Car accidents can be life-altering events, leaving victims with damages that range from minor to catastrophic. In Ohio, the consequences of severe harm can affect victims for years, both physically and financially. The worst car crash injuries often require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and significant financial burdens. At Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, we understand how overwhelming these situations can be and are here to provide guidance and legal support.
Below, we’ll discuss the main causes of automobile collisions, the worst car crash injuries that victims may suffer, the damages you could recover after an incident, and how an attorney can help you navigate the challenges ahead.
They happen for various reasons, and understanding the root causes can help drivers take precautions to avoid these unfortunate events. In the state, certain factors repeatedly contribute to serious misfortunes. Here’s a detailed look at the most frequent causes of car accidents and how each can lead to devastating injuries and fatalities.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States, including Ohio. When a driver’s attention shifts away from the road, even for a few seconds, it can have catastrophic consequences. There are various types of distractions that drivers may face:
Texting or using a cell phone: This is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. Sending or reading a text message takes a driver’s eyes off the road for approximately five seconds, long enough to cover the length of a football field when traveling at 55 mph.
Eating or drinking: Grabbing a snack or drink can cause operators to lose focus and take their hands off the wheel, significantly increasing the risk of a crash.
Talking to passengers: Engaging in conversation with others in the vehicle can shift attention away from conducting, especially during complex traffic situations, making it more dangerous.
Adjusting in-car systems: Changing the radio station, adjusting the GPS, or fiddling with the air conditioning can take the focus away from the road, greatly increasing the likelihood of an accident.
Daydreaming or losing concentration: Sometimes, drivers simply let their minds wander. Daydreaming is a common form of distraction that often goes unnoticed but can be just as dangerous as texting or using a phone, leading to severe accidents.
Speeding
This is another major contributor to serious vehicle accidents. When road users exceed the speed limit, they reduce their ability to react to unexpected obstacles, such as a car braking suddenly or an animal crossing the road. Here’s why speeding is so dangerous:
Increased stopping distance: The faster a vehicle is moving, the longer it takes to come to a complete stop. This makes it harder for drivers to avoid this situation, especially in emergencies.
Loss of vehicle control: At high speeds, users have less control over their vehicles, making it difficult to navigate sharp turns or sudden changes in road conditions.
Severity of impact: Speeding increases the force of impact in a crash, making the injuries sustained far more severe. For example, a collision at 30 mph can cause serious harm, but at 60 mph, the damage is usually catastrophic.
Reduced reaction time: High speeds leave less time for drivers to react to potential threats, increasing the probability of a tragedy.
Drunk Driving
DUI remains one of the most dangerous and reckless behaviors on the road. Alcohol impairs a driver’s ability to make sound judgments, slows reaction times, and affects motor skills. Despite strict DUI laws in Ohio, drunk driving continues to be a significant cause of fatal accidents. Here’s why drunk driving is so dangerous:
Impaired judgment: Alcohol affects the brain’s ability to make decisions, leading automobilists to take unnecessary risks, such as speeding or running red lights.
Reduced reaction time: Drunk drivers often have delayed reactions, which can prevent them from avoiding hazards like pedestrians, other vehicles, or sudden obstacles.
Loss of coordination: Alcohol impairs motor skills, making it difficult to steer, brake, or accelerate properly.
Increased likelihood of falling asleep: Alcoholic drinks can make drivers drowsy, increasing the chances of falling asleep at the wheel, especially during long drives.
Weather Conditions
Ohio is known for its unpredictable weather, which can change rapidly and create unsafe driving conditions. Rain, snow, ice, and fog can make roads slippery and reduce visibility, contributing to accidents. Here’s how different weather conditions can increase the chances of these unforeseen events:
Rain: Wet roads can reduce tire traction, making it more difficult for drivers to stop or steer. Hydroplaning, in which tires lose contact with the road, causing vehicles to skid, is also a frequent issue during heavy rain.
