Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
Distracted driving is a widespread issue, and it has a significant impact on general road safety. Every day, drivers use their phones, text, eat, and use other in-car electronics that require them to take their eyes off the road. In turn, thousands of accidents happen due to these distractions, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities.
It’s essential to know what causes and effects distracted driving brings about to help encourage safer driving practices and avoid accidents. By being aware of the hazards and being cautious, you can do your part to help reduce the frequency of these accidents.
What Is Distracted Driving?
When a driver does anything that involves taking their eyes from the road, this falls into the distracted driving category. You can split them into three main categories, including visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distractions involve taking your eyes off the road to glance at your GPS device or smartphone is a visual distraction.
For manual distractions, they’re anything that causes you to take your hands from the wheel, like adjusting the radio or eating. Cognitive distractions are where you’re not paying attention to the road because you’re chatting or daydreaming.
Distracted Driving in California
In California, distracted driving is a big problem, and it results in many accidents. Statistics from the California Office of Traffic Safety found that 140 people died as a result of being involved in a crash with a distracted driver. This was a 27.3% increase from the previous year. The research also showed 74.2% of Californians had concerns about distracted driving and road safety.
Consequences of Distracted Driving
If you sustain severe injuries from being in a car accident, they may have a lifelong impact. Some of the most common injuries suffered in a car accident include:
- Fractures or Broken Bones: The sudden impact can apply too much pressure to your bone, causing it to fracture or snap.
- Head Injuries: The sudden jarring movement of an accident can result in concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and they can cause long-term cognitive and physical problems.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damaging your spinal cord may cause you to experience decreased motion and total or partial paralysis.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries can cause chronic pain issues.
- Internal Injuries: High-impact collisions can result in organ damage, and they can be fatal if you don’t seek immediate medical attention.
These physical injuries frequently require lengthy medical care, which makes it difficult for you to work or return to your daily routine.
Emotional Trauma
Along with the physical injuries, you may experience emotional trauma in the days or weeks following a distracted driving accident. Typical emotional manifestations include anxiety, where you may develop a fear of riding in or operating a car, and it may get severe enough to interfere with your daily activities. Depression is another response to emotional trauma.
Some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it can lead to feelings of severe anxiety or flashbacks that require medical treatment. You may also dream about the accident or develop insomnia that adversely impacts your general health. It is essential to treat both psychological and physical damage if accident victims are to heal.
How to Prevent Distracted Driving
You have to make a deliberate effort and commit yourself to preventing distracted driving. It’s possible to reduce the distractions and keep your attention on the road by:
Keep Your Phone Out of Reach
Keeping your phone out of reach while you drive is one of the best ways to avoid distracted driving. You can make it easier to resist the temptation to check your notifications by putting your phone in the back seat or glove box before you go anywhere. Since you can’t simply reach and grab it, you’ll keep your focus on the road.
Set Up Navigation Before Driving
If you’re not sure where you’re going, set up any navigation tools the night before you leave, and make adjustments before you leave. Put in your climate controls, change your radio to the preferred station, and get your GPS coordinates in.
Use Do Not Disturb Mode
There is a “Do Not Disturb” setting on a lot of cellphones that you’re supposed to turn on when you drive. By switching it on, you’ll reduce any distractions and concentrate on the road as it silences any incoming messages or calls until you turn it back off.
Avoid Eating or Drinking
It’s dangerous to try to eat or drink while you drive since it takes at least one, if not both, hands off the wheel. Wait until you can safely park the car or eat your meals and snacks before you get back on the road.
Compensation for Distracted Driving Accidents
In California, if you have a distracted driving accident, you may have medical bills piling up, lost wages, or psychological trauma. Going for compensation can help you heal and give you a financial safety net.
Economic Damages
The goal of economic damages is to make up for the measurable financial losses you may experience after an accident. You can ask for compensation for ongoing rehabilitation costs, hospital stays, surgeries, and prescriptions. This form of compensation helps ensure you can afford the medical care you need.
You may sustain injuries that stop you from temporarily or permanently returning to work, and the court may reimburse you for any money your recovery period caused you to lose under lost wages. These economic damages help you survive the short-term financial effects from the accident, freeing you up to concentrate on your recovery instead of the expenses.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover the non-financial effects of an accident that can have a major influence on your quality of life. Pain and suffering falls under this category. This type of compensation recognizes a broader influence on your well-being, and it encompasses the emotional suffering you may experience after an accident.
Loss of enjoyment of life also factors in. If your injuries are severe enough that they stop you from participating in things you once liked, the court may award you compensation for this loss. These damages go beyond meeting basic cash necessities by acknowledging the emotional and psychological effects of an accident.
The Importance of Pursuing Compensation
Filing a suit to recover damages is essential in helping you cope with the psychological and monetary consequences. It gives you a way to pay for any short and long-term needs, and this removes some of the financial strain while you focus on healing.
In California, if you have a personal injury claim, you have two years from the accident to formally file. Taking the appropriate steps during this time frame is essential for securing compensation to rebuild your life and regain a sense of normalcy.
Take the First Step Toward Justice
At AutoAccidents.com, we are aware of the difficulties that you may encounter after a distracted driving accident. It’s essential that you take steps to protect yourself, and we invite you to contact us for a consultation. Our knowledgeable staff will go over your case and guide you through the legal process.
Seeking justice holds those who are at fault accountable and ensures that you receive the compensation you deserve. We can work together to help you achieve this while you focus on your recovery.