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You are in a perfect spot to get in touch with a competent and experienced car accident lawyer who can serve you best. A few hours of your time could mean a lifetime of compensation for you and your loved ones. Call Ryan Injury Lawyers today to evaluate your car accident case.
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Motor vehicle accidents are horrible. They put a strain on everyone involved, including medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and even death. You need an experienced advocate to handle your car accident case with the utmost care, integrity, and professionalism.
Ryan Injury Lawyers has 50 years of combined experience helping car accident victims recover total compensation. We have handled several car accident cases and recovered millions in damages for our clients.
Call us for your free consultation today, and a top-notch Cleveland personal injury attorney will ensure that your case is handled correctly from start to finish.
Statistics of Highway Car Accidents
In Ohio, accidents that result in injuries occur far too frequently. Collision-related damage occurs in Stark County alone approximately once every 180 minutes. Most accident victims are men, and 30% of accidents include drunk drivers.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported the following types of people died in fatal collisions in Ohio in 2021:
- Car occupants (38% of victims);
- SUV or truck drivers (27% of victims);
- Motorcyclists (17%); and
- Pedestrians (13%).
Hundreds of drivers lose their lives or suffer severe injuries yearly due to intoxication or failure to buckle their seatbelts.
What places do they occur?
Nearly 60% of fatal collisions in Ohio occur on urban roadways, compared to 38% on rural ones. More than half take place during the day and in the summer. In other words, accidents can and do still happen even when the weather is clear, and the roads are dry.
The majority of fatal collisions occur in Franklin County, and some of the riskiest roadways include:
- I-71
- I-75
- I-480
- CR-75 Cleveland Ave
These regions have recently experienced a high proportion of fatal and injury crashes.
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Different Types of Highway Crashes
Highway crashes can happen for several reasons. They could be an accident or something more intentional or malicious. Here are different types of highway crashes:
- Head-on Collisions
In most head-on incidents, negligence is a factor. These kinds of crashes are among the most deadly.
- Highway Construction Mishaps
Construction businesses are responsible for avoiding accidents. Other drivers should exercise greater caution in highway construction zones.
- Accidents at Intersections
Intersection accidents are typically triggered by a driver error that could be due to negligence.
- Interstate Mishaps
Because of the high speeds at which cars drive on the interstate, accidents can be more serious.
- Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are among the most prevalent forms of crashes, and they commonly result in whiplash.
- Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions are also common, and they usually happen at intersections. Depending on where the car got hit, it can cause more injuries.
Most Common Causes of Highway Car Accidents
If you’re someone who drives often and you want to be sure that you’re doing everything possible to avoid involving in a crash, here are some of the most common causes:
Driving Over the Speed Limit
Speeding doesn’t just mean going faster than the speed limit. Speeding can also include other things, like driving too fast for the weather or road conditions, like rain or ice, or driving carelessly through a construction zone. Some of the most common risks of driving too fast are, but are not limited to:
- Increased frequency of rollover collisions;
- Increased risk of losing control when driving;
- Enhanced collision severity in the event of an accident;
- A longer distance is required to stop a car safely;
- Decreased response time; and
- A potential accident caused by failure to yield.
Driving Under the Influence
On average, 29 people die every day because of drunk driving. But thanks to recent efforts to educate people, the number of deaths caused by drunk driving has decreased.
Reckless Driving
Driving a vehicle carelessly or recklessly means ignoring other people or property. It is a misdemeanor offense.
Regardless of whether the negligent driver was charged and found guilty of reckless driving, the victims may be entitled to submit a civil claim for compensation.
Failure To Yield the Right of Way
A driver fails to yield when they don’t give way to other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. For example, if you want to turn left at an intersection, you must give way to cars coming from the other direction. The law requires drivers to provide pedestrians in crosswalks the right of way at an intersection.
Unsafe Lane Changes
When a driver switches from one lane to the next without properly signaling or indicating their intentions, it is considered an unsafe lane change. It puts other motorists in danger.
What Do You Need To Do After a Highway Car Accident?
You’ll never be involved in a highway car accident if you’re lucky. But if you are, here are some things to remember:
Move Your Car to Safety
Move away from traffic if your location is dangerous. It’s common for a second auto accident to happen close to the first.
Call the Emergency Services
Even if you don’t believe you were hurt in the collision, ensure you get medical assistance immediately. Any injury you sustain can be assessed and evaluated by emergency personnel.
Some car accident injuries, such as head trauma and whiplash, may go undiagnosed until the stress and shock of the accident subside. Tell your medical physician how you were wounded and what happened during the collision. It’s critical to have a thorough medical exam to ensure appropriate evaluation and treatment of any trauma.
Inform The Authorities
Call the police immediately and file a report. You’ll have more credibility as a victim if there’s an official report of what happened.
Speak With a Car Accident Attorney
The most crucial action you should take following an accident is to speak to Cleveland car accident attorneys. Your car accident lawyer can defend your rights and ensure that significant evidence is not lost.
