Steps To Take If You’re Hit By A Distracted Driver

Many states have laws that forbid the use of cell phones and other technology when motorists are behind the wheel, but unfortunately distracted driving still causes thousands of injuries and deaths each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, driver distraction was a factor in 9% of fatal crashes, 15% of collisions involving injury, and 15% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic accidents. The car accident lawyers at Moore Law Firm know that after an accident, you may feel dazed and overwhelmed, but it’s important to take certain steps to protect your rights and interests.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Talking on the phone or texting and driving aren’t the only behaviors that are considered distracting. Anything that takes your attention away from the road can be a distraction. Causes of distracted driving include:

• Visual distractions such as reading texts or looking at children or pets in the car can all cause crashes.
• Manual distractions occur when a driver takes their hands off the wheel. Things like adjusting controls, eating or drinking, composing a text, rummaging through a bag, or putting on makeup while driving are common manual distractions.
• Cognitive distractions take a driver’s focus away from the operation of a vehicle. They include daydreaming, listening to music, talking on the phone, or having conversations with passengers in the vehicle.

A car traveling at 55 mph travels more than 80 feet per second.  All of these distracted driving behaviors divert your attention from the road and can lead to a serious car accident in the blink of an eye.

What To Do If You’re Hit By A Distracted Driver

Call the police and seek medical attention. After an accident, it’s important to get yourself and any passengers to safety. Call 911 and wait for police and EMTs to arrive. Even if you don’t feel like you’ve been seriously injured, it’s critical to seek medical attention as soon as you can. Symptoms of some injuries don’t appear immediately. Visiting the ER or a doctor can help to ensure you get the care you need and provide valuable evidence should you decide to file a personal injury claim.

Collect information. Gather other involved parties’ names, contact information, and insurance information. It’s also a good idea to get their license plate and driver’s license numbers.

Take pictures. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, damage to vehicles and anything else you may think is relevant, like skid marks, signs, or guardrails.

Give a statement to law enforcement. If you noticed that the other driver was distracted, make sure to tell the police exactly what you saw. Ask for a copy of the police report.

Document what occurred.  Jot down or voice record everything you can remember about what happened while it’s still fresh in your mind. These details can come in handy when proving that a distracted driver caused a collision.

Call an auto accident lawyer. You can report the accident to your own insurer, but don’t talk to any other driver’s insurance company or accept a settlement before speaking to a car accident attorney. A lawyer can evaluate your case and give you advice on how to proceed. If you have a viable claim, your personal injury attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident, gather evidence, and put it all together to prove that the distracted driver was at fault and demonstrate how your injuries have affected you and your family. Your legal handles all negotiations with insurers and fights to recover the compensation you need to make a full recovery and move on with your life.

Contact A  Car Accident Attorney In Mobile, AL

Our auto accident lawyers at Moore Law Firm have helped more than 12,000 injury victims find the healing and financial recovery they deserve. We offer free consultations and you won’t owe attorneys’ fees unless we recover compensation for you.  Call us at 251-445-7602 or contact us online to schedule a complimentary case evaluation today.