Who’s At Fault in a Car Accident? A Guide to Liability in Ohio
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
There are definitely fewer cars on the road due to the COVID-19 stay at home order. People are working from home, busses are not taking children to and from school, and tourism is down. However, traffic accidents and tragic fatalities remain similar to previous years.
If you are injured by a negligent or reckless driver, you should immediately call an experienced Ohio car accident attorney with KNR. Let us evaluate your situation and guide you through the claims process. You deserve compensation for your losses and KNR is here to help.
Call us at 1-800-HURT-NOW. Initial consults are free, there are no up-front costs, and you owe nothing unless you recover compensation.
There have actually been fewer total car accidents during the COVID-19 pandemic than recorded in previous years during the same period. Between January 2020 and May 2020, the Ohio State Highway Patrol recorded 16,041 crashes. This compares to 20,780 crashes during the same months in 2019.
But the drop isn’t as drastic as it appears. In Cuyahoga County car accidents went down, but not dramatically. So far in 2020, there have been 242 crashes in Cleveland and its surrounding areas. In 2019, there were 265 during the same timeframe.
There also hasn’t been a sharp decrease in Summit County and the Akron area, with 207 investigations so far and 231 last year.
Franklin County only saw 202 crashes between January and May. That compares with 290 crashes in 2019.
Hamilton County and the Cincinnati area has seen 103 crashes in 2020 so far. And it had 162 during the same time period last year.
The more urban areas of Ohio do seem to have a significant decrease in crashes due to COVID reducing overall traffic congestion. But there are still a fair number of cars and trucks on Ohio’s roads – many of which are traveling faster and with less regard for others.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there have been 300 traffic fatalities in 2020. That is only 41 fewer traffic deaths between this time last year. So, although the number has gone down, it is not down significantly.
Drunk driving is a primary cause of traffic accidents and fatalities. When people are unemployed or not going into the office at regular time periods, people tend to drink alcohol and engage in more risky behaviors.
However, more people are not getting caught drinking and driving than in previous years. So far in 2020, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has recorded 5,297 OVI incidents. However, in the same time (January through May) of 2019, there were 8,312 OVI enforcements.
Distracted driving has been compared to impaired driving in the level of risk. The number of people caught violating Ohio’s distracted driving laws have greatly increased during 2020. Between January 2020 and May of this year, more than 3,181 people were cited for distracted driving. However, during the same time of 2019 only 2,215 people were found to be driving while distracted.
The Ohio car accident data provided shows year-to-date, statewide activity produced by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (1/1/2020 – 5/3/2020), including a previous year comparison. This information was last updated on 5/4/2020.
Although the COVID-19 Pandemic is shutting down many businesses and some legal processes are being delayed, you can still make a personal injury claim and obtain compensation for your injuries. Don’t put off the recovery you need and deserve. Let an experienced attorney walk you through how to hold a negligent driver responsible for the harm done to you and your family.
If you’re hurt, call KNR today at 1-800-HURT-NOW for a free, no-risk consultation.