According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, eight people are killed every day in the United States because of distracted driving.
Over 2,800 Americans lost their lives in 2018, and 400,000 were injured in accidents involving a distracted driver.
If you were injured because another driver got distracted behind the wheel, then you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
However, as with any other type of car accident, the burden of proof falls on your shoulders. Distracted driving can be difficult to prove if you don’t know what kind of information to look for. Nevertheless, a St. Louis car accident lawyer can help you identify distracted driving and get a fair settlement.
Types of Distracted Driving
Most people associate distracted driving with the use of mobile devices behind the wheel. According to the National Safety Council, 1.6 million crashes occur every year because of mobile use while driving. Moreover, one in four car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
However, our phones are not the only cause of distraction. Even simple actions like adjusting the radio, talking with another passenger, eating, looking at the GPS, and so on can cause drivers to lose focus and get into a crash.
How a Lawyer Can Help You
If you suspect that the other driver was distracted when the crash occurred, you should get in touch with a St. Louis car injury lawyer and ask for their help. A lawyer will know what evidence to collect to support your claim.
- Phone Records: Your lawyer could gain access to the other driver’s phone records. That way, he can discover if the other driver was texting or talking on the phone when the accident took place.
- Photo and Video Evidence: Photo or video footage from a traffic camera could show if the other driver was using their phone or engaging in other distracting behavior, such as eating or fidgeting with the radio.
- Social Media Activity: Social media activity is logged and time-stamped. Your lawyer could get access to this information and prove the other driver using their social media accounts at the time of the accident.
- The Police Report: According to the law in Missouri, the police should be called at the scene of a car accident if the damage exceeds 500 dollars or someone was injured. Even if you are fine, you should still call the police if you suspect that the other driver was distracted while driving. The police report will contain crucial information that may support your claim.
Speak With an Experienced St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Now
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by distracted driving, you will need concrete evidence to build a strong case. An experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.