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What are Common Causes of Car Accident Claims?

Distracted drivers, operators under the influence of drugs or alcohol and reckless driving are a few common causes

Why do car accidents happen? This question might sound simple, but the answer can often be much more complicated than many people might realize. That's because there are many reasons why auto accidents occur every single day.

At Gervelis Law Firm, we understand how complex car accidents can be in Ohio or elsewhere. Our experienced attorneys have investigated a range of motor vehicle accident claims. We know how to uncover the truth and determine the cause of an accident.

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    This skill takes years to develop. There's no shortcut for actual experience. And attorney Gervelis and his talented legal team have in-depth knowledge about a wide range of car accidents and what causes them. If you were injured or a loved one died in any type of car wreck, contact us right away. We will fight for you.

    What are common causes of auto accident claims?

    The cause of your auto accident might seem straightforward to you and others. But there's a big difference between knowing what happened and proving what happened. That's why we work hard gathering evidence to establish the cause of your crash. Common causes include:

    Every second counts after a car accident. Contact us immediately.

    Some people wait to contact an attorney after an auto accident. Sometimes, it's because the cause of their accident might seem straightforward. Or perhaps the other driver admitted wrongdoing. Or maybe they think their accident seems minor and they don't have a case.

    Never assume anything. In most cases, it's always better to contact an attorney to discuss the details of your case. And best of all, you don't have to worry about whether you can afford attorney when you contact our law firm. That's because we offer a free case evaluation and work on a contingency fee basis. That means you only pay us if we win your case. However, clients may be responsible for associated costs and expenses of their case.

    Distracted drivers

    Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of car accidents in Ohio and throughout the country. In particular, texting while driving often plays a role, even though it's illegal to text and drive in Ohio, Pennsylvania and many other states.

    Along with texting while driving, other examples of distracted driving include eating while driving, adjusting the radio while driving, watching videos while driving or operating a GPS device. Anything that diverts a driver's attention away from the road can be hazardous.

    Distracted drivers cause a range of accidents, including rear-end accident, intersection accidents and highway accidents. Worst of all, many distracted drivers do not slow down before crashing into another vehicle. As a result, many distracted driving accidents often involve drivers traveling at a high rate of speed.

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    Speeding

    Speeding remains a common cause of auto accidents here. Every year, hundreds of people die in Ohio motor vehicle speeding accidents, according to official statistics. Speeding accidents can lead to catastrophic or fatal injuries because of the great force involved in such crashes. The faster a car travels, the greater the impact when a speeding car slams into another vehicle or fixed object.  A car traveling 75 mph or 85 mph on the highway will likely cause more severe injuries or fatalities than a vehicle traveling 10 or 20 mph slower.

    Even cars traveling the actual speed limit might put other drivers at risk depending on weather conditions. Snow, sleet and freezing rain can make roads treacherous, especially in Ohio in winter.

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    Drunk drivers

    Everyone knows drunk driving is illegal. Even so, drunk driving accidents remain shockingly common. Three in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    Drunk drivers cause almost 1/3 of fatal car accidents in OhioWhen a person gets behind the wheel while intoxicated and causes a car accident, there is no question that negligence took place. The law has been broken and you and other accident victims have a right to compensation.

    When police arrive at the scene of your accident, if drunk driving is suspected, tests will be administered to determine the negligent driver's blood alcohol content (BAC). If you choose to hire us, we will work to obtain those test results and gather other information. Did the drunk driver run a stop sign? Did the drunk driver switch lanes without warning? Did the drunk driver rear-end your car? No matter what happened, our lawyers can help with your OVI injury claim.

    Under Ohio law, you may be able to seek additional damages beyond the compensation you receive for your injuries, medical care and property damage. These are referred to as punitive damages and are intended to punish the drunk driver for his or her complete disregard for the rights and safety of others.

    Punitive damages are not automatic. A strong argument must be made to be successful. If punitive damages are appropriate in your case, we work diligently to see that you receive them. That's what we do at Gervelis Law Firm - work hard for accident victims just like you.

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    Reckless driving

    Tailgating, weaving in between lanes, cutting off other drivers, road rage - these are just some examples of reckless driving that result in serious car accidents. We have all seen aggressive drivers like this on streets and highways throughout Ohio. That's why we take such cases so seriously at Gervelis Law Firm.

    When you take legal action against a reckless driver who caused your crash, you're not only getting the money you're entitled to receive for your accident. You're also sending a loud, clear message that such reckless behavior will not be tolerated.

    What constitutes reckless driving can often be a subject of fierce debate. Reckless drivers might insist they did nothing wrong. Don't engage in a debate with such drivers. We can do the talking for you. We know how to investigate accidents and find the facts that you need to build a rock-solid legal case.

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    Tired drivers

    Every year, more than 100,000 motor vehicle accidents are caused by drowsy drivers. That's more than one accident every 5 minutes of every single day. Many people who would never think to drive a vehicle after having too much to drink might not think twice about driving while tired. But drivers who are fatigued make mistakes similar to those who are drunk. Someone awake for 18 hours experiences an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration of .05 (.08 is considered legally drunk in Ohio and other states), according to research in Australia. The longer a driver stays awake, the more he or she becomes impaired.

    Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel often cause serious car accidents. Many rear-end accidents, speeding accidents and head-on collisions are traced back to fatigued drivers. While there is no test like a "Breathalyzer" to determine if someone is too tired to drive, our team can investigate these crashes to show the driver was fatigued. We often work with experts in accident reconstruction to support a claim. We pore over police reports to find evidence that might indicate the driver was fatigued. One telltale sign of such accidents involves the absence of skid marks and the driver having no memory of the crash.

    We know how to aggressively investigate such accidents and uncover the truth, even when the other driver insists he or she was awake. We know what questions to ask, what evidence to look for, how to analyze an accident report and turn that information in a successful legal case.

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