What Are the Deadliest Types of Roads in Ohio?
Ohio's county roads earned the fourth-highest ranking for fatal car accidents in a nationwide study.
Car accidents frequently happen on specific road types in Ohio. So, which roads pose the highest risk? According to a recent nationwide study, county roads in Ohio stand out as some of the most hazardous. In fact, Ohio recently earned the fourth-highest ranking for car accidents on county roads across the country.
"While county roads are less deadly than local streets and highways, they were still the deadliest roads in seven states," including Ohio, says a recent traffic safety study conducted by MoneyGeek.
No matter where the crash occurred, if you've been injured in an Ohio car accident, it's important to know your potential legal options. The car accident lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC in Columbus, OH, are here to provide the support and guidance you need.
Car accidents are common on county roads in Ohio
Traffic safety researchers at MoneyGeek recently conducted a nationwide study examining the prevalence of fatal car accidents on various road types across each state. This study encompassed five distinct road categories, with county roads being one of them, defined as roadways owned and maintained by state-recognized municipalities or towns.
On a national scale, Ohio earned the fourth-highest ranking for fatal car accidents occurring on county roads. Between 2019 and 2021, Ohio witnessed 1,050 fatal crashes on county roads, comprising 30.8 percent of all car accident fatalities statewide during that timeframe, as outlined in the study.
Other types of dangerous roads in Ohio
In addition to county roads, fatal car accidents in Ohio occurred on various other road types. According to the MoneyGeek study, the 3,413 car accident fatalities in Ohio between 2019 and 2021 were distributed across the following road categories:
- State highways (high-speed roads maintained by the state) – accounting for 30.5 percent of car accident fatalities in Ohio.
- Local streets (local roads with speed limits of 20 to 45 mph) – contributing to 13.4 percent of fatalities.
- U.S. highway traffic fatalities (high-speed roads maintained by the federal government) – making up 14.1 percent of total fatalities.
- County roads – representing 30.8 percent of the car accident fatalities.
- Interstate highway fatalities (high-speed roads facilitating state-to-state traffic) – comprising 11.2 percent of the fatalities.
Common causes of car accidents in Ohio
Car accident data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ohio Highway Patrol highlight the common causes of car crashes in Ohio, including:
- Drunk driving - accounting for over 16,000 car accidents annually, resulting in an average of over 500 car accident fatalities each year in Ohio.
- Speeding - associated with more than 20,000 car accidents and over 300 deaths on average each year.
- Failure to yield - contributing to more than 22,000 car crashes annually on average in Ohio.
- Distracted driving - responsible for over 7,500 accidents statewide on average each year.
Contact a car accident lawyer in Columbus, OH
You might think you don't need legal representation if another driver clearly caused your crash. However, many seemingly straightforward car accident claims turn out to be complicated legal cases. Sometimes, it's because the at-fault driver tries to shift blame. Many times, it's the at-fault driver's insurance company that does everything it can to pay out as little as possible, if anything at all.
Our experienced car accident lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC in Columbus, OH can make sure your case gets the respect it rightfully deserves. Our attorneys know how to investigate accidents and find the facts that matter to build a strong legal case. We've recovered over $200 million for our clients, and we understand what it takes to get meaningful results in Ohio.
To see how we can help you, contact us and schedule a free consultation with our law firm.