Modern life is complex and fast-paced. People confront various risks and challenges as they go about their daily activities.
Routine interactions relating to matters ranging from driving and workplace duties to shopping, social functions and additional undertakings seldom breed downsides, of course. They simply spell common events in everyday life.
They’re just not the same.
An auto accident involving passenger vehicles is one thing.
Pedestrian accidents can be catastrophic. The basic physics behind an accident that involves an individual who is out on a walk and a driver behind the wheel of a vehicle can translate to tragic results for the pedestrian.
A recent case provides an example.
Few people may realize that the Greater Cincinnati region has over 50 of the top 350 sites in the state for the most collisions as per state Department of Transportation (DOT) statistics from 2013.
In fact, the most accident-prone spot in our region happens to be Route 126 eastbound at Interstate 71. That section of highway has the highest average number of annual collisions - 666. But that is not even the deadliest area in and around Cincinnati, as the junction of I-71 north with Pfeiffer Road has that dubious distinction with an average of over 208 deaths and injuries from auto accidents.
You were heading to your job when you pulled into an intersection to make a left-hand turn. You had a green light, so you didn't even think about looking to the side before pulling out.
Unfortunately, a young driver must not have noticed that the light was red for them. They plowed into the intersection and T-boned your vehicle. You were rushed to the hospital with significant injuries, but the driver in the other vehicle somehow survived with only scratches. You later found out that they had been texting when they ran the red light.
Construction workers in Ohio may not realize that their senses might provide more protection than their personal protective equipment. Four of our five senses -- hearing, sight, touch and smell -- can serve as warnings of imminent danger. Sight is likely the most critical sense when it comes to observing potential hazards. However, construction accidents can occur if workers are so focused on the respective tasks that they fail to see signs of danger. Alertness and awareness of the surroundings are crucial on a dangerous construction site.
Hearing is equally important, even among the many different sounds typical to construction sites. If each worker is familiar with the sounds surrounding their workstations, their sense of hearing will quickly warn them of hazards when operational sounds change. When the sound of drilling through concrete or a rotary hammer suddenly changes, the hearing sense will cause alarm, and if each worker pays attention to their own senses, many injuries might be avoided.
Many auto accident victims in Ohio and elsewhere choose to forgo a medical evaluation because they have no apparent injuries. However, some injuries like whiplash often remain hidden for several days or even weeks. Declining a trip to the doctor could harm.3 the outcome of a personal injury lawsuit that is filed after a car crash.
The successful navigation of a claim for damage recovery will not be possible if the plaintiff says he or she was injured without documented proof of doctor's bills and other medical expenses. Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize that they might have grounds for a lawsuit to pursue compensation for damages. A doctor might identify hidden injuries during a medical examination immediately or soon after the accident.
The car that hits you seems to come out of nowhere. You realize later that the driver came around a corner too fast and ran the red light. At the time, though, you just see the sudden flash of headlights and feel the impact as the two vehicles collide.
At first, you think you've gotten out of it without major injuries. You can't see anything that is wrong. Your adrenaline is pumping and, though you do feel a bit beat up, you don't think it's serious.
Ohio residents will no doubt feel drowsy after the spring forward to daylight saving time, but what they should beware of is driving in this condition. A new study published in Current Biology found an increase in fatal car crashes within the first week of DST. This increase is 6%, or about 28 additional crashes a year that end in death in the U.S.
Another finding is that the farther west one lives in a time zone, the greater danger there is of drowsy driving. The sun rises and sets later in these regions, and residents there already sleep an average of 19 fewer minutes than residents elsewhere in a time zone. Researchers determined that these regions see an 8% spike in fatal auto accidents after DST.
Ohio residents who drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater are guilty of drunk driving. In spite of the heavy punishment that comes with an OVI conviction, though, drivers continue to do it and put themselves and others at risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2018, one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 50 minutes.
These are some common risk factors in drunk driving crashes. One is age with younger drivers forming the majority of drunk drivers. In 2018, for instance, 27% were between the ages of 21 and 24 while 26% were aged 25 to 34. Teenagers are susceptible, too. NHTSA estimates that setting the minimum drinking age at 21 has saved nearly 32,000 lives between 1975 and 2017.
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