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Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Smithville, MO

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Smithville, MO. If a distracted driver injured you or a loved one, you need to talk to a distracted driving attorney immediately. At Burger Law, we have a team of committed and accomplished Smithville, 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 are to help you while you recuperate. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

The rules of the road are in place to make sure that we, our passengers and everyone else on the Smithville, MO roads are safe. When another driver breaks those rules, drives thoughtlessly and does not pay attention while they are behind the wheel, they put you and the people you love directly in harm’s way. You should not have to lose wages, pay monstrous medical bills and experience painful and limiting injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence, and you deserve to collect complete 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, skill and resolve to get you complete compensation for your injuries from your Smithville, MO distracted driving accident. We oversee all communication, documentation and litigation for you so you can focus on recuperating 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 receive the financial compensation you deserve. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation with an experienced Smithville, MO distracted driving accident attorney. We get to work on on your case at once.

Distracted Driving Statistics

We have certainly all witnessed distracted drivers on the street, and you may even be guilty of it yourself. However, much of the data we have concerning distracted driving is even scarier. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety estimates that nearly 9 in 10 drivers use their phones somehow while behind the wheel, and cell phone related crashes climbed by 30 percent between 2014 and 2018. In Missouri, there were 408 fatalities in distracted driving wrecks from 2016 to 2020, and thousands more people have been harmed. In 2017, Missouri officially attributed 21,058 wrecks to distracted drivers, which far exceeds the amount of drunk driving accidents (5,321) and is bigger than accidents caused by speeding (19,535).

Missouri Revised Statutes §304.820 forbids cell phone use while driving, but only for drivers who are 21 years of age or younger or commercial drivers, ignoring that 70 percent of drivers whose cell phone use caused an accident were 22 or older. In fact, nearly one out of four drivers in distracted driving wrecks are between 20 and 29 years old. Although new legislation has been a big issue in the state government recently, Missouri is still only one of two states that does not have a no texting law for drivers of all ages , nor are there any other distracted driving laws in the state. This can cause roads to be especially perilous for any Smithville, MO resident anywhere on or near the road. That is why it is essential to keep in mind that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law are here for you and will stand by your side if a distracted driver harms you.

While Missouri law might not hold every driver accountable, you can bet that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will. Despite the fact that texting while driving is not against the law in Smithville, MO, an irresponsible driver can still be held accountable for any injuries you receive. Driving distracted still breaks our safety, requiring Smithville, MO road users to behave in a way that is safe. As your Smithville, MO distracted driving accident attorney, the Burger Law legal team has helped hundreds of Smithville, MO residents recover full compensation when someone disregards the rules and hurts them. We have fought every type of distracted driving case, and dishonest Smithville, MO insurance companies are afraid of us because they know we take on – and win – the hard cases. Call a Smithville, MO Burger Law distracted driving accident attorney today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review and begin down the path toward full recovery and maximum compensation. Your experienced Smithville, MO distracted driving accident lawyer will begin working on your case and fighting for you at once and will not rest until you get the money you deserve.

Common Types of Driving Distractions

There are a lot of ways a Smithville, MO driver can get distracted and cause a distracted driving accident. Burger Law’s distracted driving accident attorneys know the best way to prove any type of case to get you a full recovery. We have seen every sort of distracted driving accident, and, generally speaking, there are three main kinds of of distractions.

Manual Distractions

These take place 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 instances of typical manual distractions include:

  • Texting, talking, or using your phone in different manner
  • Eating or drinking
  • Adjusting the radio or temperature
  • Changing clothes, removing a coat, putting on makeup, combing your hair or other “grooming” activities
  • Removing something from 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 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, for example at a roadside attraction, sign, or crash
  • Looking at your phone
  • Looking in the mirror and checking how you look

Cognitive Distractions

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

  • Paying too much attention to an audiobook or song
  • Daydreaming
  • Paying too much attention to a conversation with another person in the car 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 might notice, cell phones are a main source of distracted driving accidents because they can result in manual, visual and cognitive distractions. When you are driving, it is essential to eschew your phone so you do not cause a distracted driving accident. If you experienced injuries because another Smithville, MO driver was distracted and acted carelessly, call the distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law and we will get started on your case immediately. We will remain devoted to your case until you are awarded the full compensation you are entitled to. 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 noticed that the other motorist was an obviously distracted driver, it can be complicated to prove to a resistant Smithville, MO insurance company or in a court of law. A skilled, dedicated and indefatigable distracted driving accident attorney like those at Burger Law will be able to prove the negligible driver was distracted. Read on below for some of the evidence you could utilize and how your distracted driving accident attorney can utilize it to prove your claim and demand your full recovery.

