The Rules for Backing Up a Vehicle in Ohio

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses a driver’s duty to exercise care and caution when putting a vehicle in reverse.

Revised Code RC 4511.38(A) provides: "[n]o person shall start a vehicle ... which is stopped, standing, or parked until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. Before backing, operators of vehicle ... shall give ample warning, and while backing they shall exercise vigilance not to injure person or property on the street or highway. No person shall back a motor vehicle on a freeway, except: in a rest area; in the performance of public works or official duties; as a result of an emergency caused by an accident or breakdown of a motor vehicle."


If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

The Right of Way with Pedestrians, Crosswalks and Intersections

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses pedestrians, crosswalks, intersections, and who has to duty to yield the right of way in different situations between pedestrians and motor vehicles. These rules are found in R.C. 4511.46 and R.C. 4511.48.

Ohio has several statutes providing rules on the right of way. These statutes are designed to create clarity as to what vehicle may go and what vehicle must stop so as to not cause collisions. Right of way statutes make traffic flow predictable and our roadways safe. For pedestrians, R.C. 4511.46(A) provides “[w]hen traffic control signals are not in place, not in operation, or are not clearly assigning the right-of-way, the driver of a vehicle ... shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield ... to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger." Of course, R.C. 4511.46(B) prohibits pedestrians from suddenly leaving a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle. And R.C. 4511.48(A) requires pedestrians to yield the right of way to vehicles when "crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection."

If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

The Right of Way When Making a Left Turn

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses a driver’s duty to yield the right of way when making a left turn. This duty is found in R.C. 4511.42

Ohio has several statutes providing rules on the right of way. These statutes are designed to create clarity as to what vehicle may go and what vehicle must stop so as to not cause collisions. Right of way statutes make traffic flow predictable and our roadways safe. When making a left turn, R.C. 4511.42(A) provides "[t]he operator of a vehicle ... intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle ... approaching from the opposite direction, whenever the approaching vehicle ... is within the intersection or so close to the intersection, alley, private road, or driveway as to constitute an immediate hazard.”

If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

The Rules for Passing Other Vehicles in Ohio

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses the rules on passing other vehicles on Ohio's roads. These rules are found in R.C. 4511.27, R.C. 4511.28, and R.C. 4511.29.


R.C. 4511.27(A) provides “The operator of a vehicle ... overtaking another vehicle ... proceeding in the same direction shall ... signal to the vehicle . . . to be overtaken, shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle ... When a motor vehicle ... overtakes and passes a bicycle or electric bicycle, three feet or greater is considered a safe passing distance.”

R.C. 4511.28(A) provides "[t]he driver of a vehicle ... may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle ... only under the following conditions: (1) [w]hen the vehicle ... overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; (2) [u]pon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by the overtaking vehicle."

R.C. 4511.29(A) provides "[n]o vehicle ... shall be driven to the left of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing traffic proceeding in the same direction, unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made, without interfering with the safe operation of any traffic approaching from the opposite direction or any traffic overtaken. In every event the overtaking vehicle ... must return to an authorized lane of travel as soon as practicable and in the event the passing movement involves the use of a lane authorized for traffic approaching from the opposite direction, before coming within two hundred feet of any approaching vehicle."

If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

Failure to Maintain Control of Your Vehicle

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses a driver’s duty to operate their vehicle with reasonable control - this means both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road (read: put the phone down), and drive at speeds appropriate for the road, traffic, and weather conditions. This duty is found in R.C. 4511.202.

R.C. 4511.202(A) provides “[n]o person shall operate a motor vehicle . . . on any street, highway, or property open to the public for vehicular traffic without being in reasonable control of the vehicle . . .”

If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

Right of Way at Intersections

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses a driver’s duty to yield the right of way at an intersection. This duty is found in R.C. 4511.41.

Ohio has several statutes providing rules on the right of way. These statutes are designed to create clarity as to what vehicle may go and what vehicle must stop so as to not cause collisions. Right of way statutes make traffic flow predictable and our roadways safe. At intersections, R.C. 4511.41(A) provides “[w]hen two vehicles . . . approach or enter an intersection from different streets or highways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right..”

If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

What Is Assured Clear Distance?

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses a driver’s duty to maintain assured clear distance so as to not cause a rear-end collision. This duty is found in R.C. 4511.21(A).

Ohio’s assured clear distance statute - R.C. 4511.21(A) - was drafted to control the speed at which we operate our vehicles on Ohio’s roadways so that we can drive safely and stop before a collision occurs. R.C. 4511.21(A) provides “[n]o person shall operate a motor vehicle . . . at a speed greater or less than is reasonable or proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the street or highway and any other conditions, and no person shall drive any motor vehicle . . . in and upon any street or highway at a greater speed than will permit the person to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.”

If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

Tips on Treating after a Personal Injury

Ohio personal injury attorney, Scott Kuboff, provides some common sense tips relative to your treatment following a personal injury.

SPOILER ALERT: show up and follow your doctor's recommendations.

If you have sustained an injury as a result of someone’s recklessness or carelessness, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

Ohio Traffic Safety Laws Rank at the Bottom

Ohio "dangerously falls behind" with its traffic safety laws and the annual economic cost associated with motor vehicle collisions is an estimated $10.125 billion. According to a new report issued by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Ohio is lacking the following traffic safety laws:

  • Primary Enforcement Seat Belt Law (Front & Rear)

  • All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law

  • Rear-Facing Through Age 2 Law

  • Booster Seat Law

  • Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) - Minimum Age 16 for Learner’s Permit

  • GDL - Stronger Nighttime Restriction

  • GDL - Age 18 for Unrestricted License

  • Ignition Interlocks for All Offenders

  • Open Container Law

  • All-Driver Text Messaging Restriction (as a primary offense)

If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.

How to Best Utilize Your Medical Payment Benefits

Ohio motor vehicle accident attorney, Scott Kuboff, discusses medical payment benefits and how to best utilize med pay for your case.

 If you have sustained an injury in a motor vehicle collision, please contact Scott for a no cost, no obligation consultation and case evaluation.