Columbus Distracted Driving Accident Attorney

Distracted Driving Is Now a Primary Offense in Ohio

Distracted driving has become one of the deadliest behaviors on Columbus roads. Since Ohio’s Senate Bill 288 took effect on April 4, 2023, holding, using, or physically supporting a cell phone behind the wheel is a primary traffic offense for every adult driver—not just teens. Despite the law, distracted drivers continue to cause crashes on I-70, I-71, I-270, Broad Street, and High Street every day.

If a texting, scrolling, or otherwise inattentive driver hurt you, Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC can move fast to preserve cell phone evidence, prove negligence, and pursue full compensation through your Columbus car accident claim.

What Counts as Distracted Driving in Ohio?

Distracted driving is any activity that pulls a driver’s attention away from the safe operation of a motor vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration groups these activities into three categories, and most serious crashes involve more than one at the same time.

Visual Distractions

Anything that pulls a driver’s eyes off the road—reading a text, glancing at a navigation screen, checking a child in the back seat, or staring at a billboard. A driver looking down at a phone for five seconds at 55 mph travels the length of a football field essentially blind.

Manual Distractions

Anything that takes a hand off the wheel—holding a phone, eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, applying makeup, or reaching for items on the seat. Ohio’s hands-free law specifically targets this category by prohibiting drivers from holding or physically supporting an electronic device.

Cognitive Distractions

Anything that pulls a driver’s mind off the task of driving—daydreaming, arguing with a passenger, talking on a hands-free call, or being lost in thought. Even when both hands are on the wheel and eyes are forward, an unfocused driver reacts more slowly and misses hazards.

Common Examples Our Firm Sees

• Texting, scrolling social media, or watching videos behind the wheel
• Sending or reading work emails on a commute
• Streaming music or podcasts and fumbling with the device
• Eating, drinking, or smoking while driving
• Programming a GPS or food-delivery app mid-trip
• Reaching for objects on the passenger seat or floor
• Personal grooming—shaving, makeup, hair

Ohio’s Distracted Driving Law: ORC § 4511.204 and SB 288

Ohio’s hands-free law is codified at Ohio Revised Code § 4511.204. Under SB 288, it is illegal for any driver to use, hold, or physically support an electronic wireless communications device while the vehicle is in motion on an Ohio roadway. Officers can now pull a driver over for the violation alone, with no other infraction required.

Penalties Under SB 288

A first offense carries a fine of up to $150 and two points on the driver’s license. Penalties increase for repeat violations within two years, and commercial drivers face stiffer professional consequences under federal motor carrier rules. Drivers may avoid points by completing a state-approved distracted driving course on a first offense.

What’s Still Permitted

Drivers may still hold a phone to their ear during a call, swipe once to answer or end a call, use fully hands-free voice or Bluetooth features, and use a phone while parked or stopped at a red light. Calls to 911 and other emergency services are always allowed. Navigation apps are permitted if the device is mounted and not being held.

Why the Statute Matters in a Civil Claim

A citation under ORC § 4511.204 is powerful evidence in a personal injury lawsuit. Ohio courts treat a violation of a traffic safety statute as negligence per se in many situations, meaning the law itself establishes the breach of duty. Even when no ticket is issued, we use the statute’s standard of care to prove the at-fault driver acted unreasonably.

Common Distracted Driving Crash Scenarios in Columbus

Rear-End Collisions

A texting driver who looks down for two or three seconds is the classic cause of rear-end collisions at red lights and on the back of I-270 traffic. These crashes routinely cause whiplash, herniated discs, and concussions.

Lane-Drift and Sideswipe Crashes

Drivers staring at a screen drift across lane lines and into adjacent vehicles—a frequent scenario on Morse Road, Henderson Road, and the inner belt. Even minor sideswipes can trigger loss-of-control rollovers on highway speeds.

Failure-to-Yield and Intersection Crashes

A driver scrolling a phone misses a stop sign, runs a red light, or fails to yield at a left turn. T-bone and angle collisions at intersections like Broad and High or Polaris Parkway exits often involve a distracted at-fault driver.

Pedestrian and Cyclist Strikes

Downtown Columbus, the Short North, and the Ohio State campus area see frequent crashes where distracted drivers strike pedestrians in crosswalks or cyclists in bike lanes. These victims face the most severe injuries because they have no vehicle protecting them.

Commercial Truck and Delivery Driver Crashes

Distracted commercial drivers cause some of the worst crashes on Ohio highways. Under federal regulations, CDL holders are flatly banned from holding or texting on a mobile device while driving. Our Columbus truck accident team pursues both the driver and the trucking company on theories of vicarious liability and negligent supervision.

