We’ve all heard the warnings of distracted driving dangers, but it’s all too easy to think that checking a phone notification or reading a simple text message is safe—that we are the exception, and an accident cannot happen to us. Unfortunately, distracted driving caused 3,275 traffic fatalities in a single recent year. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that the hands-on use of a cell phone while driving brings “enormous potential for death.”
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, the experienced Chicago car accident attorneys at Smith LaCien LLP can provide legal support. Our team at Smith LaCien LLP will evaluate your case, explore all your legal options, and fight to secure the best possible outcome. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Chicago distracted driving accident lawyers, call us at (312) 509-8900.
The NHTSA describes distracted driving as any activity that takes the hands or mind off the task of driving a vehicle. Driving requires the person behind the wheel to pay full attention to the road ahead and the vehicle’s operation. Reading the average text message takes about five seconds with the driver’s eyes off the road. At 55 miles per hour, a car travels the length of a football field during those five seconds.
The three categories of distracted driving include:
While any form of distracted driving is a danger, texting and driving combines all three categories of distracted driving, making it by far the leading cause of distracted driving accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.
Distracted drivers risk not only their own lives, but also the lives and safety of others. Common types of distracted driving include the following:
Driving with pets can also constitute distracted driving if the pet is loose inside the vehicle or climbs into the driver’s lap.
Distracted drivers have delayed reaction times that present danger to others on the road. In some cases, the driver is so deeply distracted that they don’t react at all to a hazard on the road ahead, ending in a crash. Common types of distracted driving accidents in Chicago and elsewhere include the following:
When a driver allows their attention to divert from the road and the task of operating a vehicle, they are distracted drivers. A distracted driver is at fault for an accident and liable for the damages to injury victims, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Our firm understands the traumatic effects of a serious accident and the added devastation of learning that a distracted driver was responsible. If you or a close family member suffered serious injuries in a distracted driving accident in Chicago, contact the Chicago distracted driving accident lawyers at Smith LaCien LLP for experienced representation in your claim.
"*" indicates required fields