In Sherman Oaks, California, it is common for people to see other drivers who are using their smartphones while they drive. This behavior is dangerous and can cause accidents. Drivers who engage in other activities while they drive such as using their cell phones can cause collisions because of driver distraction. When a cell phone car accident in Sherman Oaks happens, people may sustain serious injuries or die. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys believes that people who have suffered losses because of the negligence of others deserve to be compensated, and we are committed to helping accident victims to recover the damages to which they are rightfully entitled.
Proving Negligence in a Cell Phone Car Accident Sherman Oaks Case
When car accidents are caused by drivers who were using their cell phones, injured victims may file personal injury civil lawsuits against the drivers to try to hold them liable. In order to prevail on their claims, the plaintiffs will have to prove the elements of negligence. Proving that a driver was negligent when he or she was on the phone at the time of the accident may necessitate the plaintiff to secure evidence that the defendant was using his or her cell phone. Our accident lawyers understand how to secure evidence from cell phone providers that show when people were using their smartphones.
Our lawyers may file motions to prevent the spoliation of the evidence and to subpoena the cell phone records. They can then use an accident timeline to demonstrate how the phone usage correlated with the resulting accident. Through an in-depth investigation and gathering evidence, our lawyers are often able to succeed in proving negligence in accidents involving drivers who were distracted by their cell phones.
Types of Accidents That Are Caused by Distracted Drivers
People may be distracted when they do several things with their smartphones. While most people understand the dangers of texting while driving, many do not recognize that talking on their cell phones while they drive is also dangerous. According to the National Safety Council, even hands-free cell phones are distracting and cause many accidents each year. This is because driving requires that you use three different types of attention, including manual, cognitive and visual. When one of these types of attention is not focused on the road and on the act of driving, people may fail to see impending hazards in time to react properly. People whose attention is divided by a conversation, a text, an email, social media or a map may have slowed reaction times and cause accidents. Some of the common accidents that are associated with using smartphones while driving include rear-end accidents, head-on collisions and t-bone accidents.
How Frequently Do Cell Phone Accidents Happen?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,450 people were killed in accidents that were caused by distracted driving in 2016. In 2015, 391,000 people were injured in distracted driving accidents. The NHTSA reports that 481,000 drivers in the U.S. are using their cell phones while they are driving during the daytime hours. A survey of California drivers by the California Office of Traffic Safety found that 40 percent of the drivers admitted to making driving mistakes while they were talking on their cell phones, and 54 percent reported that they had either been hit or almost hit by drivers who were on their cell phones.
When to Contact Our Experienced Cell Phone Accident Lawyers in Sherman Oaks
It is vital for you to contact our experienced accident lawyers as soon as possible after you have been injured in an accident that was caused by a distracted driver. When our attorneys are contacted early, they have more time to investigate what happened and to preserve important evidence before it is lost. Contacting our attorneys as soon after you have sought treatment for your injuries as possible may help to make your claim much stronger so that you might recover more compensation than you otherwise might. To learn more about your claim and your rights, call us today to schedule your free consultation. (818) 565-6600
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If you or a loved one has been injured, you will want a top rated San Fernando Valley personal injury attorney that understands how to get the maximum compensation you deserve. Our pledge is to be your partner, and provide passionate, yet skillful legal representation needed to win your case. Contact our highly trained personal injury lawyers today for a free case evaluation.