Texting while driving is a safety risk that drivers in Georgia and the rest of the world face each day. Incoming text messages, phone calls, and notifications keep many drivers reaching for their phones when they should be paying attention to the road.
Becoming distracted by cell phones causes drivers to put their lives (and everyone else’s) at risk of serious injuries or death.
The following highlights many of the injuries caused by texting while driving. Working with a personal injury attorney with experience in cases involving texting while driving can help you get the compensation you deserve.
Injuries Caused by Texting While Driving
The injuries caused by drivers who were texting while driving can range from minor cuts and bruises to life-altering and life-threatening injuries to the brain, spinal cord, and vital organs.
Personal injury attorneys have seen a spike in legal claims involving drivers who were distracted by their cell phones despite existing laws that prohibit their use while driving.
The following injuries are commonly seen in accidents involving texting while driving:
- Lacerations
- Bruises
- Ligament tears
- Muscle injuries
- Broken bones
- Neck strain injuries such as whiplash
- Punctured organs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and brain injuries
These and other injuries can cause victims long-term pain and suffering. Medical treatments may be required for years, leading to mounting medical expenses that can drain a person’s financial resources.
Accident victims may be unable to work while they recover from their injuries, causing their families to face financial uncertainties. In some cases, an injured person may be permanently unable to earn a living.
Injuries and their long-term impacts must be considered when seeking compensation after you’ve been involved in an accident caused by a driver who was texting while driving.
Georgia Laws Protect Drivers, Passengers, and Pedestrians
Georgia state law prohibits drivers from using their phones to read or send text messages, emails, or other internet data on a laptop or mobile device.
Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use any type of handheld or hands-free cell phone while driving.
But these laws don’t always prevent drivers from using their mobile devices, leading to devastating collisions and costly legal proceedings for plaintiffs and defendants.
Obeying state laws and being aware of other drivers who may be distracted by their cell phones can keep you, your family, and others safe.
An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Can Hold Negligent Drivers Accountable
Personal injury lawyers who have dealt with cases involving texting while driving know the strategies you can use to get the compensation you deserve.
Personal injury cases can involve extensive claims and damages, and insurance companies must pay victims who’ve been injured by their insured drivers.
But insurance companies do their best to avoid compensating victims and their families. In many cases, they try to compel victims to settle the claim quickly for unfair amounts.
An attorney can aggressively represent you in a court of law while pursuing insurance companies who are responsible for the actions of their insured drivers.
An attorney can help you seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and the loss of capacity to earn future income. They can take your pain, suffering, and emotional distress into account so that you can get the maximum compensation allowed under the law.
Attorneys can gather evidence that demonstrates another driver’s negligence. They can help you secure medical records that document the severity of your injuries and the treatments required now and in the future.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you get compensation to restore or replace damaged property.
If you’ve lost a loved one due to an accident involving texting while driving, your attorney can help you seek compensation for the loss of consortium or companionship.
Texting while driving causes accidents that result in serious and deadly injuries. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you hold negligent drivers accountable, receive compensated for injuries and other losses, and protect the wellbeing and security of your family.