Distracted driving is the most common type of reckless driving leading to thousands of distracted driving accidents a year. According to the NHTSA, drivers are distracted by their phones at least 10 percent of the time while they’re behind the wheel. Thousands of car accidents are caused every day by distracted and reckless drivers. According to the CDC, distracted driving takes nine lives every day and injures more than 1,000. The percentage of accidents caused by distracted driving is eight to nine percent while reckless driving is responsible for 33 percent of all fatal crashes.
If you or a loved one was injured in a distracted driving accident, you are entitled to a fair settlement for your losses and injuries. Contact an experienced local car accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights.
What is a distracted driving accident?
A distracted driving accident is one where the at-fault driver crashes into another person. This can include an object or vehicle because they were distracted by something. Then they took their eyes off the road. The most common type of distracted driving is cell phone use. In particular texting and driving. And conversations with passengers, eating or drinking, or applying makeup also cause accidents.
In Washington State, it is against the law to hold your cell phone while you are driving. But distracted driving behaviors are handled under “secondary enforcement”. This means that drivers will only get pulled over for distracted driving if they are committing a moving violation while doing so. The penalties for distracted driving in Washington are $136 for a first-time texting and driving offense. Then it rises to $234 for a second-time texting and driving offense. And between $30-100 for a distracted driving offense such as eating or grooming.
What is a reckless driving accident?
Any person who drives a vehicle in “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” is guilty. Guilty of reckless driving. Reckless driving involves a major moving traffic violation such as driving too fast for road conditions, failing to give proper signals, excessive lane changing, or tailgating.
Reckless Driving is a gross misdemeanor in Washington State and carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and/or a $5000 fine. When a distracted or reckless driver causes an accident that results in debilitating injuries, you may be entitled to a larger car accident settlement than your car insurance company is offering.
How do I know if I should pursue a personal injury claim for my car accident?
The only way to know if you have a case is to meet with one of our experienced personal injury associates for a FREE consultation. A dedicated car accident lawyer at Tario & Associates, P.S. will walk you through your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Should I work with the insurance adjuster at the at-fault insurance company to settle my auto accident claim?
An insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, not you. If the at-fault insurance company has already presented you with a proposed settlement, you need to know whether it is fair. Also if your claim is worth more, or if you should hire a personal injury lawyer. Hire them to force the insurance company to pay you the full and fair compensation you deserve. During your initial free consultation, we can help you determine the best way to proceed. It is not unusual for our attorneys to be able to achieve monetary recoveries five to twenty times what an insurance company has offered.
How much do I have to pay to pursue a reckless driving or distracted driving accident claim?
There are no upfront costs or fees paid by our clients to pursue an injury claim. We provide representation on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases. You will not incur any attorney fees if you do not win your case. However, Washington State law requires clients to reimburse the law firm for out-of-pocket expenses. Our firm advances out-of-pocket costs for our injury clients. And we do not require our clients to pay any of these costs upfront. When cases are concluded with a monetary recovery, our firm is repaid for the out-of-pocket costs we have advanced. Along with a percentage of the settlement.
Call Tario & Associates for help with your Distracted Driving Claim
We have the skills and experience to handle the plaintiff’s personal injury case from interviewing witnesses, gathering documents, negotiation, and pre-litigation to court trial, if necessary. We provide FREE case evaluations, home and hospital visits, and no attorney fees unless you recover damages. Do not delay, contact the most experienced practicing car accident attorney Mount Vernon has today! There is a statute of limitations on filing your traffic accident injury claim.
