Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Ashland, MO

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Ashland, MO. If a distracted driver injured you or a family member, you need to talk to a distracted driving attorney today. At Burger Law, we have a team of committed and talented Ashland, MO distracted driving accident attorneys that will fight by your side, hold the at-fault party accountable for your injuries and demand that you get the money you owed to help you on your road to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

The rules of the road are in place to ensure that we, our passengers and everyone else on the Ashland, MO roads are safe. When another driver breaks those rules, acts irresponsibly and does not pay attention while they are driving, they put you and the people you love directly in harm’s way. You should not have to miss time from work, pay monstrous medical fees and suffer painful and restrictive injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence, and you deserve to collect complete compensation for their careless actions.

The distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law have experience with every variety of distracted driving case, and we have the experience, shrewdness and persistence to get you full compensation for your injuries from your Ashland, MO distracted driving accident. We take care of all communication, documentation and litigation for you so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. We fight by your side and do not charge you any legal fees until we have won your case and helped you get the financial compensation you are entitled to. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation with a professional Ashland, MO distracted driving accident attorney. We get to work on on your case immediately.

Distracted Driving Statistics

We have probably all observed distracted drivers on the street, and you may even be guilty of it yourself. That said, much of the statistics we have with respect to distracted driving is even more terrifying. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety estimates that nearly 9 in 10 drivers use their phones in some capacity while behind the wheel, and cell phone caused crashes increased by 30 percent between 2014 and 2018. In Missouri, there were 408 deaths in distracted driving cases from 2016 to 2020, and thousands more people have been hurt. In 2017, Missouri officially attributed 21,058 crashes to distracted drivers, which far transcends the sum of drunk driving accidents (5,321) and is greater than accidents caused by speeding (19,535).

Missouri Revised Statutes §304.820 forbids cell phone use while behind the wheel, but only for drivers who are 21 years of age or younger or commercial drivers, despite the fact that 70 percent of drivers whose cell phone use caused an accident were 22 or older. As a matter of fact, nearly one out of four drivers in distracted driving accidents are between the ages of 20 and 29. Although new legislation has been a hot topic in the state government lately, Missouri is still only one of two states without a no texting law for drivers of all ages , nor are there any other distracted driving laws in the state. This can make Ashland, MO roads especially hazardous for any Ashland, MO resident anywhere on or near the road. That is why it is important to remember that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law are here for you and will fight in your corner if a distracted driver injures you.

While the letter of the law might not hold everybody accountable, you can be assured that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will. Even though texting while driving is not against the law in Ashland, MO, a reckless driver can still be held accountable for any injuries you suffer. Driving distracted still breaks our safety, requiring Ashland, MO road users to behave in a way that is safe. As your Ashland, MO distracted driving accident attorney, the Burger Law legal team has helped hundreds of Ashland, MO residents recover full compensation when somebody disregards the rules and hurts them. We have tried every type of distracted driving case, and resistant Ashland, MO insurance companies fear us because they know we take on – and win – the hard cases. Call a Ashland, MO Burger Law distracted driving accident attorney today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation and begin down the journey to full recovery and maximum compensation. Your experienced Ashland, MO distracted driving accident lawyer will start working on your case and fighting for you right away and will work around the clock until you get the money you are owed.

Common Types of Driving Distractions

There are a lot of ways a Ashland, MO driver can become distracted and cause a distracted driving accident. Burger Law’s distracted driving accident attorneys know the best way to prove any sort of case to maximize your compensation. We have seen every kind of distracted driving accident, and, in general, there are three main types of of distractions.

Manual Distractions

These occur when the driver does not have their hands on the wheel properly, {causing them to no longer have complete control of the vehicle. Even if one hand is still on the wheel, a driver’s reaction time is significantly lessened. A few examples of typical manual distractions include:

• Texting, taking a call, or otherwise using your phone
• Eating or drinking
• Changing the radio or temperature
• Changing clothes, taking off a coat, applying makeup, combing your hair or other “grooming” activities
• Removing something from your purse, wallet, or pocket

Visual Distractions

These are distractions that lead to you taking your eyes off the road. Sometimes visual and manual distractions go together. Some examples are:

• Looking at a GPS device, map, or otherwise looking at directions
• Looking at another passenger or in the backseat
• Looking around instead of ahead, such as at a roadside attraction, sign, or crash
• Looking at your phone
• Looking in the mirror to check your appearance

Cognitive Distractions

These happen when a driver takes their mind off the road. These can be hazardous because while it might look like somebody is doing everything properly, they are still not concentrating or as alert as they should be. They can be:

• Focusing too much on an audiobook or song
• Daydreaming
• Concentrating too much on a conversation with someone else in the vehicle or on a hands-free device
• Being stressed out or preoccupied with other things
• Other passengers, such as kids or pets, need something or need to be disciplined

As you can imagine, cell phones are a major cause of distracted driving accidents because they can result in manual, visual and cognitive distractions. When you get behind the wheel, it is essential to eschew your phone so you do not create a distracted driving accident. If you sustained injuries because another Ashland, MO driver was distracted and acted recklessly, call the distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law and we will get started on your case straight away. We will remain dedicated to your case until you receive the full compensation you deserve. We demand a full recovery for your distracted driving accident damages.

How to Prove a Distracted Driving Case

While you may or may not have observed that the other motorist was a visibly distracted driver, it can be difficult to prove to a resistant Ashland, MO insurance company or in a court of law. A skilled, devoted and persistent distracted driving accident attorney like those at Burger Law will be able to prove the at-fault driver was distracted. Here is a look at some of the evidence you could present and how your distracted driving accident attorney can leverage it to prove your claim and demand your maximum recovery.

