Distracted Driving is Deadly

Jun 28, 2018

Some car accidents result from reckless or dangerous driving such as speeding, swerving, and tailgating. An increasing number of accidents stem from sheer carelessness, especially from drivers who are distracted. If you have been injured by a distracted driver, you should speak with a car accident lawyer in Northwest Indiana right away.

Examples of Distracted Driving

Almost anything can become a distraction that causes a driver to take his or her eyes off the road. All it takes is a split second and a driver can quickly crash into another vehicle or object.

Common distractions include:

Talking on a cellphone
Reading or sending a text message
Reaching for something
Adjusting controls in the car
Talking to someone in the car
Eating
Drinking
Smoking
Applying makeup

Furthermore, drivers can become distracted even when stopped at a red light. As a result, they might fail to note that a pedestrian has entered the crosswalk late or that a vehicle is waiting in the intersection to make a left-hand turn. When the light turns green, the driver can plow into a pedestrian or another vehicle, all because they were too distracted to notice them.

Grisly Statistics

According to the federal government, distracted driving kills almost nine people every day in collisions, and injures another 1,000 people. These numbers worked out to 3,477 distracted driving deaths in 2015 and another 391,000 distracted driving injuries. Almost 10% of all motor vehicle deaths result from distracted driving.

Unfortunately, these numbers only seem to be rising. Distracted driving deaths were about 15% higher in 2015 than in 2010, and there is no evidence that the number is decreasing.

Proving Distracted Driving

If a distracted driver collides with you, you might be able to bring a lawsuit for negligence. However, you will need to show that the driver caused the collision because of their carelessness. Gathering sufficient evidence can be tricky, especially since at-fault drivers are not in the habit of admitting they were talking on the phone or looking in their glove compartment when the accident happened.

However, an experienced car accident lawyer knows how to uncover evidence by doing the following:

Issuing a subpoena for the driver’s cell phone records, which can show if the driver was engaged in a phone call or sending a text message at the time of the collision
Finding a surveillance video that shows the driver was distracted before the crash
Questioning witnesses who might admit that the driver was distracted in the seconds before the collision. These and other methods can uncover evidence that the other driver was negligent, which can help you win your case.

Injured in a Car Crash?

Speak with an Indiana Auto Accident Lawyer Today. Injured motorists need compensation to cover medical bills and replace lost wages. At Tanzillo, Stassin & Babcock, we have fought for countless motorists to get them the compensation they deserve. To start the process, please schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgable attorneys today. Indiana does not give injured motorists an unlimited amount of time to seek compensation, so do not delay.