Car accidents have always been a leading cause of injuries in Cincinnati and throughout the state. Drivers owe it to all other people on the road to remain focused behind the wheel. Unfortunately, distracted driving due to texting has become such a prevalent problem that state lawmakers outlawed the use of cell phones for drivers. Violations of this law may serve as persuasive evidence in a claim for damages against a defendant driver.
A lawyer could help pursue a demand for compensation after a texting while driving car accident in Cincinnati. The skilled car wreck attorneys at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy could investigate whether texting played a role in the collision and help hold negligent drivers liable for their actions.
Laws that Prohibit Texting While Driving in Cincinnati
Texting while behind the wheel is a reckless activity that places everyone on the road at significant risk of harm. Accordingly,
Ohio Revised Code §4511.204 outlaws this activity. Specifically, it is illegal for any person operating a motor vehicle to use any portable electronic device while the vehicle is in motion.
Additionally, the law provides many definitions of illegal use while behind the wheel. This includes reading a message, sending a message, composing a message, or performing any command. Violations of this law are criminal offenses in and of themselves, and convictions can bring harsh criminal penalties to a driver. Even so, criminal cases cannot order the payment of money to an injured victim.
However, proof of a conviction can be convincing evidence in a civil claim for damages. Talking with our experienced local attorneys could provide people with more information about the state’s texting while driving laws.
Texting Causes Many Traffic Crashes
Driving demands a person’s full attention. Those who take their eyes off the road for even a second can significantly decrease their reaction times and contribute to collisions. Texting while driving is a clear example of this. However, it still falls to an injured plaintiff to prove that a defendant’s negligence was the source of the collision. A key concept under the law can make a plaintiff’s case much more straightforward.
Using the idea of negligence per se, plaintiffs can introduce evidence of a conviction for a traffic violation in a claim for civil damages. If a court accepts this evidence of a traffic court conviction, the court may assume that a defendant was at-fault for a collision.
It benefits all plaintiffs involved in car crashes to investigate whether texting may have contributed to the incident and to track that case through the traffic courts. An attorney at our Cincinnati office could further explain the process of recovering damages for texting while driving accidents.
Consult a Cincinnati Attorney on Texting While Driving Car Crashes
Texting while driving is a negligent activity that threatens the well-being of all people on the road. As such, this activity is illegal, and police officers can pull over drivers for texting while behind the wheel. While a conviction cannot result in jail time, the consequences of that court case can have a powerful impact on a civil claim for damages.
Drivers who receive a citation for texting while driving may presumably be at-fault for a collision. A lawyer who handles texting while driving car accidents in Cincinnati could help determine the outcome of a criminal court case and build a strong claim for compensation. These cases can demand payments for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Contact O’Connor, Acciani & Levy today to see how we might be able to help you.
