Pittsburgh Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Distracted Driving is Dangerous. Our Pittsburgh Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help.

When a driver takes their eyes, or mind, off the road for even a few seconds, the consequences can be devastating. Driving requires various types of focus and attention, including keeping your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your mind focused on the act of driving. When a driver fails to do any of these actions and causes a car accident, the injury victim has the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against that driver.

If you or a loved one has experienced a motor vehicle accident that involves a distracted driver in Pittsburgh, you very well may be eligible for compensation. Contact one of the experienced Pittsburgh distracted driving accident attorneys at Munley Law today for a free case evaluation, and to learn how our Pittsburgh car accident lawyer can help protect your rights.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Anyone who has driven in Pittsburgh knows how difficult driving can be when you are paying attention. We know all too well about the “Pittsburgh Left” after all. Now imagine trying to drive through the city with your eyes closed. That is exactly what you’re doing when you drive while distracted.

Distracted driving is an umbrella term that refers to anything that takes a driver’s attention away from driving. Becoming distracted can lead to car accidents; in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 9 people die every day in the US from car accidents that involve a distracted driver.

There are three main types of distraction:

• Visual: Visual distraction is something that takes the driver’s eyes off the road, such as texting.
• Manual: Manual distraction means the driver is taking their hands off the wheel, perhaps to fiddle with the radio or type an email.
• Cognitive: Cognitive distraction means the driver is mentally distracted from the act of driving; this could be caused by something like a heated argument with someone else in the car, or the driver simply letting their mind wander.

Anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off the road, or their hands off the wheel, can be considered distracted driving. Some common distractions while driving include texting, emailing, making a phone call, eating, applying makeup, changing the radio or selecting music from a phone, setting a destination in a GPS system, and being distracted by other passengers in the car.

While it may seem inconsequential to take a moment to read a text, the results can in fact be disastrous. If a car is traveling at a speed of 55 miles per hour, a driver simply glancing away for a few seconds to read or send a text is equivalent to driving the length of a football field with their eyes closed. Distracted driving crashes can cause lifelong injuries and even death. All drivers need to be cognizant of how important it is to avoid visual, manual, and cognitive distractions.

How Can You Prove Fault in a Pittsburgh Distracted Driving Car Accident?

Generally, there are a few steps to proving fault in a distracted driving car accident or any personal injury case:

• The plaintiff must show that the defendant owed them a duty of care. In the case of a car accident, all drivers are responsible for driving safely and reasonably, and therefore owe a duty of care to all other drivers and pedestrians.
• The plaintiff must show that the defendant violated this duty of care. In a distracted driving car accident, the defendant would have violated the duty of care by exhibiting distraction behind the wheel, leading them to drive recklessly.
• This violation directly caused injuries. In other words, distracted driving directly resulted in an accident, which caused the victim to experience injuries.
• These injuries resulted in measurable losses. The victim and their lawyer need to show that these injuries resulted in losses, such as medical bills, lost wages from needing to take time off work to recover, and more.

Do I Need a Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyer for My Claim?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident that involved a distracted driver, one of the best paths toward justice and compensation is working with a car accident lawyer. These cases can be difficult to prove, and it’s crucial that you have an experienced accident attorney on your side. The defendant and their accident attorney may attempt to argue that it was not the defendant’s distractedness, but rather some other condition that caused the accident and your ensuing injuries. Your personal injury attorney will work to prove that this is not the case and that the defendant’s distracted driving did indeed cause your injuries.

Your lawyer will work to collect evidence that establishes the fault of the other party and the extent of your injuries. If, for instance, you’re seeking to prove that the at-fault driver was texting at the time of the accident, your lawyer may pull their phone records. CCTV footage, witness accounts, police reports, and more can all help to establish the course of events. Medical bills and evidence of wages can also help to show both the extent of your injuries and the financial impact they’ve had on you.

In addition to collecting evidence, your car accident attorney will also liaise with the relevant insurance companies, negotiate on your behalf, and work to ensure you receive compensation that accurately reflects your experience.

Munley Law Can Help You After a Car Accident in Pittsburgh

If you or a loved one has experienced a motor vehicle accident of any kind, you deserve both justice and compensation. At Munley Law, we know that the aftermath of a car accident can be a traumatic and overwhelming time, in which you’ll need to focus on resting, recovering, and getting back to the life you love. The last thing you want to worry about is the intricacies of a motor vehicle accident case. That’s where we come in: our Pittsburgh car accident lawyers will do all the heavy lifting, so you can prioritize getting better.

We know you have plenty of choices when you’re picking a Pittsburgh car accident lawyer, but we believe that our track record speaks for itself. We have decades of experience securing settlements for our clients, and we treat every case with the care, compassion, and attention it deserves.

Don’t hesitate — contact Munley Law today to schedule a free case evaluation, and learn how we can protect your rights. We’re ready and waiting to take your call.

Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys

510 Third Avenue
2nd Floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
+14125345133