Car accidents are one of the leading causes of unnecessary deaths. There are more than six million automobile collisions in the United States every year. These collisions result in tens of thousands of deaths each year. Approximately two million people per year sustain permanent injuries as a result of motor vehicle collisions.

Most motor vehicle accidents occur due to negligence on the part of one of the drivers involved.

When a car accident is caused by another party’s negligence, those who are harmed are often eligible for compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, as well as other damages. If you are involved in an auto collision caused as a result of another party’s negligence, an attorney can guide you though the claims process and ensure that your rights are protected.

Immediately following an automobile collision, you should not move your car, unless you need to move it to a safer location. Make other drivers aware that you are stopped by using hazard lights, warning signs, or flares. You should call 911 immediately if there are injuries or emergency situations. Even if there are no injuries, you should call the police to get a police report. Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all drivers,

passengers, and witnesses. Also, get driver’s license numbers and insurance information from others involved in the collision. Observe the vehicle damage and take pictures, if possible, of the vehicles and crash scene. Remember, most cell phones now have cameras! If you are injured, but do not require emergency care, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, many drivers on the road are operating vehicles without auto liability insurance. Should you have the unfortunate experience of being injured in a collision caused by an uninsured motorist, immediately contact your own auto insurance carrier to make an uninsured motorist claim. Provided you have this coverage, it covers you, the insured members of your household, and your passengers for bodily/personal injuries, damages, or death caused by an at-fault uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

If you are involved in an accident where the other driver is at fault but has no insurance, your policy will cover all related damages, up to the limit on your policy.

If you are unsure whether you have uninsured motorist coverage, contact your agent promptly. Despite state law requiring insurance, you cannot rely on all drivers to abide by the law and must purchase uninsured motorist coverage to protect yourself and your family.

Unfortunately, many drivers on the road are operating vehicles without enough auto liability insurance to cover the damage they cause in a crash. Should you have the unfortunate experience of being injured in a collision caused by an underinsured driver, immediately contact your own auto insurance carrier to make an underinsured motorist claim. Provided you have this coverage, it covers you, the insured members of your household, and your passengers for injuries, damages or death caused by the negligence of a person with insufficient insurance.

If you are involved in a collision caused by a person whose coverage cannot make up for your damages, your policy will make up the difference, up to the limit of underinsured coverage listed on your policy.

If you are unsure whether you have underinsured motorist coverage, contact your agent promptly. Currently, Ohio law requires motorists to carry a minimum of only $12,500 in auto liability limits. The minimum coverage is often inadequate to cover the damages caused by a motor vehicle collision.

Each state has a specific, limited amount of time that you are allowed to take legal action following an automobile accident. This amount of time depends on the state and is called the statute of limitations. In Ohio, the general statute of limitations for automobile accidents is 2 years.

However, it can differ depending on the situation. It is important that you contact an attorney regarding the statute of limitations involved in your case. If you miss the statute of limitations, you will be forever barred from bringing your claims for injuries.