At Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers, each Austin distracted driving lawyer on our team wants the Texas community at large to understand just how dangerous distracted driving is for everyone on our roads. Motor vehicles offer us a great deal of convenience but can be deadly if they are not used with appropriate care. Texting is another advancement that offers us a great deal of convenience. However, talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous and texting is even more so. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines distracted driving of three main types:
- Visual distraction. Anything that causes the driver to take his or her eyes off the road is a visual distraction. Looking at your phone instead of the road, even for a few seconds, is extremely dangerous. At high speed, a few seconds can translate to a hundred yards.
- Manual distraction. This means any time the driver takes hands off the wheel or gearshift while driving. If you’re using your hands for anything other than operating your vehicle safely, you limit your ability to react to sudden changes on the road.
- Cognitive distraction. Sometimes drivers become lost in thought or are thinking intently about something other than driving. Their eyes may be on the road and their hands may be on the steering wheel, but their mind is elsewhere, not focused on the task at hand.
Texting encompasses all three types of distractions, making it one of the most dangerous activities for any driver. When you text, you’re thinking about the conversation, using your eyes to read, and your hand to type a message. This creates a very dangerous situation for other drivers.
What to Do If You’re Injured by a Driver Who Was Texting in Texas
If you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by a distracted driver, the following investigation will be crucial to your case. While the other driver may hide the phone, it is possible to obtain a subpoena for their cellular phone records and check the timestamp of sent messages against the time of the accident. If you are able to do so, once the vehicles have stopped after your collision, use your own phone to call the police and then take pictures of the crash scene.
It may sometimes be difficult to prove that the other driver was indeed texting and that is what caused the crash, but an experienced Austin car accident lawyer like those at Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers will work to gather all of the evidence that is available to prove your case.
Any car accident can cause injuries or deaths, and distracted driving is definitely no exception. Car crashes can result in:
- Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions and brain hemorrhaging
- Spinal cord injuries, which can result in paralysis or permanent disability
- Broken bones, which can also result in permanent disability, as well as internal injuries
- Damage to organs and soft tissues from broken glass and debris
- Wrongful death, which means that your loved ones will have to pursue compensation for your fatal accident
These are just a few of the possible results of texting while driving. At Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers, our Austin distracted driving attorneys believe that anyone who harms another person due to reckless, negligent actions needs to be held accountable. Victims should not be left to pay for medical expenses, ongoing treatments, missed time from work, pain and suffering, or diminished quality of life.
Contact an Austin Distracted Driving Lawyer Today
Contact the legal professionals at Ross • Scalise Employment Lawyers if you have any questions about texting while driving or want to start with an initial evaluation of your situation. Our team will work tirelessly to pursue every possible channel for compensation and to hold the irresponsible driver who caused your accident accountable for their actions. Call our office at 512-474-7677 or fill out our online consultation form to get started with your case.