Trusted Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys in Columbus, Ohio

Our Columbus distracted driving accident attorneys at Oliver Law Office know Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 288 in January 2023, which prohibits all drivers, in most circumstances, from using or holding a cellphone or electronic device while driving.

Unfortunately, even with the new law in effect, it is difficult to get behind the wheel of a car without seeing another Ohio driver holding, reading, or typing on their phone, or others — while not technically outlawed — eating, smoking, or juggling multiple items when their attention should be on the road.

We focus on helping car crash injury victims and the family members of those hurt and killed in vehicular accidents get justice and compensation from the careless drivers who caused the crash by failing to devote proper attention to the road.

Our law firm founder and managing attorney, Jami S. Oliver, has been voted 2024 Lawyer of the Year in Columbus, Ohio, for Product Liability and named to the Best Lawyers 2024 list in multiple practice areas. Allow our skilled team, led by one of Ohio’s best, to review your distracted driving accident claim during a free consultation today so you can start making informed decisions about your case and future.

Lawyers for Distracted Driving Injuries

Oliver Law Office Handles All Ohio Injury Cases on a Contingency Basis

At Oliver Law Office, our Ohio distracted driving attorneys and team have successfully represented clients for nearly 30 years. We have intimate knowledge of Ohio’s personal injury laws and how to obtain maximum compensation from all insurance coverages and policies for each client’s unique recovery needs.

What we do differently is ensure our clients know how important they are to us. You are not simply another case. You are not a number. You have gone through a physically and emotionally traumatic experience, and you deserve our full attention.

Oliver Law Office was built to prioritize and support you through unparalleled communication and commitment to your individualized needs by delivering an experience that instills trust and encourages the ethical and passionate pursuit of justice.

We handle all injury cases on a contingency basis, which means we advance all the costs necessary to pursue your claim, and we only charge you a fee if and when there is a successful result.

Your complete recovery is essential, and you are worth the fight. Getting your life back on track means not giving up on the process. We won’t either. Contact us today to learn more.

Distracted Driving is More Than Just Texting

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, over the past five years, there have been nearly 70,000 distracted driving crashes, leading to thousands of severe injuries and fatalities throughout Ohio.

Distracted driving is defined as driving while also engaged in another activity that diverts one’s attention from driving. Distractions can be classified as visual (distractions that take the driver’s eyes off the road), manual (distractions that take the driver’s hands off the wheel), or cognitive (distractions that take the driver’s mind off the task of driving).

Some activities, such as texting while driving, can involve all three classes of distraction and be especially dangerous. Yet while people often equate distracted driving with texting while driving, many other activities can be dangerous in their own right.

Dangerous distracted driving behaviors include, for example:

  • Reviewing notes for an upcoming presentation on the way to school or a business meeting.
  • Checking your hair in the sun visor vanity mirror.
  • Eating and drinking.
  • Applying makeup.
  • Shaving.
  • Rehearsing a speech.
  • Getting too involved in a conversation with passengers.
  • Talking on the phone (even hands-free).

We get used to driving and think we are capable of multi-tasking, but driving is so potentially dangerous that one should never put other tasks ahead of the vital jobs of paying attention to the road and staying in control of the vehicle at all times. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident caused by a distracted driver, contact our car accident attorneys in Columbus for help.

How Can I Prove The Negligent Driver Was Distracted When They Hit Me?

If you believe that the Ohio driver who hit you was distracted, there are several steps you can take to gather evidence and support your claim.

First and foremost, prioritize your safety. Move to a safe location, away from traffic, if possible, and contact the police to report the accident. When the police arrive, provide them with your perspective and any information you have about the other driver’s behavior. Ensure this information is accurately reflected in the police report, which can be helpful later.

Next:

  • Obtain the driver’s information, including their name, address, phone number, insurance details, and vehicle information.
  • If there were any witnesses, collect their contact information. Witnesses can provide statements about what they observed.
  • Take photos of the accident scene, including the positions of the vehicles, damage, traffic signals, and any relevant road signs. These can be crucial in establishing fault.
  • While interacting with the other driver, observe their behavior. Signs of distraction may include admitting fault, being apologetic, or mentioning that they were distracted.
  • Seek medical attention immediately after leaving the crash scene and follow all doctor’s orders until your treatment plan is complete.

