If you were injured in a car crash caused by someone else, you’re likely in pain and worried about paying your medical bills. If the accident resulted from another motorist’s distracted driving, you might also be angry – and rightfully so.
Distracted a.k.a. inattentive driving poses a significant threat to road safety, leading to numerous accidents, injuries, and fatalities each year. When drivers divert their attention from the task of operating a vehicle safely, their reaction times slow and they compromise their ability to make critical decisions.
At Jebaily Law Firm, we see firsthand the devastating impact of distracted driving accidents, and we are committed to fighting the problem. Attorney George D. Jebaily, one of our firm’s distracted driving accident lawyers in Myrtle Beach, speaks to audiences at schools and organizations about the dangers of distracted driving.
If you’re suffering injuries from a car accident caused by a suspected distracted driver, we want to help. Contact us today for your free consultation with a Myrtle Beach distracted driving car accident lawyer.
Defining Distracted Driving
Distracted driving happens when any activity diverts a driver’s attention from the road. It can include anything that takes your eyes off traffic, your hands off the wheel, or your mind away from the task of driving.
The pressure to multitask or glance at a text or email is tempting, but it only takes a few seconds to cause a horrific accident. Ultimately, distracted drivers are dangerous, and tragic accidents can happen when drivers fail to limit or avoid distractions, leaving behind substantial injuries and pain.
Reasons to Get Help from Our Myrtle Beach Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys
If you’re looking for a car accident attorney, finding the first “distracted driving accident lawyer near me” may be tempting. But you need an experienced attorney who can alleviate your stress and help pursue the maximum compensation you need.
Our Myrtle Beach distracted driving accident lawyers can:
- Conduct an investigation – Our lawyers can investigate the events immediately leading to the accident to gain evidence about the actions of the involved drivers at the time of the accident.
- Build a claim – You may not have experience with personal injury claims, but our distracted driving accident attorneys in Myrtle Beach do, and we can assemble the required evidence, witness testimony, and paperwork needed to file your claim.
- Assess losses – Our experienced attorneys understand an injury’s long-term impact on your physical and financial health. We can calculate how much money you’ll need to cover your injuries and related losses.
- Negotiate with insurers – Your focus should be healing after an accident, not returning an insurance adjuster’s phone calls. We will handle aggravating conversations and negotiations with the insurance company so you can heal while we take care of your claim.
- Litigate in court – Your claim is essential to your recovery, and we will fight for the compensation you need by taking it to court if necessary.
Common Types of Distracted Driving in Myrtle Beach
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) organizes distracted driving into three categories: visual, manual, and cognitive. Each type poses significant risks and leads to devastating accidents.
Visual driving distractions take your eyes off the road, preventing you from focusing on the road ahead. Common visual distractions include:
- Using GPS – Putting info into a navigation system while driving distracts you from the road.
- Looking at a billboard – Concentrating on billboards or signs increases accident risk.
- Rubbernecking at an accident – Looking at a crash site diverts attention from the road and can lead to a secondary crash.
- Checking out the scenery – Admiring surroundings can lead to ignoring traffic and causing accidents.
Manual distractions involve actions that physically take one or both your hands off the wheel, including:
- Eating while driving – Handling food or drinks limits control over the steering wheel and other vehicle controls.
- Using your phone – Physically handling your phone distracts you from the road.
- Changing the radio station – Reaching for radio controls detracts from road focus.
- Reaching for something in the car – Searching for items diverts your attention from driving.
Cognitive distractions take your mind off the road and mentally distract you from driving. Examples of these distractions include:
- Singing – Singing along to music divides your attention between the song and driving.
- Talking – Engaging in animated conversations with passengers can distract from driving.
- Daydreaming – Allowing your mind to wander increases the risk of accidents.
- Worrying – Focusing on stressors while driving takes attention away from the road.
Texting while driving is a particularly dangerous distraction because it involves all three categories – visual, manual, and cognitive.
South Carolina Distracted Driving Laws and Key Distracted Driving Statistics
South Carolina has specific laws to reduce distracted driving. Texting while driving is illegal everywhere in South Carolina, but despite these laws and state initiatives, distracted driving remains a persistent hazard.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, distracted or inattentive driving related to cell phone use causes more than 20,000 crashes in the state annually.
Seeking Maximum Compensation for Distracted Driving Crashes
If you’re dealing with an injury resulting from a distracted driving accident in Myrtle Beach, you could be entitled to compensation for the following accident-related losses:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Our distracted driving accident lawyers in Myrtle Beach can seek the maximum possible compensation by collecting evidence, including:
- Cell phone records – Cell phone data can show if a driver was actively using their phone moments before an accident.
- Accident photos and videos – Photos and videos of the crash site can show the scene at the time of the accident and provide crucial insight into the accident’s circumstances.
- Witness statements – Eyewitnesses can provide insight into an accident and a driver’s actions.
- Black box data – Internal information from the involved vehicles can reveal critical information about the car’s operation before the crash.
- Police reports – Reports from responding law enforcement officers could cite driver distraction as a cause of the accident, which could provide support for a potential claim.
Contact Our Myrtle Beach Distracted Driving Car Accident Attorneys Now
If you’re in an inattentive driving wreck, having an experienced distracted driving car crash attorney in Myrtle Beach is crucial. At Jebaily Law Firm, our Myrtle Beach distracted driving car accident lawyers have over 50 years of experience helping injured people repair their lives after car crashes.
Contact us for your free consultation today. We’re happy to meet with you to discuss how we can help.
