Living in Ohio, you've probably seen your fair share of car accidents. You may even have been in one recently, and you could be deciding if you want to speak with an attorney about getting compensated. What's good to know is that if you weren't at fault, you do have a way to seek a claim, so you can be compensated for medical bills and other financial implications from your crash.
Now that you've been through what many others have faced in the past, you may be curious how often people are involved in accidents in the state. The Ohio State Highway Patrol keeps track of accidents, whether they are fatal or not, so trends can be spotted. For instance, did you know that the number of fatal accidents in Ohio rose to a peak in 2012 with 1,024, while that number had dropped to 919 in 2014?
When fatalities took place, seat belts made a difference. Those who were not belted were killed much more often. For instance, in 2014, 900 motor vehicle fatalities occurred. Of those, 455 people were killed when not wearing their seat belts. The OSHP has shown through research that the best way to save lives and to reduce injuries is by using a seat belt. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, light-truck occupants alone can reduce the risk of a fatality during an accident by 60 percent just by wearing a belt. The use of a belt also reduces the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by a stunning 65 percent.
Pedestrians are also put at risk of injury or death when cars are nearby. In 2014, there were 93 pedestrian deaths. Of motorcycle fatalities, 140 took place in 2014, while 37 involved motorcyclists wearing helmets. This suggests that wearing a helmet could have saved some of the people who were killed that year, even though wearing one is not a law for adults in Ohio.
Source: Ohio State Highway Patrol, "Ohio State Highway Patrol Statistics," accessed Nov. 11, 2015