Kisling Nestico & Redick Name Scholarship In Honor of Late Founder

Ohio law firm Kisling, Nestico & Redick (KNR) has renamed their distracted driving awareness scholarship in honor of their late founding partner, Robert Redick. The scholarship was previously called the KNR Don’t Text & Drive Scholarship. The Robert Redick Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding higher education student in recognition of innovative and passionate plans to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

As one of the largest personal injury law firms in Ohio, KNR is dedicated to combatting the terrible consequences of this growing danger. KNR’s approach is to shed light on the dangers of distracted driving, fostering the desire to drive safely. The awareness campaign is especially geared towards younger drivers, for whom cell phone use and texting are often deeply ingrained. The $5,000 scholarship is designed to help college and college-bound students pay for their higher education expenses.

Robert Redick Memorialized for Passionate Advocacy for Clients

Robert Redick was a founder of KNR in 2005 after working in law since the 1990s. The law firm Kisling Nestico & Redick was founded to vigorously pursue the fairest settlements possible for victims of injury. At the firm, Attorney Redick was responsible for daily financial operations and management functions in addition to helping clients.

A graduate of the University of Miami (Ohio), Attorney Redick used his prior experience working with insurance companies to hold them accountable, ensuring that his clients received fair compensation for damages. He also worked as a claims handler for a rental car company. These experiences gave him intimate and valuable exposure to the claims process arising from vehicular accidents and injury. His first-hand encounters with the tragedy of vehicle accidents led him to pursue a law degree, with his sights set on helping accident victims stand up to intimidating insurance companies.

Attorney Redick began law school by taking night classes while he worked for a law firm during the day. He earned his law degree in 1999 from the University of Akron. Known for his tireless work on behalf of his clients, he was a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor reserved for attorneys who have won million dollar cases on behalf of their clients. Fewer than 1% of attorneys have earned this distinction. Attorney Redick was also named an Ohio Super Lawyer in 2011 and was a member of many legal associations, including the Akron Bar Association, Stark County Bar Association, and the Ohio Association for Justice. KNR desires the scholarship to memorialize Attorney Redick’s passion for representing clients and his dedication to seeking justice for clients. Before his passing in 2020, he retired in 2019.

About the Robert Redick Memorial Scholarship Award

As personal injury attorneys, KNR deals with the results of distracted driving daily. Their clients are frequently the victims of injury resulting from vehicle accidents. Distracted driving claimed the lives of more than 3,000 Americans in 2019, and it is estimated that 400,000 people were injured as a result of distracted driving in 2018. Distracted driving is a contributing factor to nearly 25% of all automobile accidents in the United States. Driving with your full attention on the road and your surroundings is an easy way to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

Distracted driving refers to any number of behaviors that take your attention off of driving safely. Common distractions to safe driving include:

• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Cell phone use
• Adjusting or using car stereo or other entertainment equipment

While some of these behaviors have been around as long as people have been driving, distractions related to cell phone use are rampant and growing. Phone calls, texting, as well as web browsing or navigation system use, all take drivers’ eyes off the road. These behaviors also impair decision-making.

The average text message takes five seconds to compose and send. If this is performed while driving 55 MPH, your vehicle has traveled the length of a football field. If your eyes were on your phone, it’s as though you were driving with your eyes closed. During this time of distraction, a litany of dangers, which would otherwise be easily avoided, are often not seen or seen too late to avoid.

Federal, State, and local governments are taking steps to lower distracted driving. This has taken the form of legislated fines and fees for violations. 48 States or territories have banned text messaging while driving, and 39 states have banned all cell phone use for novice drivers. Still, distracted driving occurs all too frequently, and raising awareness of its dangers is a goal, not only of Kisling Nestico & Redick but also of governments and regulators across the country.

The $5,000 Robert Redick Memorial Scholarship represents KNR’s commitment to reduce the damage and tragedy caused by this preventable behavior. Kisling Nestico & Redick believe that a reduction in distracted driving, and fewer accidents, injuries, and deaths can be achieved through greater awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. Particularly, raising awareness in younger drivers can foster lifelong habits of safe driving.

Students desiring consideration for the Robert Redick Memorial Scholarship are encouraged to apply by email. Applications will also need to provide high school, college, and university transcripts. Also required is a letter of recommendation from a teacher or other school faculty member.

The cornerstone of the scholarship application is the distracted driving awareness plan. In the plan, applicants highlight their idea for raising awareness among young adult drivers. Cell phone use while driving is highest among drivers aged 16 to 24, so reaching this demographic can deliver large reductions in distracted driving with fewer injuries and deaths as a result. Applicants’ awareness plans need not be fully-developed but should demonstrate a passion for awareness and prevention of distracted driving. KNR encourages students to be creative in their solutions and awareness campaigns. Outside-the-box concepts and pitches including video and other messaging strategies should be considered by students. KNR is interested in receiving proposals that call attention to the dangers of distracted driving, create or enhance tools and tips for avoiding distracted driving, or both.

Past winners of the scholarship include Elianna Norin in 2019 for her submission of a video script demonstrating the real-world driving impairment that occurs when a driver is distracted by their cell phone. Elianna’s video script brought the perils of cell phone use home by having the driver put a blindfold on as they began driving. The viewer saw an alarm on the passenger’s face. The camera then shifted to show that the driver was in fact on the phone. In either case, the driver was truly driving “blind.”

2018 scholarship recipient Georgia Shay proposed a cell phone app that uses both positive and negative incentives to break the habit of texting while driving. Georgia’s submission made the point that using apps is an ingrained behavior for many people, especially younger drivers who are the most likely to engage in distracted driving. The proposed app would establish “streaks” for positive behaviors like not using your cell phone while driving. A misuse would break the streak, necessitating the establishment of a new streak while emphasizing safe driving.

To be eligible for consideration of the scholarship, candidates must:

• Be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents
• Be accepted or actively enrolled in an accredited college or university in the United States
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Demonstrate good character and high initiative

The scholarship must be applied to tuition or higher education expenses. A check will be made payable directly to the higher educational institution. The recipient will be responsible for all IRS compliance. The deadline for application is March 31, 2021. To submit an application, or to see further details on the scholarship award and selection rules, visit KNR’s scholarship website.

Kisling Nestico & Redick Committed to Fair Compensation for Victims of Personal Injury

Since their founding in 2005, Kisling Nestico & Redick law firm has earned a reputation for earning clients fair compensation through legal action. KNR is not focused on a quick settlement but is determined to hold insurance companies accountable for their actions, and those of their policyholders. KNR is willing and able to go to trial if needed to secure optimal compensation and has earned multiple million-dollar settlements for their clients.

KNR has grown to 11 locations in the state of Ohio. From just three attorneys and two paralegals in 2005, they have grown to more than 30 personal injury attorneys and over 100 supporting staff members. They have handled over 10,000 cases in various personal attorney capacities. Their work in the courtroom has led to industry changes and promoted safer roadways in Ohio.

They are commonly involved in victim advocacy resulting from various accidents, including:

• Cars
• Trucks
• Motorcycles
• Pedestrian and other vehicle accidents

Besides vehicle injury, Kisling Nestico & Redick also vigorously represent clients seeking redress in a class action, medical malpractice, workplace injury, wrongful death, and other areas. KNR offers no-fee consultations and is compensated only when their clients receive a monetary recovery.