Distracted Driving Accidents

Amarillo Distracted Driving Accident Attorney

Texas Distracted Driving Auto Accident Claims

At Wood Law Firm, LLP, we fight to hold negligent motorists accountable for the harm and injuries they cause. Our Amarillo distracted driving accident attorneys are ready to represent your best interests and fight for the maximum compensation you are owed. If you were injured by a distracted driver, we can help.

Distracted driving is a huge problem throughout the United States, including in Texas where distracted driving contributed to 97,782 motor vehicle crashes in 2019 alone, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Of those accidents, 335 were fatal, and 2,060 led to suspected serious injuries. Another 9,211 led to non-incapacitating injuries.

Tragically, all of these accidents could have—and should have—been prevented. Distracted driving is a clear form of negligence, as people who text, eat, or daydream behind the wheel have chosen to ignore their responsibility to pay attention, follow the law, and keep others on the road safe.

Contact us online or call our office at (806) 304-0447 today to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Makes Distracted Driving So Dangerous?

Driving while distracted is incredibly dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), taking your eyes off the road for as little as five seconds—say to read a text message—while traveling at 55 mph means you will drive the length of a full football field without looking at what’s in front of you.

Distracted driving causes a driver to be unable to react in time to changing road conditions, such as slowed traffic or stopped vehicles ahead. A distracted driver may fail to see that a signal has gone from green to red, or they may not notice a sharp curve in the road.

They may swerve into other lanes of traffic, hit center dividers, or even cross into oncoming traffic. All of this can have disastrous—and even deadly—consequences.

friends distracting each other while drivingTypes of Distracted Driving

We all know that driving while distracted is very dangerous, but what exactly constitutes “distracted driving?”

Generally speaking, a distracted driver is anyone who:

  • Removes his or her eyes from the road
  • Removes his or her hand(s) from the steering wheel
  • Does not give his or her full attention to the task of driving

Distractions are categorized into three types: visual distractions, manual distractions, and cognitive distractions. But, often, a distracted driver is not engaging in just one type of distraction, but two or three.

Examples of common driver distractions include:

  • Reading or sending a text
  • Talking on a handheld cell phone
  • Looking at a GPS or maps app
  • Talking to a passenger
  • Looking down at the radio
  • Reaching down for an item
  • Turning to attend to a passenger in the backseat
  • Looking at billboards, roadway signs, accidents, etc.
  • Eating or drinking
  • Daydreaming

These are just some examples of how a driver can become distracted while behind the wheel of a car or motor vehicle, but any action that takes the driver’s attention away from the task of driving is considered a distraction.

How to File a Distracted Driving Accident Claim

Filing a distracted driving claim can be a difficult process. As in all personal injury claims, the burden of proof rests with the plaintiff. This means that you, as the injured party, must prove that the other driver was at fault for the accident and that this is what led to your injuries and damages.

In distracted driving accident cases, this means you must prove that the other driver was distracted and, therefore, negligent. This can be incredibly difficult to do, as it can be challenging to prove another driver was changing the radio station, reading a text message, or simply not paying attention when the crash occurred.

It’s important that you work with a skilled attorney who not only has experience handling complex car accident cases but who also has specific experience navigating claims involving distracted driving. At Wood Law Firm, LLP, we know how to thoroughly investigate these incidents to determine what happened and whether distracted driving played a role.

Our Amarillo distracted driving accident attorneys work with accident reconstructionists, examine the at-fault driver’s phone records, evaluate witness statements and nearby security camera footage (if available), go over your medical records, and handle all other investigative tasks necessary to establish fault and prove liability.

We can assist you in filing your accident claim with the other party’s insurance provider and, if necessary, will take your case to trial in an effort to recover the maximum compensation you are owed. Under Texas’s modified comparative negligence rule, you could still be entitled to financial compensation even if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident (as long as you are less than 51% to blame).

Schedule a No-Cost, No-Obligation Consultation Today

At Wood Law Firm, LLP, we are ready to help you begin the process of seeking justice and fair compensation for your losses. Our attorneys can help you fight to recover for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and all other damages caused by the accident.

We understand the challenges you are facing, particularly if the accident left you suffering severe, catastrophic injuries. Most importantly, we know how to help you take on—and overcome—these challenges.

Our goal is to ease the stress you are under and provide the confidence and peace of mind you need. Since 1999, we have successfully represented injured victims against major insurance providers and their defense teams, and we are ready to fight for you, too.

There are no attorneys’ fees unless/until we win your case. Call (806) 304-0447 to get started with a free consultation today.

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