Attorney review: Jami S. Oliver, Founder. Admitted in Ohio, 1993.* About Jami
Oliver Law Office is a woman-led personal injury firm with locations in Dublin and Columbus, Ohio.*
We help people hurt in crashes, and the families of those hurt and killed, get justice and compensation from careless drivers who failed to pay proper attention to the road.*
What counts as distracted driving?
Distracted driving is driving while also doing something else that takes your attention away 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
- Cognitive: distractions that take the driver’s mind off the task of driving
Some activities, such as texting while driving, involve all three classes and are especially dangerous. People often equate distracted driving with texting, but many other activities are 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 can multitask. But driving is so potentially dangerous that no other task should ever come ahead of watching the road and staying in control of the vehicle at all times.*
How common are distracted driving crashes in Ohio?
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.
How can you prove the other driver was distracted?
Evidence from the scene, the police report, witnesses and photos, and what a lawyer gathers later, such as camera footage and phone records, can help prove it.*
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.
Your safety comes first. If you can, move to a safe place away from traffic, and call the police to report the accident.*
When the police arrive, tell them what happened from your point of view, and anything you know about the other driver’s behavior. Make sure the police report reflects this accurately, because it can help 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.
Then contact our distracted driving attorneys in Columbus. We can help build your case with 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.
Whatever the distraction was, there are ways to uncover the facts behind your accident and injuries. We can help, starting with a free consultation.*
Is it illegal to use a phone while driving in Ohio?
Yes, in most circumstances. Senate Bill 288, signed by Governor DeWine in January 2023, bars drivers from using or holding a cell phone or electronic device while driving.*
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 cell phone or electronic device in your hand, lap, or other parts of the body while driving on Ohio roads.
Even with the new law in effect, it is hard to drive without seeing another Ohio driver holding, reading or typing on a phone.*
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 speakerphone 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 Ohio’s distracted driving laws affect your claim, we can answer them. Contact us today to learn more.*
What results has Oliver Law Office obtained in vehicle cases?
These results come from crashes on the road.*
$2.5M
Judgment for automobile striking a bicyclist resulting in death
$5M
Settlement arising out of a death of a pedestrian by a distracted driver
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different.*
“Jami Oliver guided me through the most difficult experience of my life and showed me compassion and professionalism throughout the whole episode.”
What does a distracted driving accident lawyer cost?
There is never a charge to speak with an attorney at Oliver Law Office, and no upfront or out-of-pocket costs in an injury or death matter.*
We handle all injury cases on a contingency basis. That means we advance all the costs needed to pursue your claim, and we charge a fee only if and when there is a successful result.*
What is it like to work with Oliver Law Office on a distracted driving claim?
At Oliver Law Office, we make sure our clients know how important they are to us. You are not simply another case, and you are not a number.*
You have been through a physically and emotionally traumatic experience, and you deserve our full attention.*
Our law firm founder and managing attorney, Jami S. Oliver, has been named 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” in Columbus, Ohio, for Medical Malpractice Law, Plaintiffs, and named to Best Lawyers in America 2027 for Litigation, Labor and Employment; Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiffs; and Product Liability Litigation, Plaintiffs, after being named 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” in Columbus for Product Liability Litigation, Plaintiffs.*
Our team can review your distracted driving accident claim during a free consultation, so you can start making informed decisions about your case and your future.*
Our Ohio distracted driving attorneys and team have successfully represented clients for over 30 years. We know Ohio’s personal injury laws well, including how to pursue full compensation from every insurance coverage and policy for each client’s recovery needs.*
Oliver Law Office was built to put you first and support you, through communication and commitment to your individual needs, and the ethical and passionate pursuit of justice.*
Your complete recovery matters, and you are worth the fight. Getting your life back on track means not giving up on the process, and we won’t either.*
Oliver Law Office is a client-focused law firm emphasizing the individualized needs of each client with personalized attention.
We handle every case with confidence, courage, and determination.
How do you reach a Columbus distracted driving accident lawyer?
Call Oliver Law Office at 614.220.9100 if your life has been turned upside down by a crash caused by a distracted driver in Ohio.*
If you have been injured, or lost a loved one, in a crash caused by a distracted driver, contact our car accident attorneys in Columbus for help. Let’s get started on your claim today.*
What else do people ask about distracted driving accidents?
Is eating or smoking while driving illegal in Ohio?
These are not technically outlawed. But eating, smoking or juggling multiple items takes attention that should be on the road.*
