Corcoran has its share of long straightaways on local roads. The sometimes unchanging view along Whitley Avenue and Highway 43 can lull drivers into a false sense of security. Careless drivers may think it’s a great time to check their cellphones or send off a text.
This can be the last mistake they ever make if they veer into the path of another car, truck or SUV. The occupants of the cars they hit may also have to face a devastating outcome.
Driving and Texting Accident Dangers in Corcoran
The cellphone has changed our lives in so many ways. We can be in touch with anyone in the world at any moment. The problem is that connection can be irresistible at times. If you’re driving, that seductive call of a cellphone can pull your eyes from the road and as you look at a screen you might as well be driving blindfolded.
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) acknowledges that cellphone use is now the number one cause of crashes in the state. They report that using a phone to dial, talk or text triples the risk of a motorist getting into a crash.
The lure of a text message notification can pull the eyes of any driver downward, but teens are especially at risk. Distractions, including the use of cell phones, are to blame for six out of ten crashes among teens in California. It only takes careless drivers reading a one-sentence text to provide enough time to send their car into your path and create the potential for a severe accident.
Calfornia Texting and Driving Laws
Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cellphone for any kind of wireless communication while driving. That even includes hands-free cellphone use.
Adult drivers in California may not text while driving and can only utilize a cellphone if it’s mounted and used in a hands-free mode.
AAA of California points out the consequences for teens when they fail to obey these laws and get a ticket:
- A first offense can mean a $162 ticket.
- Suspended driving privileges
- Attorney’s fees
- Court costs
- Insurance rate increases
And of course, these consequences may be the best outcome when the other possibility is causing a collision that damages property and endangers lives.
What to Do After a Texting and Driving Accident
If a driver is texting or using a cellphone when he or she sends you into a collision, it’s important to secure evidence in the minutes after an accident.
As long as you’re physically okay to do so, begin gathering details on the scene of your crash:
- Call 911. Give a full report to investigators and emergency medical personal if needed. Tell officers that you saw the at-fault driver using a cellphone.
- Take photos of the scene and the vehicles involved. Snap photos of street signs and even the spot where you first saw the driver using a cellphone if possible.
- Get information from any witnesses on the scene. Ask them if they saw the driver using a cellphone.
- Note any possible security cameras in the area that might have captured what happened. Also, ask witnesses if any of them have a dashcam in their car that might have footage you can use.
- Exchange information with the other driver. Don’t make comments about what happened or talk about your injuries. Also, don’t mention that you saw them using a cellphone. It’s better not to give him or her the opportunity to come up with an excuse when confronted about it later.
- Get yourself and passengers checked out by your own doctor. Get full documentation.
Compensation After an Accident in Corcoran
The California statute of limitations on personal injury is two years from the date of the accident. That means you have 24 months to file a claim for damages against at-fault drivers and their insurance companies.
This civil lawsuit can be necessary to ensure that every hardship you’ve been through since the accident is considered in any settlement offered. Your attorney can help you determine what’s fair for your injury and the physical suffering and the financial challenges you’ve had to face on your own. If an insurance company doesn’t offer enough, you and your attorney can be ready to take them to court if necessary.
If you accept a fair settlement or are awarded compensation by a jury you can expect to be repaid for many of your challenges. Your medical care in the past weeks and any expected to be needed in the years to come will be paid for. The steady paycheck you’re no longer getting while being unable to work can also be covered. Any change in your normal life that was the direct result of the accident can be compensated.
Contact a Corcoran Auto Accident Attorney
So many people feel that playing on their cellphone doesn’t have to end when they get behind the wheel. If you are seriously hurt in an accident by someone like this, contact an attorney that can investigate your case and earn you maximum compensation from insurance companies. Every penny needed for healing and getting back on your feet should be provided for by those responsible.
After an accident involving a serious injury in Corcoran and Kings County, contact attorney 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.