Snow and Ice: Winter conditions pose a serious threat in the state, particularly on roads that haven’t been treated. Snow and ice can create slick surfaces, resulting in loss of control, skidding, and collisions. Black ice, which is almost impossible to detect, presents an especially high risk.
Fog: It reduces visibility, sometimes to just a few feet ahead. Drivers may not see obstacles or other vehicles until it’s too late to avoid an incident.
Wind: Strong winds can make it difficult for users to maintain control of their vehicles, especially for larger ones like trucks. Wind gusts can cause cars to swerve or tip over.
Running Red Lights and Stop Signs
Ignoring traffic signals is a dangerous behavior that frequently results in unforeseen events, particularly at busy intersections. Running red lights or stop signs often leads to T-bone accidents, where one automobile strikes another on the side, which can cause critical injuries or fatalities. Here’s why this behavior is so dangerous:
T-bone collisions: These side-impact crashes often occur at high speeds and can result in devastating damages, as the sides of vehicles provide less protection than the front or rear.
Pedestrian accidents: It can also endanger pedestrians, especially at crosswalks.
Chain-reaction incidents: When an automobilist runs a red light, it can cause a chain reaction of misfortunes involving multiple vehicles, especially at busy intersections.
Reckless Driving
This includes aggressive actions such as tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, speeding, and road rage. Drivers who engage in reckless driving put themselves and others at risk. Here’s how this behavior can lead to accidents:
Tailgating: Following too closely behind another vehicle leaves little room to stop if the operator ahead brakes suddenly, often resulting in rear-end collisions.
Weaving through traffic: Drivers who switch lanes frequently and aggressively are more likely to cause incidents by cutting off other vehicles or misjudging the distance between cars.
Road rage: Aggressive habits, such as speeding up to block another user or brake-checking, can lead to tragedies and create dangerous situations for everyone on the road.
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Automobile collisions can lead to a variety of impairments, some of which can have devastating and long-term effects. Here are nine of the worst car crash injuries a person might sustain:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): TBIs occur when the brain is jolted violently within the skull or struck by an external object, often as a result of the forceful impact experienced in an incident. They can range in severity from mild concussions to extreme brain damage that leads to permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, and drastic behavioral changes.
Spinal Cord Injuries: These are among the most devastating consequences of a car collision, often leading to partial or complete paralysis. They happen when the vertebrae or spinal cord itself is damaged, cutting off communication between the brain and the body’s nervous system. The location of the lesion on the spine determines the extent of the paralysis, with afflictions higher up on the spinal cord typically causing more serious impairments.
Internal Bleeding: Unlike external wounds, internal bleeding, and organ damage are not always immediately visible following a mishap, making them particularly dangerous. High-speed impacts or crushing forces can rupture blood vessels and damage internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and lungs. They require emergency surgery to prevent life-threatening complications, such as blood loss or organ failure.
Fractured Bones: While broken bones are frequent in automobile crashes, certain fractures can be far more serious than others. Compound fractures, where the bone pierces through the skin, can result in severe infections and require multiple surgeries to correct. Fractures involving multiple bones or joints can limit mobility and require extensive rehabilitation.
Amputation: In the most severe accidents, victims may suffer lesions that require the surgical removal of a limb. This can occur when an extremity is crushed beyond repair, severed in the crash, or sustains injuries that lead to irreversible damage, such as infection or tissue death.
Burns: It can occur when a car catches fire or explodes during an accident. Severe burns can cause extensive damage to the skin and underlying tissues, typically requiring skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and long-term medical care. Third-degree burns, which destroy the top layer of skin and extend into deeper tissues, can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Whiplash: Is a soft tissue injury that occurs when the head is suddenly jerked forward and then snapped backward, a common motion in rear-end collisions. While is often thought of as a minor harm, severe cases can lead to long-lasting pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion in the neck and shoulders.
