Columbus Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Legal Blog

Every year, 3.6 million students graduate from high school in Ohio and across the country. Graduation time comes with graduation parties and many students celebrating their driver's licenses as well as their educational milestones. Even teens who have gone through driver safety classes may have a lot to learn about keeping safe on the road, especially when it comes to drugged, drowsy or distracted driving. While many people have heard the message about how drunk driving can lead to fatal car accidents, they may not take other threats as seriously - even though they can be equally deadly.

With the legalization of cannabis, there is a growing concern about drugged driving. People may not see the effects of marijuana on driver ability as immediately as they do with alcohol. However, this does not mean that cannabis and other drugs do not impair a driver's ability. Teens who have consumed substances are best seeking a sober ride. Distracted driving is another major concern; with the ubiquity of smartphones, more drivers than ever are distracted behind the wheel by a range of online offerings, including group chats, videos and social media.

Ohio parents may be disturbed to hear that the medical records systems that have been introduced to hospitals and clinics across the country in order to improve efficiency and record-keeping may actually help to endanger their children's lives. Medication errors are one of the most common types of physician errors, including an incorrect medication or an incorrect dosage. Because children often require adjusted dosages based on their size and age, mistakes with medication can have particularly serious effects when children are involved. However, some of the problems with electronic health records may make it more difficult to ensure that children receive correct care.

According to one study, EHRs are not required under federal regulations to include algorithms based on the differences in care provided to adults and children. Therefore, safety systems or warning alerts may not be prompted to highlight potential dosage problems or medication errors for pediatric patients. The report identified specific occasions in which EHRs contributed to improper treatment for pediatric patients.

In its second annual distracted driving study, Root Insurance unveiled certain behaviors and tendencies that should alarm drivers in Ohio. For example, 99% of respondents acknowledged that phones are among the top three driver distractions, yet the study found that these drivers use their phones an average of 13 minutes a day.

Approximately 52% said they are most often distracted by group chats while 33% mentioned social media like memes and newsfeeds. About 18% said that streaming videos, such as shows and movie trailers, distract them the most. At the same time, 38% of drivers who check their phones said they do not put down their devices when law enforcement is around.

Truck accidents take many lives and cause millions of dollars in property damage and personal injury each year, and the legal issues at hand are often hard to resolve. Unlike accidents between consumer drivers, truck accidents may be the liability of the driver, the driver's employer or some other third party.

Building a strong claim after a truck accident involves gathering as much evidence from the scene of the collision as possible, so that you can identify the party that holds liability and present evidence that backs up this claim. Without strong evidence that clarifies why the accident happened and what party is liable, it is difficult to protect your rights and seek full compensation for your losses.