Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City & Inverness, Florida Accident Attorney and Alachua County DUI Lawyer Blogs

Rural Driving Dangers and no Seatbelts Result in Injured Suwannee Teens

Tragic accidents such as the recent Suwannee County crash,  where five unbuckled local teens were injured brings to light the dangers associated with rural driving and the importance of seat belts.

As an accident attorney for over 30 years I  know that rural roads carry characteristics that urban roads do not, creating more dangers for all drivers, especially those who do not wear seat belts.

Characteristics associated with rural roads that separate them from urban streets, making them more dangerous for drivers failing to wear seat belts include the following:

1. Lack of accurate mapping of the area: Many times, GPS mapping and other methods of finding your way on the road can be inaccurate for rural, less-travelled roads and can lead to the unknown for drivers.

2. No shoulder or guard rails: On tight turns, shoulders and guard rails can be essential to stopping car accidents from getting more serious. In rural areas, these sometimes do not exist, making seat belt usage and careful driving even more important.

3. Narrow roads and blind curves: Having narrow roads and blind curves makes it difficult to pass safely on two-lane, rural roads. Although it may be tempting to pass the slower-moving driver ahead, it is not safe if you do not have a complete visual on the road in front of you. 

4. Obstacles: Like the loose sand patch that caused the recent teen accident in Suwannee County, obstacles in the road can be more dangerous and unexpected in rural areas. Animals are also obsticales and can be extremely dangerous to drivers as they dart into the road, causing accidents.

5. Rough or damaged road: Oftentimes, rural roads can fall by the wayside when repair is needed since they are not within the urban limits where officials can see the road and its damage. However, this damage can lead to accidents, making seat belts very important.

Remember: Seat belts save lives, and although it has been the law in Florida for many years, it is now a primary offense in Florida. 

Rural teen drivers are at higher risk

Great news, seat belt use now a primary offense in Florida

 Seat Belt use now a primary offense in Florida

Accident attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, strongly believes that public education is the first step in the prevention and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

He and his Office also take pride in their work, and in results they get for their clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice as accident attorneys.

We have been proudly representing injured victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Putnam  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.

For more information on how we can help you, or any other question you may have, feel free to contact our office at 1 800 373 8000

Labels: accident accident attorney rural dangers seat belts suwannee county