more likely to be deadly due to drivers operating their vehicles at unsafe speeds over long, uninterrupted stretches of road, auto accidents on urban roads occur due to different factors. While the death rate may be lower, injuries remain common, and many of these injuries could have been prevented if not for the negligence of careless and reckless drivers.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident on an urban road, or if you have tragically lost a member of your family in such an accident, the personal injury attorneys of Winegar Wilhelm Glynn & Roemersma can help. As experts in litigation arising from urban auto accidents in Pennsylvania, our attorneys have the skills, resources, experience, and tenacity to handle even the most complex cases. They would be pleased to evaluate your auto accident case and advise you of your legal rights and options.
Common Causes of Urban Auto Accidents
Auto accidents in urban areas can occur due to many possible causes, but the most common include:
- Running red lights: According to the 2009 Insurance Institute Study for Highway Safety, this was the number-one cause of urban auto accidents, being responsible for 22 percent of all auto accidents on urban roads.
- Driver distractions: These days, an increasing number of accidents are being caused by drivers who are distracted by technology such as smartphones, GPS trackers, iPads, and other electronic devices. Even “old-school” distractions such as car radios and personal mirrors still cause their fair share of accidents each year. Many drivers believe that because traffic tends to move more slowly on crowded urban roads, they can afford to look away from the road – with often devastating consequences.
- Reckless driving: Tailgating, speeding, improper lane changes, and road rage are all extremely common on urban roads, especially in areas where construction is taking place or where traffic jams are common.
- Poorly maintained roads: Many urban roads are old, heavily used, and poorly maintained. As a result, they are filled with cracks, potholes, and other defects that can make them dangerous.
- One-way streets and other “city” anomalies: People who are unaccustomed to driving in larger cities often find themselves confused by one-way streets, public transit lanes, turn lanes where U-turns are prohibited, and other anomalies that are unique to urban roads. These anomalies can result in accidents.
Learn More about Urban Auto Accidents
To arrange for an evaluation of your urban auto accident case, please contact the personal injury attorneys of Winegar Wilhelm Glynn & Roemersma today.
