If you have ever suspected that driving in Cleveland is hazardous to your health, you're right. A comprehensive study ranks the city as the eighth-most dangerous for drivers in the country.
Bad news for Clevelanders
You see them every day in the city – reckless motorists. These drivers speed, run red lights and stop signs, abruptly change lanes, and make turns without signaling. Some of them are too busy talking on their phones or texting while driving to pay attention to traffic.
Researchers at CarInsuranceCompanies.com examined a wide range of highway safety data from government agencies and private sources for 2017 to rank “The 25 Most Dangerous Cities for Drivers.”
Cleveland came in at No. 8 on the list, just behind New Orleans. Baton Rouge was No. 1, while Cincinnati came in 20th. Four cities from each of California, Florida, and Texas are also among the Top 25.
The extensive study found Cleveland recorded 13.7 motor vehicle fatalities per 100,000 residents, or 53, for the year. By comparison, the national average for the 183 major cities in the study was 11.4 fatalities. The “relative collision likelihood” for Cleveland was a tragic 18.9% higher than the national average.
Researchers also took into account the number of days of precipitation, which contribute to many car accidents. Cleveland recorded 156 days of precipitation in 2017.
More bad news
Collisions are not the only problem plaguing Cleveland motorists. The study found that the motor vehicle theft rate was 881 per 100,000 people, or 3,345 for the year. Stunningly, this was more than three times the national rate of 237.
Digging deeper into the data, the average U.S. driver is in a collision once every 10.6 years, and the rate of car accidents is higher in urban areas when compared to rural areas. The study did not break out information for specific cities. It also noted that teen drivers continue to be involved in more than their share of accidents. Young drivers are less skilled due to a lack of experience behind the wheel, and they also are statistically more likely to take risks.
The high collision and theft rates combine to take a bite out of Clevelanders’ paychecks in yet another way: They drive up the cost of insurance. Even if you are not in an accident and your vehicle is not stolen, you pay more for insurance simply because you live in Cleveland.
Making the best of a bad situation
If you have been injured or a loved one died in a motor vehicle accident in Cleveland, traffic safety studies and statistics don't mean anything. Your injuries may require surgery, prevent you from working, paying bills, doing everyday tasks, and providing for your family.
When someone else is responsible for your injuries, you have recourse under Ohio law to pursue compensation for your losses. You may be entitled to compensation for your current and future medical bills, your lost wages, loss of earning capacity, replacement services, your pain and suffering, and possibly other damages.
Everything is subject to the specific details of your case, but the last thing you want to do is take the insurance company at its word. Insurance adjusters are known for delaying, disputing, and flat out denying valid injury claims because the company they work for has a vested interest in paying you as little money as possible. If the insurance company does make you a financial offer to settle your case, you can count on it being much less than the true value of your claim.
At Merriman Legal, LLC, our car accident lawyers have extensive experience serving injured clients just like you in Cleveland and throughout Ohio. Once you contact us, we can dispatch our Rapid Response Team to investigate the scene of your accident, search for evidence, and fight to hold the at-fault driver responsible.
Let us aggressively protect your rights in pursuit of justice and fair financial compensation for you and your loved ones.
Contact us today for a free case consultation.
