Texting while operating a vehicle is a dangerous activity that can result in severe accidents. If you were involved in a collision with a driver who you suspect was using his or her phone, you may have a strong claim for negligence. For many car accident victims, a civil lawsuit helps secure the necessary financial compensation to cover medical costs and other losses.
To give yourself the best chance of success, work with an attorney with experience handling texting while driving car accidents in Sandusky. At Tittle & Perlmuter, our dedicated lawyers can investigate the site of your crash, gather evidence of the other driver’s negligence, and work to pursue comprehensive recovery on your behalf. Getting legal representation may be the first step in moving forward from your traumatic experience.
The Risks of Texting While Driving
Text messaging is a dangerous distraction while behind the wheel. Motorists that take their eyes off the road to write a text or look at their phone often fail to notice changing road conditions until it is too late. There are many hazards, such as slowing traffic, sharp turns, or pedestrians, that could lead to a traffic collision if a driver is not watching out for them.
Even a fleeting glance away from the road can dramatically increase the chance of a crash. At high speeds, a vehicle can cross the length of a football field in a matter of seconds. For that reason, even looking briefly at a phone to read a text or respond to an e-mail can have devastating consequences. Any distraction reduces the amount of time a driver has to slow or stop the vehicle, potentially resulting in a high-speed collision and catastrophic or even fatal injuries.
Establishing Negligence for Phone Use Behind the Wheel
For an injured victim to obtain compensation for a texting while driving accident, their attorney must be able to prove negligence by the other driver. This involves demonstrating proof of all four of the following elements.
Duty of Care
A successful negligence claim must show that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff. This element is often easy to establish for vehicle accidents, as drivers owe a duty to everyone else on and near the road to safely operate their vehicles.
Breach of Duty
The next step in proving negligence is establishing that the duty of care was breached by the defendant. A breach is primarily demonstrated through a careless, reckless, or intentional action that causes an accident. If the other driver in a crash was texting at the time of the collision, our skilled attorneys can use this as evidence of a breach.
Causation
In a successful car crash claim, there must be a link, or causation, between the breached duty and the injuries sustained by the plaintiff. When a motorist causes a wreck, they are only liable for injuries that directly resulted from their negligence.
Damages
The final step for plaintiffs and their lawyer is to demonstrate the damages they have suffered. Injuries stemming from a texting while driving accident could result in compensable damages like medical bills or lost wages, which an experienced attorney can help recover.
Call a Sandusky Attorney for Texting While Driving Car Accidents
An accident with a distracted driver can have a significant impact on your life. If you were injured by someone who was texting behind the wheel, call Tittle & Perlmuter to help hold the person accountable for your losses. Our attorneys have handled many texting while driving car accidents in Sandusky and can walk you through every step of the legal process to recover compensation. Call us today for a consultation about your circumstances.