Mansfield Personal Injury Blog

Distracted driving is a serious concern on roadways throughout Ohio. A new distracted driving law recently went into effect that expanded the definition of distracted driving. The law includes a variety of activities, in addition to using a cell phone while driving or texting while driving, in its definition of distracted driving. The new definition includes activities while driving that are not necessary to the activity of driving that can impair, or be reasonably expected to impair, the driver's ability to drive safely while engaged in them.

According to the new law, eating while driving or operating the radio while driving could be considered distracted driving. If those behaviors are linked to a distracted driving-related car accident, it could result in serious penalties and liability for the distracted driver. Under the new law, the possible penalty increased by $100.

Halloween is a time to dress up, eat some candy and embrace the spookier side of things. But as fun as this holiday is, it can also be treacherous for those who are on the road, as car accidents often spike during Halloween.

Below, we discuss some of the more common hazards we often see on the roads around Halloween and how you can avoid them this year.

Anxiety and stress are common after a car crash. These are virtually impossible for you to prepare for ahead of time. It is a good idea to think about what you are going to do if you are in a crash before you are even involved in one. This can give you the background to know what needs to be done.

There are several things to think about if you are ever hit by another vehicle. Your plan should encompass what to do at the scene and what you must do afterwards. Here are some important points to remember:

After any blow to the head, it is always wise to consider whether or not you received a mild brain injury. If a mild bring injury remains undiagnosed, it can create surprisingly destructive symptoms that may destroy a victim's personal and professional life completely before the victim or those around him or her realize what is happening.

In part, this is due to the nature of the injury. A brain injury, especially a mild one, is not visible to the victim or others. Also, brain injuries may not affect victims in predictable ways. Instead, the injuries may cause physical symptoms or personality changes that victims do not recognize. These symptoms often strain the victims' personal and professional relationships, and in some cases, those relationships may never recover.