Distracted Driving Car Accident Claims in Georgia
Distracted driving has become the leading cause of auto accidents in the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), 30% of car accidents that occur annually result directly from distracted driving. This percentage accounts only for those accidents involving distracted drivers who admit to texting or using their mobile devices while driving.
Distracted Driving – Prohibited
As a driver, you must pay full attention to the road in order to ensure safety while driving. Distracted driving involves any instance that takes the attention of the driver off the road. The most common distractions drivers face today include:
- Sending and reading text messages
- Talking on their mobile phones
- Reading books and other content while driving
- Eating or drinking
- Applying makeup
- Reaching for objects within the vehicle
- Looking for items within the vehicle
- Looking at items outside the vehicle
- Talking to passengers
Liability for Distracted Driving in Georgia
All states impose a legal obligation or duty of care on all drivers towards other drivers on the road. This means that the law requires every driver to look out for the well-being and safety of not only themselves but also other motorists on the road.
Georgia, absolutely prohibits texting while driving. You can receive a ticket for texting while driving even if the officer sees no other violation. In addition, Novice drivers (under the age of 18) are prohibited from using any hand-held or even hands-free phone while driving – even if they are not texting. Again a teen can be ticketed for violating this law even if there is no other violation.
Drivers who operate a vehicle while distracted such as texting while driving, breach their legal duty of care to other motorists as well as pedestrians. If the driver causes an accident while distracted, Georgia law assumes the negligence of the driver. A driver can be held liable for damages if:
- He breached his duty of care by engaging in distracting activities, and
- His negligence resulted in a car accident that caused injuries and damages.
Georgia distracted driving attorney Laurie Robbins understands the complexity of establishing liability in distracted driving car accident claims. She has the resources and experience to help you prove that the other driver’s distracted driving caused the accident.
Damages for Distracted Driving in Georgia
Potential damages in distracted driving cases include:
- Medical expenses – these include doctor’s bills, physical therapy, emergency room costs and other treatment costs
- Property damage – these include costs for repair of vehicles or replacement of personal property such as computers and jewelry.
- Out of pocket expenses – these include costs for medical prescriptions, medical equipment, such as crutches and other medical related expenses
- Pain and suffering – juries award pain and suffering damages for physical pain, emotional distress, mental anguish and other emotional and psychological effects the accident may have caused.
If you have questions about distracted driving car accident claims or you suffered an injury in a car accident in Sandy Springs or anywhere in the Atlanta metro area, please contact us today. We will thoroughly investigate your claim and pursue every available remedy to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.