Injured by Distracted Driving in Baton Rouge, LA?
From texting while driving and talking to passengers to grooming and eating or drinking, there are many ways you can take your eyes, hands, and attention away from the primary task of operating a vehicle is known as distracted driving. Unfortunately, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of car accidents in the past decade.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we are dedicated to helping victims of car accidents recover the compensation they need to recover from their injuries. If you have been involved in a car accident, our team of Baton Rouge car accident lawyers is here to help you understand your rights, hold the at-fault party accountable for their negligence, and recover the compensation you deserve on your behalf.
To learn more about your legal options, call (225) 999-1111 or contact our Baton Rouge distracted driving accident attorney online for a free consultation.
The Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys Advantage
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with the highest-quality service and are dedicated to helping them recover maximum compensation for their damages.
Some reasons you should choose us for your Baton Rouge distracted driving accident include:
- We have decades of experience handling complex car accident cases and have recovered more than $10 billion for our clients.
- We have the knowledge, skills, and resources to thoroughly investigate your car accident, identify and prove all causes, and hold the responsible parties accountable for paying your damages.
- We care deeply about your well-being and are dedicated to helping you get the justice and compensation you need to move forward with your life.
- We will consult with experts when necessary to ensure that all of your damages are included and accurately calculated so we can determine the true value of your case.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving refers to any activity that diverts a driver’s attention away from the primary task of operating a vehicle safely. It significantly increases the risk of traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities on the road.
The three main types of distractions that can occur while driving are:
- Visual Distractions: These distractions take a driver’s eyes off the road. Even brief glances away from the road can lead to dangerous situations.
- Manual Distractions: These distractions involve taking hands off the steering wheel, reducing the driver’s ability to control the vehicle.
- Cognitive Distractions: These distractions divert the driver’s mental focus away from driving, impairing their ability to concentrate on the road and make split-second decisions.
Common Types of Distractions While Driving
There are several common types of distractions that contribute to these accidents:
- Cell phone usage: The most prevalent distraction is the use of cell phones while driving. Texting, making or receiving calls, checking social media, and using apps can take a driver’s attention away from the road, significantly increasing the risk of an accident.
- In-vehicle technology: Modern vehicles often come equipped with various electronic devices and infotainment systems. Adjusting the radio, using GPS navigation, or interacting with touchscreens can divert a driver’s attention from the road.
- Eating and drinking: Consuming food and beverages while driving can lead to decreased focus on the road and reduced reaction times.
- Talking to passengers: Engaging in conversations with passengers can be distracting, especially if the conversation becomes emotionally charged or requires visual engagement.
- Grooming: Activities like applying makeup, shaving, or fixing one’s appearance while driving can take attention away from the road.
- Daydreaming: A driver may become lost in thought or mentally preoccupied, losing focus on the task of driving.
- External distractions: Events happening outside the vehicle, such as roadside incidents, billboards, or pedestrians, can draw a driver’s attention away from the road.
- Rubbernecking: Gawking at accidents, emergency scenes, or other roadside occurrences can lead to accidents due to reduced attention on driving.
What Types of Accidents Are Caused by Distracted Driving
Focusing on anything other than the road in front of you can result in numerous types of accidents and devastating injuries.
Head-on collisions can easily happen when a driver is distracted and looking away from the road and oncoming traffic. This type of accident often results in fatal or life-altering injuries.
Rear-end crashes are another common type of accident caused by distracted driving. When a driver is looking down at their phone or otherwise not focusing on the road, they can easily crash into a stopped or slowed vehicle in front of them.
Side-impact collisions, sometimes called “T-bone” crashes, can easily happen at an intersection when a distracted driver fails to yield or runs a stop sign or red light.
Running off the road can easily happen when a driver is distracted. This can result in crashing into a tree or other object, causing severe injuries. It may also cause a distracted driver to overcorrect and jerk the wheel, causing a rollover accident or crashing into oncoming traffic.
What Types of Injuries Are Caused By Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving can result in a wide array of injuries. Some of the most common include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Cuts, bruises, strains, and sprains
- Leg, ankle, and knee injuries
- Chest, shoulder, arm, and hand injuries
Of course, some distracted driving accidents result in fatalities. The saddest thing about these accidents is that they are avoidable.
Is It Too Late To File a Claim For Compensation?
Every type of personal injury claim has a filing deadline. If you miss your deadline, you will not be able to recover compensation for your damages.
The deadline for personal injury cases is set by a statute of limitations. In Louisiana, the deadline for filing a distracted driving accident personal injury claim is:
- Two years if your accident occurs on or after July 1, 2024.
- One year if your accident occurred prior to July 1, 2024.
There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations and you must consult an experienced personal injury attorney to determine your deadline.
Additionally, you should know that the two-year deadline does not apply to wrongful death actions and survival actions.
If you lost a loved one in an accident and have the right to file a wrongful death or survival claim, those actions have a one-year statute of limitations. This means that you must file a wrongful death or survival action within one year from your loved one’s date of death.
Why Do I Need a Baton Rouge Distracted Driving Accident Attorney?
- Litigation is expensive, but car accident injury attorneys usually take your case on a contingency basis and pay all upfront expenses. They only charge you after winning compensation.
- An experienced car accident attorney will gather and submit the evidence needed to prove liability and the fair value of your damages.
- Good car accident injury attorneys will not allow an insurance company to take advantage of you and will hold them accountable for paying the true value of your case.
- You will almost certainly have a better outcome if you are represented by an experienced Baton Rouge distracted driving accident lawyer.
Let Our Firm Help You
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous, and it can cause car accidents that result in catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death. And if truck drivers, bus drivers, or rideshare drivers fail to keep their attention on the road, the resulting crashes can be even more devastating. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, our Baton Rouge distracted driving accident lawyers are here to help.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, our Baton Rouge car accident lawyer is ready to help. Our team is prepared to take on complex cases and fight for the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
Contact us today at (225) 999-1111 to schedule a free case evaluation and learn how we can protect your rights and best interests inside and outside the courtroom