When you drive your car, you rely on the skills of other drivers in addition to your own behavior behind the wheel. Even if you drive as safely as possible, the choices and failures of another driver can cause an accident.
With cell phones now in the hands of most Americans, texting while driving accidents in Westerville are all too common. If you suffered injuries due to a negligent driver texting while on the road, a dedicated car accident attorney can help you bring a legal claim for compensation based on that driver’s negligence.
Operating a vehicle demands control, skill, and, most critically, a driver’s full attention. Inattentiveness increases the risk of a crash, as a distracted driver may overlook a lane change, drift into another lane, or collide head-on with oncoming traffic.
Texting while driving diverts a driver’s eyes from the road, even for a fraction of a second. This brief distraction can create a lapse in attention significant enough to cause a collision, even when using in-car technology to read and respond to messages.
A texting-related accident can cause severe injuries, including concussions, nerve damage, and organ damage, along with superficial cuts and bruises. The extent of the crash and its impact may result in substantial medical expenses and long-term rehabilitation.
With these costs looming after an accident, not to mention the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle and the possibility of losing income during recovery and beyond, an accident can completely change a life instantly. Pursuing a compensation claim based on a texting while driving accident with the aid of a Westerville attorney can help make up for those damages.
Bringing a claim for compensation requires both the law and facts. A plaintiff will likely need to prove that the other driver was negligent. Negligence can hold someone legally responsible for unreasonably causing another person’s injuries, even if there was no intention to hurt anyone.
Negligence claims require proof of a legal duty of care (the duty to drive safely), breach of that duty (unreasonable behavior, such as texting while driving), causation, and damages (injuries expressed through legal categories), such as:
Evidence collected at the accident scene and shortly afterward establishes the facts, demonstrating that the other driver caused the crash and was texting while driving.
Surveillance camera footage, statements of eyewitnesses, and reports from law enforcement and insurance companies can all become evidence supporting a negligence claim. For texting while driving car accident claims, an attorney in or near Westerville can assist in gathering this evidence and bringing it together into a coherent claim for compensation.
Texting while driving accidents in Westerville are entirely preventable. If another driver’s negligence causes a crash that affects your health and livelihood, you shouldn’t have to navigate the legal process alone. An attorney can help you seek compensation by filing a claim. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and explore your legal options.