The issue of texting while driving will continue to be a serious problem as long as the population continues to heavily rely on their smartphones. In fact, according to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), texting while driving is the main contributor to distracted driving-related motor vehicle accidents in the country. Further information from the NHTSA reveals that accidents caused by texting and driving result in an estimated 5,400 fatalities annually. Despite Georgia laws forbidding drivers from texting while operating a vehicle, accident and fatality figures continue to rise. You may need an Atlanta texting and driving accident lawyer.
If you were injured in an Atlanta texting while driving accident, you could be entitled to seek compensation for injuries and losses sustained. H Groves Law, we are aware of the significant loss you may experience following a car accident, including lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. When it comes to pursuing a claim for an accident caused by a distracted driver, working with an experienced Atlanta texting and driving lawyer is advised.
At H Groves Law, we have knowledgeable and talented texting and driving lawyers with the skills and experience needed to handle cases that involve distracted driving accidents caused by texting while driving. For help pursuing a claim against a distracted driver, contact our car accident lawyers H Groves Law for the legal aid and representation you need. Call (770) 329-1868 now and schedule a free consultation with our legal team for a chance to have your claim reviewed for free.
Georgia Laws against Texting and Driving
Distracted driving is the practice of texting or using a phone while operating a vehicle. The following is a summary of Georgia’s texting while driving legislation.
All motorists on Georgia roads are required by law to avoid engaging in any activities that may divert their attention while operating a vehicle.
- Except for communication devices worn around the wrists, headphones, and earphones, drivers are not permitted to physically support or handle stand-alone or other wireless electronic devices while driving. While you’re allowed to wear a Bluetooth device and converse on your smartphone while driving, you aren’t allowed to hold a phone with any part of your body while behind the wheel.
- It is against the law for drivers in Georgia to send, read, or write any texts while operating a vehicle. These may include text messages, emails, instant messaging, or social media. However, you may utilize GPS and voice-to-text services for navigation.
- Except for viewing navigation data, it is illegal for drivers to record, stream, or watch videos or movies on standalone or wireless devices while they are behind the wheel.
- Finally, when driving, physical contact with any gadget is prohibited. When starting or ending any voice communication, you are not permitted to push more than one button at a time. Furthermore, reaching for a gadget while driving that would require you to leave your seat or disengage your seatbelt, such as a smartphone in the back seat, is prohibited.
How Texting Can Affect Your Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that a motorist who is texting while operating a motor vehicle is 23 times more likely to be in an accident than a driver who is not. According to the National Safety Council, cell phones are responsible for about 25% of auto accidents, or over 1.6 million car accidents annually in the US. Furthermore, it’s been illegal in the state of Georgia to text while driving since 2010.
Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous types of distracted driving. It just takes five seconds to read or send a text while driving, which is long enough to cause a major collision. The following are some dangers connected with texting and driving:
- In Georgia, texting while operating a vehicle is illegal. As a result, if you cause an accident due to distracted driving and get prosecuted, your punishment might be severe.
- If you receive a ticket for texting while driving, that could lead to your insurance rates rising considerably.
- Additionally, you run the risk of harming other drivers, and pedestrians or even damaging your vehicle.
How Can You Prove the Other Driver Caused an Accident Because of Texting?
Every motorist has a responsibility to treat other road users with care. Risky behavior, such as texting whilst driving, could potentially lead to a fatal accident. If you were in an automobile accident caused by a driver who was texting while operating the vehicle, you can prove liability in the following ways:
After a collision, call the police and let them know that you suspect that the other motorist was texting while behind the wheel. If they can verify this, they may issue a traffic citation and record the occurrence in the official police report.
You can establish that the other driver was texting and driving by using their phone records. These will indicate when they were using their phone and if the time coincides with the time of the accident. In an ideal world, the phone provider would be able to tell whether a user was texting or speaking. However, since telephone service providers won’t release such sensitive information without a court order, consider hiring an Atlanta texting and driving lawyer and let them handle things for you.
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
If you were involved in a distracted driving accident caused by a texting driver and are looking for compensation, working with a professional Atlanta texting and driving lawyer is recommended. At H Groves Law, we have a qualified team of professional attorneys and can help you successfully pursue a personal injury claim in Atlanta, Georgia. Our attorneys can help:
- File a lawsuit for your claim and ensure that there aren’t any errors that might lead to your claim being denied.
- Gather the proof and evidence needed for your claim by speaking to witnesses at the accident scene or acquiring court orders to subpoena the other party’s phone records.
- Handle negotiations with the other party’s insurance provider and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
- Should out-of-court discussions with the insurance company fail, our attorneys are also ready to take the matter to court and represent your interests before a judge and jury.
How Much Will a Lawyer Cost?
Call us if the thought of paying legal fees after a vehicle accident makes you hesitant to hire a lawyer. At the H Groves Law, we work on a contingency fee basis meaning we only get paid if we win the case and get the compensation you need. Even if the matter goes to trial, we have the resources to handle it. As a result, we won’t make any requests of you until after you’ve been paid.
How Long do I Have to File a Claim in Georgia?
You have two years from the date of the accident to submit a claim in Georgia if you need compensation for injuries sustained in a texting while driving accident. Call H Groves Law as soon as possible after the incident so that we can begin working on building a case for you.
Contact an Atlanta Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer
Driving while texting is a major traffic offense in Georgia. A driver who carelessly prioritizes a text message over the safety of other passengers, pedestrians, and drivers can be held liable for that choice. If you suspect the other driver was texting while driving, hence causing the accident, make sure you let the police know and have them investigate the matter.
At the same time, you should get in touch with a professional Atlanta texting and driving lawyer from H Groves for the legal counsel and assistance you need to file successful texting while driving claim in Georgia. Our attorneys have handled numerous claims involving negligent texting and driving drivers and can assist you to get the settlement you deserve.
Call (770) 329-1868 now to have your case reviewed by a professional H Groves Law personal injury attorney for free.