The Scene of the Accident. If you are able to, react quickly after you have been in a distracted driving accident and gather evidence at the scene of the accident. This can include pictures of both vehicles and the area surrounding the accident. Most drivers will try to swerve sharply or break quickly before causing a wreck. If there are no tire or brake marks, it could help illustrate that the driver who crashed into you was not concentrated on the road. This is why it is important to take photographs of the area if possible. Surveillance video showing the other driver did not swerve or brake could also help your suit. The Ashland, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will obtain any video evidence and thoroughly review any photographs or other evidence.

Eyewitness Statements.The more people who say they saw that the other driver was visibly distracted, the stronger your case will be. If other people observed the accident and noticed that the other driver was eating, texting or not looking at the road in front of them, they can provide official statements to aid your case. If you hire Burger Law, your Ashland, MO distracted driving accident attorney and legal team will conduct depositions and collect official statements on your behalf. You only need to make sure you get any witnesses’ contact information at the scene.

Social Media Activity. If the other driver made a tweet, responded to a photo on Instagram or carried out some other action on a social media platform in the seconds leading up to the accident, it in all probability means they were distracted by their phone. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will take care of acquiring this information to help your case.

The Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Records. Even if there is no social media footprint, the negligent driver’s cell phone company will have usage reports showing whether or not they were likely distracted by their phone at the time of the accident. If the driver was texting, there will be a record of it. A savvy distracted driving accident attorney will subpoena those records to help prove your case.

Use the Police Reports. Police officers are trained to examine crashed and decide who is responsible. If the Ashland, MO police officer at the scene determined the other person was distracted and was at fault in the accident, it will mean a great deal when convincing a judge, jury or resistant insurance company that you deserve to be compensated for your injuries.

Use a Crash Expert. Crash experts have years of experience in analyzing all available evidence and determining fault in car accidents. Burger Law’s group of distracted driving accident lawyers has a huge network of Ashland, MO experts we trust and work with to make sure you get full compensation for your damages.

Hire Burger Law. Our committed and skilled distracted driving accident attorneys enjoy taking on tough cases to get our clients the compensation they entitled to. With decades of combined experience, we have experience with every category of distracted driving accident and have won our clients over $170 million in verdicts and settlements for their injuries. We take on bullies like resistant insurance companies and help get you back on the road to recovery. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will manage all official communication and litigation, and you do not owe us any fees until you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review, and we will begin working on winning your case immediately.

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How to Avoid Being a Distracted Driver

While Missouri’s distracted driving laws may be light, you should still show extreme caution any time you get behind the wheel. There are a number of steps you can take to ensure the safety of yourself, your passengers, other drivers and other pedestrians.

Eat before you leave. While double-tasking can seem like a wonderful way to save time, it can also cause unnecessary dangers on the road. Taking a few extra minutes to eat before getting in the car can help keep you and others safe.

Get ready before you leave. Similar to eating behind the wheel, shaving or getting dressed while driving may save time, but greatly increases your chances of personal injury or hurting somebody else.

Know how to get to your destination. Look carefully at directions before you leave so you will not have to look at your phone when you are on the road. While driving, turn the volume up on any GPS device so you will be able to hear the directions. Alternatively, if you have a passenger, have them manage the directions so you can focus on the road in front of you.

If you are tired, pull over or let someone else drive. Not only are you risking falling asleep at the wheel, but fatigue increases the chances of an accident by almost four times, and over a third of drivers have admitted to nodding off or falling asleep while driving at least once in their lives.

Change the radio and settings before getting on the road. Adjust the seat, mirrors, temperature, music and sound system before you take the car out of park. You need to have your complete attention on the road while you are in the driver’s seat.

Secure children and pets. Looking at or reaching to the backseat or passenger seat can cause a manual, visual and cognitive distraction. If something happens and they need your attention, it is important to pull over to the side of the road.

Keep your eyes on the road. Your entire focus should be on the road in front of you and your mirrors so that you can see what is happening around you. While that weird roadside attraction may look cool, taking a moment to admire it is not worth risk you could pose to yourself and others.

Unfortunately, you can do everything right when you are in the driver's seat and you or a loved one can still be harmed because somebody else did not respect the rules of the road. When that occurs, you need to contact the distracted driving accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately so we can use our skill and experience to help you get the best possible recovery and start to make you whole again. We have experience with distracted driving accident claims, we know how to argue them and we know how to demand maximum compensation for your damages.

The Ashland, MO lawyers of Burger Law have the experience and knowledge to help you receive the full recovery you deserve after any accident or injury caused by someone else leaves you injured. Learn more about our fields of expertise below.

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Missouri
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Missouri

Hire the Distracted Driving Lawyers at Burger Law Today

If you or a family member has been hurt because someone else broke the rules of the road and acted thoughtlessly, you are owed full compensation for your injuries. The Ashland, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers responsible and stand up to dishonest insurance companies who are more concerned about their bottom line than being fair to you. We have the knowledge, skillset, work ethic and determination to fight in your corner from beginning to end, to win your case and to get you the maximum recovery to help you protect you and your loved ones' future. If another Ashland, MO driver was distracted and caused your injuries or the injuries of someone you care about, you should not have to shoulder the tribulation of medical bills, lost wages or lost future earnings, pain and suffering and mental anguish. Call us today a (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review and to learn more about what Burger Law will do to get you back on your feet and make you whole again.