Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Clayton, MO

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Clayton, MO. If a distracted driver injured you or a family member, you need to talk to a distracted driving attorney straight away. At Burger Law, we have a team of committed and talented Clayton, MO distracted driving accident attorneys that will fight on your behalf, hold the at-fault party accountable for your injuries and insist that you get the compensation you deserve to assist you on your road to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review.

The rules of the road are in place to make sure that we, our passengers and everyone else on the Clayton, MO roads are safe. When another driver breaks those rules, behaves carelessly and does not pay attention while they are driving, they put you and the people you care about directly in jeopardy. You should not have to lose pay, pay monstrous medical fees and live with painful and limiting injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence, and you deserve to collect maximum compensation for their thoughtless behavior.

The distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law have argued every variety of distracted driving case, and we have the experience, know-how and resolve to get you full compensation for your injuries from your Clayton, MO distracted driving accident. We take care of all communication, documentation and litigation for you so you can spend your energy on recuperating from your injuries. We fight on your behalf and do not require any legal fees until we have won your case and helped you collect the financial compensation you deserve. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation with a professional Clayton, MO distracted driving accident attorney. We will get started on your case immediately.

Distracted Driving Statistics

We have certainly all observed distracted drivers on the road, and you may even have done it yourself. That said, much of the information 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 accidents escalated by 30 percent between 2014 and 2018. In Missouri, there were 408 deaths in distracted driving wrecks from 2016 to 2020, and thousands more people have been hurt. In 2017, Missouri officially attributed 21,058 crashes to distracted drivers, which far exceeds the amount of drunk driving accidents (5,321) and is higher than accidents caused by speeding (19,535).

Missouri Revised Statutes §304.820 prohibits cell phone use while behind the wheel, but only for individuals who are 21 years old or younger or commercial drivers, in spite of the fact that seven out of ten accidents caused by cell phone usage were over 21 years old. Indeed, nearly one out of four drivers in distracted driving wrecks are between the ages of 20 and 29. Even though new laws have been a hot topic in the state government recently, 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 Clayton, MO roads especially hazardous for Clayton, MO drivers, passengers and pedestrians. That is why it is essential to remember that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law are here for you and will stand in your corner if a distracted driver injures you.

While Missouri law might not hold every driver responsible, 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 Clayton, MO, a distracted driver can still be found liable for any injuries you receive. Driving distracted still breaks our safety, requiring Clayton, MO road users to behave in a way that is safe. As your Clayton, MO distracted driving accident attorney, the Burger Law legal team has helped hundreds of Clayton, MO residents recover full compensation when another motorist disregards the rules and injures them. We have tried every type of distracted driving case, and shady Clayton, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know we take on – and win – the complex cases. Call a Clayton, MO Burger Law distracted driving accident attorney today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation and get started on the journey to full recovery and maximum compensation. Your accomplished Clayton, MO distracted driving accident lawyer will start working on your case and fighting for you at once and will work around the clock until you get the money you are owed.

Common Types of Driving Distractions

There are a variety of ways a Clayton, 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 get you a full recovery. We have seen every type of distracted driving accident, and, in general, there are three main kinds of of distractions.

Manual Distractions

These happen when the driver does not have their hands on the wheel properly, {causing them to no longer have full control of the vehicle. Even if one hand is still on the wheel, a driver’s reaction time is considerably decreased. Some examples of common manual distractions include:

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

Visual Distractions

These are distractions that result in you taking your eyes off the road. Sometimes visual and manual distractions coincide. Some examples include:

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

Cognitive Distractions

These occur when a driver takes their mind off the road. These can be dangerous because while it could appear that a driver is driving properly, they are still not focusing or as alert as they should be. They can be:

• Focusing too much on an audiobook or song
• Daydreaming
• Focusing too much on a conversation with someone else in the car or on a hands-free device
• Being anxious 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 source of distracted driving accidents because they can result in manual, visual and cognitive distractions. When you get behind the wheel, it is important to avoid your phone so you do not create a distracted driving accident. If you received injuries because another Clayton, MO driver was distracted and behaved irresponsibly, call the distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law and we will get started on your case straight away. We will stay committed to you and your case until you collect 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 driver was an obviously distracted driver, it can be complicated to prove to a resistant Clayton, MO insurance company or in a court of law. A talented, committed and tenacious 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 utilize and how your distracted driving accident attorney can take advantage of it to prove your claim and demand your maximum recovery.

