Hartford Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers
Protecting the rights of accident victims in Hartford & Manchester, CT
Today’s cars and trucks are stuffed full of technology and gadgets. While most of these advancements help us stay safer on the road and navigate with ease, some also entice drivers to multitask while behind the wheel. This can lead to a false sense of security due to advanced safety features, or driving while distracted. Either way, other motorists are put at risk.
The Hartford personal injury attorneys at Barry, Barall, Taylor & Levesque, LLC can help protect your rights after a distracted driving accident. We work to secure compensation for your injuries and losses or, if you lost a loved one due to someone else’s carelessness, file a wrongful death claim on your behalf. We’ll protect your rights while you take the time to heal from your injuries.
Distracted driving in Hartford
According to the CDC, nine people are killed every day and more than 1,000 are injured in car accidents and truck accidents due to distracted driving. In Connecticut, it’s illegal to use any type of handheld mobile device while driving. Drivers between 16 and 17 years old are prohibited from using any type of mobile device while operating a vehicle, even with hands-free accessories.
Distracted driving happens, as you can guess, whenever the driver of a vehicle allows something to take their attention and eyes off the business of driving. Examples of distracted driving include performing activities behind the wheel like:
- Adjusting vehicle controls, GPS or radio
- Eating and drinking
- Handling pets
- Rubbernecking
- Smoking or vaping
- Talking on or using mobile phones
- Talking to passengers in the back seat
Additionally, the CDC also notes that sending or reading a text at a typical highway speed of 55 mph takes a driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds. This might seem like a short amount of time, but in reality, in five seconds a vehicle can travel the entire length of a football field. Now imagine that with your eyes closed.
Types of distracted driving in Hartford, CT
The CDC breaks down distracted driving into three categories.
- Cognitive. A driver could have their hands on the wheel, but their mind may be elsewhere. This could involve being on the phone or lost in thought.
- Manual. Manual distractions take a driver’s hand off the wheel – like programming a GPS while driving or reaching around for objects under the seat.
- Visual. Glancing at or reading a text, talking to a passenger, rubbernecking or anything that takes the driver’s eyes off the road is a visual form of distraction.
The more ways a driver is distracted, the more dangerous they are. Distracted driving causes thousands of accidents and injuries each year, including:
- Amputations
- Broken and fractured bones
- Burns and scarring
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Wrongful death
Distracted driving and negligence
Everyone driving the local roads and highways of Hartford owe each other a duty of care to follow traffic and safety laws. However, when another driver gets distracted behind the wheel and starts focusing their attention on something else, even for a moment, they put everyone else on the road at risk.
When distracted driving causes accidents and injuries, a driver has failed in their duty of care. This means they’re likely guilty of negligence, and our distracted driving attorneys are dedicated to helping you prove it. We’ll investigate every last detail of your accident to show that the driver who injured you or your loved one was distracted, demonstrating factors like:
- Cellphone use and texting activity at the time of the accident
- Cellphone found on the floor or seat after the accident
- Food and drink spilled on the driver’s seat or lap
- Lack of any skid marks or attempts to brake
- Witness statements corroborating the driver was distracted
Our job is to work for you and build a strong case that ensures you’re fully compensated for your injuries, damages and losses. We hold the careless party accountable for their negligence and ensure your medical bills are taken care of. And, if you must take time off of work due to your accident, we’ll fight to get back your lost wages, too.
Statute of limitations for distracted driving accidents in Hartford
Connecticut law puts a cap on the time you have to bring a claim for injuries after a car wreck. So, the more quickly you bring on an attorney, the more quickly you can start building your case. If you wait too long, you can give up your legal right to recover financial compensation for your losses and damages.
According to Connecticut G.S. Chapter 926, after a car accident with injuries, you have two years from the date of your accident to bring a claim against the negligent driver. Or, if you’re bringing a wrongful death action against a driver, you have two years from the date of the fatal accident. It’s true that two years seems like a long time, but in some cases, you may have even less: claims against government entities have a statute of limitations of six months, so you have to move fast if the driver who hit you works for the local, state, or federal government. It takes time to gather evidence, paperwork and documentation to prepare a case. Ensure you give yourself and your attorneys enough time to work through any red tape before filing your case.
Reliable Hartford distracted driving accident attorneys
If you were injured in an accident due to the negligent driving behaviors of another party, the attorneys at Barry, Barall, Taylor & Levesque, LLC can help. Our legal team has decades of practice handling all types of car accident claims and can provide you knowledgeable guidance on how to proceed. We fight to secure compensation for your injuries and losses. Call us today. We’re located minutes off I-384 in Manchester. To schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers in Hartford or Manchester, please call 860-649-4400 or fill out our contact form.