When you are hurt in a vehicle accident it can turn your world upside down. Personal injury in New Paris can be traumatic and terrifying. If you are seriously hurt, you probably need to spend a good deal of time in the hospital while you undergo testing, surgery, and other procedures. Recovery can take weeks, months, or years. Sometimes the injuries are so severe that they cause a disability. The Ohio State Highway Patrol gathers and publishes crash statistics for the state on a yearly basis. In 2020 there were 1,154 fatal car accidents in Ohio that resulted in 1,230 deaths. The number of fatal car accidents has not gone down in recent years, even though there have been safety improvements in vehicles.
Every driver will probably be involved in a car accident at some time in their lives. Most accidents are minor fender benders, but when the crash is more significant and causes major injuries, the negligent party must pay for the damages. When car accidents in New Paris, Ohio, result in injuries, the negligent party should pay for your medical and other costs. Although New Paris is a small village with a population of fewer than 2,000, you can still be involved in a serious car crash.
Motorcycles are fun to ride and they can save a lot of money on gas. Unfortunately, motorcycle crashes can result in severe injuries and fatalities. Injuries caused by motorcycle accidents in New Paris, Ohio can be extremely serious and life-threatening. It is notable that Ohio does not have a helmet law for those over the age of 18 with a motorcycle license or endorsement. Even so, motorcycle helmets can help reduce fatalities in crashes. In 2020, 212 people died in motorcycle crashes in Ohio. Of that number, only 53 were wearing helmets.
Trucks are an essential part of our economy, yet they can cause dangerous conditions on the road. We share our highways with many trucks on a daily basis. Sadly, truck accidents in New Paris, Ohio, can leave you with disabling injuries that require a lengthy recovery. Truck crashes are extremely complex and may require accident reconstruction experts to find the factors that caused and contributed to the crash.
Causes of Personal Injury in New Paris
Accidents can be caused by a variety of factors. The factors that cause and contribute to accidents generally fit into one of three categories including human error, mechanical failure, and environmental issues. Human error is by far the most common cause of accidents. Speeding, failure to follow traffic signals, distraction, driving while intoxicated, and improper lane change are just a few of the many mistakes that drivers make. Mechanical failure is most often associated with truck accidents and may include such things as brake malfunction and tire blowouts. Environmental factors include bad weather, poor visibility, and road conditions, to name just several.
Injuries and Other Damages
Injuries and other damages due to vehicle accidents can be either monetary or non-monetary. Monetary damages are those that have an actual value such as medical bills, medication expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. You may also be owed other types of damages. For example, the other driver may owe you compensation for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, or emotional trauma. It is important to evaluate your expenses once you have a complete understanding of them. Do not settle your claim until you are certain that you will get enough money to cover your current and future costs related to the crash.
What is Negligence?
In order to collect compensation for an injury, you must prove negligence on the part of the other driver. Negligence in a vehicle accident is the failure to use ordinary care when behind the wheel. An average person knows or should know that a particular action or lack of action is dangerous and could reasonably result in harm to another. A determination of negligence will occur and a portion will be ascribed to each responsible party.
In Ohio, you can be partly responsible for an accident and still collect compensation, as long as you are less than 50% negligent. You will need to prove that the other party was negligent. There are four main parts of negligence to prove your claim including duty, breach, causation, and damages. The other party must have had a duty to act with care and failed to do so. The accident caused actual damages that you suffered as a result. A skilled attorney practicing personal injury in New Paris, Ohio, will assist with the legal aspects of your claim.
If you or someone you love was hurt in a car, motorcycle, or truck accident in New Paris, Ohio, you need guidance from an experienced personal injury attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our professional legal team at Kruger & Hodges at (937) 733-6079, to discuss the details of your case today.
