Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Columbia, MO

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Columbia, MO. If a distracted driver injured you or someone you care about, you need to talk to a distracted driving attorney straight away. At Burger Law, we have a team of committed and accomplished Columbia, MO distracted driving accident attorneys that will fight on your behalf, hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries and insist that you get the recovery you deserve to aid you while you recuperate. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

The rules of the road are in place to make sure that we, our passengers and everyone else on the Columbia, MO roads are safe. When someone else breaks those rules, behaves thoughtlessly and does not pay attention while they are on the road, they put you and the people you care about directly in danger. You should not have to miss time from work, pay pricey medical bills and deal with painful and restrictive injuries because of someone else’s negligence, and you deserve to be awarded maximum compensation for their thoughtless behavior.

The distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law have fought every variety of distracted driving case, and we have the experience, savvy and determination to get you maximum compensation for your injuries from your Columbia, MO distracted driving accident. We manage all communication, documentation and litigation for you so you can focus on recuperating from your injuries. We fight by your side and do not ask for any legal fees until we have won your case and helped you receive the financial recovery you are entitled to. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case review with an experienced Columbia, MO distracted driving accident attorney. We start working on your case straight away.

Distracted Driving Statistics

We have probably all witnessed distracted drivers on the street, and you may even be guilty of it yourself. However, much of the data 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 somehow while behind the wheel, and cell phone caused wrecks climbed by 30 percent between 2014 and 2018. In Missouri, there were 408 fatalities in distracted driving accidents from 2016 to 2020, and thousands more people have been injured. In 2017, Missouri officially attributed 21,058 accidents 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 outlaws cell phone use while driving, but only for individuals who are 21 years of age or less or commercial drivers, despite 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. Although new laws have been a big issue in the state government lately, Missouri is still only one of two states that does not have a no texting law for drivers of all ages and there are no other distracted driving laws in the state. This can make Columbia, MO roads especially unpredictable for any Columbia, MO resident anywhere on or close to 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 by your side if a distracted driver harms you.

While the letter of the law might not hold every driver accountable, you can be assured that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will. Despite the fact that texting while driving is not against the law in Columbia, MO, a reckless driver can still be found liable for any injuries you sustain. Driving distracted still breaks our safety, requiring Columbia, MO road users to act in a way that is safe. As your Columbia, MO distracted driving accident attorney, the Burger Law legal team has helped hundreds of individuals and families in Columbia, MO no longer have complete control of the vehicle. Even if one hand is still on the wheel, a driver’s reaction time is appreciably decreased. A few instances of common manual distractions are:

• Texting, taking a call, or otherwise using your phone
• Eating or drinking
• Changing the radio or temperature
• Changing clothes, removing 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 happen at the same time. 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 accident
• Looking at your phone
• Looking in the mirror to check your appearance

Cognitive Distractions

These occur when something leads to a driver taking their mind off the road. These can be hazardous because while it may look like a driver is driving correctly, 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 car or on a hands-free device
• Being stressed out or preoccupied with something else
• Other passengers, such as kids or pets, need something or need to be disciplined

As you might imagine, cell phones are a principal cause of distracted driving accidents because they can lead to manual, visual and cognitive distractions. When you drive, it is important to keep away from your phone so you do not cause a distracted driving accident. If you experienced injuries because another Columbia, MO driver was distracted and acted thoughtlessly, call the distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law and we will start working on your case straight away. We will remain committed to you and your case until you receive the full compensation you deserve. We insist on a full recovery for your distracted driving accident damages.

How to Prove a Distracted Driving Case

While you may or may not have seen that the other driver was an undeniably distracted driver, it can be difficult to demonstrate beyond doubt to a resistant Columbia, MO insurance company or in a court of law. A accomplished, 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 present and how your distracted driving accident attorney can take advantage of it to prove your claim and insist on your full compensation.

The Scene of the Accident. If you are able to, act quickly after you were hit in a distracted driving accident and accumulate evidence where the accident happened. This can consist of photos of both vehicles and the area surrounding the accident. The majority of drivers will try to swerve sharply or break quickly before causing an accident. If there are no tire or brake marks, it could help illustrate that the person who hit you was distracted. This is why it is vital to take pictures of the scene if you can. Surveillance video showing the other driver did not veer or brake could also help your suit. The Columbia, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will secure any video evidence and diligently review any photographs or other evidence.

Eyewitness Accounts.The more people who say they saw that the other driver was demonstrably distracted, the stronger your case will be. If other people saw the accident and saw that the other driver was eating, texting or not looking at the road ahead, they can give official statements to aid your suit. If you hire Burger Law, your Columbia, MO distracted driving accident attorney and legal team will conduct depositions and gather official statements on your behalf. You only need to be 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 performed any other action on a social media page in the seconds right before the accident, it in all likelihood means they were distracted by their phone. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will carry out acquiring this information to build your case.

The Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Records. Even if there is no social media footprint, the distracted 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 proof of it. A skilled distracted driving accident attorney will subpoena those records to help win your claim.

Use the Police Reports. Police officers are taught to evaluate crashed and determine who was at fault. If the Columbia, MO police officer at the scene determined the other person was distracted and was responsible for the accident, it will mean a great deal when convincing a judge, jury or resistant insurance company that you are entitled to compensation 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 team of distracted driving accident lawyers has a vast network of Columbia, MO experts we trust and work with to make certain you get the best possible compensation for your injuries.

Hire Burger Law. Our committed and accomplished distracted driving accident attorneys love taking on tough cases to get our clients the compensation they are owed. With decades of combined experience, we have seen every sort of distracted driving accident and have gotten over $170 million for our clients in verdicts and settlements for their damages. We resist bullies like resistant insurance companies and help make you whole again. 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 money you are entitled to. 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 use 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 great time-saver, it can also lead to unnecessary dangers on the road. Taking some extra time to eat before getting in the car can help keep you and others safe.

Get ready before you leave. Just like eating on the road, personal grooming or getting dressed while driving may save time, but greatly increases your odds of personal injury or hurting somebody else.

Know where you are going. Review directions before you leave so you will not have to focus on 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. Alternatively, if you have a passenger, have them take care of the directions so you can concentrate the road in front of you.

If you are sleepy, pull over or have someone else drive. Not only are you risking falling asleep at the wheel, but drowsiness increases the risk 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 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 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 lead to a manual, visual and cognitive distraction. If something happens and they need your attention, the best thing to do pull over to the side of the road.

Keep your eyes on the road. Your full focus 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 driving and you ,a family member or a friend can still be hurt because somebody else disregarded the rules of the road. When that happens, you need to contact the distracted driving accident lawyers of Burger Law straight away so we can use our expertise and experience to help you get full compensation and start to make you whole again. We know distracted driving accident claims, we know how to win them and we know how to demand full recovery for your injuries.

The Columbia, 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 family member has been injured because another driver broke the rules of the road and acted carelessly, you deserve to be fully compensated for your damages. The Columbia, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers accountable and stand up to unethical insurance companies who are more concerned about their bottom line than your well-being. We have the experience, insight, work ethic and determination to fight by your side from beginning to end, to win your case and to get you the best possible recovery to help you protect you and your loved ones' future. If another Columbia, MO driver was distracted and caused your injuries or the injuries of someone you care about, you should not have to carry the stress 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 consultation and to learn more about what Burger Law will do to get you back on your feet and make you whole again.