Were you injured in a collision caused by a distracted driver in Georgia? If so, you could be facing mountains of medical bills, time off work, and significant financial hardship. The good news is that you could be entitled to compensation for your losses under Georgia personal injury law.
The car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. have the knowledge and resources to pursue maximum compensation for you. You should not be responsible for expenses you incurred because someone else wasn’t paying attention behind the wheel.
Contact us today for a free consultation with an Albany distracted driving lawyer.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving occurs when someone operates a motor vehicle while engaged in other activities that divert their attention from the road. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three main types of distracted driving:
- Manual – Manual distractions, such as texting while driving or eating, cause drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel.
- Visual – Watching videos or scrolling through social media are examples of visual distractions, which take drivers’ eyes off the road.
- Cognitive – These are mentally-demanding tasks that prevent the driver from focusing fully on driving, such as talking to passengers or thinking about work.
Of all possible driving distractions, texting is considered the worst. That’s because it falls into all three categories at once. Drivers take their eyes off the road to read a text, their minds off driving to process the message, and their hands off the wheel to type a reply.
Distracted Driving Laws in Albany
Distracted driving is against the law in Georgia. Under the Georgia Code, motorists cannot hold or have a cell phone touching them while talking on the phone and driving. While hands-free devices are permitted, motorists still may not text, email, or send messages while driving. They are also prohibited from watching and recording videos.
Furthermore, drivers cannot reach for their cell phone or any other electronic device if they cannot remain upright with their seat belts fastened.
Distracted Driving Statistics in GA
The Georgia distracted driving statistics are alarming. Over half of all motor vehicle accidents in the Peach State in a recent year involved a confirmed or suspected distracted driver.
In addition, 46 percent of serious injury crashes involved drivers who either were distracted or suspected of distracted driving.
The Georgia data also shows that:
- The Atlanta Region was home to 57 percent of distracted driving crashes. This area includes Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.
- Roughly 3 percent of all fatal Georgia accidents involved a confirmed distracted driver. That came out to 43 fatal distracted driving accidents.
- More than half of Georgia’s fatal distracted driving crashes were on urban roads.
- Since 2010, more than 65,000 drivers have been convicted of distracted driving in Georgia. The rate of convictions increased 2.5 times in the year after the 2018 Hands-Free Law went into effect.
- Georgia drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 had the highest number of distracted driving citations. The next highest age group was 35 to 44-year-olds.
The statistics also note that it can be difficult for police to determine whether crashes are distraction-related. For this reason, researchers believe the number of distracted driving accidents is underreported in Georgia.
If you believe an inattentive driver caused your accident-related injuries, a distracted driving lawyer can conduct an independent investigation to determine what happened and who should be held liable.
Types of Driving Distractions in Albany, GA
There are many different types of driving distractions, including:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Talking to passengers
- Adjusting the radio
- Using a GPS while driving
- Eating and drinking
- Personal grooming
- Reaching for an item
- Daydreaming
- Outside distractions
Injuries Caused by Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving accidents cause a wide range of serious injuries, including:
- Cuts and bruising
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Amputation
The cost of medical care alone can be overwhelming after a distracted driving crash. That’s why you shouldn’t miss the chance to hold the at-fault driver accountable. A distracted driving lawyer in Albany, GA, can help you build a solid claim for maximum compensation.
Compensation for a Distracted Driving Accident
After a distracted driving accident, you could be eligible to pursue compensation from the at-fault motorist through a third-party insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
A successful claim could provide compensation for a wide range of losses, such as:
- Present and future medical expenses, including hospital bills, rehabilitative costs, surgical fees, prescription medication costs, and more
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity, if you are temporarily or permanently disabled and cannot perform the full extent of your job duties
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering, such as lost of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, physical pain, and PTSD
- Punitive damages, if appropriate
Most accident victims resolve their cases through a settlement. However, it may be appropriate to file a distracted driving lawsuit to pursue a fair result in some circumstances.
Talk to a Distracted Driving Lawyer Today
Were you injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver in Georgia? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the distracted driving lawyers at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. for a free consultation. There’s no obligation, so you have nothing to lose. Call or contact us now.
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