Cincinnati Rush Hour Car Accidents

For all the freedom driving gives us, there are still inconveniences, like rush hour, to tackle. Driving during busy times can bring severe challenges, especially when you risk crashes. Cincinnati is notorious for its packed highways and dense construction schedules. Some websites and forums are dedicated to finding alternative routes for road trips to avoid being stuck in the Queen City’s traffic.

Let’s explore peak driving hours, how to drive safely during rush hour, and what to do if another driver injures or damages you in a rush hour crash.

What Does Rush Hour Look Like in the Queen City?

You could travel south on I-71 from Walnut Hills or take I-75 from the West End to get Downtown, but you won’t be alone. With three significant interstates converging in Cincinnati, connecting routes from Kentucky and Indiana, many drivers will be coming through the area.

Even though drivers can take the Donald H. Rolf Circle Freeway to bypass the city, commuters will still travel into the city; they spend 26 hours a year in traffic.

For cities with less than 3 million people, Cincinnati ranks the 18^th worst traffic-wise. Hamilton County is also one of the deadliest Ohio counties, with 294 fatal crashes, about 5% of Ohio’s crashes between 2018 and 2022.

Cincinnati’s heaviest traffic flows happen during the business commutes in the mornings and afternoons, 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m., respectively.

What Drives Cincinnati’s Congestion Issues?

What causes this much traffic to back up? Shouldn’t travel be free and clear with so much asphalt and open road available? Not according to some observers, like the Inrix Traffic Global Scorecard or Allstate. The report pointed out several aspects of the region that contribute to slowed-down traffic.

Like the drivers’ bad habits: Cincinnatians have been reported to be involved in a car accident once every 7 years on average, compared to the national average of ten years. More accidents means more backup.

Another aspect is the bottleneck effect: with so many major roadways, drivers need to get to their connecting routes. Even though the Cincinnati Bypass connects with significant roadways, drivers add up, and traffic slows way down.

Finally, construction. The Ohio Department of Transportation — District 8 reports several projects happening on Hamilton County’s highways—a reconstruction of I-75, resurfacing of I-71, and an interchange improvement for interstates I-74 and 75. Construction might improve the driving experience in the long run but creates detours and impacts drivability in the short term. There’s even contention that construction to add lanes of traffic has helped reduce congestion, dating back to 2010.

What Should I Do in a Rush Hour Car Accident?

Everyone’s experienced rush hour: sitting in your car watching the other lanes “speed” past you at one mph as you wait for your turn to drive a mile in 15 minutes. It’s a true test of patience and tensions are high.

Many rush hour accidents happen because drivers want to move but they didn’t have enough room to avoid other vehicles. Other crashes happen when another car moves unexpectedly: maybe they tried to take the same opening as you and your cars collided as you merged.

Whatever causes these accidents, you should be cautious. There are certain matters to handle after a crash, no matter how serious they are, like:

• Stopping to exchange insurance information: Under Ohio law, a driver who knows about an accident or collision must safely stop where the crash happened. They cannot leave until they’ve provided their name, registration, and insurance information to the police, anyone injured in the accident, or the driver of another car.
• Seeking Medical Attention: Injuries can happen at any rate of speed. Although high-speed crashes usually cause more severe damage, you could experience some kind of injury, even from a mild fender-bender. If you aren’t taken for emergency medical treatment, you should get checked out as soon as possible on your own, for your health and financial safety.
• Collect Evidence at the Scene: If you’re in a crash at rush hour, you’re going to have to wait for law enforcement to arrive. While you wait to give your statement, you should get photos of the vehicles involved, any injuries, the crash scene, or anything that might determine fault in the crash. You can also ask a law enforcement agent for a copy of the police report for your insurance claim.

Tips to Avoid Rush Hour Accidents

With so many vehicles in one place, rush hour accidents are extremely likely. You can reduce your chances of an accident by remembering these tips:

• Avoid peak driving times: if you can, give yourself plenty of time to arrive. If you can leave before or after high-volume traffic times, you can reduce the chance of an accident.
• Focus on the drive: driving distractedly can increase your chances of an accident exponentially. With so many drivers all trying to make their exit, there will be a lot of variables. You can protect yourself by watching the road: that text can wait.
• Give other drivers space: even if you aren’t moving at the posted speeds during rush hour traffic, it’s still recommended that you keep the proper following distance away from other vehicles. Unexpected stops or lane changes could cause an accident. If you follow too closely to other cars before an accident, you could be at fault for an accident.
• Stay calm: it’s easy to tell drivers not to get frustrated during rush hour, but it’s another thing to practice it. It’s essential to remember everyone’s trying to get to their destination safely. Yelling or raging at other drivers doesn’t accomplish much, beyond taking your focus off the road and making you look foolish. Avoid confrontations to avoid karmic crashes.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Like other car crashes, you can seek damages if your injuries or damages were caused by a rush hour car accident. You should turn to a Cincinnati personal injury lawyer to recover compensation after a crash. A seasoned car accident lawyer will be able to investigate your case and advise you on filing a claim or filing a lawsuit to get what you’re owed.

Your attorney should be able to examine the evidence and build a case to ensure you recover financially. Rush hour incidents can be tricky because of low speeds, conflicting eyewitnesses, or comparative fault. Your lawyer can help you get to the bottom of your case and fight for what you’re owed.

Call an Ohio Rush Hour Car Accident Lawyer in Cincinnati

If you’ve been in a Cincinnati rush hour car accident, you should call Kisling, Nestico & Redick. We’re your Ohio car accident lawyers. Our team understands how traumatic car accidents can be and how frustrating it can be working with insurance companies. If the at-fault driver caused your injuries or damaged your car, that threatens your way of life. We can help you find your peace of mind and help make you financially whole.

Call 888-211-2594 or use our online form to schedule your free consultation.