Texting while driving is incredibly dangerous and can lead to accidents that cause injuries and suffering. If you were involved in an accident with a distracted driver who was texting, you could potentially sue them. It may even be possible to recover compensation. There are personal injury lawyers who manage distracted driving cases. They may be able to help you evaluate your options.
Distracted Driving Causes Thousands of Deaths a Year in the U.S.
Texting while driving falls under the umbrella of distracted driving. Distracted driving is, unfortunately, is a serious problem throughout the United States, largely due to widespread cell phone use and other technology.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), various forms of distracted driving caused more than 3,000 fatalities in 2019 alone. In addition to the fatalities, a distracted driving accident can cause you suffering and grief in other ways.
Why Texting and Driving Is Dangerous
Texting while driving is dangerous for a multitude of reasons. When a driver takes their attention away from the road, they cannot react to the changes in traffic patterns, sudden obstructions, weather hazards, and more while on the road. There is a good reason why texting while driving is illegal and punishable by law.
If you were the victim of an accident that texting while driving caused, remember that you can file a lawsuit. While this traumatic accident can forever impact your life, you have legal options to recover the compensation you deserve.
How a Texting While Driving Accident Can Change Your Life
An accident caused by texting can change your life. If you are fortunate, you can make a full recovery and put your trauma in the past. Unfortunately, texting while driving accidents can also have more permanent physical, emotional, or financial effects on your life, including:
- Physical injuries and suffering: Cuts, burns, scrapes, bruises, broken bones, head and neck injuries, and more are possible from a vehicle accident. In some cases, you could be left with disfigurement, a permanent disability, or a long-term ailment. If texting ultimately led to your physical suffering, you could have grounds to sue.
- Emotional trauma: Sometimes, it is easy to overlook the possible emotional trauma that an accident can cause. A sudden, intense event like a car accident can shock your nervous system, leading to anxiety, sleeplessness, and even depression. You could find it hard to enjoy your daily life in the same way and may even require professional help.
- Financial hardship: Financial difficulties are common after a traffic accident. Vehicle damage, property loss, expensive medical bills, income loss, and more can make it hard to pay household expenses. While unbudgeted expenses can be challenging, you could have legal recourse to recover damages if a texting driver caused your accident.
Depending on the details of your case, you could recover various forms of compensation if you sue a texting driver.
What Are the Potential Benefits of Filing a Lawsuit?
The main reason people file lawsuits in texting while driving cases is to recover compensation and pursue a sense of justice. Compensation can make life easier after an accident, and a sense of justice for the wrongdoing of another party is priceless. Compensation from a lawsuit could include:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses and legal fees
- Damages for emotional suffering or physical injuries
- Lost wages if you could not work because of your accident injuries
- Compensation for your vehicle loss or damaged property
Every case is different, so compensation is not guaranteed. You may need to legally prove that a third party was texting and, therefore, liable for your accident. Sometimes, it could help to have a lawyer by your side during this process.
Should I Hire a Lawyer?
Some of the potential benefits of having a lawyer to work on your behalf as you file a lawsuit include but are not limited to the following:
- They can help you with paperwork, saving you time and allowing you to focus on your recovery.
- They can answer your questions about filing a lawsuit and explain every step of the process along the way.
- They can file your lawsuit promptly and ensure you do not miss important deadlines.
- They will give you support and counsel you during a stressful time.
How Long do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
Depending on your jurisdiction, you could have limitations from the time of your accident or the onset of injuries to take action. This is based on your state’s statute of limitations. A lawyer can help you understand exactly how long you have to file a lawsuit in a texting while driving case.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today
If you were the victim of a texting while driving accident and want to learn more about your legal options, our team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help. Call 1-800-747-3733 today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
