We see it everywhere these days – drivers with eyes glued to their phones, hands clutching food, minds lost in conversation. These distractions cause thousands of car accidents each year in San Diego alone.
If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, you’re probably facing an uphill battle. Your life turned upside down in an instant. Mounting medical bills, lost wages, car repairs – it’s overwhelming. Insurance companies see you as a number, not a person. The negligent driver who caused your pain could walk free.
You shouldn’t have to go through this alone. For years, our personal injury attorneys at Pasternack Injury Law Group have fought for people injured in all types of accidents caused by careless motorists. We know how to build an ironclad injury claim, negotiate aggressively with insurers, and take your case to trial if needed. Don’t let the distracted driver who hurt you get away with it.
Take back control of your life with dedicated legal advocates in your corner.
Common Types of Distracted Driving
Many everyday activities can divert a driver’s attention from the road. Some of the most common distractions include:
- Visual distractions that cause you to take your eyes off the road, like looking at your phone to text or check notifications.
- Manual distractions that cause you to take your hands off the wheel, like eating, drinking, smoking, or adjusting music. Even small movements can lead to drifting out of your lane if you aren’t fully focused on steering.
- Cognitive distractions that monopolize your mind, like having involved conversations with passengers or thinking deeply about work or family issues. Daydreaming alone can impair your reaction times as much as being legally drunk.
All these distractions dramatically increase your chance of a car accident. Glancing at your phone for just 5 seconds means traveling the length of a football field at 55 mph without looking ahead. Five seconds may not seem long, but when you’re operating a multi-ton vehicle, it only takes an instant for tragedy to occur.
Distracted Driving Statistics
Distracted driving has become a hazard on roads across America. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2021:
- Around 8% of deadly crashes, 14% of injury accidents, and 13% of all reported vehicle crashes involved driver distraction.
- Approximately 3,500 people lost their lives and another 362,000 were hurt in collisions linked to distracted driving.
- About 5% of drivers engaged in a fatal crash were reported to be distracted at the time.
- Distracted driving was a factor in the deaths of over 600 pedestrians, bicyclists, and others not in motor vehicles.
- Drivers 15-20 years old involved in fatal wrecks were distracted at the highest rate of any age group (about 7%).
Distracted driving is a nationwide crisis, stealing lives and shattering families. If you or someone you love has suffered due to this negligent behavior, we’re here to help. Our legal team has decades of experience fighting for justice for crash victims. Don’t go through this alone. Reach out now so we can discuss your potential case and options to recover damages. Help and hope are a call away.
Types of Injuries From Distracted Driving Accidents
The effects of a distracted driving accident go far beyond just damage to vehicles. Injuries from these incidents frequently require extensive medical treatment and leave victims with permanent disabilities.
Some common injuries suffered in distracted driving crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries – Impaired cognition, memory, speech, vision, headaches, seizures
- Spinal cord injuries – Partial or total paralysis, loss of sensation, difficulty breathing
- Amputated limbs – From violent trauma during the crash
- Severe lacerations – From broken glass or vehicle deformity
- Internal organ damage – Such as punctured lungs, ruptured liver, spleen damage
- Broken bones – Fractures requiring surgery, casts, rehabilitation
- Severe burns – From vehicle fires resulting from the collision
- Wrongful death – Negligent behavior leading to another person’s death
If someone you love died in an accident caused by a negligent driver, no words can express your grief and loss. But those responsible should still be held fully accountable. A distracted driving lawyer can file a wrongful death lawsuit on your family’s behalf and help you recover damages to pay for funeral costs, lost financial support, and loss of companionship.
Even “minor” collisions that only resulted in property damage or soft tissue injuries can still leave victims with piles of medical bills, lost income from missed work, higher insurance premiums, and ongoing pain and suffering. You shouldn’t have to bear these financial burdens alone.
Seeking Compensation for Distracted Driving Accidents
If you were injured or lost a loved one in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you have legal rights to seek compensation for your losses. An experienced attorney can help maximize the damages you recover through an injury or wrongful death claim.
Potential compensation can include both economic and non-economic damages, such as:
- Medical expenses – All past, current, and future bills related to treatment, medication, assistive devices, and rehabilitation services.
- Lost income – Any wages lost due to missing work during recovery. Future earning capacity can be recovered if disabilities prevent returning to the same job.
- Property damage – Repair or replacement costs for your vehicle and any other damaged property.
- Pain and suffering – Compensation for any physical pain, discomfort, stress, or mental anguish resulting from the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – Damages that account for the impact on quality of life and ability to participate in activities.
- Loss of consortium – Compensation for impact on family relationships, companionship, and intimacy.
An attorney experienced in injury claims will know how to properly value these damages. They will negotiate aggressively or take legal action if needed to recover full and fair compensation on your behalf. Don’t wait; contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Do I Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
The days and weeks after an accident can be extremely overwhelming. You’re likely facing doctor’s appointments, insurance calls, car repairs, lost wages from missed work, and stress over how you’ll pay the bills. An experienced distracted driving attorney can take care of the legal demands so you can focus on your recovery. We handle every aspect of your injury claim from start to finish, including:
- Conducting a thorough investigation of how the crash occurred
- Identifying all potentially liable parties and legal avenues for compensation
- Consulting traffic engineers to analyze factors like sight lines and reaction times
- Working with medical professionals to fully assess the extent of your injuries
- Negotiating aggressively with insurance companies to maximize your settlement
- Taking the case to trial if a satisfactory settlement can’t be reached
Having a knowledgeable car accident lawyer in your corner levels the playing field against big insurance carriers. We know their tactics and won’t let them take advantage of you or deny you the full value of your claim.
Contact a San Diego Distracted Driving Lawyer Today
Our attorneys at Pasternack Injury Law Group have provided compassionate, dedicated representation to injury victims throughout the San Diego area. We have a proven track record of success handling all types of accident and personal injury claims.
Every case receives personalized attention from start to finish. We move quickly to gather evidence, thoroughly document your injuries, and build maximal leverage for settlement negotiations. But we also understand this is an emotional and stressful time for you. We regularly communicate every step of the way and carefully explain your options so you can make fully informed decisions.
If negotiations reach an impasse, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court. Our firm has the resources to handle the demands of litigation and trial. We’ll fight tirelessly before a judge and jury to recover full and fair compensation on your behalf.
Don’t gamble with your health or financial security. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your potential case.
