Cincinnati Car Accident Law Blog

Now that winter is upon us in the Cincinnati area, many have had the pleasure of driving in winter conditions. Snow is often a part of winter here and driving can be treacherous. Drivers need to understand how important it is to drive safe when weather is a factor to avoid a car accident, but there are also certain things drivers need to do because it is the law.

Our state requires drivers to remove snow and ice from their windows, license plates, tail lights and headlights. Drivers also need to understand how dangerous it can be to drive around with snow accumulation on the roof of their car. This snow needs to be removed as well.

If you are in a car accident in which your vehicle is struck heavily and airbags deploy as they are intended, you would likely have no basis for a lawsuit. Though you may have sustained injuries from the force of the airbag, it is likely that you would have suffered far more catastrophic injuries had they not deployed. However, airbags have been known to deploy unnecessarily and cause severe injury, or even death. In this case, you may very well be entitled to compensation.

If a vehicle is struck in a low-impact crash, airbags should not deploy. There is a certain amount of force that should be met to activate a vehicle's crash sensors. In most vehicles, that force would be attained at the equivalent of striking a fixed object at 8-14mph or more, and would be considered a moderate to severe crash.

A commercial vehicle is owned by a company and operated by its employees or agents. It may be a truck used to haul goods, a van used to transport passengers or packages, or a car used by an employee while on the clock. These vehicles are often involved in crashes, with some being so severe fatalities are involved. An accident with a commercial vehicle is handled differently by insurance companies than one involving only personal vehicles.

The first thing you should be aware of is that companies and their insurance agents will immediately begin taking measures to keep damage expenses as low as possible. In an effort to preserve crucial evidence that may be needed in a lawsuit, it is necessary to document the scene on your own if you are able. Jot down notes including date, time and location of accident, take pictures of all vehicles involved as well as the surrounding area, and collect all identifying information from the drivers as well as insurance company information. Then, it is highly suggested that you immediately contact a commercial vehicle accident attorney who can obtain this information from you and hold it in a safe place.

An at-fault party in a serious car accident is not always as easily determined as one might think. Sometimes an investigation by a crash reconstruction specialist is required to solidify the facts. In particular, where death or serious injuries occur, a crash reconstruction can provide vital evidence that may be used in court.

There are several ways in which a reconstruction specialist will analyze crash data. He or she may look at the starting and stopping point of skid marks, including measuring the length a vehicle skidded in total. The direction of the skid marks will also be noted. In addition, damage to all vehicles involved as well as debris left at a crash site will be closely inspected. Some vehicles even have data collection boxes that may be recovered. These provide invaluable evidence such as speed at the time of crash, whether or not a driver ever hit the brakes, and even if the vehicle occupants were wearing seatbelts.