Missouri Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Seeks Compensation for Your Injuries

Springfield personal injury attorney aids people hurt by inattentive motorists

Distracted driving is a serious problem that too often results in injury and even death on Missouri’s roadways. In the three years from 2016 through 2018, inattentive Missouri drivers were involved in 1,777 accidents resulting in serious injury and 255 resulting in fatalities. If you are the victim of a distracted driving accident, RJC Law is ready to seek damages on your behalf from the distracted driver and anyone else responsible.

Why do distracted driving accidents happen in Missouri?

Distracted driving occurs whenever a driver does one or more of the following:

  • Takes their eyes off the road
  • Takes one or both hands off the steering wheel
  • Allows their mind to wander from the task of driving

Many of the most serious distracted driving accidents occur when motorists use their cell phone for one of the following activities:

  • Texting — The process of typing a message on a cell phone requires the driver to take at least one hand off the wheel and to direct their eyes and attention to their screen, posing a triple threat.
  • Dialing a number — Although requiring less time, dialing a telephone number is just as distracting as typing out a text. Shifting focus for just is a moment is all that it takes to trigger an accident.
  • Talking — While a motorist can still look at the road during an actual phone conversation, holding the phone against one’s ear requires taking a hand off the wheel and the conversation itself can be mentally distracting.

Other types of distractions, such as eating, daydreaming, looking off to the side of the road at interesting sights and trying to control unruly children can lead to auto accidents. Missouri’s current laws do not offer much protection from dangerously distracted motorists. Only commercial drivers and drivers 21 years old or younger are prohibited from texting while driving, and only the former are prohibited from using hand-held cell phones while driving. However, even behavior that is not prohibited by statute can constitute negligence in a civil lawsuit. My firm seeks to hold distracted drivers liable for the injuries they inflict on innocent victims.

What types of accidents and injuries can distracted driving cause?

While distracted driving can cause any type of automobile accident, it is particularly likely to result in certain mistakes by the distracted driver:

  • Rear-ending the car in front
  • Going through a stop light or stop sign and striking another vehicle or pedestrian
  • Moving into the wrong lane and sideswiping another car or even having a head-on collision
  • Veering off the road and striking a barrier or pedestrian
  • Failing to make a safe turn

Rear-ending another vehicle can cause cervical strain (also known as whiplash) to the occupant of that vehicle, and any of these accidents can cause serious injury or even death to anyone involved in the crash. I will diligently work to build a case for negligence against the distracted driver, so that you can obtain the verdict or settlement you need to compensate you fairly for your injuries.

Call a dedicated Missouri distracted driving accident attorney today for a free consultation

RJC Law represents the victims of distracted driving accidents in Greene County and elsewhere in Missouri. For a free consultation about your claim, call 417-233-0073 or contact me online. My office is located in Springfield.