The Scene of the Accident. If you are able to, act quickly after you have been in a distracted driving accident and collect evidence where the crash happened. This can consist of pictures of both vehicles and the area surrounding the accident. Most drivers will attempt to turn 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 paying attention. This is why it is essential to take pictures of the area if possible. Surveillance video showing the other driver did not veer or brake could also help your suit. The Smithville, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will acquire any video evidence and meticulously review any photographs or other evidence.

Eyewitness Statements.The more people who say they saw that the other driver was clearly distracted, the stronger your case will be. If other people witnessed the accident and saw that the other driver was eating, texting or not looking at the road ahead, they can offer official statements to aid your suit. If you hire Burger Law, your Smithville, MO distracted driving accident attorney and legal team will conduct depositions and acquire official statements on your behalf. You just 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 platform in the seconds immediately before the wreck, it in all probability means they were distracted by their phone. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will oversee obtaining this information to build your case.

The Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Records. Even if there is no social media footprint, the irresponsible driver’s cell phone company will have usage reports showing what they were doing using their phone at the time of the accident. If the driver was texting, there will be proof of it. A savvy distracted driving accident attorney will subpoena those records to help win your suit.

Use the Police Reports. Police officers are taught to analyze crashed and judge who was at fault. If the Smithville, 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 are entitled to compensation for your damages.

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 Smithville, MO experts we trust and work with to ensure you get maximum compensation for your damages.

Contact Burger Law. Our dedicated and accomplished distracted driving accident attorneys enjoy taking on hard cases to get our clients the compensation they entitled to. With decades of combined experience, we have fought every variety of distracted driving accident and have won our clients over $170 million in verdicts and settlements for their injuries. We resist bullies like resistant insurance companies and help in your recovery. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will take over all official communication and litigation, and you do not owe us any fees until you get the compensation you are owed. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation, and we will begin working on winning your case straight away.

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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 exercise extreme caution whenever 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 useful way to save time, it can also lead to unnecessary hazards on the road. Taking some extra time to eat before driving can help keep you and others safe.

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

Know where you are going. Review directions before you leave so you will not have to pay attention to your phone when you are behind the wheel. While driving, turn the volume up on any GPS device so you will be able to hear the directions. On the other hand, if if someone is in the car with you, have them take care of the directions so you can focus on the road in front of you.

If you are drowsy, pull over or have someone else drive. Not only are you in danger 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 put the car in drive. You need to have your complete focus 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 putting you and others in danger.

Unfortunately, you can do everything correctly when you are driving and you or someone you care about can still be hurt because another driver broke the rules of the road. When that happens, you need to call the distracted driving accident lawyers of Burger Law at once so we can use our expertise and experience to help you get the best possible compensation and start to make you whole again. We have experience with distracted driving accident claims, we know how to fight them and we know how to insist on the best possible recovery for the harm the reckless driver caused you.

The Smithville, 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.


Hire the Distracted Driving Lawyers at Burger Law Today

If you or someone you care about has been hurt because another person did not respect the rules of the road and acted recklessly, you are owed full compensation for your damages. The Smithville, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law hold distracted drivers accountable and stand up to dishonest insurance companies who are more concerned about their bottom line than being fair to you. We have the experience, insight, work ethic and persistence to fight on your behalf from beginning to end, to win your case and to get you the maximum compensation to help you safeguard you and your loved ones' future. If another Smithville, MO driver was distracted and caused your injuries or the injuries of someone you care about, you should not have to deal with the responsibility 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 back on the road again.

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