Understanding the Legal Consequences for Distracted Drivers

Distracted driving is a major cause of car accidents, and it’s becoming an increasingly serious problem. Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed due to drivers who weren’t paying attention to the road. In response, many states have enacted distracted driving laws that make it illegal for motorists to use their cell phones while behind the wheel. But do you know what your legal rights and responsibilities are when it comes to texting and driving? Are there any specific consequences if you get caught? And if someone else causes an accident because they were distracted, what should you do as a car accident lawyer?

In this blog post, we’ll explore these questions in more detail so that you can better understand the legal consequences of operating a vehicle while distracted or preoccupied. We’ll also look at how car accident lawyers can help protect your rights after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.

Call 317-881-2700 to Speak With an Auto Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis Indiana
Call 317-881-2700 to Speak With an Auto Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis Indiana

Examples of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has become a serious hazard on the roads because it distracts drivers from paying attention to the task at hand – driving safely. Examples of inattentive driving may include conducting personal grooming, attending to children and animals in the car, using mobile devices for texting or talking, applying makeup, looking down while reaching for anything and rummaging through your purse or briefcase. Additionally, eating while driving and changing your music can also be considered distracted driving. Drivers should remember that distracted driving endangers not only their life, but the lives of other passengers and drivers on the road. In many cases, operating a motor vehicle while fatigued or upset can also be considered inattentive driving.

What You Need to Know About Driving While Preoccupied

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that distracted driving is illegal in many states. Most laws prohibit the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle, including talking on the phone, texting, or using social media apps. Violating these laws can result in hefty fines and even jail time if you’re convicted. In some cases, drivers may also lose their licenses for a period of time after being caught engaging in distracted driving.

Distracted Driving Car Accidents

But what happens if someone else causes an accident due to distracted driving? In this case, auto accident lawyers can help investigate the facts of the crash and determine who was at fault for causing the collision. If it turns out that another driver was distracted when they caused your accident, car accident lawyers can pursue compensation on your behalf. In some cases, car accident attorneys may be able to negotiate a settlement with the other driver’s insurance company or file a lawsuit if necessary.

Distracted Driving is a Serious Risk

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that distracted driving is illegal and can have serious consequences for both drivers involved in an accident. If you’re ever injured by another driver who was distracted, contact car accident lawyers immediately so they can protect your rights and seek the compensation you deserve. Understanding the legal consequences of distracted driving will help ensure that you stay safe on the road and avoid any costly mistakes related to this dangerous behavior.

Conclusion

Distracted driving poses significant risks to motorists and must be avoided at all costs. If you’re injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, car accident lawyers can help protect your rights and pursue compensation on your behalf. Make sure to always stay informed of the distracted driving laws in your state and understand the legal consequences that could come with breaking them. Doing so will allow you to remain safe while on the road and maintain your legal rights if something goes wrong.

Were you injured in a car accident or as a pedestrian due to another person driving while distracted? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free personal injury consultation. We can meet with you over the phone, via computer, or in-person at our Indianapolis personal injury law office. Our car accident injury attorneys represent clients throughout the state, as well as Indiana residents injured in other states and even residents of other states who are injured in Indiana.

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Understanding Onset of Injuries After a Car Accident

Even as low as 5 or 10 miles per hour, vehicles are essentially multi-ton missiles on the road. So, when drivers are involved in a collision, the event is usually traumatic. The force produced by a car wreck can cause a wide range of injuries to both passengers and drivers, especially soft tissue injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, and concussions; injuries that are not always present right away.  It does not take a big collision for a person to be injured in even a “minor” automobile collision because the force of the collision between the two vehicles involved in the collision flows through your flesh and body.

A common phenomenon surrounding car accidents is known as an onset of injury, which describes a car accident victim who does not show signs of injury until hours, days, or even weeks following the collision. Such car accident victims often feel concerned that they are no longer eligible to claim payments through an accident claim or lawsuit because their injuries were not apparent at the scene of the accident. But those who are wrongly injured in a car wreck deserve justice no matter how many days later their injuries appear, and the law tends to agree.  Moreover, medical doctors agree that a delayed onset of injuries for a person involved in an automobile collision is very common.

Continue reading to learn more about experiencing an onset of injury after a car accident, including what you should do if you were hurt in an auto collision that was not your fault.

Auto Accident Attorneys Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700
Auto Accident Attorneys Indianapolis Indiana 317-881-2700

Do Not Mistake a Minor Accident for Minor Injuries

Even a seemingly minor car accident can cause bodily injury that does not appear at or directly after the scene of the collision. And if a minor car accident can pose the risk of late-appearing bodily harm, you can safely presume that a more serious auto accident can lead to an onset of injuries as well. An auto accident victim might feel fine, even unharmed, after the event, especially with their adrenaline pumping, but then days, weeks or even months later, begin experiencing signs and symptoms of serious injury. The most common types of late-appearing car accident injuries include neck injuries, back injuries, soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and concussions.

Because onset of injury is a real possibility among car accident victims, it is crucial to monitor your daily health following the wreck and to seek medical attention at the first sign of any evolving injuries. Such records will protect your rights to claiming payments through an accident claim or lawsuit, down the line, especially when the defendant’s insurance adjuster starts arguing you were not injured.

