Texting while driving is illegal in most areas of the United States, yet many people still pick up their cell phones or other devices while driving. Distracted driving, which includes texting, eating, touching radio dials, and any other activity that takes your eyes off the road, can increase your risk of getting into a car accident.
More than 2,800 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in the United States in 2018, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
If you were injured in an accident with a vehicle whose driver was texting while driving, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries.
Call (404) 888-8888 now to get in touch with a team member at Scott Bader Injury Lawyers, and learn how an East Point texting while driving lawyer can assist you.
What to Know About Texting While Driving in Georgia
The state of Georgia has strict laws regarding distracted driving. Penalties for texting while driving and other distracted driving activities can result in fines and other penalties.
When a motor vehicle hits a pedestrian or another car while its driver was texting and driving, the driver could be held liable for any resulting injuries to accident victims.
Georgia Hands-Free Driving Laws
In 2018, Georgia amended its traffic laws to include a hands-free driving regulation. Georgia Statute § 40-6-241 states that drivers must not:
- Hold or support any device while driving
- Have any engagement with text messages, such as writing, reading, or sending texts
- Have any engagement with videos, including watching, recording, or streaming them
Possible Charges in Texting While Driving Accidents
Penalties for violating the hands-free driving law in Georgia include fines and license points for first, second, and third offenses, according to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Sometimes, distracted driving qualifies for a reckless driving charge (a misdemeanor offense) as well, which can result in further fines and even jail time.
However, if a person struck you with their car due to texting while driving, they may also be held liable for your injuries. This means you may be able to seek compensation from the driver of the vehicle for damages, such as medical costs or time missed from work after the accident.
For help with understanding Georgia laws for texting while driving, or for a consultation to discuss your claim, reach out to the staff of Scott Bader Injury Lawyers now at (404) 888-8888. An East Point texting while driving accident lawyer can explain your legal rights and determine whether you may be able to file an accident claim.
For a free legal consultation with a texting while driving accidents lawyer serving East Point, call (404) 888-8888
What a Texting While Driving Accident Lawyer Can Do for You
If you were hit by a motorist who was texting while driving, consider working with a texting while driving accident lawyer.
Lawyers who work in personal injury law understand Georgia’s traffic accident laws, including those that involve distracted driving, and they may be able to help in a number of ways.
Investigate the Details of Your Injury Claim
A lawyer will investigate the details of your texting while driving accident to determine:
- If the driver of the car can be held liable for your injuries
- If negligence was involved
- If the negligence led to your injures
- Other factors that can affect your claim
In reviewing the accident, a lawyer may seek the police report, eyewitness accounts, and any other important information that can help prove your claim.
In addition to working on your behalf to file a claim for compensation, a texting while driving accident lawyer can communicate with the opposing party, their insurance company, and their lawyer if they hired one.
Communicating with everyone involved in an injury claim can be time-consuming and taxing, especially when you are trying to heal from your accident-related injuries. When you work with an East Point texting while driving accident lawyer, they handle all aspects of the legal process so you can focus solely on healing.
Assess for Possible Damages
As a lawyer works to build your claim, they will likely assess any and all losses you may have incurred from the accident. Damages refer to the compensation you may be able to collect if the person who hit you while texting and driving is found liable for your injuries.
Different types of damages exist in personal injury claims, and which types of damages you may be able to pursue will depend on your individual incident. Examples of damages include medical costs, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and more. A lawyer can help ensure you claim all damages that apply to your case.
Work to Prove Negligence
All personal injury claims hinge on the presence of negligence. In legal terms, negligence is defined as one person failing to meet the minimum expected duty of care toward another.
If the person who hit you while texting and driving is found to be negligent, they may be held liable for any accident-related costs you incur.
Proving negligence is crucial to texting while driving accident claims. A lawyer will gather all the evidence necessary to show how negligence was involved and how it directly led to your injuries, affecting your life as a result.
East Point Texting While Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Contact Scott Bader Injury Lawyers After a Texting While Driving Accident
Many people are injured every year in distracted driving incidents, such as texting while driving. Accident injuries can leave you with long-term effects on your health, medical costs, and disrupt your life in a number of ways.
When you’re looking for legal advice after a texting while driving accident, reach out to Scott Bader Injury Lawyers. We can help fight for compensation to pay for accident costs so you can get your life back on track.
Contact our law offices today at (404) 888-8888 to learn how an East Point texting while driving accident lawyer can help.
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