North Carolina Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, distracted driving causes thousands of car accidents in North Carolina annually. To break it down, using a cell phone caused 1,186 crashes, using other electronic devices caused 413 crashes, other distractions inside the vehicle caused 1,140 crashes, and external distractions caused 354 distracted driving crashes in one recent year. When you’ve suffered injuries in a crash caused by another motorist’s distractions, Stewart Law Offices can help you seek the compensation you need to get your life back on track. Contact us today for a free initial claim evaluation to discuss your legal options.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help After a Car Crash with a Distracted Driver?
After an accident, a distracted driving accident attorney from Stewart Law Offices can help you seek money to compensate you for the life-altering injuries you suffered. We can handle the details of preparing and pursuing your compensation claims so you can focus your time and energy on your medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Hiring legal counsel for your distracted driving accident claim can provide you with the following benefits:
- Dedicated legal representation: Our firm can guide you through the claims process by explaining your rights and options and preparing you for what to expect at each stage of your case. We can provide you with personalized legal advice so you can make informed decisions about your case.
- Thorough accident investigations: Proving that the other driver caused the car accident due to distracted driving will require an in-depth investigation to secure evidence that proves the other driver was distracted in the moments before the crash.
- Aggressive settlement negotiation: Insurance adjusters use numerous tactics to minimize the value of car accident injury claims. Our firm will work tirelessly to counter those tactics and hold the insurance company accountable for the injuries the distracted driver caused.
- Experienced trial advocacy: When an insurance company or negligent driver refuses to provide fair compensation for your accident injuries, our legal team can take your claims to trial to fight for justice for the harm and loss you’ve suffered.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving occurs when a motorist takes their attention and effort off the task of driving. Distracted driving creates a significant risk of motor vehicle accidents. Even brief instances of distracted driving can have devastating consequences. For example, in the time it takes a driver to read or send a text, their vehicle can cover the length of a football field while traveling at highway speeds. Furthermore, when a driver gets distracted from monitoring their vehicle and the road, it can take several seconds for the driver to re-focus.
Types of Distracted Driving
Distracted drivers in Charlotte may engage in three types of distracted driving: manual, visual, and cognitive distractions. Manual distractions involve taking one or both hands off the steering wheel to reach for or manipulate an object, such as reaching for a fallen object. Visual distractions involve taking one’s eyes off the road, such as reading a text message or looking for an object. Cognitive distractions involve letting one’s mind wander from the task of driving.
Some of the leading causes of distracted driving accidents in Charlotte include:
- Texting
- Eating or drinking
- Grooming or applying makeup
- Reaching around the passenger cabin for an object
- Interacting with passengers or pets in the car
- Reading
- Watching videos on an electronic device
- Adjusting the car’s climate control, radio, or navigation
- Watching something outside the vehicle, such as a billboard or a car accident scene
- Daydreaming
What Are North Carolina’s Distracted Driving Laws?
North Carolina’s distracted driving statute prohibits texting while driving. The statute makes it illegal for a person to operate a motor vehicle on a public street, highway, or vehicular area while using a mobile telephone to:
Manually enter text or characters into the device to communicate with another person
Read any electronic mail or text message
The distracted driving law does not prohibit specific uses of electronic devices while driving, including:
- Using a device while lawfully stopped or parked
- Using a GPS device or feature or a wireless communication device used to transmit or receive data from a digital dispatch system
- Using voice-operated technology
- Using an electronic device by a law enforcement officer, member of a fire department, or operator of an ambulance while in the course of their official duties
Violations of the distracted driving law may result in fines of $100 plus court costs. School bus drivers who violate the distracted driving law will face a Class 2 misdemeanor charge, which carries a minimum fine of $100. Furthermore, as a primary offense, law enforcement officers can initiate traffic stops if they observe drivers violating the distracted driving statute. Officers do not need to witness an additional traffic infraction to stop a motorist for violations of this statute.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Distracted Driving Accident Case?
In a personal injury claim arising from a distracted driving crash, you can seek full compensation for financial and personal losses you incur due to injuries and property damage. Your financial recovery can include money for your:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Long-term disability care and replacement services (such as housekeeping or childcare) if your injuries result in prolonged or permanent disabilities
- Lost wages or income after missing time from work or spending time in a lower-paying modified duty position due to medical restrictions imposed by your injuries
- Loss of future earnings and job benefits if you become disabled from work
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life because of physical disabilities or visible scarring or disfigurement
Contact Stewart Law Offices for a Free Evaluation
When you’ve suffered serious injuries from a distracted driving accident, get the legal help you need to demand accountability and justice from the negligent driver responsible for the crash. Contact Stewart Law Offices today for a free initial consultation. You can talk with an experienced distracted driving lawyer to discuss how our firm can help you fight to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.