Anything that takes a driver’s focus off the road is considered a distraction, not just when someone uses their cell phone. That can include looking at one’s GPS, fiddling with the music, or focusing on a passenger in the car. All drivers know the feeling of being on the road and noticing a motorist near them is not driving correctly because they are distracted. Regardless of what they are doing, it is common knowledge that distracted driving can have dangerous repercussions.
When an accident has occurred in your life due to distracted driving, do not hesitate to contact a knowledgeable car accident attorney to assist you with filing a lawsuit. Call Whetstone Perkins & Fulda when you want to explore your options after experiencing a distracted driving car accident in Walterboro.
How Local Driving Laws Impact You
South Carolina is one of the top states where the most distracted driving cases occur, and an estimated 64 percent of all vehicle accidents in the state include cell phone usage. Research studies have shown that people are as impaired when they drive and use a cell phone as they are when they drive drunk.
As a result, South Carolina has codified the penalties for using a cell phone while driving. It is illegal to use an electronic communication device, which includes not only a cell phone but also a laptop, personal digital assistant, and similar electronic devices, to write, send, or read a text-based communication while driving on a public street or highway. That includes not just texts but also emails. If you are not sure whether these restrictions or others would apply to the driver who caused your distracted driving accident, it is best to hire a Walterboro lawyer who knows the law inside out.
Compensation for Distracted Driving Wrecks
Massive bills are often a consequence of being in a car accident. Injured motorists can have the at-fault driver compensate for any losses they had due to the accident by asking for damages. Damages in a civil suit can be economic or non-economic. Economic damages are financial losses with specific monetary amounts attached to them. These can include future and current medical bills, the cost of property damage, and lost wages. Non-economic damages are compensation for subjective losses that do not necessarily have a receipt. Some examples of non-economic damages can be pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and loss of enjoyment of life.
To win damages in a Walterboro distracted driving accident, an injured person must prove that the other driver was negligent. This includes proving the driver owed them a genuine duty of care, violated that duty, and that the driver’s conduct caused the resulting accident and injuries. Working with an attorney from our firm gives the injured motorist the best possible chance of establishing the elements of negligence and recovering maximum compensation for their harm.
Consult With Our Walterboro Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys
It is unfair to suffer due to someone else’s misconduct on the road. Too many drivers choose to focus on their phones instead of paying attention to the steering wheel in front of them even though they are aware that texting while driving can be dangerous. There can be long-term consequences when someone is preoccupied with even the simplest of distractions for just a few seconds. At Whetstone Perkins & Fulda, our experienced attorneys could help you seek accountability and pursue the compensation you are entitled to. The first step is to make a call today.
