Car Accidents Caused by Distracted Driving & the
Role of Your Accident Lawyer in Tampa Bay
According to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, almost 80 percent of car accidents—plus
65 percent of near-accidents—involve distracted
or inattentive driving. Whether they’re caused by
drowsiness, texting, or eating, distracted driving accidents
are needless tragedies that can have dire consequences
including serious injuries, lifelong disabilities, and
death.
If you or someone you love has been
injured in a car accident caused by distracted driving
in the Tampa Bay area, you should consult with an accident
lawyer in Tampa about your case. The assistance of an
experienced, committed lawyer is often critical to establishing
the distracted driver’s liability, which is an important
factor in pursuing compensation for medical bills, lost
wages, wrongful death, and other losses.
To properly litigate your case, a knowledgeable
Tampa personal injury attorney
will investigate the many ways an at-fault driver may
have allowed distractions to cause the accident that led
to your injuries. Common distractions include:
- Drowsiness
- Reaching for an object in the car
- Looking at an object outside the
car
- Reading
- Applying makeup
- Dialing and/or talking on a cell
phone
- Texting
- Eating, drinking, or smoking related
activities
- Caring for children or pets
- Adjusting vehicle controls such
as the radio, CD player, or air conditioner
- Passengers
While the above list shows that there
are many distractions which may cause a car accident,
distracted driving is generally defined as anything that
takes the driver’s attention away from navigating
the vehicle. Officially, distractions are usually defined
as visual (sight-related), cognitive (mind-related), or
manual (hand- or foot-related).
To establish your right to compensation,
your Tampa auto accident
lawyer may focus on proving that the at-fault driver
in your car crash allowed a trivial distraction to take
his or her attention away from the wheel, meaning the
driver could be held liable for the injuries and property
damage resulting from the distraction. To establish driver
distraction as a factor in the accident, your Tampa personal
injury attorney may need to interview witnesses, thoroughly
review accident reports, hire experts for trial, hold
depositions, and more. Therefore, it is advisable that
you choose an accident lawyer in Tampa with the means
and dedication necessary to prove that distracted driving
caused your injuries.
To speak to an accident lawyer in Tampa
from Clark & Martino, P.A. about a collision that
caused serious injuries, please contact our office for
a free initial consultation.
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