Hurt By A Dangerous Distracted Driver? You Need A Mansfield Accident Attorney.

Distracted driving – especially texting while driving and other cellphone and smartphone use – seems to be an increasingly prevalent danger on our roads. In 2022, approximately 289,310 Americans were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. The CDC estimates that nine people are killed every single day by distracted drivers. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident where another driver was distracted, Heck & Stiffler can help.

Personal injury attorneys Jeff Heck and Jeff Stiffler work hard to get you the fair compensation and the justice you need to relieve the financial burdens and losses associated with your crash. Our law firm offers caring, responsive and excellent service that addresses your complex needs and makes the process as painless as possible. Contact us today to discuss your case for free.

What Is Distracted Driving?

While texting remains one of the most common distractions for drivers, drivers may also be distracted by talking on a cellphone, using their smartphone, eating, applying makeup or operating a GPS or stereo system. These behaviors may seem harmless, but victims of distracted driving know that taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can have disastrous and life-changing consequences.

The common types of driving distractions are divided into three categories:

• Physical distractions: Also known as manual distractions, these are behaviors that take your hands off the wheel such as using your phone, eating and drinking, or even taking off a coat or sweater while driving.
• Mental distractions: Also known as cognitive distractions, mental distractions include anything that takes your mind off the act of driving. This means daydreaming, talking with passengers, or even being upset or angry when you get behind the wheel.
• Visual distractions: These types of distractions include anything that keeps your eyes off the road in front of you, such as reading billboards, watching an accident site on the side of the road or looking for something in your car.

The most serious driving distractions often involve actions that overlap between these three categories, such as texting. While texting is the most common distraction, these other unassuming actions can take your attention off the road long enough to cause a serious accident. Even Bluetooth and hands-free devices – while safer than manual devices – can lead to accidents as you’re still engaging in behaviors that take your mind off the road.

At Heck & Stiffler, we know that distracted driving collisions create traumatic upheaval for you and your family. You may need to seek both immediate and ongoing medical care for your injuries and may not be able to return to work for weeks, months or even longer. How will you afford to live? How will you pay your medical bills? We can help answer these concerns as we build a strong case to hold the distracted driver responsible for your accident accountable.

Which Drivers Are The Most Distracted?

According to the CDC, young adults and teenage drivers are more at risk of driving distracted than other age groups. In 2019, there was a higher percentage of distracted drivers aged 15-20 involved in fatal crashes than drivers aged 21 and older.

Parents can help their teen drivers learn the dangers of distracted driving to prevent accidents. By teaching young drivers to keep focus while driving, we can minimize the risk of these drivers causing a serious crash. While young drivers are more likely to be distracted on the road, that doesn’t mean drivers in other age groups aren’t susceptible to distractions. Every driver is responsible for avoiding these dangerous behaviors and practicing safety while driving.

Experienced Advocacy For Your Distracted Driving Accident Claim

Jeff Heck and Jeff Stiffler are “Mansfield’s Injury Lawyers.” They have deep roots in the region and over 50 years of combined experience. Attorney Heck has significant prior experience at a larger law firm defending insurance companies. This unique perspective allows him to anticipate potential problems and build stronger cases for his clients. Attorney Jeff Stiffler has over a decade of working on these cases and helping his clients through some of the toughest times of their lives. These experiences also make them qualified to handle complex cases against even the largest and most aggressive insurance companies – and achieve excellent results.

Jeff Heck Is Passionate About Ending Distracted Driving

Jeff Heck goes beyond just representing people injured or killed by distracted drivers. He has made helping end distracted driving one of his personal priorities.

Over the last several years, attorney Heck has spoken to well over a thousand high school students throughout northern and north central Ohio, presenting a program both in classrooms and whole-school assemblies about the dangers of distracted driving and encouraging the students to be a force of changing habits and patterns to end this practice that kills or injures tens of thousands yearly. He relates real-life stories and examples to the students in an effort to encourage them to not only drive safely and without distraction but also to help their friends and family members change their habits.

Attorney Heck’s volunteer work with our local kids is one of his true passions, and he approaches it with the same care and attention he provides to his clients’ injury claims.

Proudly Serving Northern And North Central Ohio

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, choose the sophisticated, experienced, local attorneys at Heck & Stiffler who are gentle and compassionate with you but strong and aggressive with the opponents.

We work on a contingency fee basis for all injury and wrongful death cases, so you pay no attorney fees until and unless you receive compensation for your case. Call Heck & Stiffler at 419-524-2700 or contact us online.