Cleveland Car Accident Lawyer

Types of Cleveland Car Accidents

Car wrecks can occur at any time and in any location and lead to serious injuries. However, serious injuries don’t always come from a major car accident; in many cases, an injury can happen even during a seemingly minor fender bender.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, you need the skilled Cleveland car accident lawyers at Joseph Law Group to handle your case. We have handled thousands of successful personal injury cases for our clients all across Ohio.

Some of the most common accidents our experienced attorneys see include:

T-Bone

A T-Bone car accident is also called a side-impact accident or a broadside accident. T-bone accidents happen when one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle head-on. T-Bone accidents can cause serious injuries and fatalities. There are many causes of this type of car accident, including distracted driving, driving while impaired, and failure to stop at red lights and stop signs.

Rear-End

When one car collides with the back of the car in front of it, it is a rear-end collision. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. As such, rear-end collisions cause more injuries than any other type of car accident. Rear-end trauma can include whiplash and damage to the back and spine.

Tailgating is the biggest contributing factor of rear-end collisions. When you follow a vehicle too closely, you don’t have enough time to react and safely stop your car if they have to brake suddenly. Distracted driving, speeding, and hazardous road conditions are also frequent causes of this type of car accident.

Rollovers

Rollover accidents happen when a vehicle flips or rolls instead of staying upright after a collision with another vehicle or object. Rollovers can be the result of a single-vehicle crash where a driver overcorrects to avoid an accident. They can also happen during sharp turns or excessive speeding.

Head-On

Head-on collisions happen when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide. This type of accident commonly occurs when a driver is fatigued or impaired and drifts into oncoming traffic. Head-on collisions cause the most fatalities and are responsible for almost 60% of accident-related deaths in the United States.

Left Turn

Left-turn accidents happen when a driver ignores a red light or stop sign and pulls out into oncoming traffic.

Is It Important to Determine Fault After Cleveland Car Accidents?

It is imperative to prove fault after a car accident to determine which party will pay for any injuries or property damage sustained during the crash. Because of this, it is important to avoid apologizing at the scene of the accident. You aren’t necessarily admitting fault by apologizing, but any action you take at the scene can influence a court decision regarding liability and damages.

Common Causes of Ohio Car Accidents

Although modern safety technology has decreased the number of car wrecks we see, things like blind-spot awareness and crash avoidance systems can only do so much. Many car accidents are avoidable, but all it takes is a negligent driver or reckless driving to make a lifelong impact on someone’s life. We’ve listed some of the most common causes of car crashes (and how to avoid them when possible) below.

Hazardous Road Conditions

As residents of Ohio, we are familiar with inclement weather that causes hazardous road conditions. Snow, ice, and heavy rain can make tires lose traction on the road and cause drivers to lose control of their cars. Unfortunately, avoiding driving during inclement weather is simply not possible for most Clevelanders.

New Drivers

Teenagers and inexperienced drivers are more likely to cause accidents. This is because they are not as familiar with traffic laws and the rules of the road. They also lack the reflexes that an experienced driver would have.

Distracted Drivers

Distracted driving is an umbrella term that covers texting, talking on the phone, eating, and doing anything else that takes your attention from the road while driving. Distracted driving is responsible for almost 15% of all car crashes.

Driver Fatigue

Some researchers believe that getting less than four hours of sleep in a 24-hour period has the same effect as alcohol. Sleep-deprived drivers have hindered reactions and risk falling asleep while operating their car. This is an extremely dangerous situation that can result in head-on collisions or other disastrous collisions and can cause fatal injuries. It is important to avoid operating machinery while drowsy or sleep-deprived.

Drunk or Impaired Drivers

When drivers choose to drive while drunk or impaired, they are risking the life of not only themselves but the lives of everyone on the road with them. Alcohol and drug-impaired drivers can make rash decisions as well as have trouble estimating the speed and distance of other drivers. Drunk driving causes 30% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

Reckless or Aggressive Drivers

Reckless or aggressive drivers tend to ignore traffic laws and common sense. They are likely to cut off other drivers, speed, tailgate, and swerve in and out of traffic. An aggressive driver may tailgate you if you are going the speed limit in an effort to get around other drivers. Reckless driving can cause a serious car accident.

Speeding

Drivers typically speed to get to their destination quicker. Something as simple as better time management can prevent many motor vehicle accidents that are caused by speeding drivers.

Car Defects

Some accidents aren’t caused by drivers at all. Defects in car manufacturing can cause issues with braking systems and make some vehicles more likely to flip during a car accident.