Texting while driving accidents happen when a driver is more concerned with virtual friends than human beings on the road. Fundamentally, that makes texting drivers negligent drivers. By filing a personal injury suit with the help of a Warner Robins texting while driving accident lawyer, your accident costs could be mitigated or covered by damages through a settlement or court case. The firm of Bader Law Injury Lawyers puts you first. Contact our office today for a free consultation at (404) 888-8888.
Texting Is the Epitome of Distracted Driving
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify three types of distracted driving: manual, visual, and cognitive. That is, removing your hands from the wheel, removing your eyes from the road, or removing your mind from the task at hand. Texting while driving accomplishes all three, requiring a driver to hold, look down at, and give their attention to their phone.
In the handful of seconds required to send or receive a text, a car going 55 mph can travel the length of a football field. In that stretch of road could be other cars, motorcyclists, bicyclists, or pedestrians, all of which can only do so much to protect themselves from another driver. The resulting scenario could be:
● Running lights or stop signs
● Failing to yield
● Jumping a curb
● Rear-end accidents
● Drifting into another lane
The aftermath could range from a fender bender with minor injuries to a terrible collision resulting in a fatality.
● Bruises and lacerations
● Sprained or strained soft tissue
● Breaks or fractures
● Whiplash
● Crushed or lost limbs
● Burns
● Head injuries
● Spine injuries
● Wrongful death
Regardless of the severity of the accident, texting while driving constitutes negligence, and that could make you, the victim, eligible for compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a texting while driving accidents lawyer serving Warner Robins, call (404) 888-8888
Demonstrating Driver Negligence
In order to make a personal injury claim for a texting while driving accident, the accident must satisfy some requirements:
● The driver had a responsibility to behave reasonably on the road.
● By texting and driving, that driver did not live up to that responsibility.
● The driver’s failure to live up to that responsibility resulted in your injuries.
● Because their failure led to your injuries, you should be awarded damages.
Your Warner Robins texting while driving accident lawyer comes into the picture by gathering evidence to demonstrate these points in the form of:
● Text message records
● Social media records
● Video surveillance
● Photos of the scene
● Witness statements
● Police reports
● Medical records
● Accident reconstruction
● Expert analysis
Records, statements, and visual evidence can illustrate the sequence of events leading to the accident, while medical and expert testimony can emphasize the aftermath.
Georgia’s Hands-Free Law
Georgia makes it easier to argue that a driver failed to behave reasonably by texting and driving, as this behavior is breaking the standards set by O.C.G.A. § 40-6-241. Drivers must not have physical contact with their phone while driving, and talking on the phone requires a hands-free device, such as Bluetooth. The law specifically forbids:
● Text messages
● IMs
● Emails
● Social media posts
● Any other written communication
Police reports and traffic citations that indicate a driver was texting can be used as evidence in your civil case, further bolstering your claim that the driver was negligent.
When the Negligent Driver Is a Minor
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported a survey finding that 16- to 24-year-olds are the highest users of cell phones while driving. That means you may have been struck and injured by an underage driver. Depending on the circumstances, you could pursue compensation through the teen’s or their parents’ insurance company. If the insurance coverage is insufficient to cover your bills and expenses, you can pursue the driver directly, even if the driver is a teenager. Licensed teen drivers are treated the same as an adult by the law, expected to uphold the rules of the road. You may be able to receive a judgment in the case that will allow you to recover damages from the underage driver over time or at a future date.
Accidents are already stressful when adults are involved. If a texting teen driver has injured you, the team at Bader Law Injury Lawyers can help. Contact our office today to learn how we can help handle a negligent minor driver at (404) 888-8888.
Warner Robins Texting While Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Wrongful Death
Tragically, texting while driving can claim lives. In 2018, over 2,800 lives were lost to distracted driving crashes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. If you lost a loved one to a texting collision, you no doubt feel a sense of injustice. No amount of damages will truly replace what you have lost, but a wrongful death suit could provide compensation that can go toward:
● Medical bills
● Insurance costs
● Funeral expenses
● Lost income
● Lost companionship
The statute of limitations for both wrongful death and personal injury suits in Georgia is generally two years from the time of the incident (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). However, some circumstances can change that window. Contact the office of Bader Law Injury Lawyers today to learn the exact timeframe for filing your claim.
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Our Texting While Driving Lawyers Put You First
A driver who chose to read or respond to a text message rather than pay attention to the road behaved carelessly. Whether you sustained minor injuries or a devastating crash as a result, you have a right to pursue damages from the responsible party. Having a Warner Robins texting while driving accident lawyer on your side may help. You were not given priority out on the road, but the staff at Bader Law Injury Lawyers is standing by to offer you a free consultation on your case. Call us today at (404) 888-8888.
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