Latest Ohio Car Accident Statistics A Mixed Bag

This month, the Ohio Department of Public Safety released the 2013 Ohio Traffic Crash Facts, the latest car accident statistics profile of Ohio motor vehicle accidents.   The good news is that, after an unfortunate uptick in fatal crashes in 2012, car crash deaths fell in 2013.  Total crashes decreased as well, from 287,078 to 269,079.  A few of the latest stats, however, are not so encouraging.

Distracted Driving

2013 saw a sharp increase in accidents involving drivers distracted by their use of cell phones, either for calls or for text messaging.  We have talked before about the pitfalls of technology, and texting while driving is the worst kind because it can ruin or end lives.  Be wary of distracted drivers on the road and know that if you are injured due to another’s cell phone use you may be entitled to compensation.

Alcohol-Related Crashes

Alcohol consumption continues to be a major cause of motor vehicle accident injuries in Ohio.  While total alcohol-related crashes are down by about 3%, this decrease is half of the percentage decrease for all crashes.  In other words, while car accident statistics suggest that people were less likely to be in a car crash in 2013, those who were involved in accidents were more likely to have been victimized by a drunk driver.  If you have been injured by a drunk or over-served driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney immediately.

Uninsured Motorists

Finally, crashes involving uninsured drivers skyrocketed in 2013.  The number of uninsured drivers in crashes car accident statistics climbed from 58,350 in 2012 to 86,945 in 2013.  To put it into perspective, in 2012 about 1 out of every 8.33 Ohio drivers involved in a car accident was uninsured.  In 2013, it was 1 out of every 5!  If you are that unfortunate one out of five who is injured by an uninsured driver, contact an attorney to explore your options.  Your own insurer or a third party may be legally obligated to compensate you for your injuries.

For more than thirty years, the attorneys of Lowe Scott Fisher Co., LPA have represented injured plaintiffs in Cleveland, Ohio and around the country.  If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a motor vehicle accident, defective product, or medical malpractice, call us today for a free telephone consultation.