Rural Accident Attorneys
Serving Kansas City, Independence, Blue Springs & Lee’s Summit
The Kansas City metropolitan area is rapidly expanding. Still, there remains a vast network of rural roads or “country roads†in outlying areas where the population remains sparse and scattered. While car accidents may occur more frequently in urban areas like Jackson County, the crashes on these rural roads, on average, tend to be more severe.
For instance, the Missouri Highway Patrol reports that 66.3 percent of car crashes in the state in 2011 occurred in urban areas, while only 33.7 percent were on rural roads. However, 70.5 percent of fatal crashes were on those rural roads, according to the Highway Patrol.
In many cases, rural road accidents are the result of negligent driving, including drunk driving, distracted driving, speeding and driving when a person is simply too tired to be behind the wheel. If you or a loved one has been the victim of such careless conduct, it’s important to get help from an experienced lawyer.
At The Horn Law Firm, P.C., we are ready to meet with you right away to discuss your situation. We can provide a free consultation and take a close look at all of the insurance, legal and medical issues in your case. We can also explain the process of securing compensation for your physical, emotional and financial losses through either an insurance settlement or jury verdict.
To schedule a meeting today, simply call our toll-free number or contact us online.
Determining Fault in Rural Road Accidents
In our experience, driver error and poor road conditions tend to be the main causes of rural road accidents. The Horn Law Firm, P.C., will dig deep to determine whether either of these factors – or both – played a role in causing your accident and injuries.
Because these accidents often lack witnesses, an examination of the crash scene can be crucial. For instance, we can retain an accident reconstruction expert who can analyze photographs, skid marks, vehicle damage, debris and other evidence to determine a vehicle’s speed and a driver’s actions right before a crash, such as sudden swerving or failing to brake until right before impact.
Driver error in rural road crashes often tends to involve speeding. A driver may be going above the speed limit, taking a curve too fast, making an unsafe pass on a two-lane road or simply going too fast in rain, snow or ice.
A driver’s speed on a rural road can be especially dangerous if the driver’s judgment and reactions are impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue. In many cases, a driver may be distracted by talking on a cell phone, texting, checking a GPS or changing the radio station.
But it’s not only driver negligence that can be a factor. As our lawyers have seen, state and local governments may be liable as well for road defects. These defects can include potholes, deteriorating shoulders or improper signage. It may take extra steps to hold one of these government entities responsible in your accident case.
Injuries in Rural Road Accidents
As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted in a 2006 study, rural road auto accidents tend to result in higher fatalities than crashes in urban areas because of the time required for a medical response. In other words, it simply takes longer for emergency personnel to get to accident victims in outlying areas. However, this does not excuse any unreasonable delays in medical treatment being provided.
An auto accident that occurs at a high speed on a rural road may result in severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and multiple fractures. When The Horn Law Firm, P.C., takes on your case, we will turn to our network of medical experts to fully assess the physical and emotional harm you have suffered.
Our goal in securing compensation for your medical expenses will be twofold: First, we want to make sure all treatment costs you have incurred up to the date of your settlement are fully reimbursed. Second, we want to make sure that any future treatment you will need, including therapy and vocational rehabilitation, is properly covered.
Get Legal Help Today If You Have Been Injured in a Rural Road Accident
The Horn Law Firm, P.C., focuses a major portion of our legal practice on helping car accident victims to recover compensation for their injuries and other losses.
We are a rapid response firm. We work hard to efficiently and effectively obtain settlements for our clients. Our record speaks for itself. In the past two years, we have recovered more than $3.1 million dollars for clients in “out-of-court†policy limit settlements with insurance companies.
When you meet with us in a free consultation, we can review the facts of your case, assess your injuries and analyze the insurance policies that may be involved in your case. We’ll be complete and candid in our assessment. If we take on your case, we can promise that we will invest the full extent of our skills and resources into seeking compensation for you.
To learn more, submit our online form or call us toll-free. We’re ready to get work for you today.
