All it takes is one glance away from the road for a motorist to cause a tragic accident. And as a victim of this horrifying crash, you can be left with financial, emotional, and physical hardships that can forever change your life. Yet, if you suffered harm in a Phoenix distracted driving accident because another motorist was not paying attention as they were driving, it is time to fight back and go after the justice you deserve.
That is why we have prepared the below blog post. In it, we will discuss everything you need to know about distracted driving accidents, including their causes and the injuries they cause. We will also discuss how an experienced Phoenix distracted driving accident attorney can help you take on this complex ordeal and go after the maximum compensation you deserve. Reach out to a car accident attorney to receive your consultation.
Distracted Driving by the Numbers
Distracted driving kills around 3,142 people annually in the United States, or about nine people daily.
However, these figures do not paint the whole picture of what these tragic accidents can lead to. In addition:
- Around 424,000 individuals are injured in a distracted driving accident every year.
- Almost 58 percent of teen collisions result from distracted driving.
- Approximately one in five people killed in an accident involving a distracted driver was not in an automobile at the time of the crash. Instead, these individuals were hit while riding their bikes, walking, or doing something outside their vehicle.
- Distracted driving typically occurs in around 36 percent of all trips across the United States.
- Distracted driving, such as texting on the phone while driving, can increase the risk of a near-crash by 23 times.
Moreover, this problem is not only a national issue but a state and local one. For instance, in Arizona, around 39 people die yearly from distracted driving, and almost 8,110 crashes result from people not paying attention to the road.
Worse yet, these numbers do not correctly reflect the total number of distracted driving crashes or the number of deaths they cause. Drivers do not always admit they were in an accident because they ignored the road or the motorist passed away before authorities could question them. See what other hard facts contribute to distracted driving and how we can help.
What to Know About Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving typically refers to any activity that diverts a motorist’s attention away from driving.
Yet, while many activities can result in distracted driving, in general, this driving behavior frequently results from:
- Talking on the cell phone
- Texting
- Adjusting audio and climate controls
- Eating food or drinking
- Grooming
- Managing children or pets
Any non-driving activity increases a driver’s risk of crashing. More so, it only takes a mere glance away from the road for these activities to result in catastrophic accidents, debilitating injuries, and extensive losses.
Different Types of Distracted Driving Categories
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are various categories of distracted driving. They include the following:
A Visual Distraction
Distractions result when motorists take their eyes off the road to talk to a passenger or look for something in the car.
An Auditory Distraction
An auditory distraction is caused when a sound in the car takes the motorist’s attention away from the road. These distractions often occur because the driver listens to the radio or converses with others.
A Manual Distraction
A manual distraction occurs when the driver removes their hands from the wheel, such as eating, drinking, or using a cell phone while driving.
A Cognitive Distraction
These distractions tend to happen when the motorist’s mind wanders away from driving because they are too tired or their focus wanders to something else.
What Injuries to Watch out for Following a Distracted Driving Accident?
Even though distracted driving crashes can result in debilitating injuries, the injuries that most frequently occur from these accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Lost limbs
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Facial injuries, including eye problems
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Wrongful Death
These car accident injuries can also result in significant medical treatments, leading to extensive bills and expenses. For these reasons, following an accident, reach out to an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. These lawyers can promptly review the facts of the incident, determine whether you have a viable claim, and help you go after the money you deserve.
The Financial Damages You May Be Entitled To Following a Phoenix Distracted Driving Accident
If you suffer harm in a car collision in Phoenix because of distracted driving, you may pursue damages to fully compensate you for your injuries and related expenses. These damages are typically broken down into the following categories:
Economic Damages
These damages refer to expenses that receipts or bills document, like:
- Fees due to doctor visits, hospitalization, surgeries, prescription medications, emergency services including ambulance rides, hospital stay, and other medical treatments
- Future medical treatments
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Personal property damages, such as replacement and repair costs
- The costs associated with replacement at-home services
- Other expenses
Non-Economic Damages
These damages pay for losses that are hard to assign a monetary value to follow an accident.
These damages are difficult to prove and include:
- Pain
- Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Loss of consortium
- Inconvenience
- Disfigurement
Yet, to know which of these damages may apply to your case, it may be a good idea to discuss your accident with an experienced Phoenix motor vehicle accident attorney. These lawyers can review these damages, determine which ones apply to your case, and help you go after the maximum compensation you deserve.
