CAR ACCIDENTS
Distracted Driving
Car accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents are caused by various factors. One of the most common causes is distracted driving. In fact, approximately one thousand (1,000) people are injured from accidents involving distracted driving in the United States each day. Accidents can clearly result in significant and painful injuries that dramatically alter the quality of your life. As such, distracted driving can result in substantial medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. The experienced attorneys at Slatter Law Firm will aggressively fight to recover the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Cell phones have become increasingly entertaining and useful with the emergence of smartphones and their apps. However, these phones have proven to be distracting to drivers. Distracted driving is defined as engaging in any activity that diverts your attention from the road while driving. Examples include texting, emailing or otherwise using your phone; eating food; personal grooming or hygiene; and adjusting navigation, air-conditioning, or entertainment systems. These examples all have one thing in common: the driver’s eyes, mind, and/or hands are not engaged in driving.
California law prohibits the use of handheld cell phones while driving. As such, drivers may not write, read, or send texts while driving. The purpose of this law is to prevent accidents caused by distracted driving. Car accidents are generally governed by the laws of negligence. The law requires drivers exercise caution and be attentive of their surroundings. If they fail to do so, they may be at fault for your injuries.
In order to establish the other driver was at-fault, your personal injury attorney must prove the following:
In order to establish the other driver was at-fault, your personal injury attorney must prove the following:
- The driver failed to exercise care by becoming distracted while driving (texting, grooming, etc.); and
- The driver’s failure to exercise care was the legal cause of your injuries and damages.
If the at-fault driver was using a cell phone at the time of the accident, you may bring a claim for negligence per se. For negligence per se claims, your personal injury attorney must establish that the at-fault driver violated the law prohibiting cell phone use, and that this violation caused your injury. However, your attorney will need evidence of the at-fault driver’s use of a cell phone. As such, you should contact the police immediately after the accident, which will allow the police to issue a citation for the illegal cell phone use.
Additionally, there are certain important steps to take immediately after your accident. For example, you should take photographs of your damaged vehicle; take photographs of accident site; exchange insurance information with the other driver; file a claim with your auto insurance provider; and preserve all correspondence from the other driver and his or her insurance company. These steps are vital to establishing the other driver was at-fault for your injuries. Additionally, if you suffered any physical injury from the accident, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Distracted driving results in more than 400,000 accidents each year. However, the law entitles you to recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost income, loss of earning potential, and pain or suffering. Finally, in order to recover compensation for these damages, you must file a timely lawsuit with the Court. California requires that personal injury claims relating to distracted driving be filed within two years of the date of the injury. If you fail to file within this period of time, the Court will bar any recovery of compensation. Therefore, it is vitally important that you immediately retain an experienced car accident attorney after your accident.
Contact Us Today
Contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney today if you or a loved one was involved in an accident involving a dangerous road condition. Slatter Law Firm has been helping individuals injured due to car accidents and slip and falls throughout Los Angeles and Southern California for over four decades. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at (310) 405-0964 or contact us online.
