Cincinnati Car Accident Law Blog

The modern vehicles that Cincinnati residents drive are equipped with many safety features. In addition to mirrors that give them the ability to see around their vehicles, drivers also benefit from blind spot warnings, back up cameras and other electronic tools that were not available to vehicles of generations past. However, the most important tool that a driver can use when commuting down the road is not something that is an add-on feature to their vehicle: it is their attention.

Paying attention to one's surroundings is an incredibly important part of staying safe on the road, and unfortunately a lack of attention to certain motorists causes a number of dangerous accidents each year. Drivers who fail to look out for and see motorcyclists can pose significant dangers to individuals who choose to ride their motorcycles through the city. Visual recognition is the term given to unfortunate occurrence.

Driving in close proximity to semi-trucks in Ohio can be nerve-wracking to even the bravest, most experienced motorists. The most obvious cause of this fear is the sheer size of these massive vehicles and the devastation they can cause when they are driven negligently. Although truckers go through extensive training and testing, and they are subjected to a number of regulations, they still can fail to operate their vehicles in a way that ensures other motorists' safety.

One reason is because far too many individuals fail to consider the increased distance needed by semi-trucks to come to a safe stop. Whereas a car may be up to 18 feet in length and weigh as much as 4,000 pounds, a semi-truck may be 65 feet and weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When these vehicles are traveling at 40 mph, a semi-truck will need an additional 45 feet to safely stop. Increase that speed to 65, and the difference becomes more than 500 feet, nearly the length of a football field.

Being hit by another driver can be an understandably troubling experience. When the accident wasn't your fault, you may be wondering what to do. After you have assessed whether you and any passengers are okay, you are likely left wondering what you do about the driver that negligently ran a red light and hit you or carelessly failed to yield of the right of way and struck you.

Although many sates require drivers to carry liability insurance, there are always some who do not. A study conducted by the Insurance Research Council in 2011 reported that one in seven drivers was uninsured during 2009. Nationwide, that amounts to approximately 14 percent of drivers being uninsured. Insurance requirements vary by state so it is important to know the requirements in your state.

Motorcycle accidents can result in catastrophic injuries to victims who are comparatively more vulnerable on the roadways then drivers and passengers of motor vehicles. Victims of motorcycle accidents can suffer severe head and brain injuries that may disrupt their everyday way of life, which is why they should be familiar with the legal resources available to help them.

Victims of a traumatic brain injury may suffer physical harm and mood, emotional and personality disruptions that leave them unable to accomplish everyday tasks that were common prior to their accident and the injury they have suffered. Victims may suffer cognitive deficits and find that the impact of a brain injury affects their relationships with friends and family members. In addition, victims of motorcycle accidents can face other debilitating, and even disfiguring, injuries and scarring in a motorcycle accident.