Clinton Distracted Driving Lawyer
Distracted drivers have taken over the roads. According to Fox17 News, Tennessee had 24,743 distracted driving crashes in 2016. Injuries usually cause forced time off of work, expensive doctor’s bills, and significant psychological and emotional distress. If you have been in a motor vehicle crash involving a distracted driver, contact a trusted Clinton distracted driving lawyer at our office today.
What Constitutes Distracting Driving?
Distracted driving is often associated with texting, but it goes beyond just looking at the screen of a phone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) distinguish between three ways a person can become distracted while behind the wheel. First, a person can be engaged in an activity that takes their eyes off the road. Someone looking down to find an item in a purse is an example of someone who is visually distracted. Another type of distracted driving is when a person takes one or both hands off the wheel. For instance, they may be reaching in the back seat to deal with a young child. Lastly, a driver’s attention can be pulled away from the road if their mind is taken away from the task of driving. If a person gets behind the wheel when they are in emotional distress over a relationship, they may actually be too distracted to drive. What makes texting particularly dangerous and irresponsible is that it incorporates all three types of distracted driving.
How to Prove Distracted Driving
If you have been hit by a car, there is a high likelihood the driver was distracted. However, building a case that attempts to show that a driver was inattentive behind the wheel is challenging. Some examples of evidence include:
- Witnesses – One of the first steps the police will take when investigated is to take witness statements. Witnesses who saw the driver swerving, not reacting to stoplights in a timely manner, or other similar cues are critical to proving a distracted driver;
- Police reports – These can contain physical evidence of a distracted driver. For instance, an open iPad could be in a photo taken of the driver’s front seat after the crash occurred;
- Cell Phone Records – If requested from the cell phone company, records of someone’s phone communications can be used in court to prove a driver was using their phone at the time of the crash;
- Confessions – It is also possible that a driver will feel guilty and confess to what was taking their attention away from the road at the time they caused the crash; and
- Videos or Photos – If the crash happened near a building with a video surveillance camera or in a traffic intersection that uses red-light cameras, there may be visual evidence to prove distracted driving.
Contact Our Experienced Clinton Distracted Driving Lawyers Today
If you’ve been injured or your property has been damaged in a motor vehicle crash involving a distracted driver, you deserve to be compensated for the damages. Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette, located in Clinton, Tennessee is ready to fight for your case. For a free initial consultation with one of our skilled distracted driving attorneys contact us at 865-457-6440.
