Atlanta Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
Highway deaths are on the rise in Georgia and across the nation after years of decline. In 2022 alone, the NHTSA claimed that there were 3,308 deaths in the U.S. just from distracted driving. Traffic safety experts attribute the turn-a-round in large part to distracted driving. It takes only a few seconds of wandering attention to cause a car accident in Atlanta that may result in serious injuries or death to the driver, a passenger, or others on the road. A driver who causes an accident due to distraction is a negligent driver. Victims of distracted drivers who are injured, or surviving family members of those who are killed by a distracted driver in Atlanta, GA, have the legal right to recover compensation for their economic and non-economic or quality-of-life damages caused by the distracted driver’s negligence.
Smartphones and Driver Distraction
While there are many types of distraction that can cause a driver’s attention to wander from the road, Smartphone use is at the top of the list. Talking on the phone, texting, emailing, checking social media, getting directions or reading an online map are all hazards of smartphone use that interfere with driver attention and concentration. Because so many people spend so much of their day glued to their Smartphone, many drivers feel a false sense of confidence that they can drive and use the phone at the same time — which they can’t. Using electronic devices is a distraction that can be fatal, to the user and to others on the road.
One study conducted by telecommunications giant AT&T revealed that about 70 percent of smartphone users allow themselves to become distracted behind the wheel. 49% admitted to checking their social media accounts while driving, 30 percent to surfing the web, and 10 percent to engaging in video chat while driving.
Other Common Driving Distractions
Other distractions that cause accidents include rubbernecking at traffic stops and accidents, personal grooming, eating and drinking, changing the radio station or adjusting the GPS, picking up objects dropped on the floor, pets, and engaging with children or other passengers in the car.
Teenagers seem especially prone to distracted driving. Teens tend to be even more heavily involved in social media, text messaging, and electronic communications than adults. They are often less experienced drivers and may be less mature, even engaging in horseplay with friends in the car!
Holding Distracted Drivers Accountable for Their Negligence on the Road
If you or someone close to you suffered a serious injury, or if you lost a loved one in an Atlanta car accident caused by a distracted driver, you should hire an experienced car accident attorney with a proven track record as soon as possible. Your attorney will be able to investigate and analyze the circumstances surrounding the crash, determine which parties to the accident are potentially liable, and when needed, bring on board various experts, such as traffic safety engineers and accident reconstruction specialists to support your case with expert testimony.
Get the Right Legal Help After a Distracted Driving Crash in Atlanta
Any time you are involved in an Atlanta auto accident, your first concern should be getting the medical care you need. If you are able, call the local law enforcement agency to report the accident and exchange insurance information with the other driver. Don’t discuss the cause of the accident or who was at fault with anyone, especially the insurance adjuster for the at-fault driver. Hire a top-rated Atlanta personal injury attorney by calling Butler Prather LLP as soon after the accident as possible, and refer all insurance company personnel to your Atlanta, GA distracted driving accident lawyer.
Our firm has obtained more verdicts over 10 million dollars than any other firm in Georgia, so you can be confident that you are in good hands, and that your case will be handled with the skill, diligence, and professionalism that are responsible for the superior results we routinely achieve for our clients. Your initial consultation is entirely free, and you will never have any out-of-pocket expenses, because we take car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You only pay us after we win money for you. Call to speak to one of our dedicated Atlanta or Columbus car accident attorneys today.
Call us in Atlanta at (404) 321-1700 or toll-free at (800) 242-2962 today!
Additional Information
- The Rise of Distracted Driving Accidents in Georgia
- Proving Distracted Driving with Cell Phone Data
- What You Need to Know about Georgia’s Hand-Free Law
- Distracted Driving - NHTSA