Lakewood Ranch Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
We live in a culture where people are constantly distracted and many drivers forget that you cannot multitask in the car. Unfortunately, when they try to, they end up causing crashes. According to ENDD.org, the National Safety Council estimates 27 percent of motor vehicle collisions in 2015 were the result of cell phone use alone. That does not even take into account other forms of distracted driving. All together, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 400,000 people were injured in collisions as a result of distracted driving in 2018, while another 2,841 people were killed. Victims of distracted driving deserve to recover damages through a personal injury claim and the Lakewood Ranch distracted driving accident attorneys at Hale Law are dedicated to helping our clients seek justice in these cases.
THE THREE TYPES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING
There are three main types of distracted driving, although many actions taken by drivers fall into multiple categories of distraction.
- Manual – Anytime a driver takes their hands off the wheel it is a form of distracted driving. This could include reaching for an item in the passenger’s seat or eating while driving.
- Cognitive – If a driver’s mind is off of the task of driving, they are cognitively distracted. This can happen if a person gets behind the wheel immediately after a fight with their significant other or if they get bad news that a child has been hurt at school and needs to be taken for medical care.
- Visual – When a driver’s eyes are not on the road or their mirrors, that driver is visually distracted.
OTHER EXAMPLES OF DISTRACTED DRIVING
- Reaching to grab something from the backseat to give to your child;
- Putting on makeup;
- Looking at wildlife or an unusual sighting off to the side of the road;
- Talking to passengers;
- Using a phone to navigate, talk, access social media, look up details on the internet, or any other phone feature;
- Eating and drinking;
- Driving when in emotional distress; and
- More.
PROVING DISTRACTED DRIVING
Most drivers will not admit that they were distracted because it means they are taking responsibility for causing the crash and subsequent injuries. However, law enforcement and legal professionals are trained to look for evidence to prove fault in a crash. Evidence may include a post to social media with a timestamp that matches the time of the crash or an open tupperware of food sitting in the console. A distracted driving attorney will look at crash scene photos, interview witnesses, and collect any other evidence to prove to the insurance companies that their insured driver was distracted and thus at-fault for causing the collision.
CONTACT THE DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS OF HALE LAW TODAY
If you or a loved one was injured in a vehicle collision that could have been prevented by the simple task of someone else paying attention to driving their vehicle safely, it is critical that you seek legal counsel. The Lakewood Ranch distracted driving accident attorneys of Hale Law can help you recover financial compensation for the injuries you suffered. Contact us at 1-800-800-1414 to schedule a no-cost consultation.