How To Handle A Car Accident Caused By A Distracted Driver

The growing number of car accident cases is definitely a cause of concern for authorities, drivers and pedestrians alike. The more alarming fact is that a large proportion of these mishaps are the result of distracted driving. While a majority of such accidents are avoidable, most of the victims hardly know how to deal with them. If you get involved and injured in such a mishap, you can claim compensation under the personal injury law. However, you must be aware of certain facts before proceeding with a compensation claim so that you have good chances of getting the amount you deserve. Let us share some helpful legal information about handling a car accident caused by a distracted driver.

What are the causes of distracted driving?

As the name implies, distracted driving happens when something takes away the attention of a driver and this leads to a mishap. The situation can be dangerous, both for the driver and the people on the road. It can cause serious injuries and even death in the worst-case scenario. Distracted driving is often avoidable, but is common because drivers make unsafe choices. These choices are seemingly insignificant but easily end in disasters. Here are some of the most common causes of distracted driving.

Texting and calling: Perhaps, cell phones are the biggest culprit when it comes to car accidents caused by distracted driving. Common habits such as texting, calling and checking social media notifications while on road can be seriously dangerous. Since they take attention off the road, the chances of mishaps are high.

Eating and drinking: Like using your cell phone, eating and drinking as you drive can have dire implications for road safety. Rather than driving one-handed while one eats or drinks, taking a meal break is a better idea for drivers.

Conversations with the passengers: Conversation with fellow passengers is another reason for drivers getting distracted. It distracts people mentally, with their mind and attention off the road. People traveling on busy roads and long routes can avoid accidents by trying to minimize conversations.

As a rule, drivers should avoid multitasking completely while driving. Their attention should be on the road and both hands should be on the wheel. Whether a distraction is manual, visual or cognitive, it can have devastating results.

How should a victim handle a distracted driving accident?

When a driver gets distracted and has an accident, it is probably not with bad intentions. Still, the victim may sustain serious injuries and damage to their property. Experienced Nashville personal injury attorneys recommend that you must absolutely seek compensation in such cases because you can rightfully get it under the guidelines personal injury law. However, there is a need to take the right approach for handling such cases. Here are the steps you should follow after an accident caused by a distracted driver.

Call the police: The first thing you should do after the accident is to call the police and report the accident. A police report is the primary evidence you would need while filing a compensation claim. You should also ask them for a copy of the report for future reference.

Seek medical attention: If someone is seriously injured in the mishap, call 911 for immediate help. Even if the injuries are minor, you should still seek medical help. Like police reports, a medical report and bills is a key piece of evidence that you will require subsequently. Moreover, the doctor will be able to identify any internal injuries and treat them, besides including them in your report.

Get information: As a victim, you may be initially stunned after the mishap. Still, you should gather as much information about the guilty driver and vehicle as you can. Jot down everything you can recall and take pictures for evidence if possible. Also, get details about the eyewitnesses as you may request them to testify during the claim process.

Contact a personal injury lawyer: Before you initiate a compensation claim from the insurance company, you must connect with a seasoned personal injury lawyer. They can help you get a favorable settlement that you deserve, which is hardly possible with insurance companies going all the way to pay you the minimum.

A car accident can be a jarring experience for anyone, whether it is caused due to negligence, mechanical failure, drunk driving or distracted driving. Knowing that you have legal support from an expert can be very comforting because it ensures that you will get all the help you deserve. Awareness is the key and can make all the difference in getting a verdict to get you out of financial trouble and mental stress.