A car accident can leave you with serious injuries and overwhelming medical bills. You might not be able to attend work or perform many of the necessary tasks for managing your household. It’s hard to take, but it’s made even worse when the accident could have been prevented.
Most accidents caused by distracted driving result from driver negligence. Despite many states, including Louisiana, enacting laws to address distracted driving, it still happens too often. If it’s happened to you, our Lafayette distracted driving accident lawyers can help.
Our team at Galloway Jefcoat Injury Attorneys has advocated for the rights of injured accident victims for almost three decades. Contact us today and find out how our Lafayette car accident lawyers can help with your distracted driving case.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
Unless you are a lawyer yourself, handling a personal injury case on your own is always tough. You’ll be up against an insurance company with tremendous resources and a strong legal team that gets paid to ensure you don’t come out on top.
You need a legal team of your own, and our Lafayette personal injury lawyers can level the playing field. We understand how insurance companies operate and the methods they’ll use to deny or delay your claim. Some of the ways we can help include:
Investigate the Cause of Your Accident
We’ll conduct an independent investigation to find out what happened and who is liable for your injuries. Evidence that can help us prove distracted driving caused your accident includes:
- Phone records
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Dashcam footage
- Video surveillance
Assess Your Damages
We’ll review your damages and arrive at a maximum compensation amount we can use for your claim. We want to make sure all of your economic and non–economic damages are covered in any settlement offers.
Manage Your Claim
We’ll file your claim, handle the paperwork, make sure you meet important deadlines, and communicate with the insurance company. You can rest easy knowing your claim is under control while you worry about healing.
Negotiate for a Settlement
When the time comes, we will negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf that meets your needs and makes a difference in your life going forward. Usually, settling out of court is less stressful and less time-consuming than a civil trial.
Take Your Case to Court
If the insurance company insists on doing things the hard way, we won’t back away from a fight. Our Lafayette distracted driving accident attorneys can file a civil lawsuit on your behalf and let a court decide your award.
Affordable Representation
We bill on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing up front and don’t owe us a dime until we win your case. At that point, we’ll take our fees from your settlement or award. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing.
"I have used Galloway Jefcoat a few times and have always been very satisfied. Furthermore, all of the people who work there are very professional, nice, and courteous."
Is Distracted Driving Illegal?
When many people think of distracted driving, phone usage often comes to mind. Electronic devices are among the top causes of distracted driving, and Louisiana even has a law against it. RS 32 § 300.5 prohibits using wireless devices to text or access social media while driving.
If convicted, distracted drivers can face fines of up to $1,000 and license suspensions, with increased penalties if a collision occurred. While legal consequences don’t help you pay your medical bills, they can make it easier for your lawyer to prove your case.
Other Distracting Behaviors
Other behaviors that may be considered distracted driving include:
- Eating
- Drinking
- Using a visor vanity mirror
- Adjusting radios or dashboard technology
- Looking at a map
- Smoking
While these actions aren’t illegal, they may be considered negligent if an accident occurs. Your distracted driving accident lawyer in Lafayette will investigate the crash and determine if the driver engaged in distracting behavior.
"Galloway Jefcoat are amazing professionals who are very client focused. They will guide you thru all the details to help get your litigation solved. I was involved in a crash that ultimate required a knee replacement"
Who Is Liable in a Distracted Driving Accident?
In most accidents, the distracted driver is liable, and your attorney will file a claim with their insurance provider to seek compensation for your damages. However, in certain circumstances, other parties may be partially or fully liable. Some examples include cases involving:
- Commercial drivers: In some cases, companies can be liable for the actions of their employees through a legal concept called vicarious liability.
- Rideshare drivers: Rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft are contractors but are covered by company insurance in specific circumstances.
- Vehicle owners: The owner of the vehicle may be liable if they knowingly gave an unsafe or unlicensed driver access to their car or truck.
"As a client of Galloway Jefcoat for over two years I want to take a minute to say how much I appreciate the team handling my case."
How Much Money Can I Get for a Distracted Driving Accident Case?
Like all personal injury cases, compensation in a distracted driving case can range from a few thousand dollars to millions. The amount you can receive depends on the severity of your damages.
Severe and catastrophic injuries typically result in larger settlements. However, even if your damages are relatively minor, it still makes sense to talk to an attorney about your options. Medical bills and car repair costs can accumulate quickly.
Damages in a Distracted Driving Case
Damages you can recover in a distracted driving case often include:
- Medical costs such as emergency services, doctor appointments, procedures, and prescriptions.
- Future medical expenses caused by the accident, such as surgeries and long-term physical therapy
- Lost wages and other income or benefits because of the accident.
- Vehicle repairs and property damage
- Costs to cover things like car rentals, childcare, and housekeeping
- Non–economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
"Great experience, from day 1 I felt like I finally had someone on my side and that feeling didn't leave me for 1 single moment."
Get Help from a Lafayette Distracted Driving Accident Attorney
Distracted drivers risk more than their own lives; their negligence also endangers everyone on the road. If you have been in a crash with a distracted driver and have experienced injuries, you deserve compensation for your hardships.
In addition to any criminal charges they may face, our Lafayette distracted driving accident attorneys can hold them responsible through civil actions. You shouldn’t have to pay the financial price for their poor choices.
Our team at Galloway Jefcoat has the experience and knowledge to help you get the compensation you need when a negligent driver injures you. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your distracted driving accident.
"Galloway Jefcoat helped me at a time when I felt lost and taken advantage of by my employer."