How We Prove Distracted Driving Caused Your Crash

Distracted drivers rarely admit fault at the scene. Most deny phone use, hide their devices, or claim a passenger was responsible. Successful claims depend on aggressive, early evidence collection—and that is where an experienced attorney makes the biggest difference.

Cell Phone Records and App Activity

We send preservation letters within days of being retained, then subpoena carrier records, text logs, app usage, and screen-on data. Modern smartphones generate detailed timelines—iOS Screen Time, Android Digital Wellbeing, and provider logs can place the driver in an app at the precise moment of impact.

Vehicle Event Data Recorders

Most modern vehicles store pre-crash data—speed, braking input, steering angle, and seat-belt status—on an event data recorder. Late or absent braking is a strong indicator the driver never saw the hazard, which is consistent with distraction.

Traffic and Surveillance Video

Columbus intersections, gas stations, and businesses along major corridors often capture distracted behavior on camera. We move quickly because most systems overwrite footage within 7 to 30 days.

Witness Statements and Police Reports

Independent witnesses frequently see a phone in a driver’s hand or notice erratic lane drift before impact. Investigating officers also document admissions, in-car observations, and phone position at the scene—all useful in your claim.

Scene and Vehicle Inspection

Skid mark length (or its absence), point of impact, and vehicle damage patterns all help an accident reconstructionist establish that the at-fault driver never reacted in time, supporting a distraction theory.

Injuries Common in Distracted Driving Crashes

Because distracted drivers often fail to brake before impact, the energy transferred in these collisions is higher than in typical crashes. The injuries we see most often include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
• Whiplash and cervical spine injuries
• Herniated and bulging discs
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Broken bones, especially wrists, ribs, and ankles
• Internal organ damage and abdominal injuries
• Lacerations, burns, and permanent scarring
• Psychological trauma, anxiety, and PTSD

If a loved one was killed by a distracted driver, our firm also handles wrongful death claims on behalf of surviving family members.

Compensation Available in a Columbus Distracted Driving Claim

Ohio law allows distracted driving victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. The team at Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC pursues the full value of every claim, including:

• Past and future medical bills, surgeries, and rehabilitation
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Physical pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life and permanent impairment
• Loss of consortium for spouses and family members

Punitive Damages in Egregious Cases

When a distracted driver’s conduct rises to the level of conscious disregard for the safety of others—such as a driver who admits to streaming video at highway speed—Ohio law permits punitive damages under ORC § 2315.21. For a deeper breakdown of recoverable damages, see our car accident compensation page.

Insurance Coverage After a Distracted Driving Crash

Ohio is a fault-based insurance state. The at-fault driver’s liability policy is the first source of recovery, but minimum coverage in Ohio is just $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident—rarely enough for a serious injury. We pursue every available coverage source, including:

• The at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage
• Your own uninsured (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage
• Med-pay and PIP coverage on your policy
• Umbrella policies held by the at-fault driver or their employer
• Commercial auto and trucking policies when a work vehicle is involved
• Rideshare contingent coverage when Uber or Lyft drivers are at fault

Ohio’s Statute of Limitations and the Claims Process

Under Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. Property damage claims have a four-year limit. Wrongful death actions must be filed within two years of the date of death. Missing these deadlines almost always ends the case.

Comparative Negligence

Ohio uses a modified comparative negligence rule. As long as you are 50% or less at fault, you can recover—but your award is reduced by your share of fault. Insurers love to argue contributory fault to shave their payout, which is why having an attorney handle the negotiations is critical.

What to Do at the Scene

• Call 911 and get medical attention, even if injuries feel minor
• Take photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible phones or devices in the other car
• Ask witnesses what they saw—especially whether the other driver was looking at a phone
• Get the police report number from the responding officer
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company
• Call Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC as soon as possible so we can preserve phone evidence before it disappears

Why Choose Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC

Attorney Michael D. Christensen has spent decades representing injured Ohioans throughout Franklin County and Central Ohio. Our firm combines deep local courtroom experience with the resources to take on big insurance carriers and corporate defendants.

• No fee unless we win — contingency fee representation
• 100% free consultation — request a free case evaluation
• Direct attorney access — you talk to a lawyer, not a call center
• Aggressive evidence preservation, including phone subpoenas within days
• Trial-ready preparation that pressures insurers into fair settlements
• Bilingual service — Hablo Español

Our office is located at 3341 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43204, and we serve clients across Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Madison counties. Learn more about our full range of Columbus car accident services and the other accident types we handle.

Talk to a Columbus Distracted Driving Lawyer Today

Distracted driving cases are won in the first days after the crash, when phone records, surveillance video, and witness memories are still intact. The longer you wait, the harder your case becomes.

Contact Michael D. Christensen Law Offices LLC for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call 866-866-8058, reach our Columbus office at 614-300-5000, or send a message through our contact page. You pay nothing unless we win.