Our Nebraska Injury Lawyer Helps Clients Understand Their Rights After Rural Jogging Accidents
Pedestrian crashes injure more than 67,000 and kill roughly 7,500 people each year in the United States, and these figures include numerous joggers and runners. Though most pedestrian accidents happen in urban areas, crashes involving vehicles and runners are also common in rural areas with unpaved or dirt roads.
If you regularly jog or run on dirt roads in Nebraska or Iowa, understanding how to stay safe—and what you or your family can do to protect your rights after an accident—is essential.
At the Law Office of Matthew A. Lathrop, our Omaha-based personal injury and wrongful death lawyer helps clients navigate complex legal processes after dirt road running or jogging crashes. Read on to learn more about these cases and discover how Matt Lathrop and his team could assist you.
Jogging or running on rural roads could put you at risk for severe injury or death, partly due to the differing expectations of the involved parties. For example, runners might assume they’re safer running in rural areas because there are far fewer vehicles on the roads. However, less crowded roads can give motorists a false sense of security, making them less diligent in watching for joggers, runners, and other obstacles. Add to that the potential for dirt roads to kick up dust around vehicles, obscuring the view, and you have the makings for catastrophic or even deadly accidents.
Tips for Running Safely on Dirt Roads
Living in a rural area doesn't have to mean giving up your daily run or jog. The following tips can help you stay safe or protect your right to recovery after a crash.
Run Against—or Facing—Traffic
Running against the flow of traffic benefits both joggers and motorists. It gives you a clear view of traffic and time to react to oncoming drivers, while drivers have a better chance of spotting and avoiding you.
Whether you’re running against or with traffic can also impact what you could recover. Our firm handled a case where our client was found partially liable for their injuries because they ran with traffic rather than against it. Though partial liability usually doesn’t prevent you from collecting compensation in Nebraska and Iowa, it could reduce your recovery.
Wear Highly Visible Clothing
Wearing bright clothing or activewear with reflective embellishments can make you more visible to drivers when you’re running on a rural dirt road. Highly visible clothing also makes it easier to find you if you’re left injured on the side of the road after an accident.
Consider When You Run
Most pedestrian crashes—67 percent—occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., when dusk, darkness, and dawn affect visibility. Consider changing the time you run or taking steps to make yourself more visible to motorists.
Experienced Representation for Nebraska and Iowa Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Cases
If you were hurt or your loved one died in a motor vehicle accident while running on a rural dirt road, the Law Office of Matthew A. Lathrop can help you understand your rights and explore your options for compensation. After an accident, Matt and his dedicated legal team can:
- Investigate the crash to determine the cause
- Identify liable parties
- Gather vital evidence to support your claim
- Interview eyewitnesses and take their statements
- Handle communications with insurance companies, defense attorneys, and other parties
- Arrange for experts—such as accident reconstructionists, doctors, and life care planners—to offer their opinions or testify on your behalf
- Analyze and negotiate settlement offers
- Take your case to trial
Matt works diligently, leveraging his extensive negotiation and trial experience, to secure the best possible outcome in each case. When insurers aren’t willing to make a reasonable offer that fairly compensates you for your injuries and damages, we’re ready, willing, and able to try your personal injury or wrongful death case in court.