A total of 3,308 people lost their lives as the result of distracted driving in 2022 according to figures from the National High Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The individuals who are harmed by this don’t even necessarily have to be the one behind the wheel or even in the vehicle to become harmed. Often, pedestrians and other drivers are struck by distracted drivers and become injured or worse.
The very real threat posed by distracted drivers is something to take seriously and to prepare a strategy for what to do if you ever become the victim of one of these drivers. One piece of that puzzle is to hire the right legal counsel to assist you, and we will cover that among other topics today.
What Causes Distracted Driving?
There are many different root causes for distracted driving. The finger of blame can be pointed in many directions when it comes to distracted driving. On some level, the driver themselves is certainly responsible. They are the first entity tied up in all of this that we have to look at as responsible for their own actions. It doesn’t end there though. There are other things that can contribute to the driver being distracted.
Many of today’s modern vehicles have entertainment systems and more that may cause a driver to become distracted while they are simply trying to operate their vehicle. From multimedia systems to playing with the dials of the radio, many different systems inside of the vehicle can create a distracting atmosphere. Additionally, drivers report distraction from the following sources as well:
- Passengers in the Vehicle – Other people in the vehicle may be talking or causing other forms of distraction that cause the driver to lose focus and be unable to keep their focus on the road.
- Smartphones – The devices that we all hold in our pockets contain a lot of information and entertainment. Unfortunately, these phones are also a major distraction for many people. Some people are seemingly unable to put their phones away and focus on the road. It is best to turn them on silent or off completely while driving.
- Billboards and Other Advertisements – There are some billboards and other forms of advertisements that are wildly distracting. It may be the case that some of these advertisements are so distracting that they cause a driver to crash into something.
These are just some of the causes of distracted driving. There are many more, and they are all a potential danger to everyone else out on the roads anywhere near these drivers.
What To Do After a Distracted Driving Accident
In some scenarios there may be little to nothing that you can do following a distracted driving accident. Depending on the nature of the accident, the extent of your injuries, and where you are physically after the accident, you might simply need to wait on first responders to help you out.
No matter what, the first thing you should do following one of these types of accidents is seek immediate medical attention. Keep in mind that even if you don’t believe that you have injuries that you can detect, there might be some injuries that are not as easy to see. The only way to know for sure that your injuries are taken care of is to have a medical professional look you over as soon as possible.
Once you are stabilized medically, you can start to think about the next steps that you need to take. Among the most important things to think about doing next is hiring a lawyer that can help you get the compensation you deserve following your accident.
What Kind of Compensation Can You Receive for Your Injuries?
There are various forms of compensation that can come your way following an accident involving a distracted driver. After all, the very definition of this type of accident points to the fact that you are not responsible as the victim of this type of accident. Therefore, you deserve the different types of compensation that can come to you from a legal perspective. A few examples include:
- Medical Expenses – The most expensive thing that you need covered after an accident are your medical bills. Those bills can climb quickly and get very out of control. Luckily, this is one thing that is often among the first things that your attorney will pursue for you in court.
- Pain and Suffering – The crushing weight of medical bills is not the only thing that you have to deal with when trying to recover from injuries sustained as the result of a distracted driver. Instead, you will also have elements of pain and suffering that will likely crop up and cause you some grief as well. Your attorney must also consider how he or she will pursue those damages as well. Pain and suffering compensation is a big part of this.
- Lost Wages – The time that you are laid up in a hospital recovering from your injuries is time that you could have spent in a productive fashion if you hadn’t been injured. Therefore, your attorney will also factor this in while pursuing your total compensation package in court.
These aren’t the only things that your attorney can go after, but they are important. You deserve to receive as much compensation as possible because that is the only way that justice is served. Make sure you hire an attorney that will go after the most compensation possible.
Hire An Attorney Today
A distracted driving accident can happen at almost any moment. Your life is going in one direction one second and then is thrown completely off course in the next second. While it can all feel overwhelming and challenging, you must think about what steps you can take to put your life back together again. Hiring an attorney who will work to help you receive the compensation that you deserve is a big part of that process.
Don’t allow an accident to define your life and ruin things for you. Reach out and contact us to receive the assistance you need to take care of legal matters that will unfold following your accident. We are happy to help you get through those legal obstacles.
