Lorain Personal Injury Law Blog

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of fatal injuries among youth in Ohio and across the country. Ohio readers might suspect that driving inexperience or increased susceptibility to high-risk behavior might account for that statistic. According to a recent survey, one particular high-risk activity might be to blame.

Ohio readers may have observed teenagers whose attention was glued to their smartphone or other portable electronic device, such as iPads. It seems that social media applications demand the constant attention of many teenagers, many of who are more than willing to comply. This addition to texting has led to the creation of a whole new vocabulary of common text messaging and online chat abbreviations. Expressions such as “lol” have become ubiquitous. At last count, at least one source had indexed over 1,000 such abbreviations.

Ohio readers may know that local towns often have leash laws requiring dog owners to keep control of their pets while walking them in public. The rationale behind such laws is to protect the public. Although many dogs are lovable with their owners, a different side may emerge around strangers. Anyone who has suffered from a dog bite knows the degree of injury that can result from a frightened or overprotective dog.

Yet such laws may also protect another type of beneficiary: smaller dogs. Dogs seem to have a natural curiosity and instinct to smell other dogs they approach. Leash laws can help owners prevent such interactions from escalating into dog fights, potentially avoiding contentious premises liability lawsuits arising from a dog bite.

Ohio drivers have a duty of care to monitor road conditions and adjust their speeds accordingly. Sometimes, that means reducing speeds when roads are slippery due to precipitation. However, sometimes roads are in such bad shape that it becomes nearly impossible to drive safely on them.

An Ohio judge recently determined just that issue. The judge, presiding over a court of claims, concluded that not even a responsible driver could have avoided the accident that ensued after a truck hit several potholes on a road in Columbiana County. The truck driver apparently lost control after hitting the potholes, crossing over into oncoming traffic and colliding with a woman driving a Dodge Intrepid. The woman did not survive the crash.

Chances are, many Ohio readers are more than ready to bid farewell to winter and welcome in the warmer temperatures, sunshine and blooms of spring. Yet Ohio weather during the months of March and April can fluctuate wildly, not only from year-to-year but also even within the span of a few days.

Last year, for example, Ohio residents experienced a very mild winter. Although data is not yet complete for this year, the presence of snow still on the ground suggests that spring is a bit delayed in many parts of Ohio this year.