Atlanta Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

In Georgia, distracted driving is becoming more and more prevalent with the increase of technology and information vying for attention. In 2022 alone, distracted driving accounted for the cause of 53% of all vehicle collisions in Georgia. Distracted driving is extremely dangerous, and can lead to accidents that cause serious injuries. When travelling at a speed of 55mph, a car is able to travel the entire length of a football field in four seconds. In that amount of time, a pedestrian may be crossing the road or a child may run into the road after something. Any number of changes can happen on the road in just seconds, and when you take your eyes off the road you may not be able to stop your car in time.

For those who have been injured in a collision due to distracted driving, understanding your legal rights and options under Georgia’s law is imperative. At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our expert team is committed to providing experienced and compassionate legal representation to offer support through every complex step of the legal process. Call us today at 404-975-1775 for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Types of Distractions That Cause Accidents

• Cell Phone Use
  • Even if a driver is using hands free mode, operating a vehicle while using a cell phone can significantly impair a driver’s focus. While the law in Georgia requires drivers to use hands free technology while driving, the amount of effort required to make a phone call can still distract a driver from the road long enough to cause an accident.
• Texting While Driving
  • Texting while driving remains one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. In order to send a text, a driver must take their eyes off the road and type out a message. This also requires at least one hand to be off the wheel to type the message and the concentration is diverted from driving to understanding the text message. All three of the factors can lead to a large amount of time that a person is distracted from the road, and can cause a severe accident.
• Personal Grooming
  • By doing your makeup, shaving, or even brushing your hair, your eyes are off the road and hands are off the wheel can cause a lapse in attention which could cause an accident.
• Engaging With Other Passengers
  • Engaging in conversation with other passengers can take away from a driver’s focus on the road and lead to an accident if they are too distracted to notice.
• Eating or Drinking
  • Eating or drinking while driving may seem like a necessity for some to quickly grab a meal while on the way to work, but this can lead to a driver taking their hands off the wheel to eat or take their eyes off the road for a few seconds. By doing so, they may cause an accident from being distracted by eating their food.
• Adjusting the Radio or Navigation System
  • Taking your eyes off the road, even for a second or two, can lead to serious accidents. By looking away to change a radio station or use a navigation system, a driver is taking their focus away from the road which could cause an accident if something happens they cannot react to in time.
• Looking at Outside Distractions
  • A driver’s attention should be on the road they are driving on, and not at the scenery or another incident that happened on the other side of the road. This momentary shift in focus could lead to a failure to notice changes in traffic flow or a potential hazard, which in turn could lead to serious injuries.

About Georgia’s Hands-Free Law

The state of Georgia has taken significant steps to try and mitigate the dangers of distracted driving. The Hands-Free Georgia Act (O.C.G.A. §40-6-241) went into effect as of July 1, 2018. This law limits the use of communication devices, and prohibits drivers from:

• Physically holding a cell phone or electronic device with any part of their body.
• Writing, sending, or reading any text-based communication.
• Watching, recording, or broadcasting videos on cellular devices.

Drivers can still use their device for voice-based communication utilizing an integrated Bluetooth system, they may also use voice-to-text, and may also use GPS devices as long as they are not physically holding or supporting the device with any part of their body. Listening or streaming music is also allowed as long as the driver does not touch their phone to activate the program or app while the vehicle is in motion. Any physical use of their electronic device must be done before driving starts.

Professional drivers of commercial motor vehicles or school bus drivers also have certain laws that apply to their use of communication devices, so if you are injured by someone driving a commercial vehicle or school bus, you should make sure to contact an Atlanta distracted driving accident lawyer experienced in the various laws surrounding the usage of cellular devices. Contact Merritt & Merritt Law Firm at 404-975-1775 to get the most experienced attorneys to get you the most out of your compensation.

Who’s Most at Risk of Being Injured in a Distracted Driving Accident?

• Pedestrians
  • Pedestrians are the most vulnerable to distracted driving accidents as they do not have any physical protection from an oncoming vehicle. In 2022, pedestrians accounted for 22% of all persons in Georgia who were killed or seriously injured by a distracted driver.
• Motor Vehicle Drivers
  • Motor vehicle drivers are the most at risk of being injured by a distracted driver in the state of Georgia. 53% of all crashes in Georgia were due in some part to a distracted driver. Many of these accidents were severe in nature or caused a fatality.
• Motorcyclists
  • Motorcyclists are at a heightened risk to distracted driving accidents due to their low visibility. If a driver is distracted, they may fail to see a motorcyclist at all, which could lead to a serious injury or death.
• Bicyclists
  • Bicyclists are, like motorcyclists, harder to see on the road than a motor vehicle, and as such are already at risk of a driver not noticing them. If a driver is distracted, that puts an even higher risk of injury to a bicyclist.
• Passengers
  • Passengers in a vehicle are at a direct risk from a vehicle being operated by a distracted driver. Passengers have no control of the situation, and could suffer severe injuries due to the neglect of a distracted driver.

Hit by Someone Texting & Driving? Our Atlanta Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Team Can Help

Being injured by a distracted driver can be devastating, and can have a lasting impact on your life. At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our skilled attorneys have a proven track record of analyzing evidence to demonstrate that the other driver was indeed distracted while operating a vehicle, thus causing the collision that caused your injuries. We also conduct thorough investigations to locate and interview witnesses who may have observed the driver who was distracted if feasible. Our lawyers also will obtain police reports from the scene of the accident to obtain crucial details and observations of the accident that can support the claim that the driver who caused the accident was distracted when they caused it.

If you have been injured by a driver you suspect was distracted when they caused an accident, it is crucial you contact our attorneys as soon as possible at 404-975-1775 so we may evaluate your case and explain your legal options.

The Driver’s Insurance Company Contacted Me and Would Like to Settle the Case. What Should I Do?

If the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident contacts you with a settlement offer, you are entitled to not speak with them directly without first contacting a personal injury attorney. While it may seem tempting to resolve the matter quickly, more often than not, the insurance adjuster is prioritizing the interests of the insurance company, and not your interests. The initial offer the insurance company gives is highly unlikely to fully and fairly compensate you for the true extent of your injuries and losses, which is why it is so important to call Merritt & Merritt Law Firm to discuss your case and get the compensation that you need.

How Much Will a Distracted Driving Lawyer Cost?

The cost of legal representation is one of the most common concerns for individuals who have been victims of distracted driving accidents. The attorneys at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm accept personal injury claims on a contingency fee basis, which means that you only pay a percentage of your final award as a penalty and only if your attorney wins your case. If your Atlanta distracted driving accident lawyer cannot obtain compensation for you, you pay nothing in legal fees, so there is no financial risk in choosing our firm to represent you. We only get paid if you get paid.

Schedule a Consultation with an Atlanta Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Today

We are here to help you understand your legal rights as a victim. Call 404-975-1775 or contact our personal injury attorneys online to learn more about whether the specifics of your car accident can support a lawsuit. There is no risk in calling 404-975-1775 today. Free consultations.