Actions to Take Following a Phoenix Distracted Driving Accident
If a car hit you because the other motorist ignored the road, your actions after the crash can help your legal claim.
For these reasons, after a Phoenix distracted driving accident:
Get a Police Report
Reaching out to the authorities after the accident is the fastest way to alert the police and medical personnel of your injuries and the collision. After the police get to the crash scene, they can investigate the collision, provide you with the help you need, and jot down their findings in their police report. If you decide to pursue legal action after this collision, this report can assist your attorney as they develop the most potent legal case for you.
Take Photos of the Accident
If you do not require emergency medical treatment and the area appears to be safe, take as many photos of the collision scene as you can, including pictures of:
- The harm you can see
- The motor vehicles involved in the accident and their location on the street
- Skid marks and road defects
- Damages to the cars
- Traffic lights and other signs near the collision site
- The weather conditions
- Any other aspects of the crash that can help show what happened
Yet, if you cannot obtain these pictures, do not stress yourself. After you hire an experienced car accident lawyer, these attorneys can investigate and gather this evidence for you.
Talk to Others Following the Accident
If you can, you should get information from those involved in the accident, including their insurance information, driver’s license number, name, contact details, and make and model of their car.
Plus, if any people saw the incident, get their contact information, as these individuals can often validate your case.
However, as you get this information from others, watch what you say to them. This means avoiding statements such as “I am sorry” or “it was my fault,” as these comments can end up hurting your case and the amount of money you can receive following the accident.
Get a Medical Report
Even if your injuries do not appear significant following a distracted driving crash, you should still get to a medical professional as soon as possible. A doctor can verify that you do not have any severe, hidden injuries, such as a spinal cord or brain injury, where symptoms do not always appear immediately. They can also provide you with a medical report that details your injuries and provides your lawyer with evidence showing a direct connection between the harm you endured and the distracted driving collision.
Watch What You Say to the Insurance Company
You need to realize that the insurance company is not there to help you. Instead, like other businesses, they want to make a profit, and by paying you less for your damages, the more money they make in the process.
Insurance adjusters will do everything they can following your distracted driving crash to get you to say something that can hurt your claim, allowing them to pay you less than you deserve or even denying your claim.
As a result, following a Phoenix distracted driving incident, it may be best to discuss your accident with an experienced Phoenix car accident attorney before you speak with the insurance company. These lawyers can help you understand the deceitful practices these insurers may try on you. Or, they can even take on these conversations with the insurer on your behalf, ensuring you do not say something that can hurt your legal case.
Work with an Experienced Phoenix Car Accident Lawyer and Fight for the Monetary Damages You Deserve
After suffering injuries and losses in a Phoenix distracted driving collision, you may be able to pursue legal action to secure compensation for the harm you endured. Thankfully, when you work with a knowledgeable Phoenix car accident attorney, you will not have to go after this money alone. Instead, you can focus on getting better while these lawyers fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
To get you these results, your lawyers can:
- Determine whether you have a viable claim by reviewing your accident and determining your legal options.
- Answer your concerns and questions and provide the legal assistance you require during this challenging time.
- Analyze the details of your distracted driving collision and secure the evidence required to show fault and the extent of your damages.
- Make sure to hold all the parties liable for your accident accountable for the harm and losses you suffered.
- Ensure your legal motions are prepared and submitted to the appropriate court before the statute of limitation expires, which in Arizona is two years from the date of the car crash.
- Take care of all the settlement discussions and fight for a fair settlement amount.
- Take your case to trial if settlement negotiations go south and go after a successful resolution.
Following a distracted driving accident in Phoenix, do not take on this devastating situation alone. Instead, contact an experienced Phoenix personal injury lawyer today for a free case evaluation. Find out how a lawyer can help you fight for your rights and the outcome you need.
Jason Hutzler
Jason Hutzler is the founding partner of Phoenix personal injury law firm Hutzler Law, and represents individuals throughout Arizona. His practice is primarily dedicated to personal injury and car accident claims, leveraging his deep expertise as a former insurance adjustor to navigate the complexities of insurance negotiations.