Distracted driving comes down to multitasking. Whether it was your father adjusting the car radio while driving during a family trip in the 1980s or your best friend texting behind the wheel last week on the way to a concert, each put themselves and others in danger.
A few other examples:
- Monitoring children
- Eating and drinking
- Talking on cellphones
- Engaging in social media
- Driving under the influence
- Programming the navigation system
- Adjusting climate and other dashboard controls
- Interacting with passengers
If you’re engaged in any of these activities or others – from applying makeup to admiring an attractive pedestrian – you are not driving in a safe manner. Everyone who has caused a distracted driving accident thought they were capable of multitasking. In every case, they were wrong.
Distracted Driving: Not Worth the Risks
The consequences of distracted driving are devastating:
- Minor to major injuries
- Fatalities
- Minor to major vehicle and property damage
- Increased insurance rates
- Loss of license
- Jail time
States have many laws to curb distracted driving. The most obvious are aimed at driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Texas has mandated the use of hands-free cellphone technology and instituted bans on texting to discourage drivers from taking their eyes off the road even for a second.
In the end, though, the individual motorist is responsible for distracted driving. They can ignore a ringing phone or the chime of an incoming email. They can program a GPS before pulling out of the driveway. They can finish their sandwich in the kitchen, before getting behind the wheel. They can pull over to admonish unruly children.
Guilty, Whether They Admit It or Not
Another problem with distracted driving accidents is that few motorists will admit they were at fault. Their reasons range from embarrassment to knowing an admission of guilt has legal and financial consequences. They may even blame you for the crash. This means it’s your word against theirs. You also may be dealing with serious injuries, unable to work and provide for your family. An insurance company, looking to settle the case for as little as possible, will try pressuring you into accepting a lowball financial settlement because they know you are desperate for money.
Athens distracted driving accident attorney Jeff Weinstein of Weinstein Law has handled cases like yours throughout Henderson County and East Texas for more than 20 years. A former prosecutor in Dallas, he knows people lie about causing distracted driving accidents and can prove it by conducting a thorough, independent investigation.
He will fight for your rights and fair financial compensation. If you have any questions, you can call him directly because he will provide you with his personal cell number. Contact him today for a free consultation.