In August, Tina and Lorin Smith were out planning a charity motorcycle ride when they were hit by a distracted driver. The accident took both their left legs, and now the couple is calling on people to pay attention behind the wheel.

The couple was out scouting the route for the annual Carmen Ellis Memorial Ride, an event designed to bring awareness to child abuse. The ride is named after Tina’s granddaughter who passed away in 2012.

“She was killed by my daughter’s boyfriend,” Tina said, “Around her date of death, we always do a ride, and we always donate the money to Lutheran Child and Family Services.”

While the couple pulled over in Knightstown because of a mechanical problem on Lorin’s bike, a woman driving a minivan took her eyes off the road to look at her daughter’s phone.

“As soon as Tina said, ‘Watch out,’ I was hit. Then everything went black,” Lorin said. Seconds later, Tina was also hit.

Just over six months after the accident, Tina and Lorin are still adjusting to their new normal. As of this month, both are back to work but are forced to navigate life with one less leg.

Instead of staying quiet, however, the couple has decided to share their story and even take it to the state capital.

If Indiana House Bill 1070 becomes law, any use of a mobile device without hands-free technology while driving would become illegal. That bill passed the House 86-10 but is still awaiting a vote in the Indiana Senate.

State Rep. Matt Pierce says hearing from constituents like Tina and Lorin Smith, alongside support from Governor Holcomb, is what has propelled the bill so far.

“Every legislator has heard stories of constituents talking about people who were in accidents, perhaps injured, because the other driver was distracted,” Pierce said. “I think that makes it difficult for a legislator to be opposed to that kind of legislation.”

Tina and Lorin testified in front of state committees in support of the law, using their story as an example of what damage can come from distracted driving.

“We need to pass this law so that others know that there’s gonna be a consequence,” Tina said.

While the couple doesn’t believe that a law will be the ultimate cure to distracted driving, they see it as a start.

“It’s a benchmark,” Lorin said, “It’s kind of like when the seat belt law got introduced. A lot of people were complaining, but when they started cracking down on it, we started to see accidents and death totals go town.”

Regardless, the couple hopes to share their story with as many people as possible in order to prevent anyone else from experiencing a similar tragedy.

“That one split second resulted in our accident,” Lorin said, “People need to really think before they get behind the wheel.”