Auto accidents in Ohio can be caused by a myriad of preventable factors, including intoxicated drivers, truck overloading, reckless operation of a vehicle, excessive speeding, negligent road design, driver drowsiness, defective automobiles, or distracted driving.
Distracted driving accidents may involve instances of texting and driving, drinking and driving, playing with the radio, or drivers occupying their attention on anything else besides the road. When drivers are negligent in the operation of their vehicle and cause an auto accident due to their own distractions, and injure other motorists, they can be liable for damages, injuries and deaths that occur.
Following a serious car accident in Ohio, victims should contact an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer to investigate. Joe Lyon is an experienced Ohio auto negligence attorney, well-versed in the science and economic impact such an injury or death has on the victim’s life and family.
Each day in the United States, approximately nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Texting and driving now kills more Americans than drinking and driving. In 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving accidents included:
- 3,477 total deaths
- 3,196 fatal car wrecks
- 391,000 injuries
Distracted Driving Accidents & Injury
The primary types of distracted driving in Ohio include removing hands from the steering wheel, taking eyes off the road, and focusing attention on anything else other than the road. Common distractions before a car accident can include the following:
- Texting and driving
- Talking on a phone
- Browsing internet
- Eating or drinking
- Talking with passengers
- Looking at self in mirror
- Looking at or adjusting GPS system
- Adjusting radio or music
Distracted Driving Lawsuits
About 14 percent of fatal distracted driving accidents involve a cell phone in use at the time of the crash. Around 660,000 drivers use an electronic device behind the wheel at any given time of the day. It may not be a coincidence that America’s roads have actually gotten more dangerous by some measures. Pedestrian death rates have increased dramatically.
Between 2014 and 2015, the U.S. recorded the largest increase of total auto deaths in decades. In surveys conducted by road safety agencies, drivers admit that they use their phones more than is safe, and agree that their driving behavior could be considered reckless and dangerous.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to an auto accident in Cincinnati, Ohio, and have questions about the legal remedies available to improve quality of life and medical care in Ohio, contact The Lyon Firm at (800) 513-2403.
