Distracted drivers around Turlock have always caused plenty of accidents, but with the arrival of the cell phone, the danger for other motorists has risen to new levels. A driver may hear the notification of a new text and look away from the road for a moment. During that glance, that driver can veer into your path and cause a serious collision.
You might be left with devastating injuries, all because a driver couldn’t resist looking at a reply. If you find yourself facing a long, expensive recovery because of a careless driver, it’s time to call an attorney who will protect your rights after an accident. Martin Gasparian with Maison Law of Turlock can make sure at-fault drivers and their insurance companies don’t escape responsibility in an accident. You didn’t cause your collision and you shouldn’t be left with expensive medical bills and other costs as you heal. Contact us, free of charge, to talk over your case and your best path to compensation.
Texting Driver Accident Dangers
The dangers of texting or reading a text while driving aren’t hard to grasp. If drivers take their eyes and mind off the road, they are choosing to risk the lives of everyone else on the road with them.
California’s Office of Traffic Safety found that around 10% of all accidents in a single year were blamed on distracted driving. Using a phone to dial, talk, or text triples the risk of a driver causing an accident.
Texting can be the most dangerous threat to everyone’s safety. Researchers found that reading a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds. In that time, if they were traveling at 55mph, they would have covered the length of a football field, basically with their eyes shut.
California law prohibits drivers from holding a cellphone for any reason (other than emergencies). All usage must be with the cellphone mounted and using the handsfree and voice command options.
What to do after a Turlock Accident
Cellphone related car accidents are likely very under-reported and that’s why accident statistics won’t show the whole picture. Most drivers who were looking at their phones when they caused an accident won’t admit that to investigators.
That also means that if you are hit by a texting driver, they may not admit their mistake either. It can be very important to try to secure evidence at the scene of an accident. These details will be invaluable to your case.
So if you are okay to move and physically able, try to gather important evidence after a crash:
- Call 911. Give a full report on what happened to officers. Let them know if you suspect the at-fault driver was using a cellphone at the time of the accident.
- Give a full injury report to paramedics.
- Take photos of the scene. Capture any damage done to the vehicles. Get images of street signs, traffic directions painted on lanes, and traffic signals. Take a photo of any visible injuries you or your passengers have.
- Get information from any witnesses on the scene. Ask them if they saw the driver on his or her phone. Make sure you know how to contact witnesses later.
- Get yourself checked out by your own doctor. Tell your doctor about every injury from the day of the accident and any pain that appears in the days to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of things can I get compensation for after an accident?
Reimbursement for your hospital bills and your lost wages from missed time at work should be major factors in your compensation. An attorney will also make sure any future rehabilitation costs and medical care expected down the road will be covered. You can receive bigger compensation packages when you are dealing with injuries from an accident that causes disability or disfigurement. Emotional pain can also be factored in as you may deal with a loss of enjoyment of life or even bouts of depression due to severe injuries.
What if a texting driver lies and says that I was at fault?
The driver’s cellphone can be a powerful piece of evidence and phone records may show that the driver received or sent a text or call around the time of the crash. An attorney working on your side can subpoena cell records and sometimes those documents can be enough to prove distraction and liability. A police report will hopefully tell your side of the story as well. That’s why it’s important to tell the investigating officer everything you suspect. An attorney can work with you to build a strong case to prove you weren’t to blame.
Should I trust the at-fault driver’s insurance company?
The driver’s insurance agents will probably try to call you after an accident, but you should not give them any statements about what happened. They will act like they are only checking on your condition, but they often want to try to record your comments to hopefully use them to weaken your case later. They may also make you a quick, low-ball offer to see if you’ll accept it. Don’t let them get away with it. Get an attorney to check out any settlement offers to determine if they are fair or not. Also, let an attorney handle all communications with the responsible driver’s attorneys and insurance representatives.
Contact a Turlock Car Accident Attorney
If a distracted driver on a cellphone causes you serious harm in an accident contact an experienced Turlock car accident lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free consultation and case evaluation. Mr. Gasparian takes a hands-on approach to every case. He believes that every client should work directly with their lawyer, get honest advice, and personalized attention to detail their case deserves.