The Scene of the Accident. If you are able to, act quickly after you have been in a distracted driving accident and gather evidence at the scene of the crash. This can include pictures of both vehicles and the area surrounding the accident. The majority of drivers will attempt to veer sharply or break quickly before causing an accident. If you do not see any tire or brake marks, it could help show that the motorist who hit you was not concentrated on the road. This is why it is important to take pictures of the scene if you can. Surveillance video showing the other driver did not veer or brake could also help your case. The Clayton, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will procure any video evidence and diligently 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 combing their hair, texting or not looking at the road in front of them, they can give official statements to help your case. If you hire Burger Law, your Clayton, MO distracted driving accident attorney and legal team will conduct depositions and gather official statements on your behalf. You just need to make certain you get any witnesses’ contact information at the scene.

Social Media Activity. If the other driver tweeted an article, responded to a photo on Instagram or carried out some other action on a social media app in the moments immediately before the wreck, it in all likelihood means they were distracted by their phone. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will manage acquiring this information to build your case.

The Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Records. Even if there is no social media activity, the at-fault driver’s cell phone company will have usage reports detailing whether or not they were using their phone when the accident occurred. If the driver was texting, there will be a record of it. An experienced distracted driving accident attorney will subpoena those records to help prove your case.

Use the Police Reports. Police officers are trained to scrutinize crashed and judge who was at fault. If the Clayton, MO police officer at the scene decided the other driver was distracted and was at fault in the accident, it will go a long way towards convincing a judge, jury or resistant insurance company that you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Hire a Crash Expert. Crash experts have years of experience in reviewing all available evidence and deciding fault in car accidents. Burger Law’s team of distracted driving accident lawyers has a huge network of Clayton, MO experts we trust and work with to ensure you get complete compensation for your damages.

Contact Burger Law. Our dedicated and talented distracted driving accident attorneys love taking on tough cases to get our clients the compensation they are owed. With over seventy years of combined experience, we have experience with every kind of distracted driving accident and have won our clients over $170 million in verdicts and settlements for their damages. We take on bullies like resistant insurance companies and help get you back on the journey to recovery. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will handle 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 consultation, and we will start working on winning your case right away.

View More FAQs

How to Avoid Being a Distracted Driver

While Missouri’s distracted driving laws may not be as tough on distracted driving as we are, you should still use extreme caution any time you drive. There are a number of steps you can take to keep yourself, your passengers, other drivers and other pedestrians safe.

Eat before you leave. While doing two things at once can seem like a wonderful time-saver, it can also lead to unnecessary hazards on the road. Taking some extra time to eat before getting behind the wheel can help keep you and others safe.

Get ready before you leave. Just like eating behind the wheel, personal grooming or getting dressed while driving may save time, but considerably increases your odds 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 pay attention to your phone when you are behind the wheel. While driving, have the volume on any GPS device at its maximum level so you will be able to hear the directions. On the other hand, if if someone is in the car with you, have them handle the directions so you can concentrate the road ahead.

If you are drowsy, pull over or have someone else drive. Not only are you at risk of falling asleep at the wheel, but fatigue increases the odds 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.

Make adjustments before starting your trip. Adjust the seat, mirrors, heat or AC, music and sound system before you take the car out of park. You need to have your full attention on the road while you are driving.

Secure children and pets. Looking at or reaching to the backseat or passenger seat can results in 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 full concentration should be on the road in front of you and your mirrors so that you can see other drivers and pedestrians. While that weird roadside attraction may look interesting, taking a minute to admire it is not worth danger you could pose to yourself and others.

Unfortunately, you can do everything correctly when you are in the driver's seat and you ,a family member or a friend can still be harmed because somebody else did not respect the rules of the road. When that occurs, you need to get in touch with the distracted driving accident lawyers of Burger Law straight away so we can use our expertise and experience to help you get maximum recovery and start to make you whole again. We have experience with distracted driving accident cases, we know how to fight them and we know how to insist on maximum compensation for the harm the thoughtless driver caused you.

The Clayton, 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.

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

Hire the Distracted Driving Lawyers at Burger Law Today

If you or a loved one has been harmed because someone else disregarded the rules of the road and acted thoughtlessly, you deserve to be fully compensated for your damages. The Clayton, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers accountable and stand up to resistant insurance companies care more about their bottom line than your well-being. We have the experience, insight, work ethic and tenacity to fight on your behalf from beginning to end, to win your case and to get you the best possible compensation to help you protect your family’s future. If another Clayton, MO driver was distracted and caused your injuries or the injuries of a family member or friend, you should not have to shoulder the responsibility of medical expenses, 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 back on the road again.