Chest Injuries: Car accidents can cause blunt force trauma to the chest, which can lead to broken ribs, internal bleeding, or damage to vital organs such as the heart and lungs. These afflictions are particularly dangerous because they can impair breathing or cause life-threatening complications such as a collapsed lung or cardiac arrest.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): While not a physical injury, the emotional and psychological impact of a vehicle incident can be just as debilitating as physical wounds. Victims may develop PTSD, a condition that causes intense anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and an inability to feel safe or comfortable in situations that remind them of the accident. This situation can make it difficult for victims to return to everyday activities, such as driving or even being a passenger in a vehicle. The emotional toll of PTSD often requires long-term therapy, and in some cases, individuals may never fully recover from the psychological trauma caused by the unforeseen event.
These are just some of the most harsh outcomes that can result from these incidents, and each one comes with its own set of challenges—physical, emotional, and financial. If you or a loved one has suffered from any of these injuries, seeking legal help is crucial in ensuring you receive the compensation and support you need to move forward.
What Damages Can I Recover from an Auto Accident?
After suffering severe injuries in a car accident, victims are generally left dealing with overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Fortunately, the law allows them to recover various types of damages to help offset these burdens. Comprehending what you may be entitled to can significantly impact your ability to rebuild your life after the unfortunate event. Below are the common categories of damages that you may recover following an automobile crash:
Medical Expenses: You are entitled to recover compensation for the cost of your healthcare treatment, both immediate and long-term. This can include:
In many cases, severe lesions such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage may require lifelong treatment, which can be factored into the compensation.
Lost Wages: Serious impairments often prevent victims from returning to work for an extended period, or even permanently in some cases. You can recover damages for:
Wages lost during your recovery.
Loss of earning capacity if you are unable to return to the same level of employment.
Benefits or perks that may have been lost due to time away from work.
If your affliction results in permanent disability, compensation may also cover projected future income loss.
Pain and Suffering: Victims can seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the collision. These may include:
Chronic pain from injuries.
Emotional trauma such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
The impact of ongoing treatments, surgeries, or rehabilitation efforts.
This type of compensation is subjective and varies greatly depending on the severity of the harm.
Property Damage: Payment for the repair or replacement of your vehicle, as well as any personal property that was damaged in the accident (e.g., electronics, jewelry, or other valuables).
Loss of Enjoyment of Life: When harsh lesions prevent you from engaging in activities that you once enjoyed, you may be entitled to damages for the loss of quality of life. This can include:
Being unable to participate in hobbies or sports.
Loss of social interaction or companionship.
Inability to perform basic day-to-day tasks independently.
Punitive Damages: In instances where the at-fault driver’s behavior was particularly reckless, courts may impose punitive damages. These damages aim to penalize the wrongdoer and discourage similar actions in the future.
Each of these categories is designed to help victims recover not only financially but also physically and emotionally so they can begin to rebuild their lives after a devastating crash.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You?
Navigating the aftermath of a serious incident can be overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with harsh impairments. A car incident lawyer can help by guiding you through the legal process and ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve. Here’s how they can help you in your situation:
Investigating the Accident: They will gather evidence, interview witnesses, and work with accident reconstruction experts to build a strong case. This guarantees that all contributing factors are uncovered and that liability is clearly established.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies: Coverage providers usually try to minimize payouts or deny claims altogether. A legal team will negotiate on your behalf to verify that you receive a fair settlement for your injuries and any other damages related to the misfortune.
Calculating Damages: Determining the full extent of your losses can be complicated, especially when considering long-term medical expenses and lost wages. A lawyer will calculate the damages you’re entitled to, certifying that no expenses are overlooked.
Taking the Case to Court: If a fair agreement cannot be reached through negotiations, they will take your case to court and will represent you in front of a judge and jury, presenting compelling evidence and strong arguments to maximize your compensation effectively.
Ready to Get the Legal Help You Deserve? Contact Ohio Tiger Today!
At Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz, we are committed to helping Ohio residents recover from the worst car crash injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation to speak to a car crash attorney. We are here to provide the legal support you need to move forward with confidence, guaranteeing your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve for your damages. Your recovery is our top priority.
Doug Mann
Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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