What To Do After a Car Accident

After being involved in a car accident that was not your fault, it is important to protect yourself by filing a police report at the scene and receiving medical attention from responding EMT’s. Also at the scene, gather as much video and photo evidence of the surroundings, including car damages, street signs, traffic signs, skid marks, intersections, any visible injuries on you, and more. You should also try to gather contact information from any witnesses. All of this evidence can help support your rights to being compensated.

After you leave the scene of the accident, it is critical to see a doctor right away. If you do not want to go to the emergency room, make a doctor’s appointment for the next day or as soon as possible. It is important to see a doctor after a car accident whether you feel injured or not. Not only will a doctor be able to check you out and give you instructions on how to self-monitor for later-appearing car accident injuries, and these medical records will help support your case as well.

During this process, it is vital that you do not speak with any insurance adjusters or representatives. Instead, work fast to hire a personal injury law firm in Indiana that specializes in car accident injury claims. They have the knowledge and resources to represent your case and obtain the maximum settlement or verdict you deserve. Just be sure to choose the best car accident attorneys in Indianapolis!

Insurance companies for defendants have attorneys and insurance adjusters working on the case for the defendant from the moment the at-fault driver informs them of the automobile collision.  You should have immediate attorney representation as well to make sure you get treated fairly and so the other side does not entice you to doing things that will only help their side.

Are you looking for a qualified and experienced civil litigation law firm that can meet these expectations and more? Contact the Law Office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to schedule a free personal injury case evaluation with a seasoned car accident lawyer in Indianapolis. We represent clients throughout the state of Indiana and Indiana residents injured in other states.

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Filing an Auto Accident Injury Lawsuit

Car Accident Injury Lawyers Indiana 317-881-2700

Car Accident Injury Lawyers Indiana 317-881-2700

Car accidents are serious. Vehicles weight more than four times the weight of the average person. The size and weight of a vehicle, combined with high speeds, can be a recipe for serious injury. Car collisions can result in a wide spectrum of injury; from minor orthopedic injuries, to head trauma, and even death. Fortunately, if a person is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, they have the legal right to pursue remuneration from the negligent party that caused the accident or injury.

Pursuing compensation for damages incurred following a serious injury can help a person or family pay for medical bills, hospital expenses, lost wages, time off work, prolonged rehabilitation, and much more. In order to be successful at obtaining full and fair compensation for your injuries, it is critical to follow a series of steps that give you the resources you need to file a lawsuit. Continue reading to learn the proper instructions for filing an auto accident lawsuit in Indiana.

Motor Vehicle Accident Injury Claims

As the injured victim, or family of the victim, you have legal obligations to fulfill in order to win compensation for pain, suffering, and exemplary damages following a serious car accident or wrongful death. One of the first and most important obligation is to stop and remain at the scene of the accident, even if the accident was not your fault. This is important even if you believe you are not injured. Motor vehicle accidents can sometimes result in injuries that are not noticed or evident right away.

Car Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Car Accident Attorneys 317-881-2700

Once an accident occurs, if you are able to move attempt to leave the vehicle and find safe ground away from moving traffic. If you are unable to move or get out of your vehicle, wait for emergency services to arrive and assist you. If you are in a populated area, you will most likely not have to call for medical and law enforcement services. In most cases, the surrounding community will witness the accident and call ahead of you to report it. So if you cannot move or reach your phone to call for help, you can most likely rest assure that medical teams are on their way. Otherwise, if you are stuck in your vehicle after an accident, make the call yourself and request medical assistance. This leads into the next two obligations you have as a motor vehicle accident victim wishing to pursue a lawsuit.

As you remain at the scene of the crime, it is crucial to allow emergency services to give assistance and clear you for good health. If you are experiencing pain or injury, immediately notify the emergency medical team so they can assist you and put it in their report. On the topic of reports, it is equally important to file a police report at the scene of the crime as well. Law enforcement will write an official report detailing the terms of the accident and the damages sustained. The medical report, medical services, and police report are all critical evidence to use in court or negotiations to win your auto accident compensation claim.

The last obligation is not “legally mandatory” but can significantly help win your case. This obligation is to never admit any bit of fault at the scene of the accident. Never even say words like “might have” or “maybe” because they can quickly be used against you in trial. Also, be sure to hire a reputable personal injury attorney to properly and effectively represent you in your lawsuit. Without the services of a licensed accident lawyer, there is very little chance of winning your claim. Accident attorneys are highly trained and well-versed in negotiations and injury cases. They are capable of organizing an effective and solid case against the negligent party in an auto accident lawsuit.

Auto Accident Injury Attorneys in Indianapolis

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Personal Injury Lawyers 317-881-2700

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 for details about filing an auto accident injury lawsuit in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorney Daniel Craven, Keith Blazek, and Ralph Hoover are highly proficient in accident law and can obtain the full and fair compensation you rightfully deserve following a motor vehicle accident injury. We offer free initial consultations to assess you case and we never collect attorney fees unless we prevail for you! Call us today at 317-881-2700 and schedule your free initial consultation to discuss your motor vehicle accident
lawsuit
with a licensed Indianapolis
accident attorney
.