Rural Nevada Areas See Increase In Deaths

So far in 2014, Nevada has seen roughly the same number of traffic accidents compared to 2013. What is noticeable is the marked increase in accidents on rural roadways. Although the number of fatalities has decreased from 157 to 153, rural Elko, Eureka, Lander and Lyon have all seen a 100 percent or more increase in fatal crashes, according to the state’s Office of Traffic Safety Statistics. Nine people died in Elko County so far this year. This is a staggering 350 percent increase compared to the first seven months of the two previous years. Eureka and Lander County both saw the number of deaths increase from zero to three.

ACCIDENT SEVERITY ON THE RISE

Some of these accidents have been much more severe than the typical rural roadway accident, as well. A major road accident occurred in Elko County in May. A Ford Expedition was hit when it pulled out at an intersection by a Ford Focus travelling on State Route 227 in Spring Creek. Elko NHP said that the two people in the Focus died along with two in the Expedition after the SUV flipped over and hit a light pole. Derick Jay Rimington, 19, was one of the passengers in the SUV and was not wearing a seatbelt. Derick and his cousin, Hailey Rae Layton, both died at the scene from their injuries.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES-DO THEY WORK?

“Every traffic death is a tragedy, because it’s someone’s family that’s involved when somebody dies,” says Elko NHP trooper Jim Stewart. Authorities started introducing more preventive measures to reduce rural crashes in 2006. This included equipping its highways with about 3,000 miles of rumble strip to alert drivers as to when they are leaving their lane. Educational campaigns have also been launched to help educate drivers on the use of seatbelts and general road safety. Trooper Dave Gibson believes that the main threats are the risk of getting distracted on the road and drunk driving. He recommends being aware of your own driving while understanding that other drivers might not be attentive to their driving. Although deaths have decreased on the roads after safety campaigns, Gibson still believes that drunk drivers pose a threat to the safety of Nevada’s roads. If you or a loved one has ever been injured in a road traffic accident that was not your fault, it is essential you find a good lawyer to represent you. At High Stakes Injury Law in Las Vegas, we can help you build your case and use our years of experience to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Call us now or book a free consultation through our website.