What Constitutes Distracted Driving in Atlanta, Georgia?

Most people tend to think that texting is the only form of distracted driving. This is not the case. There are all sorts of distracted driving. Your car accident lawyer in Atlanta know this. They handled dozens of these cases every year. Their clients get hit by people who aren’t paying attention to the road. When this happens, people get hurt.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 3,000 people were killed in this country in distracted driving accidents in 2017. Most of these accidents involved drivers who only took their eyes off the road for 2-3 seconds. If you’re going 55 mph, this is like driving blind for the length of an entire football field.

Texting is not even the leading cause of auto accidents. It’s the one most people think of because we hear about it so much. There are also state laws constantly changing across the country dealing with texting and driving. But the truth is, there are a number of ways in which a driver can get distracted when behind the wheel.

Some of the Main Causes of Distracted Driving

Your car accident lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia is all too aware of the dozens of causes of distracted driving. Lots of studies have been done to determine what things can make a driver lose his concentration when behind the wheel. The goal is to cut down on these habits so that people can be safer on the roads. However, no matter how strict distracted driving laws are, and no matter how many public service announcements we see, people just don’t change their behaviors.

Some of the main causes of distracted driving include:

• Watching what other drivers are doing – Whether we’re laughing at the person next to us singing in their car at the top of their lungs or staring at a fancy car, we all get distracted. Paying attention to other people and cars is actually one of the leading causes of distracted driving accidents.
• Getting lost in our thoughts – People don’t stop daydreaming just because they get behind the wheel. If you think about how often we catch ourselves daydreaming in the court of the day, this makes sense. Distracted drivers start thinking about what they have to do at work or at home that they lose track of what’s going on around them.
• Playing with hand held devices – Whether it’s a phone or electronic device, people are addicted to their hand held devices. They get so wrapped up on what they see on social media, they stop paying attention to the road in front of them. They don’t realize what’s going on until they get into a car crash.
• Eating or putting on makeup – We all try to multi-task. This is not a good idea when we’re driving. This is a good way to get into a car wreck.

No matter what the cause, these accident cause serious injuries and can even result in a wrongful death.

What Kinds of Damages Can You Claim in Your Distracted Driving Accident?

Distracted driving cases lead to the same kinds of damages as other car accidents. Your car accident lawyer in Atlanta will demand that you be paid for the following:

• Medical bills – The other driver is responsible for both your current and future medical bills. Your doctor can testify as to what kind of medical treatment you’re going to need in the future. The defendant should be liable for these costs.
• Lost wages – If you miss time from work due to your accident, you’re entitled to be reimbursed for lost wages. You can also demand that you be compensated for future lost earnings.
• Property damage – If your car is damaged during the accident, you can demand that the defendant be required to pay for all repairs or a replacement vehicle.
• Pain and suffering – You may be entitled to money for the physical and mental anguish you’ve suffered as a result of your distracted driving accident.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Atlanta Today

If you’ve been injured in any type of car accident, you need to call a car accident lawyer in Atlanta right away. He can review your case and answer any questions you may have, and can let you know what your case may be worth. He can also negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company to settle your claim.

Call and schedule your free initial consultation today. The defendant will have lawyers working for him and you should too.