When you are driving, it is of the utmost importance to keep all of your focus on the road in front of you. All too many times, our injury lawyers have been a part of a lawsuit against a person that caused an accident because they were distracted while driving.
In the Southeast, it is illegal for any driver to text while driving and it is also illegal for novice drivers to use their phone in any capacity, including hands-free usage. While these are the two laws in the Southeast, distracted driving goes way beyond just phone use and distractions can be the cause of horrible and debilitating accidents. If you’ve been involved in an automobile wreck due to the distraction of another driver, our attorneys at Shelnutt & Varner may be able to help you file a lawsuit for damages. Contact us to discuss your case for free by calling 256-547-4988.
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving constitutes any time that a driver’s eyes or full attention are not on the road in front of you. There are multiple ways for you to be distracted while you’re behind the wheel including the following:
- Talking on the phone (even a hands-free phone)
- Texting
- Changing your music
- Using the GPS or looking for directions
- Eating/drinking
- Talking to or tending to children
- Grooming
Any type of these distractions can lead to a costly, injurious, or even deadly car accident that could easily have been avoided by keeping driving focused solely on driving and nothing else.
Is Distracted Driving Really That Dangerous?
Research conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) showed that text messaging had the highest risk and longest duration of time of having the driver’s eyes off the road. The risk was elevated by 20 times than that of not using a cell phone at all while driving. The study showed that the typical texter would look down at their phone for 4.6 out of a 6 second period when they were texting. This equivocates to driving the length of a full football field while going 55 miles per hour without looking at the road.
Whether you’re looking away from the road for a split second or for several seconds, you are posing a risk to yourself and those around you.
Help For Those Injured by a Distracted Driver
If a distracted driver was the reason for you to be involved in a car accident, please contact our car accident lawyers today. We have decades of experience and utilize this to help ensure that you get compensated for damages and injuries. Our principal attorney, James Shelnutt, used to work as a police officer and police instructor and knows the ins-and-outs of how to approach any type of accident lawsuit. On top of exceptional experience, our attorneys take a personal interest in each and every one of our clients. You will never be considered just another client or another case; we will get to know you and your family and determine the best ways to help you after your accident. We will strive to get you compensation for damages, injuries, medical bills, insurance claims, rehabilitation, and more.
For help with your distracted driving case, please contact the attorneys at Shelnutt & Varner by filling out the contact form on this page or by calling 256-547-4988.