Distracted driving happens when drivers take their attention away from the road for any reason. A distracted driving accident in St. Louis, Missouri, can happen quickly. When these crashes occur, devastating injuries with long-lasting effects can result. Victims of distracted driving can be forced to deal with high medical bills and other costs that come with a car accident.
Were you injured by a distracted driver in St. Louis, MO? If so, you could have a legal right to financial compensation from the responsible driver. A distracted driver can be held liable for your medical expenses, lost wages, property repairs, emotional distress, and more. An experienced St. Louis distracted driving accident lawyer can help you fight for fair compensation in a personal injury claim.
Contact the Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers at (636) 519-0085 to set up a free consultation with a knowledgeable St. Louis distracted driving accident attorney.
How Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Distracted Driving Accident in St. Louis
A St. Louis car accident lawyer will start by analyzing the facts and circumstances of your distracted driving accident. A lawyer’s evaluation can include identifying the crash scene, identifying the responsible driver, and contacting witnesses to the accident.
As part of a car accident claim in St. Louis, MO, our St. Louis personal injury lawyers can take several important steps, such as:
- Obtaining police reports
- Locating physical evidence
- Collecting photos of the crash site and its surroundings
- Collecting any video footage of the crash, including surveillance from storefronts or red-light cameras
- Identifying the at-fault driver
- Identifying the at-fault driver’s insurance provider
- Negotiating a potential settlement with the other driver’s insurance company
- Hiring expert witnesses to support your claim
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit in St. Louis, MO
- Mediating and negotiating settlement of your personal injury case
- Taking your case to a jury trial if needed
Contact Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers to learn more about how our St. Louis distracted driving accident attorneys can help.
How Do Distracted Driving Accidents Happen?
Distracted driving happens when a driver’s attention is taken off the road for any reason. Each year, over 3,000 people die in distracted driving crashes across the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thousands more people are injured in the U.S. and the St. Louis area due to the negligence of distracted drivers.
Some examples of potential driver’s distractions include:
- Using a cell phone (talking, texting, or simply scrolling)
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to other passengers in the car
- Applying makeup, styling hair, or other personal hygiene matters
- Smoking or vaping
- Interacting with the car’s radio or entertainment system
- Interacting with the car’s GPS or navigation system
- Moving personal items or other objects within the car.
Any attempts at multitasking behind the wheel can distract a driver badly enough to cause a wreck. Distracted driving can also harm bicyclists and pedestrians that are in a car’s vicinity. Studies show that if a driver doesn’t pay attention for even three seconds at highway speed, their vehicle can travel the length of a football field before the driver can get their focus back. It is simply not possible to drive safely when distracted whatsoever, at any rate of speed.
What Damages Can Victims In St. Louis Claim After a Distracted Driving Crash?
In St. Louis, Missouri, car accident victims can claim both economic and non-economic damages caused by a distracted driver.
Economic damages include medical bills, lost income, property repair costs, prescription costs, home medical equipment, and other items that can be broken down by dollar figures. Limited future income based on injuries can also fall within economic damages if they can be estimated with reasonable certainty. In the tragic event of a fatal crash, funeral and burial expenses for your loved one are also covered under economic damages.
Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, mental distress, disability and disfigurement, loss of companionship, and other effects of a distracted driving crash. An experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer will know how to fight for the full range of non-economic damages you could be entitled to.
How Do I Prove Negligence in a Distracted Driving Case?
To prove the other driver is legally responsible for your injuries, you must establish negligence on the part of the other driver.
Negligence consists of four elements to prove:
- Duty of care to other drivers. This means driving with caution for others on the road and following traffic laws and signals.
- Breach of duty. This occurs when a driver fails to use reasonable care and caution while driving. In a distracted driving case, this involves looking away from the road or otherwise not paying full attention to what is in front of them.
- Causation. The driver’s breach of duty directly led to the crash and caused the victim’s injuries.
- Damages. The accident must have actually caused economic and/or non-economic damages to the victim.
Your lawyer will use all medical records and other documentation to prove your injuries after a distracted driving crash. A car accident attorney will also collect and use a wide variety of other evidence to prove your claim and argue for full and fair financial compensation.
Contact Our St. Louis Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Distracted driving accidents are shocking and traumatic for those involved. If you were injured by a distracted driver in St. Louis, Missouri, you could be entitled to financial compensation. To talk about your next steps, contact the Roach Car Accident Lawyers to schedule your free consultation with a St. Louis distracted driving accident lawyer.
We’re here to offer you top-rated legal assistance. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our St. Louis car accident attorneys. Our law office is located near you at 1010 Market St Suite 1605, St. Louis, MO 63101, United States. You can also find us using these GeoCoordinates: 38.62699550077672, -90.19691507671654
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