Drivers who zip around Bakersfield at full speed with a phone in hand can cause devastating crashes. And unfortunately, their cellphone use isn’t always factored into a police accident report.
It’s why accident victims often have to stay clearheaded after a frightening accident and collect every shred of evidence found at the scene.
Victims can rely on photos and video, and eyewitness testimony to keep the blame in the right place. It’s the best way to get the support they need to pay medical bills and make up the income they’ve lost.
The Hazards of Traveling Alongside a Distracted Driver
California Vehicle Code forbids drivers from holding a phone while they drive. Unfortunately, too many drivers ignore this law and swipe and type on their cellphones on every trip.
These are just a few of the distractions that can lead to a frightening crash.
- Texting in rush hour traffic along Highway 99 and drifting into the vehicle next to them.
- Fumbling with the next song playing on a cellphone and not stopping for a red light along Ming Avenue. Causing a Rear-End collision.
- Checking a social media post and rolling over a yellow line to cause a head-on collision.
- Scrolling through emails while making a turn and turning in front of an oncoming vehicle at an intersection, like the constantly busy ones along California Avenue.
Sadly, accident statistics for cellphone distraction-involved accidents are hard to come by. It’s because drivers will rarely admit they were on a phone when they caused a collision. Police officers may also have no idea a cell phone was involved when they arrive on the scene.
Your Bakersfield car accident lawyer will fully investigate your case and collect all the evidence available. The driver using a cellphone may show up on traffic cams or local surveillance footage. Witnesses may have seen the driver holding a phone.
Maison Law works with accident reconstruction teams that can also help prove that a driver’s mistake was to blame.
Finding Your Own Evidence on the Day of the Crash
Your lawyer works for your benefit, but they can’t be there at the moment of impact. There will be evidence they won’t have access to, and that may be cleaned up an hour after a crash.
If accident victims are feeling up to it, they should take action to collect these details while they are lying in plain sight.
Victims should call 911 first. Then, if the scene is secure, it’s time to back their cases with hard evidence.
- Get checked out by paramedics if you are hurt. Go to the ER if necessary. Evidence of how badly you are hurt is also important for the claims process.
- Work with the California Highway Patrol. Tell the officer that responds everything you remember about what happened. That includes seeing a driver on a cellphone.
- Take Photos. Show the damage to the vehicles. Get pictures of street signs, lane markings, and debris. Show any visible injuries you come away with.
- Exchange Information with Drivers. Get pictures of their driver’s license and their insurance card.
- Chat with Witnesses. Find out what they saw and get their contact info.
- Check for Surveillance. Observe if there are any security cameras or doorbell cams mounted on local homes or businesses. Turn the addresses for these cameras over to your lawyer. Ask other drivers if they have a dash cam.
- See your Doctor. Make an appointment and get any injury documented. Be on the lookout for injuries that pop up after the shock and adrenaline of the crash wear off. Follow your doctor’s orders.
- Alert Your Insurance Company. Let your car insurance company know what happened, even if you didn’t cause the accident. You don’t want the at-fault driver calling your insurance company before they’ve been informed of the crash.
- Contact a Skilled Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer.
You can also preserve any damaged or bloody clothing and personal items. Don’t wash them or make repairs. These are pieces of evidence that tell the story of what you’ve been through.
What You’ll Demand After a Distracted Driving Accident
Your lawyer compiles a full list of everything you’ve been through. That list must also include full estimates on the care you could need in the future. That could include additional surgeries, cognitive therapy after a brain injury, and annual check-ups on a broken bone.
Your lawyer submits your claim with these hardships presented front-and-center. It’s a rundown of what you expect the car insurance company to pay for:
- All Present and Future Medical Bills.
- Rehab Treatment and Medical Equipment.
- Travel Costs to Appointments Locally and in Other Cities.
- Lost Income While Missing Work.
- Permanent Disability/Disfigurement Support.
- Pain and Emotional Trauma.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Contact a Bakersfield Car Accident Attorney
Maison Law wants to stand with any Kern County accident victims who are struck by careless drivers.
We offer free case reviews to all injured Bakersfield car accident victims and their families.
Anyone can afford a lawyer. If you need our help to earn more, you should know that there are no upfront fees to hire an attorney. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement check a car insurance company must write.
