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Hit by a texting driver? You may have a claim

On Behalf of | Apr 8, 2020 | Car Accidents |

You were heading to your job when you pulled into an intersection to make a left-hand turn. You had a green light, so you didn’t even think about looking to the side before pulling out.

Unfortunately, a young driver must not have noticed that the light was red for them. They plowed into the intersection and T-boned your vehicle. You were rushed to the hospital with significant injuries, but the driver in the other vehicle somehow survived with only scratches. You later found out that they had been texting when they ran the red light.

Most people understand that texting and driving is a dangerous act. If you text while you’re driving, you’re looking away from the road. You’re thinking about something else. You’re also physically taking your hands off the wheel.

All of these actions make it more likely that you’ll be involved in a collision or be unable to maneuver your way out of trouble. While it only takes a few seconds to send a text or read over one that you received, you’re still taking your eyes off the road for long enough to drive the length of a football field (while driving at 55 mph). That’s too dangerous, and it’s something that can lead to serious consequences.

In one poll, 55% of teens and 77% of adults admitted that they felt that they could text while driving at the same time safely. That simply isn’t the truth, because the risk of a crash increases by around 23 times when you text behind the wheel.

Drivers have to be cautious to help prevent crashes from texting and driving

If you plan to drive, you should never allow yourself to pick up your phone. Distractions, especially those that involve manual, cognitive and physical distractions combined, can quickly lead to car crashes. Drivers must pay attention to the road, because it takes only a second or two for a hazard to appear.

What should you do if you’re hit by a driver who was texting?

If you are hit and know that the driver was looking away from the road or texting at the time of the crash, it’s important to make this clear to the police officer who comes to the scene as well as to your attorney. This action is extremely reckless, and knowing that it took place could help your case when you’re seeking compensation.

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