Insurance companies frequently need statements right away following an accident. You must obtain legal counsel before making such a statement. Your lawyer can provide you with advice on everything from how to ensure you receive the best medical care possible to how to make sure you receive adequate reimbursement for your car.
Inform Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company as soon as possible for more information about what your policy covers in damages and injuries to yourself and other people involved in the accident.
What You Can Recover in a Successful Car Accident Claim
While no money can erase the emotional trauma of a car accident, there are some situations in which these collisions can offer financial benefits. A personal injury claim can help you get back some of the money lost due to your injuries. Different kinds of damages are relevant depending on the situation, but all are worth looking into, including:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those that are easily measurable and traceable. You may have bills, invoices, or receipts for your motor vehicle accident. These monetary expenses are your economic losses. Specific examples are the following:
Medical expenses. It includes initial therapy, treatment, future follow-up care, and other medical costs.
Wage loss. If your injuries led you to miss work for an extended period, or if you cannot work due to a permanent handicap caused by accident, you can seek compensation for lost wages. You might also seek compensation for lost earning potential if you cannot work as previously.
Property damage. Most car accidents result in property damage. If your car or properties inside the vehicle got damaged in the incident, you might be entitled to compensation.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages are subjective losses without a monetary equivalent. They comprise the suffering brought on by accident in terms of the body, mind, and spirit. Based on the severity of your injuries and the specifics of your case, a car accident lawyer can assist you in calculating and determining the amount of your non-economic losses. They consist of the following:
- Loss of consortium;
- Physical pain and suffering;
- Depression;
- Anxiety;
- Inconvenience and embarrassment;
- Mental suffering;
- Reduced level of quality of life; and
- Disfigurement.
It might be challenging to put a monetary figure on non-economic damages. Before making its decision, the jury may take into account several criteria, such as follows:
- How severe your damages are.
- The difficulties you encounter carrying out daily tasks that you used to love before the accident.
- The necessary medical care for your injuries.
- Changes in your marriage as a result of the accident.
- Impacts the incident had on your mental health.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are only occasionally given to personal injury plaintiffs by juries. The victim is not genuinely intended to get compensation for these damages. Instead, they should hold the defendant accountable for excessive carelessness or malicious harm. They also serve as a warning to prevent similar careless actions.
What Should You Look For in a Cleveland Car Accident Lawyer?
If you’re looking for a Cleveland car accident lawyer, you’ll want to find one willing and able to take on your case. Consider the following qualities when choosing your attorney:
Legal Experience
The first thing to look for when you’re searching for an attorney to represent you in a legal matter is experience. Anyone can put up a shingle and call themselves a lawyer, so your lawyer must have the expertise necessary to provide you with the best representation possible. One Cleveland firm specializing in this field is Ryan Injury Lawyers. We are Cleveland car accident lawyers with 50 years combined experience and will fight for your rights at every step.
Proven Track Record of Success
Knowing that a lawyer has helped many people with similar situations as yours will give you more confidence in their abilities. A lawyer with little experience could be more likely to make mistakes, letting your case slip through the cracks or leaving out key details. A lawyer with lots of experience will have learned from past cases and be able to help you much more effectively.
As a Cleveland car accident lawyer for over 50 years, Ryan Injury Lawyers has helped clients and recovered millions in compensation. For example, we have won $1.05 million for a client who was a passenger in a one-car accident. The driver was drinking beer while operating his automobile.
The crash happened because the car went off the road. The collision tore the client’s trachea, and he almost died. They took him to the hospital in a coma by life flight. After this incident, the client was able to recover. He had a permanent condition that made it hard for him to control his facial and mouth muscles. It even made it hard for him to eat and drink liquids.
The client’s policy gave them $1 million in insurance. They offered them $150,000. A jury heard the case and came to a decision worth more than $1 million. Based on the jury’s decision, the insurance company paid out the total amount of the policy, which was $1 million, and the driver’s policy paid the last $50,000.
Proactive Communication Throughout the Process
When looking for a Cleveland car accident lawyer, you should look for someone who has been successfully doing this for a long time. But you also want someone with a good personality and a good track record of keeping clients happy—someone who is easy to talk to, who will treat you well, and who will be open and honest with you throughout the process.
Ryan Injury Lawyers works hard to build lasting relationships with our clients by maintaining open lines of communication throughout the case process.
Ryan Injury Lawyers helps those across Ohio including residents in:
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Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Cleveland Car Accident Lawyers Today
At Ryan Injury Lawyers, we understand that a car accident can be frightening, especially when you face rising medical costs and loss of income. We know that it’s essential to deal with insurance companies, health providers, employers, and even law enforcement quickly—which is why we try to get back to our clients as soon as possible after they contact us.
Our lawyers are here to listen to your concerns and take the time to answer your questions. As a client at Ryan Injury Lawyers, you’ll be part of a team ready to fight for you in the courtrooms. We offer free consultations so you can talk to an experienced car accident attorney about your case.
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