Car Accidents caused by Distracted Drivers
Distracted drivers claim thousands of lives each year. Many drivers engage in reckless practices by using their devices while driving, putting others at risk. This can cause car accidents ranging from severe collisions, often involving other vehicles, motorcycles, bicyclists or pedestrians. As with any accident, this could cause severe injury, even death.
What Is Considered Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving most often refers to using a hand-held electronic device, like a cell phone, while driving. However, distracted driving can also mean other things that take a drivers attention off the road such as:
Chatting on the phone, this includes the use of Bluetooth/speakerphone
Returning or reading text messages or emails
Eating or drinking
Smoking or vaping
Engaging with another passenger in the vehicle
Reaching for something on the floor, between seats or in the back seat
According to the CDC, taking your eyes off the road for the duration of five seconds while traveling at a speed of 55 miles per hour is equivalent to driving the full length of a football field blindfolded. However, the road is not a wide-open space like a football field and taking eyes off the road puts others in danger.
If you have been injured by a distracted driver, these injuries may limit your quality of life. You may also be responsible for paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in hospitalization costs including surgeries, physical therapy, and medications. In this type of situation, you deserve fair compensation for your injuries caused by the distracted driver.
How to file a Claim for a Distracted Driving Accident
Distracted driving is a form of negligence. When operating a vehicle, drivers have a duty of care to other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians to obey traffic laws, be attentive to their surroundings and keep their eyes on the road. By driving while distracted, these drivers are liable for an accident they have caused.
In the state of Georgia, if you have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. You can also file a claim with your personal insurance company or the at-fault distracted driver’s insurance company. It’s important to note that the specifics of the insurance policy coverage may potentially limit the total amount of compensation you receive.
If you’ve accumulated extensive medical costs or other damages related to the car accident, filing a personal injury lawsuit is usually the best option. You can recover for damages such as:
Hospitalization, surgeries, physical therapy, medications
Pain and suffering
Lost wages
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident and suffered any harm or damages due to another’s distracted driving it’s advised you discuss your case with one of our experienced car accident attorneys. Joshi and Patel is an award-winning law firm with decades of experience representing clients with various personal injury cases, including those caused by distracted drivers.
**Many of our blog articles discuss the law. All information provided about the law is very general in nature and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Every situation is different, and should be analyzed by a lawyer who can provide individualized advice based on the facts involved in your unique situation, and a consideration of all of the nuances of the statutes and case law that apply at the time.
