Distracted driving can easily lead to an accident. The number of fatalities and injuries caused by these types of accidents is climbing each year. More than 350,000 injuries occur annually from distracted driving accidents. April is distracted driving awareness month promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to bring national awareness to the issue and to get citizens involved to reduce distracted driving and the resulting accidents.
Distracted driving refers to using your phone while driving but it can also be caused by any event that takes your eyes away from the road, even if it is only for a second. If you, or someone you know, has been injured by distracted driving, follow these tips for what to do.
The first thing on your mind when getting injured by a distracted driver is to have any emergency needs taken care of. If injuries occurred, someone at the scene needs to dial 911. This will bring EMS care and police officers to the scene.
Injuries should always be treated right away. If you suspect or are concerned about a potential injury, do not decline care at the scene.
Everyone involved at the scene should exchange information. This includes names, contact information, automobile information, and insurance details. If there are witnesses nearby, it’s a good idea to get their names and contact details as well. This could come in handy later if there is a case involved but also for claims processing for injuries and damages.
You would be surprised how often people forget important details from an accident or even twist the details based on their emotions.
If you are able to do so, try to document the scene right away. Write down what you remember of the accident and as detailed as possible. Take the time to take some photos of the scene as well. This means photos of the vehicles, the damages, injuries, debris, and any other visual aid that might be helpful later when the scene isn’t fresh in your mind.
Finally, if you or a loved one were injured by a distracter driver, you should hire an experienced accident lawyer to handle your case. A lawyer can help make sure you receive the care and the compensation that you deserve for the injury.
Be sure to use an accident lawyer that has experience handling these types of cases. You should be proactive and take the initiative to get a lawyer as soon as you are able. Don’t wait to start the process.
