Columbus, Ohio Attorney Blog - Robert W. Kerpsack Co., L.P.A.

This month has been a tragic one for the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHSP), with two of its patrol cars suffering rollover accidents that killed one trooper and left three others injured. The first accident, which occurred on February 4, in the evening, when the troopers were headed south on Ohio 95 near Toledo, when their vehicle left the roadway, tripped, and rolled over. One of the patrolmen died, the other suffered serious injury. Both troopers were wearing their seatbelts. In the second incident, which happened early on the 14th of February, the troopers were trying to pull over a speeding motorist on US 127 in Williams County when their vehicle left the roadway, tripped, and rolled over. In the second incident, both troopers, who were wearing their seat belts, suffered minor injuries.

The incidents underscore several facts about rollover accidents. Most (85%) rollover accidents are single-car accidents. Most rollover accidents occur when a vehicle is "tripped" by an obstacle or change in the road surface, such as when it leaves a paved surface and encounters a soft shoulder. In addition, the majority of rollover accident victims were not wearing their seat belts. Not wearing your seat belt increases the risk of being killed in a rollover accident fourfold, according to data published by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In addition, the vehicle you are in can put you at a greater risk for dying in a rollover accident. SUVs are high-profile vehicles with a narrow wheelbase, making them more likely to roll over. Defective tires can also lead to a rollover accident. Once a vehicle rolls over, you depend on the safety equipment of your vehicle, but if your vehicle's roof is inadequate or the seat belts fail, your risk of injury increases.

If you have suffered serious injury or lost a loved one in a rollover accident that was caused or worsened by the vehicle you were driving, the lawyers at Robert W. Kerpsack CO, LPA can help you pursue a hazardous product lawsuit. To learn more, please contact us for a free case evaluation today.

With all the snow we have seen across Ohio this month and with more in the forecast, it is worthwhile to review some tips for avoiding car accidents in winter weather:

Cut down on unnecessary trips. Stay home with a hot beverage and a good book whenever you don't have to go out. When you go grocery shopping, stock up as much as possible to reduce the need for additional trips.

Go slow. If you must go out, go slow. Remember to give yourself extra time getting whether you need to go.

Give adequate spacing. Remember that being close to the car in front of you does not get you to your destination any faster. Allow adequate spacing so you can brake gradually. Braking suddenly can cause you to slide out of control.

Lights on for safety. It's a simple rule: whenever you have your wipers on, turn on your lights. If you are having trouble seeing, others may have trouble seeing you, too, and your lights will increase your visibility.

Be courteous. Everyone is having trouble accelerating and may have difficulty making turns or merging into traffic. Let up on the gas to facilitate merging cars and try not to block intersections when you stop. When people are more courteous on the roads, everyone's stress is reduced, leading to a more pleasant drive.

If you follow these simple tips, you will likely avoid a dangerous car accident. However, if you are in an accident as a result of someone else not driving sensibly, please contact the car accident lawyers at Robert W. Kerpsack CO., LPA in Columbus, Ohio for a free consultation.

A truck driver from Ohio killed a mother of two in her disabled car on I-90. Police now say that he was watching porn on his laptop computer at the time of the deadly truck accident and had slept only 4 hours in the middle of a 27-hour stint of driving. The trucker had been operating with falsified logbooks in violation of federal hours of service (HoS) regulations at the time of the accident. The woman had struck a deer, disabling her car. She had called 9-1-1 and reported the accident. Several cars and trucks avoided her vehicle, but this trucker was distracted and struck her car.

This accident brings up again the role of distraction in causing truck driving accidents. Distractions like cell phones and laptop computers are common causes of both truck accidents and car accidents. In addition to personal laptops, the in-cab dispatching devices--computers for use by drivers that keep them in contact with dispatchers and give navigation directions--may be responsible for as much as 3% of all trucking accidents, according to a recent study.

As technology gives more options for entertainment and work, we have to learn how to manage the distractions to work and play efficiently without endangering others. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident with a distracted trucker, your truck accident lawsuit can help trucking companies and regulators assess the real cost of dangerous, distracted driving. Please contact the personal injury lawyers at Robert W. Kerpsack, CO, LPA today for a free case evaluation.