Why Should I Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident?
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
No matter where it happens, a car accident can result in serious, even fatal injuries. The Columbus car accident statistics are no exception. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in 2018, there were over 650 traffic fatalities in Franklin County. Even if you are fortunate enough to survive a serious car accident in Ohio, as the victim of a vehicle crash, you will likely face challenges as you try to recover, like physical pain, high medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress.
As a top-rated personal injury law firm, at Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we want to help. The first step is understanding that you have certain legal rights if you are injured in a car accident due to the actions of another. The second is to reach out to a Columbus car accident lawyer with Kisling, Nestico & Redick right away. Our skilled legal team thoroughly understands the ins and outs of Ohio personal injury law, and we can help secure compensation for your losses.
For a free, no-risk consultation, call KNR today at 614-487-8669 or contact us online.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, in 2016, there were over 35,800 vehicle crashes in Franklin County. Of these, almost 10,000 resulted in injuries, and 87 were fatal. However, the number of crashes doesn’t tell the full story because there were multiple casualties in many incidents. In total, 13,179 victims were injured, and 93 people were killed in these collisions.
The statistics show that the total number of accidents decreased in 2017, falling to 35,786. Still, the figures aren’t very promising. Though fatal crashes dropped to 85, there were still 88 deaths. Plus, 13,290 people were hurt in a total of 9,436 injury-causing accidents. To put these figures into perspective, that means 26.4%of all crashes cause bodily harm.
In 2018, there were 84 fatal accidents in Franklin County. Almost 86% occurred in urban areas, especially around Downtown Columbus where I-70, I-71, and I-670 converge. The Bexley and Whitehall neighborhoods just south of East Main Street are particularly dangerous.
Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County, the state capital, and the most populous city in Ohio. Therefore, it’s important to have a look at car crash statistics within the city as compared to the surrounding region.
The most dangerous intersections and roadways in Columbus include:
The Ohio Department of Public Safety also found the primary causes of many accidents were:
Additional Franklin County car accident statistics reveal other factors that contribute to fatal and injury-causing accidents.
One particularly troubling source of data is distracted driving. The statistics on car accidents in Franklin County reveal that distracted driving contributed to around 28 % of fatal collisions from 2016-2018. It was also a factor in more than one-third of all crashes that caused serious injuries. Use of a phone to talk, text, or email is the most common form of distracted driving, but other activities can create hazards.
The aftermath of a vehicle accident can be devastating and complicated for all involved. A lot will be going on, but if you suffered an injury because of another’s recklessness, you should be conscious of your legal options and of what to do immediately after a car accident in Franklin County. By protecting yourself and ensuring things are properly documented, you can strengthen your claim to be compensated.
After an auto accident, your first step should be to get to safety and ensure that you and the others involved receive medical help. Generally, this depends upon the nature and severity of your injuries. If you’re seriously hurt, you need to head to the emergency room immediately. Head injuries, excessive bleeding, trauma to internal organs, major bone fractures, and related injuries may require surgery or other care that only an ER can provide. In Columbus, your options include:
In other parts of Franklin County, you may visit OhioHealth Emergency Care in Obetz, Hillard, or Westerville, OH.
When your injuries are less severe, you may consider visiting an urgent care center. These facilities are intended for same-day treatment of injuries that aren’t life-threatening. Staff at an urgent care center are trained and well-equipped to handle minor bone fractures, cuts, bruises, whiplash, and related injuries. Depending on your location in Franklin County, you may head to ExpressMed Urgent Care, Worthington Urgent Care Facility, or other facilities within the OhioHealth network.
Wherever you receive care, you should save all medical documents since they can later serve as evidence in your claim.
Other Important Tasks: Additional tips on what to do after a car accident include:
If you’ve been injured in an automobile crash in Franklin County, it is in your best interest to contact the highly-experienced legal team at Kisling, Nestico & Redick. Our Columbus car accident lawyers can evaluate your case and will handle the legal process from start to finish so that you can focus on your recovery.
To get started, call a Columbus personal injury lawyer at KNR today for a free, no-risk consultation. Call us at 614-487-8669 or complete our online form.