Distracted Driving Accident Attorney St. James, MO

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in St. James, MO. If a distracted driver injured you or a loved one, you need to talk to a distracted driving attorney right away. At Burger Law, we have a team of devoted and talented St. James, MO distracted driving accident attorneys that will fight by your side, hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries and insist that you get the recovery you are to help you while you recuperate. 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 ensure that we, our passengers and everyone else on the St. James, MO roads are safe. When another driver breaks those rules, acts recklessly and does not pay attention while they are on the road, they put you and the people you care about directly at risk. You should not have to lose wages, pay pricey medical bills and live with painful and limiting injuries as a consequence of someone else’s negligence, and you deserve to receive complete compensation for their thoughtless actions.

The distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law have argued every variety of distracted driving case, and we have the experience, skill and resolve to get you great compensation for your injuries from your St. James, MO distracted driving accident. We oversee all communication, documentation and litigation for you so you can spend your energy on healing 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 collect the financial recovery you deserve. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case review with a professional St. James, MO distracted driving accident attorney. We will get started on your case straight away.

Distracted Driving Statistics

We have probably all observed distracted drivers on the road, and you may even be guilty of it yourself. However, much of the data we have regarding distracted driving is even more startling. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety estimates that nearly 9 in 10 drivers use their phones in some capacity while driving, and cell phone related wrecks grown by 30 percent between 2014 and 2018. In Missouri, there were 408 deaths in distracted driving crashes 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 greater than accidents caused by speeding (19,535).

Missouri Revised Statutes §304.820 forbids cell phone use while behind the wheel, but only for people who are 21 years of age or younger or commercial drivers, ignoring that seven out of ten accidents caused by cell phone usage were over 21 years old. As a matter of fact, nearly a quarter of drivers in distracted driving accidents are between the ages of 20 and 29. Even though new laws have been a big issue in the state government lately, Missouri is still only one of two states without a no texting law for all drivers and there are no other distracted driving laws in the state. This can make St. James, MO roads especially unpredictable for any St. James, MO resident anywhere on or close to the road. That is why it is vital to know 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 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. James, MO, a reckless driver can still be held accountable for any injuries you receive. Driving distracted still disregards our safety, requiring St. James, MO road users to behave in a way that is safe. As your St. James, MO distracted driving accident attorney, the Burger Law legal team has helped hundreds of St. James, MO residents recover full compensation when another motorist breaks the rules and hurts them. We have argued every type of distracted driving case, and dishonest St. James, MO insurance companies fear us because they know we take on – and win – the hard cases. Call a St. James, MO Burger Law distracted driving accident attorney today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case review and get started on the road toward full recovery and maximum compensation. Your seasoned St. James, MO distracted driving accident lawyer will begin working on your case and fighting for you straight away and will work tirelessly until you get the money you are owed.

Common Types of Driving Distractions

There are a variety of ways a St. James, 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 kind of case to get you a full recovery. We have seen every sort of distracted driving accident, and, usually, there are three main kinds of of distractions.

Manual Distractions

These happen when the driver does not have their hands on the wheel properly, {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 considerably lowered. A few instances of typical manual distractions include:

• Texting, making a call, or otherwise using your phone
• Eating or drinking
• Adjusting the radio or temperature
• Changing clothes, removing 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 cause you to taking your eyes off the road. Sometimes visual and manual distractions go together. 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, such as at a roadside attraction, sign, or crash
• Looking at your phone
• Looking in the mirror to check your appearance

Cognitive Distractions

These occur when something causes a driver to take their mind off the road. These can be hazardous because while it could seem that somebody is operating their vehicle right, they are still not concentrating or as alert as they should be. They can be:

• Concentrating too much on an audiobook or song
• Daydreaming
• Focusing too much on a conversation with someone else in the vehicle 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 notice, cell phones are a main cause of distracted driving accidents because they can result in manual, visual and cognitive distractions. When you are operating a vehicle, it is important to eschew your phone so you do not create a distracted driving accident. If you received injuries because another St. James, MO driver was distracted and acted irresponsibly, call the distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law and we will start working on your case immediately. We will stay dedicated to 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 motorist was a clearly distracted driver, it can be complicated to demonstrate beyond doubt to a resistant St. James, MO insurance company or in a court of law. A talented, devoted and tenacious distracted driving accident attorney like those at Burger Law will be able to prove the at-fault driver was distracted. Read on below for some of the evidence you could present and how your distracted driving accident attorney can utilize it to prove your claim and insist on your full recovery.

