As top car accident attorneys in Houston, we’ve helped countless injury victims find justice, and we can help you, too. If you suffered serious losses in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be eligible to pursue compensation. Schedule a free consultation to learn more. Call now- (281) 587-1111.
Some people believe technology brings people closer; others believe it creates barriers to real connection. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, one thing is certain: Life in the digital age is riddled with distractions. And while not all distractions are bad, others can have disastrous consequences.
Take cell phones, for example. In some contexts, receiving a phone call can be a life-saving event. However, taking a phone call can endanger your safety in situations that demand your full attention. This is especially true when driving.
When drivers choose to multi-task from behind the wheel—regardless of whether cell phones are involved—they put themselves and others at increased risk for serious injury and death. In fact, distracted driving caused more than 3,500 deaths in 2021 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And worse, the trend of distracted drivers is on the rise.
For victims of distracted driving accidents, the consequences can be disastrous. They often suffer injuries that require emergency medical treatment, expensive therapies, and work sabbaticals. They may even sustain permanent disabilities or be unable to return to work altogether—consequences that most people can’t afford.
Luckily, car accident victims do have recourse. By partnering with an experienced distracted driving attorney, injury victims can pursue the compensation they need and deserve to recover. Our Houston auto accident lawyer will explain everything you need to know about distracted driving accidents, what causes them, recoverable compensation, and how a dedicated attorney can help.
Here’s the bottom line: If you didn’t cause the accident, you shouldn’t be footing the bill for your recovery. The trusted legal professionals at Baumgartner Law Firm can help you explore your options for compensation. Call our personal injury law office at (281) 587-1111 to get started.
Why Choose Us?
Practically all personal injury lawyers handle distracted driving cases, but not at the same level. As leading car accident attorneys in Houston, we have the expertise, resources, and passion you need to maximize your compensation.
With more than 35 years of experience advocating for injury victims, the Baumgartner Law Firm is a trusted name in Houston, Texas. From its founding in 1985 by Houston personal injury attorney Greg Baumgartner, our law firm’s mission has remained the same: Providing top-tier legal representation to injury victims who have been harmed in accidents.
We don’t just win—we win big. Our dedication has resulted in countless multi-million-dollar wins for our clients and established us as a top-rated law firm in the Houston area. With unparalleled dedication to our clients and a track record that speaks for itself, Baumgartner Law Firm is the go-to firm for all of your personal injury needs.
Keep reading to learn about distracted driving accidents in Houston and how we’ll work to secure your maximum compensation.
Understanding Distracted Driving Accidents
Every day in the U.S., nine people are killed in accidents involving distracted driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Despite its prevalence and impact on public health, most people don’t think twice about engaging in distracted driving. Understanding the nature of this dangerous behavior can help you avoid a potentially lethal accident.
Types of Distracted Driving
Most people assume that distracted driving always involves cell phones, but that’s not true. Although many distracted driving accidents do involve cell phone usage (including texting), engaging in any activity that diverts a driver’s attention can be considered distracted driving. Distracted driving means an activity that causes someone to fail to maintain a proper lookout.
Driving distractions typically fall into one of three main categories: visual, manual, or cognitive. As the name suggests, a visual distraction is any activity that takes your eyes off the road; a manual distraction takes your hands off the steering wheel; and cognitive distractions take your mind off driving.
Here are a few of the ways in which these distractions can manifest:
- Drinking (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages) and eating
- Setting or adjusting the navigation system
- Using cell phone applications, including maps apps
- Operating the sound system, finding music, adjusting the radio, etc.
- Talking on the phone and texting
- Searching for an item that is out of reach
- Interacting with other passengers
Although the above-listed activities play a disproportionate role in distracting driving accidents, they aren’t the only activities that can cause wrecks. Ultimately, drivers should avoid engaging in anything that doesn’t directly pertain to safely operating their vehicles.
Who Are the Distracted Drivers?
Distracted driving isn’t just a problem among young people; individuals from every age group and demographic participate in this dangerous behavior. However, the data does suggest that young adult and teen drivers may be especially prone to multi-tasking from behind the wheel.
Research compiled by the CDC reveals a number of insights about young drivers and distractibility. Here are some of those findings:
- Among drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 involved in fatal crashes, about nine percent were distracted at the time of the crash.
- According to a 2019 survey, about 39% of high school students who had driven in the previous 30 days reported texting or emailing at least once while driving.
- Students who texted or emailed while driving were also more likely to engage in other risky driving behaviors, including not always wearing a seatbelt and riding with a driver who had been drinking and driving after drinking alcohol.
- Texting and emailing while driving are more common among older teens than younger teens.
Not all accidents are preventable. In many instances, drivers are involved in crashes that have nothing to do with them. However, distracted driving isn’t one of those instances; it is the product of an individual’s recklessness, which is why greater education is needed about the dangers of distractibility, especially among young drivers.
