Last updated 4 months ago
Texting and driving is incredibly dangerous, but that doesn’t stop thousands of drivers from texting behind the wheel each day. Car accident attorneys are encountering more and more cases of injuries and fatalities caused by cell phone usage. Continue reading to learn about the risks, laws, and outcomes involved with texting while driving.
Dangers of Texting and Driving
Forbes reports that last year, nearly one fourth of all car accidents were caused by distracted driving involving cell phone usage. Text messaging increases a driver’s risk of being in an accident by more than 20%, making this one of the most dangerous and costly activities drivers can do. Despite these facts, more than one third of all Americans admit to texting at least once while driving.
Laws for Auto Accidents and Texting
If you’re involved in a car accident that isn’t your fault, it can be difficult to determine whether the other driver was texting or not. In Virginia, text messaging while driving is against the law. The state is also considering including texting and driving in Virginia’s reckless driving laws to increase the severity of associated penalties. If, after an accident, you’re concerned that the other driver was texting, talk to your auto accident lawyer about seeking damages for your injuries.
Compensation for Distracted Driving Accidents
Although you may never be able to prove that another person’s distracted driving caused an accident, it’s still important to seek immediate medical attention and then talk to an auto accident attorney. Seeking legal advice will equip you with the knowledge and leverage you need to get the settlement you deserve after an injury.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, talk to a Prince William auto accident lawyer for legal advice. At Prince William County’s top law office—the Auto Accident Law Firm of Kevin Paul Childers—we offer nearly two decades of experience representing clients after car accidents. For a free consultation with an auto accident lawyer, call (703) 659-1536.
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.
Last updated 4 months ago
Whether cell phones or kids are the cause, distracted driving is extremely dangerous to those on the road. Learn more about just how dangerous driving distracted can be with the following links. If you find yourself in an auto accident caused by a distracted driver, don’t hesitate to call the Auto Accident Law Firm of Kevin Paul Childers at (703) 659-1536.
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About 88% of American adults own cell phones. Learn more about U.S. cell phone usage at this page.
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How dangerous is texting while driving? This article from Car and Driver has the answer.
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Texting while driving increases the chance of getting into an accident by a factor of 23. Learn more at Distraction.gov.
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Do your kids distract you while you drive? Find out how to keep them quiet at this page from HowStuffWorks.com.
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Though traffic fatalities are trending down, over 30,000 people die in avoidable accidents every year. Learn more at this page from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Last updated 4 months ago
A single auto accident can change the course of your life in just a few moments. However, you can minimize the impact of an auto accident by hiring a personal injury attorney and seeking the compensation you deserve. For more information, call the Auto Accident Law Firm of Kevin Paul Childers in Woodbridge at (703) 659-1536.
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If you suspect that you’re suffering from a concussion, you should see a doctor right away. Find out more about concussions at this page from the Mayo Clinic.
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Whiplash is a neck injury commonly suffered during a rear-end collision. Learn more at WebMD.com.
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How many registered vehicles are there in the U.S.? Find out at this page from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
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Drunk driving costs our nation $132 billion every year. Visit this page from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for more information.
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Auto accidents are the leading cause of death among children 14 and younger. Discover more statistics at this page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last updated 5 months ago
Auto accidents, unfortunately, are fairly common. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there are about 250 million registered cars in the U.S. alone. With so many vehicles on the road today, it’s no wonder that there are over 10 million auto accidents every year. Here are five surprising facts and statistics about car accidents:
Car Accidents Are the Leading Cause of Death Among Children
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009, over 1,000 children under the age of 14 were killed in auto accidents, making it the leading cause of death among children.
Teenagers Are Most Likely to Get into Auto Accidents
Teenage drivers often have both inexperience behind the wheel and poor judgment. As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that teenagers are up to three times more likely to get into auto accidents than young adults over the age of 20.
Nearly 1.5 million Drivers Were Arrested for DUI in 2010 Alone
Unfortunately, 1.5 million impaired drivers represent just a fraction of the total number of people who drink and drive. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 17 million people admitted to driving drunk in 2010.
Distractions Cause Almost 1 in Every 5 Accidents
Many people have trouble keeping their eyes on the road. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that drivers take their eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds every time they send or receive text messages.
Annual Auto Fatalities Are on a Downward Trend
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 33,808 motor vehicle fatalities in 2009. Though that’s still a shockingly high number, it’s down from 44,599 in 1990. While safer cars and drivers save thousands of lives every year, too many people die due to avoidable accidents.
If you or someone you love has recently been involved in an accident, contact the Auto Accident Law Firm of Kevin Paul Childers in the Woodbridge area. We can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call our office at (703) 659-1536 for more information.
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.
Last updated 5 months ago
It’s very common for individuals to experience shock in the days following an auto accident. However, the ongoing effects aren’t just emotional—some physical injuries don’t show symptoms until long after an accident. Here’s a brief look at late-appearing auto accident injuries and how they affect personal injury claims:
Common Delayed Injuries
When you suffer an injury, your body produces endorphins to help relieve the pain. As a result, you may not experience pain until days after an accident. For example, whiplash is one of the most common late-appearing injuries. A concussion is an especially dangerous injury because it affects the brain; unfortunately, some of the repercussions don’t reveal themselves for months or even years after the fact.
Statute of Limitations
In Virginia, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. That means you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. If you wait longer than that, you forfeit your right to sue. In order to obtain the compensation you need to live a comfortable life, you should hire an attorney as soon after an accident as possible.
The Discovery Rule
Even if you don’t discover your injury until well after the two-year limitation period, you may still be able to file a personal injury claim. Like many other states, Virginia observes the Discovery Rule, which means that the statute of limitations doesn’t start until the victim discovers his injury. If you and your lawyer can prove that you suffered your injury during a particular incident, you may obtain compensation for your damage.
For more information about statutes of limitations and the discovery rule, contact the Auto Accident Law Firm of Kevin Paul Childers. We can help you obtain compensation for lost wages, medical bills, emotional harm, and other damages. Call our Woodbridge office today at (703) 659-1536 if you have any questions.
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the firm or any individual attorney.
