Cincinnati Car Accident Law Blog

Important protections for victims of motorcycle accidents

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

In an Ohio community a few hours north of the Cincinnati area, a recent fatal motorcycle accident claimed the life of a 27-year-old motorcycle rider. The motorcycle accident occurred when the motorcycle rider was traveling east and a driver of a pickup pulled out of a private drive in front of the motorcycle to head west. When the pickup truck collided with the motorcycle, the motorcycle accident victim was ejected from the motorcycle and struck the guardrail. The motorcycle accident victim was killed as a result of the accident.

A motorcycle accident can result in serious injuries to the victim, or even death. Motorcycle accident victims may suffer damages, as is also true of surviving family members following a fatal motorcycle accident. Because of the damages victims of motorcycle accidents may suffer, personal injury legal options are available to motorcycle accident victims to help them recover compensation for their damages resulting from a motorcycle accident. Likewise, surviving family members of a victim of a fatal motorcycle accident may also be able to seek compensation of their damages through a wrongful death claim for damages.

The serious nature of traumatic brain injuries

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Thursday, April 26, 2018.

Traumatic brain injuries contribute to deaths and cause permanent disability in the United States each year. In fact, traumatic brain injuries are a contributing factor in a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States. During 2010, approximately 2.5 million victims suffered a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries can range in severity, but are always likely to be physically, financially and emotionally costly to victims and their families.

Traumatic brain injury can result in decreased cognitive function, such as attention, memory or focus; disrupted motor function, such as weakness in the extremities and impaired coordination and balance; impaired sensation, such as hearing, vision and impaired perception and touch; and emotional challenges, such as personality changes, depression, anxiety, aggression or limited impulse control.

Victims of distracted driving enjoy legal protections

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

The month of April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving is a serious danger on the roadways and can lead to car accidents, motorcycle accidents and truck accidents, all with devastating consequences for victims and their families. Because of the serious concern of distracted driving, it is important to be familiar with what is considered to be "distracted driving" and what to do if harmed by a distracted driver.

Distracted driving should not be taken lightly. In 2010, more than 3,000 victims were killed and 146,000 were injured in distracted driving-related accidents. Negligent and distracted drivers who injure others may be liable to compensate victims for the harm they suffer. Victims may be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering damages through a personal injury claim for damages again the distracted driver.

What types of damages are available to car accident victims?

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Car Accidents on Monday, April 9, 2018.

There are a variety of different types of damages that car accident victims may suffer and may be able to recover compensation for through a personal injury claim. Car accident victims may wonder, however, what damages are available to them to them when they have been injured. Because a claim for damages can help victims recover compensation for the injuries, harm and expenses they have suffered, it is important for victims to be familiar with the options available to help them.

Victims of car accidents may have claims for medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering and loss of consortium. Medical expenses following a car accident can be significant and may begin to pile up. Additionally, car accident injuries may worsen following the accident, so it is important for car accident victims to seek medical care and treatment and submit to a thorough medical examination.

Ohio motorcycle accidents seriously injures victim

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Thursday, April 5, 2018.

Unfortunately, motorcycle riders can be victims of careless or inattentive drivers and the consequences can be devastating. In a nearby Ohio community north of the Cincinnati area, a motorcycle accident recently resulted in serious injuries to the motorcycle rider. The motorcycle accident occurred as the driver of a passenger vehicle was turning onto the road the motorcycle was travelling on. The driver of the passenger vehicle was stopped at a stop sign but failed to yield as she proceeded from the stop sign onto the road the motorcycle was travelling on.

Following the motorcycle accident, the 35-year old motorcycle rider was listed in critical but stable condition. The motorcycle accident remains under investigation. Too often motorcycle riders are injured by drivers who are inattentive or careless. Sadly, the failure to yield is a common cause of motorcycle accidents as drivers do not take the time to carefully observe the roadway and may not see motorcyclists. In other circumstances, inattentive or distracted drivers can also cause serious motorcycle accidents.

