Belleville Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
If You Were Hit by a Distracted Driver, We Want to Help
It takes your full attention to safely operate a motor vehicle. When something distracts you away from watching the road, it creates a dangerous situation – not only for you, but for other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
There are many causes of distracted driving – eating and drinking, looking for street signs or addresses, daydreaming, fiddling with the radio, turning to talk to a passenger, looking at directions, talking or looking at a cell phone, texting, and much more. When a driver allows his or her full attention to be taken away from driving, he or she is being reckless…and negligent. If this leads to an accident, that driver can be held liable for any injuries or property damage that results.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a distracted driver, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. To find out more about your legal rights and options, contact Hipskind & McAninch, LLC. Our seasoned traffic accident attorneys in Belleville will take a personal interest in your case and use our experience and knowledge to get you the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation, please call (618) 230-3069.
Distracted Driving: A Growing Problem
Distracted driving has been around since the invention of the automobile, but it has gotten exponentially worse in the last decade with the invention of the smartphone. Smartphones, be they iPhones or Androids, are basically laptop computers that fit in the palm of your hand. These devices have convenient features that allow drivers to get directions, check traffic, search for nearby businesses, and make phone calls, but they should only be used when a driver is pulled over and parked.
Different states have different laws regarding cell phone use while driving. In Illinois, all texting while driving is illegal. But talking on a handheld device is legal, providing you don’t do so in a construction zone or school zone. (Making phone calls using hands-free technology is permitted in these zones.) Bus drivers and novice drivers (drivers under 19 years of age) are not allowed to use handheld or hands-free devices while driving at all.
Across the Mississippi in Missouri, rules regarding cellphone use are different – in fact, Missouri has some of the most lenient distracted driving laws in the country. Making handheld phone calls is perfectly legal, and texting while driving is only illegal for drivers under 21 years of age. The fine for violating this texting law is only $20.50.
That Doesn’t Mean Distracted Driving Is Okay
Just because texting behind the wheel isn’t illegal in certain states doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim against a distracted driver if his actions caused you injury. In fact, texting while driving is one of the easiest forms of distracted driving to prove. By checking cell phone records, police can tell if a person was texting at the time of an accident.
The bottom line is, people are accountable for their actions. Operating a motor vehicle is a big responsibility, one that drivers need to take seriously. If a person is reckless or negligent behind the wheel and causes an accident, he or she can be held liable for property damage or injuries to other people. But, don’t expect another driver to admit negligence, and don’t expect the insurance company to offer you the compensation you rightfully deserve. To get a fair payout, you’ll need a tough personal injury attorney Belleville fighting on your behalf.
The legal team at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC, will see to it that your rights are respected, and that you get the settlement or verdict you deserve. We put the focus on our clients, and we make sure they’re taken care of. For a free case evaluation, call us at 618-641-9189 today.