According to the Ohio Highway Patrol, nine counties in Northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit & Trumbull) experienced over 174K automobile accidents between January 2023 and November 2025. Even though highway travel is statistically higher during warmer summer months, January averages over 5,600 crashes each year, the highest monthly average.
While accidents can certainly happen on the roadways, there are several factors you should be aware of to keep yourself and your family safe while driving. Here are some of the most common factors that cause traffic crashes.
Environmental issues:
- Weather conditions: With January being the highest month statistically for accidents, the weather in Northeast Ohio can certainly play a factor. Rain, snow, ice, and fog can create slick roads, reducing visibility for even the most cautious drivers. It’s also important to make sure to clear your vehicle of snow and ice before driving to make sure your visibility is not impaired.
- Road conditions: The weather conditions in Northeast Ohio can have lasting effects once the weather passes. Potholes and construction zones create hazards and changes in traffic patterns, which can impact driving. Debris on roads and poorly marked roads can also lead to driver confusion and crashes.
- Animals: Everyone in Northeast OH knows the fall and beginning of winter mean more active deer on roadways. Deer-related accidents accounted for over 9K accidents during this time period. Even smaller wild animals like raccoons, possums, or stray dogs and cats on the road can cause sudden swerving or collisions as drivers try to avoid hitting them.
- Vehicle defects: No matter the weather, proper vehicle maintenance is vital to staying safe while traveling. Tire blowouts can happen with worn-out or over-/under-inflated tires. Brake failures can occur from improper maintenance or manufacturing issues. Faulty airbags can cause catastrophic issues once a crash occurs.
Driver-related causes:
- Distracted driving: With technology advancements and busy day-to-day schedules, distracted driving is a common cause of accidents. Everything from texting, talking on the phone, eating, using GPS, or getting distracted by passengers can lead to car accidents.
- Impaired driving: Holiday parties and get-togethers can lead to drivers imbibing a bit too much to get behind the wheel. Alcohol, illegal drugs, and even prescription medications can reduce reaction time and judgment of drivers. It’s important to make sure you are not at all impaired before driving.
- Fatigued driving: With so many activities around the holidays, it’s common to become tired, rundown, and drowsy more easily. Being tired or sleepy can slow your reflexes, which is similar to driving while intoxicated.
- Speeding & reckless driving: Speed limits, driving restrictions, and traffic laws all exist to keep travelers safe. Not obeying speed limits, tailgating or following other vehicles too closely, making unsafe lane changes, and using aggressive driving maneuvers can cause automobile crashes. Be sure to obey all rules of the road while behind the wheel.
- Running red lights/stop signs: Whether intentional or due to being distracted, running traffic lights or ignoring stop signs is one of the most common causes of vehicle crashes. No matter the rate of speed you’re traveling, these types of accidents can cause major injuries to everyone involved.
- Inexperience: Teen-related crashes accounted for almost 23K of the Northeast OH crashes outlined by the Ohio Highway Patrol. Newer drivers are not experienced enough to handle changing weather conditions or react appropriately to whatever happens around them on the road.
If you are involved in an automobile crash, it’s important to exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) involved, and, if possible, to move vehicles off the road to ensure the safety of others traveling.
When you suffer from an automobile-related injury during any type of crash, you should contact a personal injury lawyer. The team at Lowe Trial Lawyers has decades of experience representing crash victims throughout Ohio and western PA. Contact our team of injury lawyers for a free consultation.