Cleveland Legal Issues Blog

Driving, using public transportation or otherwise being on the road is an activity that is unavoidable for many Ohio residents. You and many other people have places you need to be on a daily basis, and often, it is the roadways that help get you there. Of course, whether you are driving or are a passenger, you know that an accident could occur at any moment.

Unfortunately, both experienced and inexperienced drivers can make any number of mistakes while behind the wheel. Even if individuals know that they should not carry out a certain action, such as checking a cellphone, they may do it anyway with a complete disregard for the risk at which they are putting themselves and others.

Over the past several years, many cities around the country have launched efforts designed to improve safety for pedestrians. These programs include things like adding or upgrading sidewalks, reducing speed limits on designated streets, adding speed bumps and more. It seems that Ohio may want to consider some efforts like this as the number of people on foot dying in vehicular crashes has been on the rise.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 85 pedestrian fatalities in Ohio in 2013 and 87 in 2014. This modest increase was followed by three more substantial ones first to 116 deaths in 2015 and then to 134 and 142 deaths in 2016 and 2016, respectively. Along with the sheer number of pedestrians being killed every year, foot traffic deaths have represented a greater percentage of overall traffic fatalities in the state. In 2013, pedestrian deaths accounted for 8.6% of all vehicular fatalities but in 2017, they accounted for 12%.

Many Ohio parents may worry that their child will get hit by a car if he or she runs into the street. However, they may not consider the possibility that a car might back over their child.

A backover accident occurs when drivers do not see a child and hit him or her as they reverse. According to KidsandCars.org, the latest statistics indicate that 12,000 children incurred injuries after getting backed over by a car in 2015, while 284 children died. Children under the age of five are most likely to get struck by a reversing car. These accidents usually occur because a child is in a car's blind spots. Vehicles may have a blind spot that extends up to 25 feet behind the back of the car. This means that even if children are not directly behind the car, a driver still may not see them.

You may think that your Ohio home is safe for your children and your friends' children. However, your house may not be as childproof as you think. It is important to make sure your home is safe for all of the children who live there, as well as the ones who will visit.

To make sure your home is fully childproof, it is a good idea to walk through each room and look for potential hazards. Parents magazine says you may want to put up a baby gate so small children cannot get into the kitchen by themselves. Additionally, you may want to put latches on your refrigerator and lower cabinets so toddlers cannot open them. Many young children may also be able to reach your counters, so it is a good idea to push appliances like the coffeemaker and the toaster against the wall, with the cords tucked out of reach. It is also a good idea to install a stove guard so toddlers cannot reach the stove knobs and the burners.