What Are My Rights If I Have Been Involved in a Distracted Driving Accident?

Whenever there is a road traffic accident, everyone assumes that it was recklessness that caused it. However, not recklessness but inattention or distractedness on the road is what causes most of the car accidents on the road. According to a 2015 estimate, more than three thousand deaths occurred throughout the year due to distracted driving accident. If you are involved in such an accident, you can pursue legal action against the offending distracted driver with the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney at Rutter Mills in Virginia. Provided that you can prove that the accident resulted from their inattention to the road.

Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents

These accidents occur because of the distractedness of the driver, which can be caused by multiple things. One of the most common causes of distracted driving accidents is texting while driving. Smartphones have soared in popularity in recent years, and it is safe to assume that almost everyone has a phone these days.

While phones are not meant for use while driving, people do not resist the urge to reply to a text message or listen to a call during driving. It shifts their attention from the road and leads to accidents. Even checking a social media notification momentarily on your phone is enough to shift your attention from the road.

Aside from using smartphones, eating, or drinking something while driving is another major cause of distraction. If you leave your home in a hurry and grab a sandwich on your way out, you are shifting valuable attention from the road to your meal. It is dangerous not just for you but for everyone on the road whether they are in a car or not.

Distracted driving accidents are also caused when the driver’s attention shifts to a conversation with a passenger. Family arguments or conversations in a car are a recipe for disaster if you are not paying attention to the road.

What Should You Do?

If you find yourself involved in a distracted driving accident, get yourself and any passengers or bystanders out of any immediate danger. It is wise to call the police and report the accident with as many details as you can recall. While on the call with 911, you should ask for medical assistance and emergency care if the injuries are severe.

Afterward, make sure to exchange information with the offending driver. You should ask for their personal and insurance information and keep a record of the make and model of the vehicle, with its identification number and license plate.

It is advisable to document everything after the accident and interview nearby eyewitnesses who can confirm their account of the incident as it occurred. More often than not, witnesses at the scene of an accident can be a source of valuable information that can help you down the line.

What Are Your Rights?

You can file a personal injury lawsuit with the help of a seasoned attorney against the distracted driver. If you can prove in a court of law that the other driver was not paying attention to the road, and it was his distractedness that led to the accident, you might be able to win financial compensation. The monetary compensation can cover your medical bills, physical therapy charges, lost wages, and damage to your property.