Ohio Fatal Crash Statistics
According to data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic fatalities decreased overall in a ten-year period beginning in 2005. However, 1,006 people died on Ohio roadways in 2014, an increase from 989 the prior year.
Though the state does have a primary enforced mandatory seatbelt law for children and teens in all seats and adults in the front seat, 375 of the 733 passenger vehicle occupants who died in fatal crashes were not buckled up. While this is an increase in unrestrained fatalities from 352 in 2013, it is also the third lowest number of deaths over the ten-year period.
Ohio does not have a mandatory helmet law for adult drivers. This is evident in the high number of unhelmeted riders that die every year. Of the 136 riders who died in motor vehicle accidents, 91 were not wearing head protection. The NHTSA estimates that 35 additional lives could have been saved if all riders wore their helmets every time they rode.
The state has implemented the Graduated Driver’s License system to give new drivers more time to gain skills before they set out on their own. This program is in part responsible for the decreasing number of young drivers involved in fatal crashes. In fact, 252 drivers under the age of 21 were in fatal crashes, while 138 new drivers were involved in 2014.
Speed and alcohol remain two of the deadliest driver behaviors in our state and across the country. Despite increased efforts by law enforcement including education and awareness campaigns speed-related deaths have remained stubbornly high. In fact, 276 people died in speed-related crashes in 2005 and 274 died in 2014. Alcohol-related fatalities are not much better, falling from a high of 395 deaths in 2005 down to a low of 268 in 2013, only to jump back up to 310 deaths in 2014.
Pedestrian deaths increased in 2014 across the country, though in Ohio pedestrian deaths were at a near ten-year low. Approximately 86 walkers and joggers were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2014, down from a ten year high of 113 in 2012.
Bicyclists deaths fell from a high of 19 in 2013 to a ten-year low of 11 in 2014. This statistical data makes it very obvious that more needs to be done to separate motor vehicle traffic from foot and cycle traffic on Ohio roadways.
Ohio’s highways and bi-ways are dangerous. If you’ve been injured in a car accident or lost a loved one in a fatal crash, you need a dedicated team of attorneys and legal professionals fighting for your rights. Our attorneys have a long and proven record of helping the victims of car accidents get the compensation they deserve.
Call us today if you or a loved one were injured in a
- Commercial bus crashes
- School bus accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Truck crashes
- Motorcycle collisions
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Semi-truck crashes
We’ll fight insurance companies, negligent operators, and reckless drivers to get you the maximum compensation you deserve.