Driving a motor vehicle weighing several thousand pounds is an inherently dangerous task – one that becomes even more hazardous when combined with modern distractions. Many motorists in St. Louis today seem to find their cell phones irresistible. They put themselves and others at risk by focusing more on texting than they do on driving.
If you were hurt in an accident caused by a driver who was texting behind the wheel in St. Louis, the experienced car accident attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, want to fight for the compensation you deserve. You should not have to pay the price for someone else’s poor impulse control. Instead, contact our offices today for a free consultation with a texting and driving accident lawyer in St. Louis.
Why Is Texting While Driving Dangerous?
When you were learning to drive, your parent or driving instructor probably repeated one instruction more frequently than any other: keep your eyes on the road. The reason for this advice is that driving requires high-intensity attention. Although operating a car may feel like second nature after years of experience, many drivers forget how precious their attention is when they are behind the wheel.
When drivers take their eyes off the road to look at their phones, they cannot respond to sudden road hazards such as crossing pedestrians, potholes, fallen branches, or stopped traffic. The problem increases if they are traveling at high speeds, such as on an interstate highway.
Concentrating on composing a text rather than on the act of driving, even for a few seconds, can render a driver essentially blind for several hundred yards. The consequences can be catastrophic – even fatal – for other road users in the driver’s path.
Missouri Laws on Texting While Driving
Missouri laws on texting while driving may not be as strict as those of other states, but certain drivers can still be cited if they manually operate their phones behind the wheel. Drivers 21 or younger are banned from text messaging or using other hand-held mobile devices while driving. Drivers of commercial vehicles and buses face the same ban.
Yet even a driver who is over 21 and does not drive a commercial vehicle can be held liable for your losses if their distraction leads to an accident that harms you. Speak to an attorney at Sumner Law Group, LLC, to learn more about your legal options.
Types of Crashes Due to Texting Behind the Wheel
Like all forms of distracted driving, texting while driving can lead to many kinds of motor vehicle accidents, including:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end crashes
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone collisions
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
If you believe your accident-related injuries were the result of a texting driver, the St. Louis car crash attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, want to help. We are ready to investigate the collision and gather evidence to demonstrate that the other driver’s negligence led to your injuries and related losses.
Types of Texting and Driving Accident Injuries
A driver who makes the dangerous decision to text behind the wheel can turn your life upside-down in an instant. Some of the devastating injuries you might suffer due to a texting driver include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Neck and back injuries, including whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones and dislocated joints
- Facial and dental injuries
- Severed limbs
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
Seek immediate medical attention after any car accident, even if you feel fine at first. A doctor’s examination may be able to discover and treat hidden injuries that might otherwise worsen over time.
Proving a Texting Driver Caused a Crash in St. Louis
Proving that a driver was texting in the lead-up to a crash can be a challenging process. However, it is not impossible. The attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, can investigate the circumstances of the accident to prove the other driver was at fault. During our investigation, we can, for example:
- Obtain a copy of the police report.
- Interview eyewitnesses who may have seen the driver on their cellphone.
- Review any street camera or dashcam videos of the crash.
- Work with accident reconstruction experts to establish a chain of events.
- Request information from the at-fault driver’s cellphone carrier to review the timing of any texts they sent.
In addition, our attorneys can calculate the value of your losses, negotiate with the insurance company for a fair compensation package, and take the at-fault driver to court if necessary. Your rights are our top priority, and we will fight aggressively to make you whole.
What Damages Can I Seek for a Texting and Driving Crash?
While every case is different, you may be eligible to seek compensation for losses such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages due to missed time at work
- Reduced earning potential due to disability or disfigurement
- Physical and psychological pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Property damage
If you have lost a loved one because of a texting driver in St. Louis, our attorneys can file a wrongful death claim on your behalf. You may be eligible to recover compensation for:
- Your loved one’s medical expenses
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of consortium or companionship
- Lost income for dependents
Who Pays for My Injuries If I Was Hurt in a Crash Caused by a Texting Driver?
If a texting driver caused you injuries, we can file an accident claim with their insurance carrier. If the at-fault driver is uninsured, we could instead file a claim with your uninsured motorist (UM) insurance. Missouri law requires all drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident. Uninsured motorist coverage (UIM) could come into play if the texting driver had insurance but not enough to cover all your losses.
Contact a Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer in St. Louis
If you have suffered injuries because another driver was texting behind the wheel, contact the experienced attorneys at Sumner Law Group, LLC, today. Your initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose. Our texting and driving accident lawyers in St. Louis look forward to meeting you and discussing your case.
