Distracted driving is a huge safety concern in Phoenix. State records show that nearly a quarter of fatal and injury crashes involve a distracted driver. These figures show that despite a state law banning drivers from holding or using electronic devices without a hands-free system, many drivers continue to put themselves and others in danger by driving while distracted. Additionally, crashes involving distracted drivers frequently cause severe injuries, leaving victims in agonizing pain as they deal with significant financial stress.
Triumph Law Group can help you seek compensation if you sustained injuries in a crash with a distracted driver. Our Phoenix distracted driving accident lawyers can gather evidence to show the driver who hit you was distracted, giving you a better chance of recovering fair compensation. Our car accident attorneys have over a decade of legal experience, and we don’t charge any fees unless you recover compensation. Call 602-595-5559 now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.
Why You Need a Phoenix Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
Proving a driver who hit you was distracted and caused a crash requires evidence, and that evidence can disappear or deteriorate within days or weeks of a collision. Furthermore, you also need proof of your injuries and financial losses to maximize your compensation in a distracted driving accident claim. Gathering evidence, filing a claim, and negotiating with the insurance companies requires knowledge and experience most people don’t have. Finally, you’re likely in no condition to handle these tasks if you’re struggling with severe injuries.
Instead of adding the stress of a major legal battle to a difficult situation, you can let a car accident lawyer manage your case. Distracted driving accident attorneys know what evidence to look for, how to present it in the best light, and push back against insurance company tactics to deny you fair compensation. A Phoenix distracted driving accident lawyer can also file a lawsuit and take your case to trial if the insurance companies refuse to negotiate in good faith.
Why Is Distracted Driving So Dangerous?
Distracted driving is dangerous because it prevents drivers from keeping full control of their cars while staying aware of potential hazards. According to the CDC, the three main types of driver distractions are:
- Manual distractions – A manual distraction is anything that causes a driver to take one or both hands off the wheel. Without both hands on the wheel, a driver can easily lose control of the car or may not have enough time to maneuver away from hazards.
- Visual distractions – Anything that takes a driver’s eyes away from the road is a visual distraction. Drivers who aren’t looking at the road will likely miss other cars or other dangers that could lead to an accident.
- Cognitive distractions – Finally, cognitive distractions refer to anything that keeps a driver from concentrating on driving. Following traffic laws and watching for potential dangers requires intense focus, and cognitive distractions can cause a driver to miss incoming hazards, blow through a stop sign, or cause an accident in other ways.
Compounding these risks is the fact that many distractions affect drivers in multiple ways. For example, texting while driving includes all three distraction types: A driver must look at their phone instead of the road, take at least one hand off the wheel, and concentrate on sending or reading the text. Given these dangers, it’s no wonder distracted driving accidents are surging and cause such severe injuries.
Examples of Common Driving Distractions
Common examples of distractions that can cause accidents include:
- Cellphones – Talking on a phone requires a driver to divert their attention from the road and take at least one hand off the wheel (unless the driver has a hands-free system). Likewise, texting while driving requires drivers to take one or both hands off the wheel, divert their eyes from the road, and lose focus on driving.
- GPS devices – Drivers who spend too much time looking at their GPS may miss a car slowing down in front of them or other hazards. Similarly, inputting an address in a GPS device forces drivers to take one hand off the wheel.
- Music – Overly loud music can keep a driver from hearing the environment around them, and singing along to music can distract a driver from what’s happening near them.
- Pets – Unsecured pets moving in a car’s cabin can visually distract a driver or cause the driver to take one hand off the wheel to move the pet out of the driver’s area.
- Grooming – Applying makeup, fixing hair, and other personal hygiene activities take a driver’s eyes off the road and their concentration away from driving.
- Talking to passengers – Talking to passengers can help drivers stay awake on long drives, but focusing too much on conversations puts everyone in a car in danger.
Evidence to Prove a Driver Was Distracted
Some evidence your lawyer might use to prove a driver was distracted includes:
- Cellphone records – Records of calls or text messages can indicate that a driver was using their phone instead of watching the road when a crash happened.
- Eyewitness accounts – If an eyewitness spotted a driver using their phone or being distracted in another way, their account could be powerful evidence. However, eyewitness accounts of a driver’s erratic behavior can be helpful even if they didn’t see any distractions firsthand.
- Police crash reports – In some cases, drivers will tell the police they were using their phones or otherwise distracted when a crash happened.
- Photos from the crash scene – Photos showing skid marks and other evidence from the crash scene can indicate whether a driver was distracted. For example, skid marks can indicate how far a driver was from another car when they applied the brakes, which may show that the driver was distracted and didn’t see the other vehicle until it was too late.
- Surveillance footage – Footage from traffic or surveillance cameras sometimes captures drivers using their phones or letting themselves get distracted by something else. Surveillance is particularly helpful in these cases because it provides a neutral perspective on the crash.
Compensation in Distracted Driving Accident Claims
Sometimes, people settle distracted driving accident claims without knowing how much their case is truly worth. With the right evidence and support from a capable legal team, your compensation can include money for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income and reduced future earning capacity
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- The cost to repair or replace your car or other damaged property
Deadline to File a Distracted Driving Accident Lawsuit
Under Arizona law, you usually have two years from the date of a distracted driving accident to file a lawsuit. We recommend you talk to a lawyer right away so they can save key evidence and have enough time to build a robust case.
Contact Our Phoenix Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers
A distracted driving accident doesn’t need to define your life. Our Phoenix distracted driving accident lawyers can help you recover the money you need to put the crash behind you. You don’t have to pay any lawyer fees upfront. We only get paid if you get paid. Call the Phoenix personal injury attorneys from Triumph Law Group now at 602-595-5559 or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation. We look forward to hearing from you.
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