Texting-While-Driving Accident Attorney for Lawrenceville, GA
Were your injuries caused by a driver distracted by their phone? A texting while driving car accident lawyer in Lawrenceville, GA, can help you seek the compensation you need for your injuries.
Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group for a free consultation with a highly skilled distracted driving injury lawyer. During your initial consultation, we’ll explain how we can hold the texting driver financially liable for your injuries and explain your options for seeking the compensation you need.
Understanding Texting While Driving Accidents in Lawrenceville, GA
Under Georgia’s Hands-Free Law, motorists cannot hold or touch their phones while driving. This includes taking phone calls, sending and receiving texts, and looking at social media. However, drivers are allowed to use speech-to-text to send messages as long as they don’t have to physically interact with their phone to do so.
The reason Georgia has the Hands-Free law is to combat the dangers of texting while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,275 fatalities were caused by distracted driving in a recent year, with texting being one of the leading distractions. The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety also found that 53 percent of vehicle crashes involved at least one driver suspected of distracted driving.
Legal Implications and Determining Fault
Understanding the legal implications of texting while driving is essential for determining fault for the accident and your injuries. And fault is a crucial part of establishing liability. Some of the parties that could be liable for your injuries after a texting and driving accident include:
- The driver who was distracted by their phone
- The party who was texting the driver, if they knew the driver was behind the wheel
- Other parties who contributed to the accident, such as other drivers who were involved in a chain reaction collision
Georgian Distracted Driving Laws: An Overview
In general, there are three types of distracted driving in Georgia. Visual distractions take a driver’s eyes off the road, manual distractions take a driver’s hands off the steering wheel, and cognitive distractions take a driver’s focus off the act of driving.
Texting while driving combines all three types of distracted driving, making it particularly dangerous. The state’s Hands-Free Law attempts to prevent this.
How Fault Is Proven in Texting While Driving Cases
Proving fault in texting while driving cases involves gathering various types of evidence to show that the other driver was using their phone. Additionally, your lawyer will demonstrate how the other driver’s phone use caused the accident, such as if they ran a stop sign or drifted into your lane.
It’s also important for your lawyer to preemptively show that you did not contribute to the accident in any way. The other driver’s insurance company may try to claim that you share fault to reduce their liability.
The Role of a Car Accident Lawyer in Lawrenceville
After being injured in a collision with a texting driver, you need a specialized texting while driving accident lawyer. Lawyers with extensive experience with these cases know the types of evidence required to prove liability and how to get it. They’ll also be better prepared to deal with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Steps a Lawyer Takes to Build Your Case
When you hire a lawyer to handle your car accident case, some of the steps they’ll take are:
- Investigating the accident to identify the at-fault parties
- Gathering evidence that connects the at-fault parties’ actions to your injuries
- Obtaining testimony from expert witnesses
- Calculating the value of your injuries and their impact on your life
Common Strategies Lawyers Use to Prove Distracted Driving
The best strategy for proving distracted driving is gathering robust evidence of the at-fault party’s phone use, including:
- Traffic camera footage showing them using their phone
- Eyewitness statements that describe seeing them on their phone
- Phone records that indicate messages or calls were being sent or received leading up to the crash
Compensation and Settlements for Victims
The compensation available for victims of texting while driving accidents includes both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are compensation sought for losses with tangible value, including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages are compensation sought for losses with intangible value, including permanent disability, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
How Lawyers Evaluate and Negotiate Settlement Claims
Lawyers typically calculate economic damages by adding up your expenses related to the accident. Non-economic damages can be trickier to value due to their subjective nature. However, a compassionate lawyer can help you determine a fair price for these losses.
Once your lawyer knows the value of your case, they’ll negotiate for a fair settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Understanding the Factors Influencing Settlement Amounts
Several key factors can influence the value of a car accident settlement, including:
- The extent and severity of your injuries
- The value of your economic damages
- The at-fault party’s insurance policy limits
- The liability determination
Choosing the Right Lawyer for Your Case
When choosing a lawyer to handle your case, you want someone with relevant experience, a track record of success, and positive client reviews. You should also go into your initial consultation with a lawyer with a set of questions you plan to ask, including their fee structure and who at the firm will be handling your case.
Next Steps After a Texting While Driving Accident
Immediately after an accident caused by a texting driver, report the accident to the police and your insurance company. Also, seek medical treatment, even if you initially feel fine, as some injuries have delayed symptoms.
If possible, take photographs of the accident scene and gather any witnesses’ names and contact information. You can have someone else do this for you if your injuries prevent you from doing so.
Finally, contact The Scott Pryor Law Group for a free consultation with one of our experienced and highly qualified texting while driving accident lawyers. We’ll help you seek the compensation you need for your injuries by holding the at-fault party and their insurance company financially liable.