Who’s At Fault in a Car Accident? A Guide to Liability in Ohio
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
Pedestrian deaths have jumped in Ohio—from 25 in the first half of 2014 to 56 in the first half of 2015. Due to this steep increase in pedestrian fatalities, immediate action is needed to address fatal pedestrian accidents. Measures such as introducing refuge areas on roadways, increasing pedestrian visibility, and decreasing vehicle speeds are necessary to reduce future incidences of fatal pedestrian accidents in Ohio. At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, our Ohio car accident lawyers have experience helping countless families who have lost a loved one due to a fatal pedestrian accident. Whether on a road, highway, crosswalk, or curb, pedestrian accidents can happen anywhere. If you’ve lost a loved one due to a fatal pedestrian accident, contact one of our Ohio personal injury lawyers at 1-800-HURT-NOW today.
Ohio leads the nation in the greatest percent increase of pedestrian fatalities for the first six months of 2015, compared with the first six months of 2014. From January to June of last year, pedestrian deaths soared by over 120% compared with the same period from the year before. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the total number of fatal pedestrian crashes tied figures in 2012 for the highest number of pedestrians killed in Ohio over the past five years.
The Governors Highway Safety Association, which releases state-by-state data on fatal pedestrian accidents, estimates that over 2,300 pedestrians were killed in the first six months of 2015 nationwide. This is an estimated 10% increase over the same period from the year before. Ohio’s increase, by comparison, is estimated at 124%.
A few factors have been identified as probable causes of this increase. Dark streets, low visibility, bad weather, and distracted drivers and pedestrians may all have contributed to the steep rise of pedestrian fatalities in Ohio. Furthermore, these factors may have been compounded by economic conditions, which have propelled more people to drive due to cheaper fuel.
In order to address the underlying causes of pedestrian fatalities, the Governors Highway Safety Association recommends specific measures to create greater distance between pedestrians and cars, through refuge areas and overpasses; to improve the visibility of pedestrians, through improved roadside lighting and high-visibility crosswalks; and to slow vehicles in pedestrian-heavy areas, through speed humps and curb extensions. Such measures will need to be implemented immediately to reverse the rise of fatal pedestrian accidents in Ohio.
As the state addresses the rise of fatal pedestrian accidents, Kisling, Nestico & Redick is here to help you and your family seek compensation for your loss as a result of a fatal pedestrian accident in Ohio. Whether your loved one died as a result of a distracted, speeding, or reckless driver, we will fight to recover compensation for your pains. For a free, initial consultation, contact one of our experienced Ohio personal injury lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW.