Were you injured in an accident with a distracted driver?
Driving alongside all of the other cars down a roadway involves some inherent risks. Even when other drivers are paying full attention to the road, mistakes and accidents can happen. But when another driver is distracted and causes an accident, that’s never excusable. Every driver has a responsibility to maintain awareness of their surroundings and contribute to a safe driving environment for everybody. So when a distracted driver causes an accident, they should be held accountable for whatever damages their actions cause.
The Columbia distracted driving accident lawyers at the Goings Law Firm, LLC understand that trauma and turmoil that often accompany the aftermath of a car accident. When faced with emotional, physical, and financial injuries, a course of legal action might be the furthest thing from your mind. However, we also understand how holding the responsible party accountable can help you pay your bills and rebuild your life after the crash.
If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident involving distracted driving you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Call us today at (803) 350-9230 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team.
Why Hire An Attorney for Your South Carolina Distracted Driving Claim
Pursuing damages for your injuries can be a complex but rewarding process. After being injured by a distracted driver, filing a claim can be a necessary step in seeking justice and recovery. One of the greatest services a lawyer can provide is the peace of mind you get, knowing your legal rights are being defended while you’re still able to focus on what matters the most, your health.
A lawyer can be invaluable in shouldering the legal burdens so you can seek accountability and healing. Experienced lawyers will also greatly enhance your case overall. Going through the legal process without professional guidance and representation can be difficult and confusing. Lawyers will bring their skill, experience, and specialized training to the table to help try to win your case.
An attorney will be familiar with how the legal process operates, know how to communicate and negotiate with insurance companies and other lawyers, be familiar with the evidence that will support your case and how to gather it, and will create a compelling argument for why you deserve an award. Lawyers can leverage their firm’s resources to help your case too. This may mean using staff to perform legal research, hiring an expert witness, or putting their skills to work to investigate your case. If you wish to increase the likelihood of receiving compensation, and how significant said compensation is, it is often wise to hire a lawyer for your distracted driving case.
Why Hire Goings Law Firm, LLC for Your South Carolina Distracted Driving Case
At Goings Law Firm, LLC we understand the stress our clients are facing after their accidents. It is a great priority of ours to compassionately serve injured South Carolina residents. Since, as a firm, we focus on personal injury cases, we have the skill and experience needed when someone else’s recklessness causes you harm. We are committed to holding negligent, distracted drivers accountable for the harm they cause. We will always put the goals of our clients first and work tirelessly to defend your legal rights. We will always treat your case with individualized care so that our work is tailored to your exact situation.
We can help you navigate the insurance claims process, negotiate with insurers, and file a lawsuit and litigate when needed. We have worked to build a reputation for aggressive representation and delivering our clients results.
Some of our recent awards can be found described on our “results” page. Our reputation for success is also demonstrated by our attorneys’ accolades which include repeated inclusion in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and National Trial Lawyers. It is also worth noting that our firm operates on a contingency basis. This means that we receive compensation only when your case is won.
By working on a contingency fee basis, our goals are completely aligned. We won’t get paid until you get paid. Also, you won’t owe us anything up front, which allows you to focus on your recovery while still having access to qualified legal services. We are committed to serving our community by holding careless individuals accountable for the harm they cause.
Common Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents
Unfortunately, distracted driving has become extremely common in recent years. According to the Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving, “In 2014, 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.” Distracted driving occurs whenever a driver takes their eyes off the road, their hands off the steering wheel, or their mind off of the task at hand. While some forms of distracted driving are illegal, others are simply dangerous and negligent. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines distracted driving as doing something else which occupies your attention while driving. Driving while distracted is widely acknowledged as extremely dangerous and can pose similar risks to driving drunk. Common sources of distraction include:
- Smartphone use, including talking, texting, browsing the web, or using social media
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Adjusting the radio
- Navigation system use
- Talking to a passenger
Many states have enacted anti-cell phone laws that are aimed to deter drivers from using their phones while behind the wheel. Commercial vehicle drivers are prohibited cell phone use altogether. But unfortunately, drivers continue to distract themselves and be distracted by others.
In South Carolina, it has been illegal since 2014 to text while driving. While this a good start, the issue of distracted driving is a significant one in this day and age. South Carolina does not have strict distracted driving laws as the only form of distracted driving which is illegal is texting while driving. The fines for driving while texisg are also relatively low at $25 for a first offense and $50 for subsequent texting. Lawmakers are considering strengthening the state’s cellphone use while driving law to prohibit all cellphone use while driving, not just texting. While this may be an important step in keeping our roads safe and holding distracted drivers partially accountable, it will still be vital to seek damages when a distracted driver injures you.
Distracted driving accidents can cause serious, life-long injuries. This is especially true when traveling at high speeds. Taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the steering wheel for even seconds can be dangerous. Road conditions and other drivers are simply too unpredictable, and the risk of injury is too high to drive without giving the task at hand your undivided attention. When a distracted driver fails in their duty to maintain a reasonable level of care or safety and harms you, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Depending on your specific situation, you may be eligible to receive damages covering your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost earning potential, and more. It is especially important to pursue compensation through the legal system if your insurance will not cover the full cost of treatment, or if the accident caused a persisting medical issue. It is important to contact a lawyer quickly to pursue justice, in South Carolina you only have three years from the date of your injury to file a claim. Speak to a skilled lawyer to find out if you’re eligible to pursue compensation.
Contact a Columbia Distracted Driving Attorney
If you have suffered any sort of damages because of the irresponsible behavior of a distracted driver, then you may be able to recover some of what you have lost. The car crash lawyers here at Goings Law Firm, LLC understand the the devastating toll auto accidents can take, and are dedicated in making sure that justice is served. To speak to one of our lawyers, call (803) 350-9230.
