While driving back and forth to work each day, you may feel like you are in a sea of other vehicles. With all the vehicles on the road at any given time, it is certainly challenging to manage the roads safely. At times, the hectic pace on the highways can be dangerous. Add in distractions that take drivers’ eyes, hands, and minds off the road ahead, and things get even riskier.
In recent years, texting and driving cases have risen, becoming a problem for drivers on the highways. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving-related accidents in 2019 alone. When people look at their phones—even for a short amount of time – it can have deadly consequences. Reading, writing, and sending texts or other written correspondence is dangerous behind the wheel.
You Are Not Alone, and You Have Options
If you were involved in an accident because someone was using their phone to text, then you may have a recourse to collect financial compensation for your damages. You do not have to suffer this alone. A Spindale texting while driving accident lawyer will fight for you to receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Thousands of people suffer injuries and pass away each year because of distracted driving, and texting is one of the most common distractions for drivers. This is true despite almost every state having laws making it illegal.
Our team is here to help you pursue the damages you deserve after such an accident. We have spent years serving the community. Let us serve you, too. We handle all types of distracted driving accident cases, including texting, hand-held phone use, and more.
What You Need to Know About How Distracted Driving May Have Affected You
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving usually involves being visually, manually, and/or cognitively distracted. The NHTSA reports that even if you only look at your phone for five seconds, your car will travel the length of a football field if you are driving 55 mph. Having your eyes off the road while traveling that distance can be disastrous.
Unfortunately, when drivers text behind the wheel, they often make careless mistakes, such as failing to see stopped traffic in front of them, running red lights, veering into adjacent lanes, running off the road, crossing the center line, and more. All these actions violate traffic laws and can cause injury collisions.
If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in an accident involving a texting driver, we can help you pursue damages. A personal injury lawyer from our team can help you in many ways.
Texting and Driving Injuries You May Be Suffering From
While many car accident victims suffer relatively minor injuries that require immediate treatment and some follow-up care, others are not as fortunate. You may be facing a life with a disability or mental condition due to your accident. Some injuries from accidents involving texting while driving can include:
- Head and neck injuries, including whiplash and headaches
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bruised or fractured ribs
- Broken bones anywhere on the body
- Spinal cord injuries, which can result in paralysis
- Burns, cuts, and abrasions
- Internal injuries
- Permanent scarring
Each of the above injuries requires initial and ongoing treatment, at least until the injuries heal and you are fully rehabilitated. In some cases, you may never fully recover and live with a lasting impairment or require future support and care.
No matter the severity of your injuries, being hurt in a crash caused by a careless or reckless driver may entitle you to a financial award. You can speak with our legal team about your options during a free accident consultation in Spindale.
What to Do If You Were in an Accident with a Distracted Driver
After an accident, you should always do as much as possible to protect your interests and health. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Call for help: You want to protect your rights by contacting the authorities right away to fill out a report (the police will be able to view the positions of all involved vehicles and take statements) and have this as evidence to support your insurance claim or lawsuit.
- Make notes: Write down everything you remember about the accident or otherwise record the details as soon as your injuries allow. You will want this to look back on, since the specifics will likely fade from your memory as time passes.
- Look for eyewitnesses: Identify any eyewitnesses to the crash and get their contact information when possible. The police, our team, and others may want to interview them to learn what happened from their point of view.
- Seek medical care: Get help at the emergency room right away, as even small injuries could be worse than you think. If the first responders on the scene recommend taking an ambulance to the hospital, follow their advice. Your transport and treatment costs may be recoverable in your insurance claim.
- Get a legal representative: A Spindale texting while driving accident lawyer can help you fight for justice. Our team files insurance claims and civil suits based on North Carolina car accident cases, including distracted driver accidents.
What to Expect from a Texting While Driving Accident Case
North Carolina personal injury law allows you to pursue compensation when someone has acted negligently while driving – such after a distracted driving crash. This law is for your protection but must be followed according to imposed timelines. According to G.S. § 1-52, you generally have three years to file a claim for damages, although some cases may have different timelines.
With documentation, you may receive compensatory damages for the following:
- Medical expenses, such as doctor and hospital bills
- Future medical care needs for accident injuries
- Income losses while your injuries heal
- Future lost wages related to diminished earning capacity
- Personal property damage, including car repairs
- Pain and suffering due to physical injuries and mental anguish
Your rights are protected when you secure a Spindale texting while driving accident lawyer. You do not have to file your insurance claim or take legal action alone. Our team is here for you.
Next Steps with Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we give car accident victims free consultations. This allows us to get to know you and determine if we can help you recover compensation for your damages. We can review your distracted driving crash for free today.
If we decide to work together, your lawyer will compile evidence to support your testimony and prove the other driver acted negligently. At this point, we will form your case and negotiate for a fair settlement. If the insurance company does not agree to compensate you fairly, your lawyer may tell you that filing a lawsuit could be your only chance at recovering compensation.
We will not charge you fees until we win a financial award for you. We can visit you at home, in your office, or in your hospital room. Do not worry about coming to us. We will make ourselves available to you at any time of the day or night over the phone, via the internet, or over video chat.
Connect with Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, for Your Free Consultation
At Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, we put our clients first. Call (828) 286-3866 to begin working with our team. A representative will speak with you about your accident. A lawyer will discuss your legal options, the strength of your case, and possible damages.