Distracted Driving Attorney Northwest Indiana

Car accidents can happen for many different reasons, many of which stem from careless decisions by other drivers, such as distracted driving. In this day and age, drivers should know about all the dangers of distraction behind the wheel, though there might also be a growing temptation to engage in distracting activities. For example, if you hear an email notification while you are driving, you might feel the need to check it and respond immediately in our always-connected society. If you are running late to meet a friend, you might feel obligated to send them a quick text letting them know you are on your way. 

While a momentary distraction might seem harmless to some people, this is all it takes to cause a serious traffic crash. If you believe that your accident and injuries happened because another driver was not paying attention, you should seek help from a distracted driving attorney in Northwest Indiana right away. Our team at Tanzillo Stassin & Babcock, PC, is here to help.

Common Distractions

While smartphones are certainly a highly concerning distraction for drivers, there are other distractions that can lead to crashes. These might include:

• In-vehicle infotainment or GPS systems
• Hands-free calling or texting
• Tending to children in the back of the vehicle
• Talking or engaging with passengers
• Personal grooming
• Eating or drinking, especially messy foods or hot coffee
• Listening to podcasts or audiobooks
• Letting your thoughts wander

Distractions involve anything that removes a driver’s hands from the wheel, takes their eyes off the road, or takes their minds off the task of driving. This means that even daydreaming can lead to distractions that cause accidents. Texting and other smartphone usage are particularly dangerous since it involves all three types of distraction – manual, visual, and mental.

How Distractions Cause Accidents

When a driver is distracted, they are unaware – even for a few seconds – of what is happening on the road around them. This means that if they approach stopped traffic or another obstacle, they might not be able to stop in time to prevent causing a rear-end collision. Additionally, they might not stay in their intended lane, which can result in a sideswipe or running another driver off the road, or a distracted driver might even cross a double yellow line into oncoming traffic.

Distracted driving accidents tend to be serious since the driver likely did not have the opportunity to slow down or hit the brakes as a reasonable driver would.

Holding Distracted Drivers Liable

Distracted driving is a form of negligence, and negligent drivers should be accountable for the injuries and losses they cause. If your attorney determines that a distracted driver was liable for your crash and injuries, we can help you file a claim and seek compensation for the following (and possibly more):

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disabilities and impairments