Distracted Driving Accident Attorney St. Clair County, MO

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in St. Clair County, MO. If a distracted driver injured you or a family member, you need to talk to a distracted driving attorney immediately. At Burger Law, we have a team of committed and talented St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident attorneys that will fight by your side, hold the negligible party accountable for your injuries and demand that you get the money you deserve to assist you while you heal. 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 St. Clair County, MO roads are safe. When someone else breaks those rules, acts irresponsibly and does not pay attention while they are driving, they put you and the people you love directly at risk. You should not have to lose pay, pay exorbitant medical expenses and suffer painful and limiting 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 won every variety of distracted driving case, and we have the experience, shrewdness and determination to get you complete compensation for your injuries from your St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident. We handle all communication, documentation and litigation for you so you can concentrate on healing from your injuries. We fight on your behalf and do not ask for any legal fees until we have won your case and helped you get the financial recovery you are entitled to. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation with a qualified St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident attorney. We start working on your case right away.

Distracted Driving Statistics

We have probably all observed distracted drivers on the street, and you may even have done it yourself. However, much of the information we have with respect to distracted driving is even more startling. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety estimates that nearly 9 in 10 drivers use their phones in some way while driving, and cell phone related accidents escalated by 30 percent between 2014 and 2018. In Missouri, there were 408 fatalities in distracted driving crashes from 2016 to 2020, and thousands more people have been injured. In 2017, Missouri officially attributed 21,058 accidents to distracted drivers, which far surpasses the number of drunk driving accidents (5,321) and is greater than accidents caused by speeding (19,535).

Missouri Revised Statutes §304.820 restricts cell phone use while driving, but only for individuals 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. In fact, nearly a quarter of drivers in distracted driving crashes are between 20 and 29 years old. Even though new legislation has 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 St. Clair County, MO roads especially perilous for St. Clair County, MO drivers, passengers and pedestrians. That is why it is vital to know that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law are here for you and will stand by your side if a distracted driver injures you.

While Missouri law may not hold everybody responsible, you can be confident that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will. Despite the fact that texting while driving is not against the law in St. Clair County, MO, an irresponsible driver can still be found liable for any injuries you experience. Driving distracted still breaks our safety, requiring St. Clair County, MO road users to behave in a way that is safe. As your St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident attorney, the Burger Law legal team has helped hundreds of St. Clair County, MO residents recover full compensation when someone breaks the rules and harms them. We have fought every type of distracted driving case, and crafty St. Clair County, MO insurance companies fear us because they know we take on – and win – the hard cases. Call a St. Clair County, MO Burger Law distracted driving accident attorney today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation and get started on the path to full recovery and maximum compensation. Your accomplished St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident lawyer will begin working on your case and fighting for you immediately and will not let up until you get the money you are owed.

Common Types of Driving Distractions

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

Manual Distractions

These take place when the driver’s hands are occupied, {meaning they them to no longer have full control of the vehicle. Even with just one hand on the wheel, a driver’s reaction time is appreciably lessened. Some instances of typical manual distractions include:

• Texting, making a call, or using your phone in another manner
• 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 result in you taking your eyes off the road. Sometimes visual and manual distractions happen simultaneously. 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 accident
• Looking at your phone
• Looking in the mirror and checking how you look

Cognitive Distractions

These happen when something causes a driver to take their mind off the road. These can be dangerous because while it may appear that a driver is driving correctly, they are still not focusing or as alert as they should be. They can be:

• Concentrating 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 anxious 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 cause manual, visual and cognitive distractions. When you are operating a vehicle, it is important to keep away from your phone so you do not cause a distracted driving accident. If you experienced injuries because another St. Clair County, 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 are awarded the full compensation you are owed. 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 driver was an undeniably distracted driver, it can be difficult to prove to a resistant St. Clair County, MO insurance company or in a court of law. A seasoned, committed and indefatigable 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 maximum recovery.

The Scene of the Accident. If you are able to, act quickly after you were hit in a distracted driving accident and collect evidence where the crash happened. This can include photos of both vehicles and the area surrounding the accident. Most 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 demonstrate that the driver who hit you was not paying attention. This is why it is important to take photographs of the area if possible. Surveillance video showing the other driver did not turn or brake could also help your suit. The St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will procure any video evidence and diligently review any photographs or other evidence.

Eyewitness Accounts.Your case will be stronger if you have eyewitnesses who corroborate your account. If other people observed the accident and noticed that the other driver was eating, texting or not looking at the road ahead, they can offer official statements to back your suit. If you hire Burger Law, your St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident attorney and legal team will conduct depositions and acquire official statements on your behalf. You only need to make certain you get any witnesses’ contact information at the scene.

Social Media Activity. If the other driver tweeted an article, posted a photo on Instagram or performed any other action on a social media platform in the moments right before the crash, it in all likelihood means they were distracted by their phone. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will carry out obtaining this information to build your case.

The Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Records. Even if there is no social media footprint, the careless driver’s cell phone company will have usage reports with a record of what they were doing on their phone when the accident happened. 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 claim.

Use the Police Reports. Police officers are taught to evaluate accidents and decide who is responsible. If the St. Clair County, MO police officer at the scene decided the other motorist 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.

Use a Crash Expert. Crash experts have years of experience in examining all available evidence and determining fault in car accidents. Burger Law’s team of distracted driving accident lawyers has a vast network of St. Clair County, MO experts we trust and work with to make sure you get complete compensation for your injuries.

Contact Burger Law. Our devoted and talented distracted driving accident attorneys love taking on tough cases to get our clients the compensation they deserve. With decades of combined experience, we have seen every type of distracted driving accident and have collected over $170 million for our clients in verdicts and settlements for their damages. We stand up to bullies like resistant insurance companies and help get you back on the road 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.

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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 any time you drive. 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 doing two things at once can seem like a wonderful time-saver, it can also lead to unnecessary dangers on the road. Taking some extra time to eat before driving can help keep you and others safe.

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

Know how to get to your destination. Review directions before you leave so you will not have to look at 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 manage the directions so you can concentrate the road ahead.

If you are exhausted, pull over or have someone else drive. Not only are you at risk of 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 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, it is advisable to pull over to the side of the road.

Keep your eyes on the road. Your entire attention should be on the road in front of you and your mirrors so that you can see other drivers and pedestrians. While that brightly colored restaurant may look interesting, taking a minute to admire it is not worth putting you and others at risk.

Unfortunately, you can do everything properly when you are in the driver's seat and you or a loved one can still be harmed because somebody else broke the rules of the road. When that happens, you need to get in touch with the distracted driving accident lawyers of Burger Law right 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 suits, we know how to fight them and we know how to insist on full recovery for the harm the negligent driver caused you.

The St. Clair County, 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 disregarded the rules of the road and acted thoughtlessly, you deserve to be fully compensated for your damages. The St. Clair County, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers accountable and stand up to resistant insurance companies who are more concerned about their bottom line than being fair to you. We have the knowledge, savvy, work ethic and resolve to fight in your corner from beginning to end, to win your case and to get you the best possible compensation to help you safeguard you and your loved ones' future. If another St. Clair County, MO driver was distracted and caused your injuries or the injuries of someone you care about, you should not have to carry the burden 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 complimentary case review and to find out more about what Burger Law will do to get you back on your feet and make you whole again.