If you, or someone you love, has been injured in a car crash in Ohio, you're not alone. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of 1-34 year olds in the United States. Based on data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the total societal cost of crashes exceeds $150 billion annually. The most common cause of injuries and fatalities seen in emergency departments is from traffic accidents.

An estimated 6,356,000 car accidents occurred in the U.S. in 2000. Approximately 3.2 million people were injured, and 41,821 people were killed in auto accidents in 2000 according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 52% of motor vehicle deaths in 2000 were car occupants. Twenty-four percent were occupants of other kinds of passenger vehicles including pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, vans, and other cargo vehicles.

Forty-one percent of car occupant deaths in 2000 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, while 59% occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes. In contrast, the combined percentages for pickup truck and utility vehicles combined were 60 and 40 percent. Single-vehicle crashes were highest among utility vehicles (65 percent).

Frontal impacts accounted for 49% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2000. Side impacts accounted for 30% (14% right side, 16% left).

Car crashes in which a vehicle rolled over accounted for 31% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2000 (54% of single-vehicle crash deaths and 10% of multiple-vehicle crash deaths).

Causes of Crashes

Automobile accidents have a number of different causes. Major causes for car crash deaths include: alcohol, speed, lack of belt use, and various other driver behaviors. The types of vehicles people drive and the roads on which they travel can also be a factor.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug (DUI) is the most frequently committed violent crime in our nation. According to MADD, in 2000, 16,653 people were killed in alcohol related crashes. In 1998, there were nearly two alcohol-related traffic deaths per hour, 44 per day and 306 per week. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Approximately three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. In fact, more Americans have died in alcohol-related traffic crashes than in all the wars the United States has been involved in since our country was founded. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Nationally, speed ranks second to alcohol as a contributing factor in fatal crashes. In 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that fatal crashes in which speed was a contributing factor killed 12,350 people in the U.S. Sleepy drivers also contribute to about 100,000 motor vehicle crashes reported to police each year.
(National Safety Council)

What Happens in a Car Crash?

The Car Collision
At 30 mph, a car hitting a non-moving object will crumple in approximately two feet. As the car crushes, it absorbs some of the force of the collision.

The Human Collision
At the moment of impact, passengers in the car are still traveling at the vehicle's original speed. When the car comes to a complete stop, the passengers continue to be hurled forward until they come in contact with some part of the automobile. People in the front seat of a car are often hit by rear-seat passengers as they fly forward with incredible force. In a 30 mph crash, a 15 pound child can generate an impact force greater than 300 pounds!

The Internal Collision
In a crash, even after a human body comes to a complete stop, its internal organs are still moving. Suddenly, these internal organs slam into other organs or the skeletal system. This "internal collision" is what often causes serious injury or death.
(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Whose Fault is the Accident?

After an accident, the investigating police try to do their best to gather the essential information regarding the crash. Their report is important. Even if they do not cite the other driver, Block 80 of the Ohio Traffic Crash Report indicates the officer's opinion as to which vehicle caused the accident.

Frequently, the other driver is not willing to admit that they may be at fault in causing an accident. Often this is because they are concerned that their insurance rates may go up if they are at fault.

Witnesses

If someone approaches you at the scene and indicates that they were present, try to obtain their name and phone number. If you're injured during the car accident, a witness may be helpful to your case.

Accident Reconstruction

In cases where fault is disputed, we can utilize an accident reconstruction expert to evaluate the crash for skid marks, statements of witnesses, and other evidence to establish that the other driver was at fault.

The Black Box

Many newer vehicles contain a black box that is part of the air bag system. The black box can record important information about the automobile crash. The set of data saved after an event is often called a freeze frame, and the triggering condition is called the event trigger. The saved freeze frame from an air bag data event trigger can identify crash timing, crash velocity, changes, seat belt usage, etc. An ABS (Automatic Braking System) event trigger can identify wheel speeds, brake apply status, ignition cycles, etc. The combined data can provide vehicle conditions at the instant of the crash.

This data can be obtained after the crash if the black box is preserved. The black box needs to be obtained from the car before it is scrapped. There are costs involved in obtaining the data from the black box.

Insurance

Once fault is determined, it is important that information regarding all insurance policies and coverage is obtained. The other driver's insurance, the owner of the other car's insurance, and (if the driver was in the scope of his or her job) the driver's employer's insurance are all important. Learn more about Ohio commercial truck accidents here.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

A very important part of protecting yourself and your family is including uninsured motorist coverage on your car policy. Approximately 13% of all drivers on Ohio roads do not have auto insurance coverage. (Insurance Research Council, 2001) There were 11,269 uninsured drivers involved in crashes in 2000 according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Your car policy's uninsured motorist provision will compensate you and your family, and will then go after the uninsured driver.

Medical Care

Injuries that are directly related to the accident, including pain and suffering, are compensatory under Ohio Law. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical care. Medical evidence is important to both the insurance company and the court in determining the nature and the extent of your injuries.

The Ohio personal injury attorneys at The Gervelis Law Firm are experienced in successfully handling Ohio auto accident cases. If you have questions regarding a potential Ohio car crash case, please contact us today.

For more information regarding auto accidents, visit www.hwysafety.org.