Texting-While-Driving Accident Attorney for Lawrenceville, GA

Distracted driving can be deadly, and texting while driving is probably the worst distraction there is. It takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off of driving. It only takes a few seconds of checking your phone to cause a major accident.

“Texting while driving” is a sort of umbrella term for simply using your phone while driving. It’s not just sending text messages that puts drivers at risk, it’s also changing your music playlist, reading emails, recording videos, and more.

• Georgia’s Texting While Driving Laws
• Insurance Companies Give You a Bad Deal
• How to Get Compensation for Your Accident Injuries
• Proving the Other Driver Was Texting
• Damages You Can Recover After a Texting-While-Driving Accident
• Can You Still Get Compensation if You Were Partially at Fault?
• Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Claim
• Do You Have to Go to Court for a Texting While Driving Accident in Lawrenceville?
• You Only Have Two Years to Pursue an Accident Claim in Georgia
• Legal Representation for Texting-While-Driving Accident Victims

Georgia’s Texting While Driving Laws

Georgia has a hands-free law that took effect in 2018, which outright banned texting while driving. It’s very specific on how drivers can (and cannot) use their mobile phones while behind the wheel:

• No phone touching your hand or any part of your body while talking on the phone while driving (hands-free voice calls are allowed)
• No writing, reading, or sending text messages, emails, social media content, or other internet data while on the road (voice-to-text is allowed)
• No watching videos while on the road (navigation and GPS videos are allowed)
• No recording video with phones or other electronic devices while on the road (continuously-filming dash cams are allowed)
• Streaming music is only allowed if it’s controlled by and listened through the vehicle’s radio (no touching the phone to activate/deactivate streaming music)

The law applies to tablets, laptops, and other devices as well as mobile phones. If drivers get caught breaking these rules, they can get fined. If a driver isn’t following the Hands-Free Georgia Act and causes a collision, they could also be subject to a civil lawsuit for negligence.

Insurance Companies Give You a Bad Deal

We’ve worked with plenty of insurance carriers in the past, so we know what they care about most: getting their money. Your best interests and well-being are definitely not a priority for them. Insurance companies resort to unfair or even aggressive tactics, such as:

• Refusing to accept your claim with no legitimate reason
• Long and unreasonable delays to process your case
• Claiming your injuries aren’t as serious as they really are
• Arguing that you’re partially liable for the accident

If insurance carriers get away with these strategies, it means a lower settlement amount for you. The Scott Pryor Law Group’s attorneys stand up to insurance carriers for you and demand the compensation you deserve. We know their strategies and we have our own counter-strategies.

How to Get Compensation for Your Accident Injuries

Getting compensation for your accident can help pay for your medical bills—which can pile up quickly. You might be able to get coverage by combining your auto and medical insurance, but in some cases, it’s not enough.

You can also negotiate for a settlement with your insurance carrier to get what you need to pay all your expenses. If the insurance company doesn’t want to settle or won’t offer you enough, you can file a lawsuit. Another way to go after compensation could be using the at-fault party’s insurance, but there has to be proof that this person was texting while driving.

Working with an attorney can help you make sense of the complicated process that comes after a serious car crash. Your insurance company might be pressuring you, the other driver might be avoiding your calls and emails, and you’re drowning in bills you can’t pay. The Scott Pryor Law Group’s Lawrenceville attorneys are ready to step in and help you get the compensation you deserve after being in a texting while driving crash.

Proving the Other Driver Was Texting

To prove the other driver was at fault, we have to show that they were indeed texting or using their phone at the moment of the collision. If we can prove this, we can argue that they were negligent, and therefore liable for your injuries or damage to your vehicle.

Our lawyers build a strong case by gathering important evidence as early on as possible. We analyze accident scene details and collect critical information, such as:

• Statements from people who witnessed the crash
• Footage capturing the driver’s behavior from traffic and security cameras
• Cell phone records of the driver to show they were texting or using their phone
• Reconstruction and analysis of the accident to determine vehicle movement and impact

We act quickly to get our hands on this evidence because things like phone records and video footage aren’t kept on file indefinitely. That also means you should contact our Lawrenceville attorneys as soon as possible after the accident so we can start working on your case.

Damages You Can Recover After a Texting-While-Driving Accident

It’s hard to imagine the toll an accident will take on your life until you’ve lived through the weeks and months afterward. Most people think of injuries and short-term medical expenses, but these aren’t the only damages that can happen in a texting-while-driving accident.

