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Surprise Distracted Driving Lawyer

Car accidents can occur for many reasons, but one of the most rampant problems on today’s roads is distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,142 people lost their lives in distracted driving accidents in 2020 alone, while thousands of other victims suffered serious injuries.

At the Law Offices of John Phebus, we are dedicated to bringing distracted drivers to justice. We can represent you during an insurance claim or lawsuit against a distracted driver for causing your recent injuries. Our Surprise distracted driving lawyers will work relentlessly to achieve the case results that you deserve.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving means that a driver is operating a motor vehicle without dedicating 100 percent of his or her attention to the road. It can refer to a driver taking his or her eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and/or mind off the driving task. Even a brief moment of distraction can be enough to cause a car accident. For example, the NHTSA reports that reading or sending just one text message while driving 55 miles per hour is the equivalent of driving across an entire football field while blindfolded.

Common Examples of Distracted Driving

A driver could be distracted by many different things both inside and outside of the cab of a car. While cell phones present the most significant distracted driving risk, it is not the only one. Several distractions could tempt a driver to take his or her attention off the road, including:

  • Texting or talking on the phone
  • Sending or reading emails
  • Scrolling through social media
  • Taking photos or videos
  • Eating or drinking
  • Talking to passengers
  • Dealing with pets or children
  • Reading billboards
  • Rubbernecking
  • Personal grooming
  • Mental distractions or daydreaming

Every driver has a responsibility to resist and avoid potential distractions while operating a motor vehicle. Failing to fulfill this responsibility can make a driver liable for a distracted driving crash in Arizona.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is an extremely dangerous driver behavior that contributes to hundreds of thousands of automobile accidents each year. In Arizona, at least 9,304 car accidents were caused by distracted driving in 2021. A driver who is mentally or physically distracted cannot dedicate the necessary amount of attention to the road. This can result in delayed reaction times, the failure to notice changing roadway situations in time and related car accidents.

How Is Distracted Driving Different From Impaired Driving?

Impaired driving means that a driver is operating under the influence of an intoxicating substance, such as drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving is different from distracted driving because drunk drivers tend to be more reckless and engage in dangerous behaviors, such as speeding. However, distracted driving can be equally as dangerous in terms of reduced reaction times, slowed reflexes, missed traffic signs and signals, and poor decision-making. Both are deadly driver errors.

Injuries Associated With Distracted Driving

A distracted driver can cause a serious or catastrophic car accident in Arizona. In many cases, distracted or inattentive drivers do not hit the brakes before crashing into a victim. This can result in a high-speed collision and serious injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, crush injuries, severe burns and lacerations, soft-tissue injuries, and – in the worst cases – fatal injuries. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with any type of injury after a crash involving a distracted driver, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Contact a Surprise Distracted Driving Attorney

No amount of money or financial recovery can make up for a devastating distracted driving car accident in Surprise. However, a Surprise distracted driving lawyer hopes that a claim can provide the justice and financial compensation that you need to move forward. Find out how we can help you with a claim during a free case consultation. Contact us online or call (623) 847-7117 today.