Louisville Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident caused by a distracted driver, you should not have to pay out of your own pocket for your medical bills and other expenses. The distracted motorist could owe you significant compensation for your lost wages, bills, pain and suffering, and more. If you’ve been hurt, contact Sampson Law Firm right away for help.
When learning to drive, beginners are taught to keep both hands on the steering wheel and both eyes on the road. Paying attention to the road and your surroundings are at the foundation of driving safety. When a driver fails to even follow these most basic rules, the results can be devastating.
Car accidents caused by distracted drivers have the potential to cause serious or even fatal injuries. They can leave the victim struggling underneath mounting medical bills and no way to work to pay them. If you or a loved one are suffering as a result of another driver’s distraction and negligence, It is recommended to contact an experienced Louisville car accident attorney right away.
At Sampson Law Firm, our attorneys have the skill, resources, and experience to help you get the compensation you’re rightfully owed. We know that distracted driving is a serious and mounting issue here in Louisville, and we are committed to holding distracted drivers accountable for the harm they cause others in our community. Call us at (502) 584-5050 or reach out to us online to schedule a free consultation right away.
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving happens when the driver’s attention is not focused on the road. This can happen for many reasons. Drivers can be distracted by objects in their vehicles such as cell phones, looking for something in their wallet or purse, or they can be distracted looking for street signs while looking for an address. Many drivers are unaware of just how dangerous distracted driving can be.
They also severely underestimate the distance a car can travel in a manner of seconds. At 55 miles per hour, the car travels the length of a football field in just 5 seconds. So even quick glances off the road can be dangerous. Additionally, actions like taking your hands off the wheel leave you unable to respond to changing road conditions and increase the chances of losing control of your vehicle.
Kentucky has an average of 165,000 car accidents a year, and it estimated that 35% of driver error accidents are the result of general inattention. That is a huge chunk of car accidents that could be avoided by simply just paying attention to the road. Distracted driving is a deadly habit, and drivers should not build a habit of driving distracted or overestimate their driving ability.
Experts divide distracted driving into three main types:
- Visual distraction: Distraction caused by the driver taking their eyes off the road.
- Cognitive distraction: Distraction caused by the driver wrapped up in thoughts that focus their attention from driving.
- Manual distraction: Distraction caused by taking the driver taking their hands off the wheel such as when texting, changing the radio station, trying to pick up a dropped item, etc.
The three are not mutually exclusive. The reason why texting is particularly dangerous is that it involves all three types of distraction. The person takes their eyes off the road to read and write the text (visual distraction), take their hands off the wheel to type (manual distraction), and must focus on reading and/or thinking about their reply (cognitive distraction). Needless to say, that text can wait until your off the road.
Smartphones and Driving: A Dangerous Combination
More often than not, the culprit for distracted driving is mobile phones. In our increasingly connected world, people rarely leave their phones behind. Our phones are dangerously tempting. Gone are the days of just making calls, people use them to catch up on social media, read the news, play games, and more. For many people, their phones are practically inseparable from their hands, and unfortunately, that extends to when they are driving too.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are involved in 26% of all car accidents. The National Safety Council (NSC), another organization that tracks highways safety issues, says that 1.6 million car accidents a year are the result of cellphone use. Cell phone use while driving has grown into a significant public safety risk. As a result, many states, including Kentucky, have passed laws regulating the use of mobile devices in vehicles.
Distracted Driving Laws in Kentucky
Distracted driving is not only dangerous, it is illegal in the state of Kentucky. House Bill 415, signed in law in 2010, bans the act of texting while driving for all drivers over the age of 18. For drivers under 18, the use of all forms of electronics is banned while the vehicle is in motion. The penalty for violating this law is a $25 fine for the first violation and $50 fine for subsequent violations of this law. A conviction of violating this law also adds three demerit points to the driver’s record. In Kentucky, accumulating 12 demerit points over a two-year period will lead to suspension of the driver’s license for drivers 18 and over. For drivers under 18, the maximum number of demerit points before license suspension is seven.
How Much Will It Cost Me To Hire Sampson Law Firm?
After a serious car accident, you likely face large bills, injuries, and other challenges. You may have thought about getting an attorney but have hesitated thinking of the cost. However, you deserve help to get back on your feet. Attorneys fees are the last thing you should have to deal with.
At Sampson Law Firm we work on contingency. That means there are no upfront costs, none at all, if we take your case. Let us do the heavy lifting. We’ll do all work necessary to win your case. That includes filing the required legal documents, collecting evidence, taking on the big insurance companies, any of the legal work necessary to win your case, while you focus on what’s important: your health and family. Only when we win your case do we collect any reimbursement. This reimbursement includes costs acquired when preparing for your case and attorney fees. If we do not win, we do not collect any money from you. And you won’t owe us For more information on how it works gives us a call at (502) 584-5050.
What types of compensation I can get?
The amount and type of compensation will vary depending on the individual facts of the case. The list below list the types of damages you may be able to seek compensation for:
- Whiplash
- Lost wages
- Injuries
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Loss of life for a loved one
- Hospital bills
- Medical expenses due to long term injury, such as rehab, or the need for a caretaker
- Pain and suffering
- PTSD
I’m being offered a settlement. Should I take it?
After an accident, it is common to be quickly offered a settlement from the other driver’s insurance company. However, it is important to remember that insurance companies are a business and, like all businesses they want to make as much money as possible and payout the least amount of money they can. You may find the settlement amount to be nowhere near the amount you needed for your damages. It is recommended to consult with an experienced distracted driver attorney before you accept an offer.
When Should I Contact a Lawyer to Discuss My Case?
As time goes on, evidence may be lost, witnesses’ memories fade, and the facts of the case get harder to verify. It is recommended to speak to an attorney as quickly as you can. Case time varies, but the sooner you have an attorney the quicker they can begin the steps needed to obtain compensation.
Contact a Louisville Car Accident Lawyer
Based in Louisville Sampson Law Firm has been helping injured Kentuckians get justice and fair compensation since 1997. We are compassionate, dedicated, and willing to go above and beyond for our clients. Don’t be intimidated by the legal system or big insurance companies, with Sampson Law Firm on your side you have a fierce defender who will not back down in seeking the compensation you need and deserve. Distracted driving accidents are easily preventable, and drivers should be held accountable for their actions. If you would like to discuss your case, give us a call at (502) 584-5050 or use this form to reach us online. There is no obligation or cost for a consultation.