Who’s At Fault in a Car Accident? A Guide to Liability in Ohio
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
Car accidents are among the most devastating types of injury-causing incidents. They are capable of producing life-threatening or even fatal injuries. Those who survive have a long road to recovery. If this sounds like you, you are not alone.
At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we are passionate about advocating for the rights of injury victims across the state of Ohio. If we can take on your case, you can trust that we’ll do everything possible to help you get through this challenging time in your life.
One of the most important aspects of any car accident claim is figuring out who is at fault for the accident. And the best way to do that is to start by examining the cause of the accident. Many different things can cause car accidents in Ohio. We explore a few of the most common reasons and the number one cause of Ohio car accidents in this article.
If you have specific questions about who is at fault or what caused your car accident, call KNR. Initial consults are 100% free, and there’s no obligation.
Aggressive driving is a broad category. It includes many types of unsafe driving behaviors such as:
Failure to yield and speeding are two of the most common types of aggressive or reckless driving. Combined, they account for more than 57,000 of the nearly 225,000 car accidents in Ohio in 2020.
Distracted driving continues to be a problem in the state of Ohio. The number of car accidents caused by distracted driving is far less than aggressive driving. This is in part due to a crackdown over the years in cell phone use while driving. Still, distracted driving accounted for over 10,000 car accidents in 2020.
Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law. People who do so can cause severe car accidents. They can cost people their lives. And they often face criminal charges in addition to civil lawsuits and traffic penalties. There were more than 21,000 alcohol and OVI-related car accidents in Ohio in 2020.
Accidents involving poor weather conditions and wildlife are true accidents. No one’s negligence is at fault for car accidents that might occur during these circumstances. Deer-related accidents accounted for nearly 16,000 of the car accidents that occurred in Ohio.
Sometimes, the roads you drive on may not be safe. The pavement may be broken due to potholes, for example. When the roads are dangerous, you might file a claim against the government agencies responsible for road maintenance and safety. Work zone-related car accidents aren’t as common as some of the others listed above, but in 2020 they caused almost 5,000 car accidents across the state.
As if each of the previously mentioned causes of car accidents weren’t enough, they still don’t compare to the number one cause of car accidents in Ohio – teen drivers.
That’s right. Teenage drivers were the cause of more than 30,000 car accidents across the state in 2020. The Ohio Safety Patrol reported that the only other cause of car accidents that came close to teen accidents was failure to yield accidents. Those accounted for more than 30,000 accidents as well.
But teenage drivers are a monster all their own. Not only are teen drivers inexperienced, but they are also guilty of engaging in a number of unsafe driving behaviors such as distracted driving, speeding, drunk or drugged driving, and other forms of reckless driving.
Teen drivers can often face traffic citations and criminal charges for causing car accidents. If a teen driver caused your car accident, you might have the right to sue their parents for compensation. Your car accident lawyer will analyze your case’s details to figure out how to get you the most out of your claim.
No matter what caused your car accident, you have the right to full compensation for your suffering. Your lawyer will figure out who is at fault so you can be compensated fairly. We’ll handle the insurance company. We will prepare your court case.
Focus on recovering while your Ohio car accident lawyer at Kisling, Nestico & Redick works tirelessly to get you the money you deserve. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.
Call our office at 1-800-HURT-NOW. Or you can complete our convenient contact form to get started on your claim.