The Ohio State Highway Patrol has announced that 19 people died in car crashes around the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Covering the Nov. 26 through Nov. 30 period, the number of fatalities was up when compared to previous years. In 2013, 17 people were killed in auto accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday period. A majority of the fatalities this year involved individuals who were not wearing a seatbelt. At least five of the car accidents involved someone who was operating a vehicle under the influence and four of the victims were pedestrians.
Highway officials also stopped more than 400 drivers for operating a vehicle under the influence; 1,300 people were cited for not wearing a seatbelt and 650 were cited for aggressive driving. Most of the incidents, from accidents to citations, occurred in Franklin County, Cuyahoga County and Lorain County.
Thanksgiving is considered one of the most dangerous holiday weekends for traveling as millions of drivers drive to see family and friends. In 2013, more than 3,300 motor vehicle accidents were reported during this time period more than double the number of accidents reported on New Years Eve weekend.
If you or someone you love was injured in a motor vehicle accident during the Thanksgiving holiday, the victim may be entitled to file a claim for damages suffered. A Cincinnati personal injury attorney at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy can help you determine what your legal options are.