Other losses that could affect you (and which you may be able to get compensation for in your settlement) are:

• Repair or replacement of your vehicle
• Long-term medical care (i.e., physical therapy or counseling)
• Lost wages from missed time at work
• Being forced to switch to a lower-paying career because of your injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

If you lost a loved one in a car accident because another driver was texting or distracted, you may also be able to get compensation. Our wrongful death attorneys can look at your case and calculate losses such as medical bills, funeral and burial costs, mental anguish, and more.

Can You Still Get Compensation if You Were Partially at Fault?

In some collisions, more than one driver is at fault. If one driver was texting but the other was speeding, for example, they might share some liability for the accident. In Georgia, you’re still able to collect compensation for an accident even if it was partially your fault. But your settlement will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you’re more than 50% percent liable, you can’t recover any damages.

A knowledgeable distracted-driving accident attorney can look at the circumstances of your case and determine how you claim is affected if you’re partially negligent.

Steps You Can Take to Improve Your Claim

Our Lawrenceville attorneys will do everything they can to build the strongest case possible for you. But there are a few things you can do as well to help improve your claim even more.

1. Keep your evidence: Get as much information as you can about the accident and keep it somewhere safe. Contact info, photos from the accident, the receipt from the towing company, notes on the weather conditions during the accident…nothing is irrelevant.
2. Follow your doctor’s instructions: If you’re getting treated for your injuries, always do what your doctors tell you. Take the medications, schedule the specialist appointments, and do the follow-up. Ask for copies of your records after each appointment and keep your prescription medication receipts. You want to create a paper trail of your recovery and medical treatment so we can accurately calculate your damages.
3. Don’t speak freely about the accident: Don’t publicize your accident on social media or anywhere else online, as this can influence the outcome of your case. Also, don’t agree to give a recorded statement to the insurance company without your attorney’s approval and be as brief as possible on calls with the insurance company.
4. Don’t rush to sign a settlement: If the insurance company offers you a check, you probably feel pressured to take it because you have bills to pay. However, it’s likely this first offer is much lower than what you actually deserve for your damages. Our texting-while-driving attorneys can review the settlement offer first to let you know if it’s a reasonable one or not.

Do You Have to Go to Court for a Texting While Driving Accident in Lawrenceville?

Most texting-while-driving and distracted-driving cases don’t end up in court. There’s usually a settlement negotiated between the parties involved (including the insurance company). However, some cases do go to court because the insurance carrier refuses to negotiate or make a reasonable settlement offer.

Our attorneys at the Scott Pryor Law Group can let you know what the likelihood is of your case going to court; we’ve worked on many auto accident cases before so we know what signs to look for. We can also let you know if taking it to court is the right option in your situation, and we can represent you in front of the judge if it is.

You Only Have Two Years to Pursue an Accident Claim in Georgia

If you were harmed in a car accident as a result of someone else’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation. However, that right isn’t indefinite. Georgia has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, and the period to file a claim for a car crash is two years from the date of the accident.

What happens if you miss this deadline? Your claim could be dismissed if it’s not filed on time, meaning you won’t get a chance to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. With so much at stake after your accident, we highly recommend speaking to an attorney as soon as you’re able to after the accident. You don’t want to miss the two-year window.

Legal Representation for Texting-While-Driving Accident Victims

For every client, we provide personalized legal support. Every case is unique and deserves a strategy tailored to the specific needs of each client. The attorneys at the Scott Pryor Law Group work closely with you, keeping you updated on every change in your case and always answering all of your questions.

We encourage you to call, text, or email us whenever you need to. You can also arrange an in-person meeting with us so we can discuss sensitive, case-related matters.

Our Lawrenceville attorneys understand how much you’ve gone through after your accident and what it means for you and your family to recover full compensation. By working with us, you can expect:

• Responsive and frequent communication throughout your case
• A trusted team of attorneys
• Honest legal guidance tailored to your situation
• Strong advocacy for you and your needs
• A thorough investigation and gathering of evidence
• No upfront fees; you only pay if we succeed at getting you a settlement

If the insurance company denies you claim or refuses to give you reasonable compensation, our texting-while-driving accident attorneys can take action. Contact the Scott Pryor Law Group today for a free consultation.