Who’s At Fault in a Car Accident? A Guide to Liability in Ohio
Posted in: Car Accidents
KNR Legal Blog
In today’s interconnected world, where looking up directions on a phone and calling or texting a friend on the go is second nature, the dangers of texting and driving are often overlooked. But, texting and driving can lead to negative repercussions, including a serious accident.
At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we’ve helped numerous individuals and families recover from texting-related accidents. Our experienced Ohio personal injury lawyers have seen the damage that an errant texting driver can cause, which is why we’re alarmed to learn that texting and driving is on the rise and leading to countless preventable deaths in Ohio and across the country.
With cell phone use so prevalent, some may consider a driver with a cell phone in his or her hands to be innocuous. Nothing could be further from the truth. According to the folks at TextingAndDrivingSafety.Com — a handy website that compiles data on texting while driving from the National Safety Council, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and various university studies on texting while driving—texting while driving contributes to nearly 25 percent of all automobile accidents each year. Furthermore, text messaging can multiply the likelihood of an accident occurring by nearly 23-fold. That’s more than five times the risk of dialing, 16 times more risk than reaching for a device, and 17 times more risk than talking on a cell phone.
Due to its high-risk factor, the phenomenon of texting while driving has been nicknamed “intexticated.” Compared with driving while intoxicated, texting while driving is estimated to be equivalent to operating a vehicle under the influence of 4 beers and is 6 times more likely to cause an accident.
Teens are at especial risk of texting while driving. According to TextingAndDrivingSafety.Com, 13 percent of drivers aged 18-20 involved in motor vehicle accidents admitted to texting or talking on their cell phones when their accidents occurred. Furthermore, 34 percent of 16-17-year-old teen drivers say they have driven while texting, and 52 percent say they had driven while talking on a cell phone. What’s most alarming about these statistics is that nearly 80 percent of teens believe they can safely text and drive.
When it comes to texting and driving, adults aren’t much better than children. Nearly 50 percent of teen drivers say they’ve seen their parents talking on the phone while driving, and it’s estimated that 27 percent of adults have sent or received texts while driving. If rates of texting and driving are to go down, everyone needs to set an example to teens and kids by putting their phones away and keeping their eyes on the road when they’re behind the wheel.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving a texting driver, you may be feeling confused, shaken, or angry. While Ohio’s laws prohibit texting while driving, countless accidents occur as a result of texting drivers each year. If you’ve been involved in an Ohio accident and believe texting to have been involved, call one of our skilled Ohio personal injury attorneys at Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW today.