Operating a vehicle requires significant attention to the task at hand. Not only do drivers need to keep their eyes on the road, but they also need to stay mentally focused on driving. When that focus drifts, whether due to phones, navigation systems, or other distractions, it can lead to serious distracted driving car accidents in Clark. These preventable crashes often result in substantial damages and injuries, leaving those involved unsure of what steps to take next. An experienced car accident attorney can help you understand your legal options and pursue the compensation you may deserve.
Defining Driver Distraction
When most people think of distracted driving, they imagine a driver with their eyes on their cell phone as they hurtle down the road. While texting and driving involves all three major types of distraction behind the wheel—taking the eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and attention off the task at hand—it is not the only type of distraction. Driver distraction in Clark can include any task or behavior that prevents the driver from paying attention to the road, such as:
- Putting on makeup
- Eating and drinking
- Programming a GPS device
- Changing stations on the radio
- Reaching for something in the back seat
- Dealing with children or pets in the vehicle
- Engaging in a conversation with a passenger in the vehicle
All these behaviors can take substantial attention away from the road, increasing the risk of a devastating accident.
Damages in Distracted Driving Claims
Following an accident in Clark that involved a distracted driver, injured individuals have the right to file a claim for compensation. Those claims include compensation for the financial and non-financial losses suffered by the injured person, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- The cost of medical treatment for injuries sustained in the accident
- The value of wages the injured person missed out on because of their injuries
- The cost of future anticipated medical treatment and needs
- Lost earning potential, when the injured individual can no longer work in their previous field
Working with a lawyer can make it easier for individuals injured in distracted driving car accidents in Clark to lay out the full damages they sustained and include them as part of a claim.
Distracted Driving Convictions and Injury Claims
A conviction for distracted driving provides strong evidence of negligence, which could help injured individuals show that the distracted driver is liable for the crash. However, not all distracted drivers face conviction, often because responding officers do not find clear proof of distraction at the scene. Even without a conviction, the distracted driver may still bear liability. Behaviors like tailgating, swerving, or failing to yield could also demonstrate fault for the accident.
Discuss Your Distracted Driving Car Accident With an Attorney in Clark
In the aftermath of distracted driving car accidents in Clark, injured individuals often find themselves fighting with the insurance company to recover fair compensation for their losses. An attorney could help guide them through the claim process and provide them with the assistance they need to establish both liability for the accident and the compensation they deserve.
At Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC, we understand the many challenges that can accompany a distracted driving accident claim, and we strive to help our clients successfully navigate the claim process. Reach out to us today for your free consultation.