What do I do if hit by an uninsured motorist?

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Uninsured/Underinsured Accidents on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

Being involved in a car accident is never a fun experience and if you have been hit by a negligent driver, it can be particularly upsetting. If the negligent driver is an uninsured motorist, it can be even worse. If you are facing that situation, it is important to keep in mind that legal resources are available for victims of negligent drivers but you may be wondering what you do if that driver is uninsured or underinsured. The good news is that options may be available in circumstances involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist as well.

To begin with, victims of negligent drivers have important legal resources available to them to help with the physical, financial and emotional damages that are commonly associated with a motor vehicle accident. Personal injury legal options are available to victims injured in a car accident by a negligent driver and wrongful death legal options are available to surviving family members of victims killed in a car accident by a negligent driver.

Ohio State Patrol reports on drunk driving accidents in the state

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Drunk Driving Accidents on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Different legal protections are available to victims of drunk driving accidents and their families. The Ohio State Patrol recently reported that the number of car accidents that involved a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs numbered 39 during 2017 in one Ohio County north of the Hamilton County area. Overall, for District 2, which includes parts of Hamilton County, 807 car accidents were reported that involved a driver that was under the influence. In addition, authorities reported that driving under the influence of drugs and distracted driving were on the rise.

Drunk drivers can cause serious accidents, harm and damages and can be responsible to victims for the harm they cause. Authorities from one Ohio community reported 237 arrests of drivers who were driving under the influence. In addition to criminal penalties drunk drivers may face, they may also face civil liability to victims and their families harmed in a drunk driving accident.

Understanding the cause of truck accidents and relief for victims

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Truck Accidents on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

Because of the unquestionably serious nature of truck accidents, it is important to understand both the liability and remedies for truck accidents. It is necessary to prove negligence in a personal injury or wrongful death claim for damages in order to recover compensation for those damages which is why it is important to understand the possible causes of truck accidents and what the cause of the victim's truck accident was.

Parties that may be liable for the damages the victim has suffered, depending on the circumstances and the cause of the accident, may include a negligent truck driver, negligent trucking company or manufacturer of a defective vehicle. Under Ohio's comparative negligence law, damages are allocated according to fault and only victims less than 50 percent liable for the accident can recover compensation for damages in the accident which also makes understanding the causes of accidents important.

Ohio's motorcycle helmet law

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

A previous blog post discussed how motorcyclists in Ohio and throughout the country face an increased risk of becoming involved in an accident and sustaining serious injuries. Because motorcyclists do not have the same protection as people riding in cars, they are more likely to suffer catastrophic, even fatal, injuries from accidents that are often caused by distracted or otherwise negligent drivers.

Motorcyclists are approximately 26 times more likely to die in a crash and five times more likely to be injured in a crash than someone in a passenger vehicle. Motorcyclists who do not wear helmets are three times more likely to suffer a brain injury than motorcyclists who do wear helmets. Traumatic brain injuries can cause permanent impairment of higher level cognitive functions and can even leave the victim in a comatose state. Helmet laws are designed to reduce the extent of head injuries sustained in the event of a crash.

Types of traumatic brain injuries caused by car accidents

On behalf of Gregory S. Young Co., LPA posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.

Many people are injured or killed on Ohio's busy roads each year. Car accidents, motorcycle accidents and trucking accidents can all lead to catastrophic injuries. Traumatic brain injuries are among the most dangerous types of injuries, accounting for 1.7 million related deaths in America each year. Although brain injuries may be caused by other occurrences, such as sports-related injuries, falls, violence, explosions, medical malpractice and workplace accidents, car accidents remain the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.

TBIs are caused by an impact to the brain that causes trauma. Generally, there are four types of TBIs: concussions, contusions, diffuse axonal injuries and penetration injuries. Concussions are the most common type of TBI. They are caused by direct impact trauma to the head, such as whiplash in a car accident. Those suffering from concussions may lose consciousness or may simply experience symptoms like confusion and dizziness.