Car Accidents with Amish Buggies in Ohio | KNR
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KNR Legal
Date posted
 
February 17, 2017
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In January, an SUV moving east on County Road 97 crossed over the center lane causing a Head-On Collision with two Amish buggies before the SUV drove off the road. The crash injured five adults and three children. All seven occupants of the buggies, ranging from the ages of 2 to 55 years, were thrown from their vehicles. The driver of the SUV was also injured, and all of the individuals were transferred to local hospitals. While there is an on-going investigation into the crash, initial reports stated it did not appear as if drugs or alcohol was a contributing factor.

This head-on crash is an unfortunate example of the damage that can be done in accidents between vehicles and other modes of transportation like buggies, motorcycles, and bicycles. While these less traditional types of vehicles can be safely and lawfully used on Ohio roads, they are at a disadvantage when facing accidents with larger, heavier, and faster personal or commercial vehicles. Amish buggy accidents, in particular, can lead to significant injuries and fatalities. Anyone injured in this type of crash should reach out to the Ohio car accident lawyers of Kisling, Nestico & Redick to learn their options for recovery compensation for their injuries.

Call 1-800-HURT-NOW today to find out how we can help you.

The Amish Population of Ohio

Ohio has a significant Amish population. The Amish began to settle in Ohio in 1808 and today, the population is pushing 70,000 individuals. Holmes, Geauga, Ashland, Medina, Wayne, Tuscarawas, and Coshocton counties all have Amish settlements. Not only does Ohio have a flourishing Amish community, but it has one of the largest in the country.

Many Amish communities live and work without the aid of certain modern inventions, such as cars. That is why many Amish families rely on horse-drawn buggies to travel. Some paths, trails, and roads throughout Ohio have specific lanes for buggies, while other times the Amish travel on the same highways and local streets as individuals in vehicles.

Amish Buggy Accidents Can Be Fatal

Since buggies rely on horses and rudimentary wheels, they cannot move at the same speeds as vehicles. This means on Ohio highways, a buggy may be moving at 10 to 15 mph while other vehicles on the same road are moving up to 65 mph. Many accidents are the result of drivers rear-ending buggies after coming up on them too quickly and being unable to stop when they realize how slow buggies truly move.

Common causes of vehicle-buggy collisions include:

  • Distracted driving or failure to properly look-out
  • Driving too fast behind a buggy
  • Passing too closely or too quickly to a buggy
  • Buggy-driver error, particularly young and inexperienced drivers
  • Runaway, skittish, or scared horses
  • Lack of reflective materials or signs on a buggy at night

In general, drivers who are not on the lookout for buggies may cause accidents – though not all Amish buggy accidents are the vehicle driver’s fault. No matter who is at fault for a specific collision, crashes involving Amish buggies often lead to significant injuries and fatalities because the Amish are not well protected in their vehicles and do not have seatbelts or airbags.

Contact Our Ohio Car Accident Lawyers

If you are injured during an accident between a vehicle and an Amish buggy, you should speak with an experienced Ohio personal injury attorney as soon as possible. This can be a tricky situation. If you were in the vehicle and the crash was caused by the buggy, you may have a hard time recovering compensation. The Amish driver may not have auto insurance, which means you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit against that individual.

For more information, contact us at Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW and schedule a free, no-risk consultation.