Recovering Damages in Distracted Driving Accident Cases
Car accident victims have the right to seek compensation for their accident-related injuries. In most cases, these injury victims have two options: trying to secure a settlement from the insurance company or pursuing a car accident lawsuit.
Seeking Compensation from an Insurer
Although filing a claim with an insurer seems like the easier route to many people, it isn’t always easy to get a fair settlement. That’s because, at the end of the day, insurance companies are businesses: They live and die by the bottom line. Their goal is to pay out as little in settlements as possible, which means the odds are stacked against you from the start.
However, insurance companies also fear litigation. The only thing worse than paying out a large settlement is being taken to court and forced to fork over even more money, which is why you should partner with an experienced lawyer from the get-go. A skilled car accident attorney can negotiate with an insurer on your behalf and make real the threat of litigation, making it much more likely that your adjuster issues a fair settlement.
Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit
In some situations, an insurance company is unwilling to compensate you fairly. However, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. With help from a trusted car accident attorney, you can file a distracted driving lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties and potentially win a much higher settlement award.
Although it sounds daunting, the steps to filing a lawsuit are typically much easier than clients imagine them to be—especially when they find the right attorney. In fact, most car accident lawsuits are settled outside of court, which means it’s unlikely you’ll even see the inside of the courtroom.
After you partner with a Houston distracted driving attorney, they will begin by investigating the details of your case. This may involve visiting the actual accident scene, requesting a copy of the police report, reviewing documentation, pictures, and other types of evidence, and interviewing witnesses, bystanders, and other parties involved.
A qualified auto accident injury lawyer will also fully account for your damages. In Texas, personal injury lawyers divide damages into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. By calculating your cumulative losses, they will be able to determine the appropriate settlement amount and show you how to maximize your damages. If the at-fault party or insurer refuses to compensate you fairly, your attorney will prepare your case for trial.
Types of Damages in Car Accident Lawsuits
Plaintiffs in civil lawsuits are commonly awarded compensatory damages. These damages are meant to compensate you for various losses, from easily calculable things like hospital bills and the cost of medical care and lost wages to intangible losses such as pain and suffering. Your attorney can ensure your settlement demand represents the full range of your accident-related losses.
At Baumgartner Law Firm, We Also Focus on these Practice Areas
Since 1985, Baumgartner Law Firm has limited our law practice to serious personal injury cases. Our legal team has won maximum compensation for thousands of accident victims and recovered millions of dollars for real people like you. The practice areas we focus on are the following:
· Auto & Car Accidents
· Catastrophic and Severe Injuries
· Construction Site Accidents
· Daycare Negligence & Child Injury
· Dram Shop Lawsuits
· Drunk Driving Accidents
· Lyft Accidents
· Motorcycle Accidents
· Personal Injury
· Truck Accidents
· Uber Accidents
· Work Injury
· Wrongful Death
Baumgartner Law Firm: Leading Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys in Houston
At Baumgartner Law Firm, we strive to provide our clients with the top-tier legal services they need to obtain fair compensation. In addition to free consultations, we offer our services on a contingency fee basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless and until you do. When you’re ready to review your legal options and protect your future, there’s no better Houston personal injury law firm than us. Contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation today.
6711 Cypress Creek Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77069
Related Resources:
- What is Distracted Driving?
- Failing to Maintain a Proper Lookout
- What to Know If You Are Hit by an Unlicensed Driver in Texas
- WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SETTLEMENT FOR A DRUNK DRIVER CASE?
- How to Report a Drunk Driver in Houston
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Related FAQs
Do you make house calls or hospital visits?
What kind of cases do you accept?
We are very selective in the cases that we agree to handle to provide the best possible service to our clients. By limiting the number of cases that we accept, we can provide the time attention, and resources required to maximize compensation for our clients.
Accordingly, our practice is limited to cases involving substantial injury or a family who has lost a loved one. We have gained a reputation for handling 18-wheeler truck accidents, car and drunk driving crashes, daycare injury cases, and other serious injury and wrongful death matters. To learn more about the cases we cover, visit our practice areas page.
Do I have to pay money out of my pocket to hire you?
Do you handle all types of personal injury cases?
No, we are very selective in the cases that we agree to accept. We intentionally limit the number of cases that we handle and the practice areas for the cases we take to provide the best possible personal service for our clients. To learn more about the cases we cover, visit our practice areas page or you can contact us for individual consultation about your case. (281) 587-1111.
What is the best way to contact you?
We prefer to be contacted by telephone and also respond to our online consultation requests. You can call us 24/7 at (281) 587-1111. We offer Zoom consultations as well.
How successful have you been with your cases?
We are a personal injury law firm with over three decades of experience and are extremely proud of our winning track record of success. Our founder is nationally recognized as among the best personal injury lawyers in the USA. We are undefeated in truck accident cases, wrongful death cases, and daycare negligence and invite you to check out our results page for recent results in cases we won.
For the last 35 years, we have concentrated on maximizing our client’s compensation in serious injury and wrongful death cases. If you are looking for the best personal injury lawyers in Houston – Call us! (281) 587-1111.
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