The Scene of the Accident. If you can, react quickly after you were hit in a distracted driving accident and accumulate evidence at the scene of the crash. This can include photos of both vehicles and the area surrounding the accident. Most drivers will try to turn sharply or break quickly before causing a wreck. If there are no tire or brake marks, it could help illustrate that the driver who hit you was not concentrated on the road. This is why it is important to take pictures of the area if you can. Surveillance video showing the other driver did not turn or brake could also help your suit. The St. James, 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 saw the accident and noticed that the other driver was eating, texting or not looking at the road in front of them, they can offer official statements to aid your suit. If you hire Burger Law, your St. James, MO distracted driving accident attorney and legal team will conduct depositions and collect 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, posted a picture on Instagram or performed any other action on a social media app in the seconds right before the crash, it almost certainly means they were distracted by their phone. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will carry out gathering this information to help your case.

The Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Records. Even if there is no social media activity, the irresponsible 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 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 trained to inspect crashed and judge who is responsible. If the St. James, MO police officer at the scene decided the other motorist 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 deserve to be compensated for your damages.

Hire a Crash Expert. Crash experts have years of experience in reviewing all available evidence and determining fault in car accidents. Burger Law’s group of distracted driving accident lawyers has a vast network of St. James, MO experts we trust and work with to ensure you get the best possible compensation for your injuries.

Hire Burger Law. Our devoted and knowledgeable distracted driving accident attorneys love taking on tough cases to get our clients the money they deserve. With over seventy years of combined experience, we have experience with every variety of distracted driving accident and have recovered over $170 million for our clients in verdicts and settlements for their damages. We fight bullies like resistant insurance companies and help make you whole again. 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 recovery you are owed. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation, and we will start working on winning your case straight away.

View More FAQs

How to Avoid Being a Distracted Driver

While Missouri’s distracted driving laws may be light, you should still use extreme caution whenever you get behind the wheel. 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 double-tasking can seem like a wonderful time-saver, it can also cause 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. Just like eating behind the wheel, shaving or getting dressed while driving may save time, but significantly increases your chances of personal injury or injuring another person.

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. Alternatively, if if someone is in the car with you, have them manage the directions so you can focus on the road ahead.

If you are fatigued, pull over or have someone else drive. Not only are you risking falling asleep at the wheel, but fatigue 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 put the car in drive. You need to have your complete focus on the road while you are behind the wheel.

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 full concentration should be on the road ahead 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 in danger.

Unfortunately, you can do everything right when you are driving and you or someone you care about can still be hurt because another person did not respect the rules of the road. When that occurs, you need to reach out to the distracted driving accident lawyers of Burger Law immediately 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 cases, we know how to argue them and we know how to insist on maximum recovery for the harm the negligent driver caused you.

The St. James, 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 injured because someone else broke the rules of the road and acted recklessly, you deserve to be fully compensated for your injuries. The St. James, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law hold thoughtless drivers responsible and stand up to unethical insurance companies care more about their bottom line than being fair to you. We have the experience, insight, work ethic and grit to fight on your behalf from beginning to end, to win your case and to get you the best possible recovery to help you safeguard you and your loved ones' future. If another St. James, MO driver was distracted and caused your injuries or the injuries of someone you care about, you should not have to carry 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 complimentary case review and to discover more about what Burger Law will do to get you back on your feet and make you whole again.