Automobile Accidents

• What is an Assured Clear Distance?

  Scott Smith | October 23, 2006 12:03 PM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  Often car collisions occur when a person operating a motor vehicle crashes into the back of vehicle traveling in the same direction. When the police arrive, a citation is usually written stating the person who struck the vehicle failed to maintain an assured clear distance ahead. What does this mean? Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.21(A), as part of the written laws of Ohio, states "No person...

• Allstate's Dirty Hands

  Scott Smith | January 04, 2007 7:57 AM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  For years Allstate Insurance has claimed you are in good hands if you are an insured with their company. However, this mantra belies Allstate's deceptive claims practices and defiance of Court Orders. In the early 1990s Allstate retained the services of McKinsey and Company in reengineering its auto accident insurance claims operations. The story of Allstate's scorched earth claims practice...

• Insurance Law Intimidates Emergency Room Doctors from Alcohol and Drug Testing

  Scott Smith | January 18, 2007 11:23 AM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  Because a 1953 Ohio insurance law permits health insurance companies to deny claims for injuries that result from alcohol or drug use, emergency room doctors and nurses don't test patients for fear the costs of the procedure would be denied. Accordingly, many hospitals don't routinely test patients for drug or alcohol use and won't until the law is overturned. Of course, if the ingestion of...

• Study Reveals Use of Cell Phone Causes Auto Crashes

  Scott Smith | December 13, 2006 4:40 PM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  A study recently released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Virginia Technical Transportation Institute found that a driver's odds of being involved in an automobile crash or nearly crashing are twice as high when the driver looks away from the road for 2 seconds or longer. The study revealed distracted driving is nearly as serious a factor as impaired driving or speeding in...

• Seven Injured In Two Car Crash

  Chrissie Cole | May 26, 2009 2:23 PM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  A car accident at the intersection of U.S. 42 and Ohio 61 in Morrow County left seven people injured on Friday. A car driven by Billy Hall, 67, of Willard turned left from U.S. 42 onto Ohio 61...

• CSX Train Derails in Northern Ohio, Setting Off Fire

  Courtney Mills | October 10, 2007 3:53 PM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  A CSX train derailed in northeastern Ohio in Painesville, starting a large fire and forcing about a half-mile area around the fire to be evacuated. The train was carrying toxic chemicals that spilled everywhere, although no injuries were immediately reported. Witnesses also reported seeing a tanker from the train explode, with flames shooting high into the air. The other hazardous chemicals in...

• New Law Reduces Ohio Consumers Damage Claims

  Scott Smith | January 03, 2007 4:50 PM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  What the Ohio Supreme Court giveth, the Ohio legislature taketh away. A recent Ohio Supreme Court Decision confirmed that Ohio's Consumer Sales Practice Act (CSPA), a thirty year old consumer protection law, allowed defrauded consumers to sue for non-economic damages like stress, aggravation and humiliation when unfairly taken advantage of by a business. Whitaker v. N.T. Automotive, Inc. 111...

• Tips for Preventing Motorcycle Accidents and Injuries

  Scott Smith | July 14, 2007 1:59 PM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  • If you ride a motorcycle, always wear a helmet. Helmets are your best defense against serious and fatal brain injuries.• In additions to your helmet, wear eye and fact protection. Many helmets have built-in visors or other face guards. Wear long pants, gloves, boots and a durable long-sleeved jacket.• Get licensed. All states require a motorcycle license.• Never drink alcohol...

• $20 Million Verdict Against Allstate for Bad Faith

  Scott Smith | October 06, 2006 12:01 PM | 1 CommentColumbus, OH

  An Indiana jury determined Allstate Insurance Company committed bad faith in failing to pay a man for losses due to injuries and damage to his car following a car crash and awarded the man $20 Million. The jury decided Ted Fields was in bad hands after applying for property damage and medical benefits under his Allstate policy following a car crash. Fields, age 50, who is now a retired...

• Determining Fault Resulting from a Car Crash

  Scott Smith | March 17, 2007 4:15 PM | 0 CommentsColumbus, OH

  When a lawsuit is brought for damages caused by a car crash, the judge or jury must decide who caused the accident, since more than one person may have been negligent (fault), including the person who is bringing the lawsuit. Once the amount or percentage of negligence has been determined for each person, damages are awarded as determined by what system of fault the state follows. There are...