Houston Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Are you in search of an educated Houston Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer? Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of automotive accidents, especially since the day cell phones became popular. Today, a majority of drivers drive while taking on their cellphones, texting, or simply using a specific app. Distracted drivers cause many accidents. Such a driver will focus on their phones rather than on traffic signals and other vehicles.

Our services at our reputable Houston personal injury firm are high in demand against those driving and texting. Like in many states, Texas has put in place measures to discourage text and driving, intending to prevent accidents and injuries. Call our lawyers at (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T if a driver has caused you harm and property damage while driving and texting.

How Can Our Houston Lawyer Help You?

Nearly contributing to about 25% of car accidents, deriving while texting has become a modern epidemic. That is because texting while driving not only limits a driver’s attention but slows the reaction time or speed by about 20% to potential hazards. In most cases, these accidents are serious that has the potential to be life-threatening. Victims of texting while driving accidents often struggle with the seriousness of the injuries, resulting in long-term disabilities. Furthermore, they face financial hardships due to medical bills, lost wages, and continues care.

If you or someone else you know and love has been harmed by texting while driving driver, contact our lawyers at (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T today. Doing this gives you a strong and powerful avenue in fighting for the compensation you deserve. Our highly skilled Houston attorneys have the resources to investigate the accident and collect documents needed to prove your case, often will include a cellphone record. Through consultation, we will advise you on your legal options and the steps to take.

National Texting And Driving Statistics

It has been proven that distracted driving is the leading cause of accidents across America. Of course, there are many forms of distraction while driving; one of them being texting or phone use while driving. Distracted driving results in serious injuries, permanent disabilities, and in the worst-case scenario, death.

The NHTSA provided an accurate and easy to understand analogy that presents the dangers of texting while driving.

‘Texting, reading a text, or phone use involves all (cognitive, visual, and manual) distractions at the same time. Reading or sending a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. Doing this at 55 mph is like driving the length of an entire football pitch while blindfolded.’

As a matter of fact, it has been proven that nearly 20% of all traffic accidents can be avoided every year if a driver pays attention to the road rather than driving while texting each year. This is a shocking statistic, especially if you consider that it is illegal to text or use a phone while driving in all states. Texting while driving is an act of negligence if it results in an accident.

Is It Bad To Drive While Texting?

Thirty-four states today have laws and regulations discouraging people from driving while texting. 31 states out of 34 consider it as a primary law infringement, to a point where a law officer has the right to pull you over just for using your phone while driving. The sad truth is that people still are doing it. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) revealed a document in 2011 that showed the number of drivers who text while driving had increased from 0.6% in 2009 to 0.9% in 2010.

In New York, for example, a state where texting while driving became a significant offense in July 2011; by Mid-September, the DMV (the Department of Motor Vehicle) had already issued 4,634 tickets for the crime.

Therefore, with the statistics above, the million-dollar question is: Is it dangerous to drive while texting?

The direct answer is YES! The same document from NHTSA showed that the chances of being involved in a car accident due to texting while driving has increased by 2300%. The research showed that about half a million people get injured, and 6,000 people die due to distracted driving every year. A majority of the deaths involve large truck-related accidents. It is common knowledge that a truck-related accident is more likely to result in fatalities due to size. The report shows that a distracted truck driver is 23:2 more likely to crash than a driver who is paying attention to the road because it is easy for a driver to see potential hazards quickly.

The danger of distracted driving is so real to a point where technology developers are trying to fight fire with fire. A good example is a new app known as Text Zapper. This application disables a phone from sending or receiving texts while a vehicle is in motion. It uses a Trakker GPS technology, which determines the speed and position of the car. Well, for such apps to work, a driver must download them.

Cell Phone Use And Young Drivers

Worryingly, it has been proven that a majority of drivers who choose to text while driving are young drivers, generally between the ages of 16 to 25 years. In fact, according to the Pew Research Foundation, many young drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 years agree that they drive while talking or texting. Drivers between the ages of 16 to 25 are considered ‘inexperienced’ and at a higher risk of being involved in an accident. Therefore, if you combine experience with distraction, it all becomes a recipe for disaster. Furthermore, research shows that teenage passengers of drivers who are texting while driving are less likely to speak up.

Texas Texting While Driving Laws

Texas finally passed a law discouraging texting and driving in September 2017. Although this law was passed in Texas, a driver in Houston, TX is still liable for negligence because of distracted driving. It does not matter if a criminal or traffic citation was issued at the scene of the accident; if a driver was texting and driving, they are still at fault.

In other words, a driver can be sued for damages if they get into an accident because of distracted driving. Contact our lawyers at (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T for help.

The Dangers Of Texting While Driving

Although it has become common knowledge that texting while driving is dangerous, it is wise to remind people why it is distracting and a recipe for disaster. In a nutshell, texting while driving can be hazardous in 3 ways:

Manual

When a driver’s hands are busy texting, it becomes challenging to steer the wheel where possible. It is not safe to drive with one hand while the other is on the phone or knees.

Visual

Keeping eyes on the road is important because they will enable you to drive safely than when they are on the phone.

Cognitive

If A driver’s focus is on texting, they are more likely to get into an accident.

Rather than putting your life and others at risk, it is straightforward and safer to pull over or wait until you get home to send or read a text. Despite this, there are thousands of text and driving-related accidents every year. Therefore, if you are involved in an accident, having a Houston car accident lawyer in your corner is highly beneficial.

Providing Evidence Showing The Other Party Was Distracted

The truth is that it is a challenge obtaining proof the other driver was distracted, especially without video evidence. You can rely on the old-fashioned eyewitness to testify to the facts the other driver was texting. However, what if there are no eyewitnesses? Well, due to advanced technology, you do not need an eyewitness. Your vehicle accident lawyer in Houston, Texas, can subpoena the third-party’s phone records. The lawyer will use the records to determine if the phone was being used at the time of the accident.

With such evidence, the jurors are most likely going to take the side of the driver who was not texting while driving. Therefore, if there is evidence showing the other driver was distracted, then you have a better chance of being awarded compensation.

Speak with a Houston Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, contact our car accident lawyers in Houston, Texas. Give our highly skilled attorneys at (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T handle your text while driving accident cases. Because of experience, we know the kind of evidence to collect and determine the compensation you deserve. You can contact us through 713-529-7848 for a free consultation.