The next best step is to contact our skilled distracted driving attorneys in Columbus, who can help build your case using our investigative skills and legal resources to help prove the driver was distracted when they caused the crash.

That may include, but is not limited to:

  • Surveillance Footage

If the accident occurred in an area with surveillance cameras, including traffic and security cameras from nearby businesses or homes, we can obtain footage that may capture the incident.

  • Phone Records

It is possible to request cellphone records from the at-fault driver’s provider by taking the legal steps necessary to obtain a subpoena.

No matter what the distraction was, there are ways to uncover the facts behind your accident and injuries, and we can help starting with a free consultation.

Ohio Texting and Driving Laws

The new distracted driving law can be found in Section 4511.204 of the Ohio Revised Code. In Ohio, it is illegal to use or hold a cellphone or electronic device in your hand, lap, or other parts of the body while driving on Ohio roads.

The law states: “No person shall operate a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar on any street, highway, or property open to the public for vehicular traffic while using, holding, or physically supporting with any part of the person’s body an electronic wireless communications device.”

This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) A person using an electronic wireless communications device to make contact, for emergency purposes, with a law enforcement agency, hospital or healthcare provider, fire department, or other similar emergency agency or entity.

(2) A person driving a public safety vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device in the course of the person’s duties.

(3) A person using an electronic wireless communications device when the person’s motor vehicle is in a stationary position and is outside a lane of travel, at a traffic control signal that is currently directing traffic to stop, or parked on a road or highway due to an emergency or road closure.

(4) A person using and holding an electronic wireless communications device directly near the person’s ear for the purpose of making, receiving, or conducting a telephone call, provided that the person does not manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device.

(5) A person receiving wireless messages on an electronic wireless communications device regarding the operation or navigation of a motor vehicle; safety-related information, including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts; or data used primarily by the motor vehicle, provided that the person does not hold or support the device with any part of the person’s body.

(6) A person using the speaker phone function of the electronic wireless communications device, provided that the person does not hold or support the device with any part of the person’s body.

(7) A person using an electronic wireless communications device for navigation purposes, provided that the person does not do either of the following during the use:

(a) Manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device.

(b) Hold or support the device with any part of the person’s body.

(8) A person using a feature or function of the electronic wireless communications device with a single touch or single swipe, provided that the person does not do either of the following during the use:

(a) Manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device.

(b) Hold or support the device with any part of the person’s body.

(9) A person operating a commercial truck while using a mobile data terminal that transmits and receives data.

(10) A person operating a utility service vehicle or a vehicle for or on behalf of a utility, if the person is acting in response to an emergency, power outage, or circumstance that affects the health or safety of individuals.

(11) A person using an electronic wireless communications device in conjunction with a voice-operated or hands-free feature or function of the vehicle or of the device without the use of either hand except to activate, deactivate, or initiate the feature or function with a single touch or swipe, provided the person does not hold or support the device with any part of the person’s body.

(12) A person using technology that physically or electronically integrates the device into the motor vehicle, provided that the person does not do either of the following during the use:

(a) Manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device.

(b) Hold or support the device with any part of the person’s body.

(13) A person storing an electronic wireless communications device in a holster, harness, or article of clothing on the person’s body.

If you have questions about how our Ohio distracted driving laws impact your claim, we have answers. Contact us today to learn more.

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Contact Our Skilled Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys in Columbus, Ohio, Today

Contact our dedicated Columbus car accident attorneys today by calling us at (614) 756-6774 if your life has been turned upside down in a crash caused by a distracted driver in Ohio. There is never a charge to speak with an attorney or any upfront or out-of-pocket costs to associate with our law firm in an injury or death matter.

Oliver Law Office is a client-focused law firm emphasizing the individualized needs of each client: Confidence, Courage, and Determination. Let’s get started on your claim today.