Tappahannock Distracted Driver Attorney
Distracted drivers cause major problems on Virginia roads. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, distracted driving claimed 3,450 lives in 2016. Distracted driving includes driving while attempting to talk on the phone or text, fiddling with the radio, or attempting other tasks behind the wheel that aren’t necessary in order to operate the vehicle. Unfortunately, there’s little you can do when another driver is distracted behind the wheel.
If you’ve been a victim of a distracted driving accident in the Tappahannock area, contact the experienced distracted driving accident attorneys at Emroch & Kilduff today. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Our Results
The experienced car accident lawyers at Emroch & Kilduff have helped clients injured in accidents recover substantial sums from insurance companies and juries. Click here to read descriptions of some of the significant results we have achieved for our clients, including million-dollar recoveries for victims of motor vehicle accidents.
Of course, every accident is different, and our past successes on behalf of our clients are no guarantee of the same results in future cases. We do believe, however, that our track record of success for our clients in and out of the courtroom gives us a strong hand in pursuing the best outcome possible for victims of distracted drivers.
About Distracted Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are three broad types of driver distraction:
- Visual – Taking your eyes off the road.
- Manual – Taking your hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive – Taking your mind off of your responsibility to drive safely.
Examples of a distracting non-driving activity include:
- Talking on the phone
- Texting
- Watching a video
- Adjusting a radio or similar audio device
- Reaching for a dropped phone or another item
- Grooming or putting on makeup
- Changing clothes
- Eating or drinking
- Reading a map or looking at a navigation system
- Dealing with children or pets
- Talking to passengers in your vehicle
What Injuries Are Caused by Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving can cause a wide range of potential injuries when an accident occurs. These include everything from whiplash to wrongful death. Consider whether or not you’ve received any of these injuries as a result of an accident involving a distracted driver:
- Broken bones
- Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Bruises, cuts, and abrasions
- Organ damage
Sometimes, injuries associated with distracted driving accidents may not appear immediately. You may think that you’re fine right after the accident, then discover hours later that this isn’t the case. It’s important to receive medical attention and evaluation as soon as possible after the accident so that you aren’t inadvertently worsening your injuries or causing other problems that could hinder your recovery.
Who Is at Fault?
In the case of distracted driving accidents, the distracted driver is typically at fault for the accident. There may, however, be other factors that contribute to the accident. These include a second driver who is also at fault for the accident or who contributes to the accident. Geographic features or road features may also lead to accidents.
By working with an attorney, you can more effectively determine who is actually responsible for the accident and what the likelihood is that you may be able to recover damages from those parties.
What Damages Can Victims Recover?
After a distracted driving accident, you’re left reeling—often both physically and financially. While money can’t restore everything you’ve lost, it can make it easier to cover your medical expenses and take care of other needs during the recovery process. Damages recovered for distracted driving accidents can include:
- Payments for untimely death, including funeral and burial expenses as well as compensation for the lost wages and support that individual would have provided the family.
- Medical expenses associated with the accident, including reasonable future medical expenses.
- Compensation for pain and suffering, including pain and suffering associated with long-term accident-related disabilities.
- Compensation for wages lost, both as a result of the accident itself and in the time spent recovering from the accident.
- Other fees associated with your accident.
Most drivers carry insurance policies that are designed to help protect them in the aftermath of an accident. By working with an attorney, you can discover exactly how much your accident is worth and ensure that the insurance company doesn’t try to short you in the aftermath of your accident.
How Do Distracted Drivers Try to Get Out of Paying?
No one wants to admit that their distraction behind the wheel was what led to an accident. In many cases, distracted drivers may attempt to deny using a cell phone behind the wheel, to delete smartphone histories to cover up their fault, or to deflect blame by accusing the victim of poor driving.
It can be difficult to prove exactly what took place during an accident, but an experienced car accident attorney, often working with forensic experts, can often establish what distracted the other driver.
Because responsible parties and their insurers will try to deny responsibility, victims of distracted drivers should seek out a skilled car accident attorney right away to protect their rights.
How Much Does a Distracted Driving Lawyer Cost Me?
The expenses associated with your accident pile up fast. You may worry that a lawyer will only add to your mountain of bills. That’s often not the case.
At Emroch & Kilduff, we offer free consultations to help potential clients evaluate whether they’re entitled to compensation. In appropriate cases, we may agree to handle cases for our clients on a contingency fee basis in which we recover our fees only out of a settlement or judgment in our clients’ favor.
Get the Legal Support You Need
If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving accident, seek the legal help you need as soon as possible. Contact us online or at (804) 358-1568 today to set up your free consultation to learn more about how we may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries.