The number of fatal auto accidents in Ohio has been on the rise, and, unfortunately, the same tendency is noticeable in Lucas County and Toledo. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the number of traffic fatalities throughout the state grew from 990 in 2013 to 1,008 in 2014, 1,110 in 2015, and, respectively, 1,133 in 2016.
In their 2016 Annual Report, the Toledo Police Department announced that the number of fatal traffic accidents grew from 19 in 2015 to 24 in 2016. According to the same source, the number of Toledo auto accidents resulting only in property damage grew as well, from 7,170 in 2015 to 7,702 in 2016.
What these numbers show is that even if you are a safe driver, there is still a high chance that you may find yourself in a car accident someday. And if you do, you will need an Ohio lawyer familiar with auto accidents who can help you file a claim for compensation. Below, we list the most common types of auto accidents in our area and what you should do next if you find yourself in these situations.
4 Common Types of Auto Accidents in Toledo, Ohio
1. Rear-end Auto Accidents
Rear-end collisions often result in serious injuries and significant property damage. Contrary to what most people think and what most insurance companies try to prove, the driver of the car striking from behind is not always at fault.
If you rear-end someone, the best thing you can do, after making sure everyone is safe and reporting the accident to the police, is to contact an experienced Toledo car accident attorney. They may be able to prove your innocence or at least provide that you are only partially at fault. If you are the one that has been rear-ended, then an attorney can also help you by establishing liability in your case.
2. Head-on Auto Accidents
In Toledo, the auto accidents in this category are among the most dangerous. They usually occur at high speeds and involve huge impact forces. They often cause severe head, neck, and chest injuries, even fatalities, as well as considerable property damage.
The claims for head-on auto accidents in Toledo often reach an impressive amount of compensation if an experienced local attorney handles them. Ohio car accident laws enable victims to claim compensation not just for the property damage and the injury-related expenses they incurred, but also for any lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and emotional pain and suffering.
3. Rollover Auto Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these types of accidents cause the highest number of fatalities throughout the country. They are also among the most complex, as, unlike in rear-end accidents when the fault is usually attributed to the driver of the rear-ending car, they can have different causes.
Sometimes, the rollover occurs when, at high speed, the driver loses control of the car and gets out of the carriageway. Other times, the driver tries to avoid a head-on collision. There are also situations when the fault belongs to the automotive manufacturer. The car’s defective design could be to blame.
In all cases, working with a car accident lawyer in Toledo can be beneficial to help you prove liability so you can seek full and fair compensation from the appropriate parties.
4. Hit-and-Run Auto Accidents
Some drivers panic after causing a car accident and flee the scene. Unfortunately, this is the worst thing they can do. Just the act of leaving the scene of the accident exposes them to first-degree misdemeanor charges, according to Ohio Revised Code Title XLV, Chapter 4549, Section 3.
Moreover, drivers who cannot prove their financial responsibility (namely the fact that they carry insurance of minimum $25,000 for property damage per event, $25,000 for personal injury per person, and $50,000 for personal injury per event) could be forced to pay up to $5,000 for the economic losses their negligence caused.
Nowadays, when there are video cameras everywhere and more and more cars have dashboard cams installed, fleeing the scene of an accident is not an option. If you have been hurt in a hit-and-run accident in Toledo, Ohio, reach out to a car accident lawyer to see if they can help you track down the negligent driver.
Call an Experienced and Reliable Toledo Car Accident Attorney Today
Auto accidents can be devastating for everyone involved, not only from the financial point of view, but also from the emotional one. The last thing you need is to deal with claim adjusters trying to rip you off and waste your energy on paperwork.
With the help of an experienced and dedicated Toledo car accident attorney, you leave the legal process to your lawyer so you can focus on your recovery. Get the help you need by contacting Ohio Car Accident Lawyers now. We look forward to using our three decades of experience in assisting auto accidents victims to your benefit.