Distracted Driving Car Accidents in Lima

If you have suffered injuries as a result of distracted driving car accidents in Lima, you could face a difficult process to recover from your injuries and obtain compensation. An experienced car accident attorney can help you successfully move forward, but it is important to work with a firm that has the necessary experience and resources, as well as a strong approach to distracted driving cases.

At Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, we regularly fight for the rights of victims of distracted driving collisions and hold drivers accountable for preventable accidents and injuries. If you are looking for a dedicated and effective team, contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

Driver Distractions

To drive safely, all road users must pay full attention to the road ahead, traffic conditions, the weather, and other relevant factors. Lima motorists who fail to meet this primary requirement are often responsible for serious car accidents caused by distracted driving.

While there are plenty of potential distractions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers texting to be the most significant. In the average five seconds it takes to check a phone and read or type a text, a driver can travel about the length of a football field under the influence of distraction when driving at highway speeds. The extent of this distraction highlights how dangerous the practice is. However, despite Ohio laws against cell phone use, many drivers continue to cause collisions due to texting.

Types of Car Accidents Commonly Resulting From Distraction

Distraction while behind the wheel in Lima can contribute to or be the direct cause of any kind of car accident. However, the practice is most closely associated with causing certain types of collisions.

Rear-End Accidents

Distraction is a leading cause of rear-end accidents—collisions that are often more dangerous than people realize. When a driver is focused on a phone or another distraction instead of the road ahead, they may fail to notice that traffic is slowing or stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.

Traffic patterns can shift quickly due to road conditions, construction, or other drivers’ actions. Motorists have a legal duty to remain alert and prepared to respond to these changes. Distracted drivers, however, are less able to react in time, making rear-end collisions both more likely and more severe.

Sideswipe Accidents

Distracted drivers are more likely to drift outside the boundaries of their lanes, which can cause sideswipe accidents. When a motorist sideswipes another vehicle, they create a dangerous situation that can force the other car out of its lane and potentially lead to a multi-car accident.

Head-On Accidents

Distracted drivers are more likely to pay inadequate attention to where they are going. This can lead them to turn the wrong direction on a one-way road, an error closely associated with head-on collisions. Unsurprisingly, this category of accident is among the deadliest on our roadways.

T-Bone Accidents

Distracted drivers often fail to notice an approaching traffic light or that the light ahead has changed to red. As a result, they are more likely to cause dangerous T-bone accidents in which one driver crashes into the side of another vehicle in a T shape. Such accidents commonly occur at intersections and are exceptionally dangerous.

Being slammed into from either side causes an immense impact for passengers in the vehicle and can result in very serious injuries. If you are T-boned on the driver’s side, however, the consequences can be even more severe.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents are often caused by a driver who overcorrects, perhaps because they are distracted or responding to the actions of a distracted driver nearby. Rollovers are incredibly frightening and dangerous.

Establishing the Elements of Your Distracted Driving Accident Claim

To bring a solid distracted driving accident claim in Lima, you will need to demonstrate that each of the following elements applies:

• The at-fault driver breached the duty of care they owed you to drive safely due to their negligence
• The at-fault driver’s distraction was the direct cause of the accident and your injuries
• You suffered legal damages as a result

You can trust that a distracted driving car accident lawyer from our firm will use their legal skill, experience, and insight to establish each of these elements in your claim.

Proving the Other Driver’s Liability

To recover financially for your losses, you must first prove the other driver’s liability based on their distraction while behind the wheel. Proving liability is challenging and requires evidence, which can include:

• The eyewitness testimony of bystanders at the scene of the accident, as well as the testimony of the occupants of other vehicles in the vicinity
• Photos and videos captured by others, dashcams, security cameras, or traffic cameras
• The police report and any tickets that were issued
• Your account of how the accident happened
• The other driver’s phone records, which may point to texting or another phone-related distraction
• Professional accident reconstruction models, which can demonstrate the role that distraction likely played in the accident
• The testimony of witnesses with expertise in relevant fields

At Charles E. Boyk Law Offices, our distracted driving accident lawyers in Lima work to build strong claims based on solid evidence.

What Are Your Legal Damages After a Car Accident?

Before you can fully recover financially, you will need to identify your losses and demonstrate to insurers and adverse parties exactly what you deserve. Our team regularly seeks compensation for a range of legal damages.

Medical Costs

If a distracted driver has injured you, you are likely facing serious medical expenses. You may already be staring at a pile of bills, and these costs can multiply and extend well into the future. If your injuries are serious or it is unclear how they are likely to heal, it can be difficult to adequately predict just how much additional care you are going to need.

This makes it essential to have the testimony of medical professionals to support your case. Clearly defining the scope of your medical needs is too important to leave to chance or to ignore. You can count on your distracted driving car accident lawyer in Lima to spare no effort as they take the steps necessary to build a strong claim that supports your recovery and your future.

Lost Income

The physical injuries you suffer in the wake of an accident caused by another driver’s distraction can be overwhelming. While you are focused on regaining your health and well-being, you are very likely to experience lost earnings, which can compound the financial impact of your cascading medical bills.

If your injuries have derailed your career path or affected your earning capacity, this category of loss can be extensive and difficult to calculate. Our legal team has a network of occupational and economic experts who can accurately value your future lost earnings.

Physical and Emotional Pain and Suffering

Being injured by another person’s negligence, such as by a motorist’s distraction, can take a serious emotional toll on you. This is in addition to the physical pain you endure. Your emotional pain and suffering can amplify your other losses and even exceed them. This is a critical category of loss that should not be ignored or downplayed.

A Time Limit Applies

In Ohio, the statute of limitations for bringing most car accident lawsuits, including those based on distracted driving, is just two years from the date of the accident. This time limit sets a firm boundary that must be adhered to and is an excellent reason to consult with a resourceful distracted driving accident attorney in Lima as soon as possible.

Contact Us if You Need an Experienced Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer in Lima

If your injuries are from a collision with a distracted driver, obtaining the compensation you deserve is key to your recovery. This process can be difficult for many people, so having the right legal representation is important.

Our lawyers at Charles E. Boyk Law Offices regularly assist clients after distracted driving car accidents in Lima. We dedicate our practice to helping injured people seek favorable settlements or court awards, and we welcome the opportunity to do the same for you. Your consultation with our team is free, confidential, and without obligation. Please contact us today to discuss your case.