Charlotte Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers

Trusted Charlotte Distracted Driving Car Accident Attorneys

Representing those injured in distracted driving crashes throughout North Carolina for more than 25 years

Most drivers who engage in distracted driving are confident about their ability to pay attention to driving while typing a text message, reading an email, or dialing their phone but the statistics strongly disagree. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3,450 people were killed and 391,000 were injured in distracted driving crashes in a single year. In some places, distracted driving is coming close to overtaking drunk driving in causing traffic fatalities.

With all the attention placed on preventing distracted driving, it is always frustrating when we learn another careless driver has caused serious suffering for one of our clients. At Warren & Kallianos, PLLC, our dedicated Charlotte auto accident lawyers fight aggressively to hold distracted drivers accountable and demand maximum compensation for those they hurt. You never pay attorney fees until we recover compensation for you. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

What Constitutes Distracted Driving?

Although there are many activities that are clearly distracting while driving, there are others that you may not suspect as being dangerous. For example, you may know it’s dangerous to drive with your pet on your lap, but you may not realize that reaching over to pet your animal in the passenger seat is also a distraction.

Essentially, any activity that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off driving is dangerous. That’s why distractions while driving are typically broken down into these three types of driving distractions:

  • Visual distractions are anything that requires you to look away from the road.
  • Manual distractions are anything that requires you to take a hand off the steering wheel.
  • Cognitive distractions are anything that causes you to lose focus on the task of driving.

North Carolina Distracted Driving Laws

North Carolina has taken a strong stance against distracted driving with strict laws against using cell phones while driving include:

  • A ban on texting and driving for all drivers
  • A ban on all cell phone use by drivers who are younger than 18
  • A ban on all cell phone use for bus drivers

Although our distracted driving laws focus on cell phone use, motorists should avoid any activities that may take their focus off the road.

Truck Accidents Caused by Distracted Truck Drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established rules that prohibit commercial truck drivers from using hand-held mobile devices to read or write text messages or dial the phone while they are driving. While we tend to associate distracted driving with texting behind the wheel, the rules apply to any activity that distracts the drivers’ attention, eyes, and hands away from the task of driving.

Linking a truck accident to distracted driving requires diligent investigation. At Warren & Kallianos, we access the driver’s cellphone records, we talk to eye witnesses at the crash scene, and we work with truck accident reconstruction experts to get at the cause of the crash and hold the truck driver, the trucking company, and any other responsible parties liable for your injuries.

Motorcycle Crashes Caused by Distracted Driving

Motorcycle riders have no protection from the perils of getting into a crash with other motor vehicles. Even if the rider is wearing a helmet and other protection, getting involved in a car accident can cause serious injuries to the motorcyclist while the driver of the vehicle may suffer much more minimal injuries. While any collision between another motor vehicle and a motorcycle can have dire consequences, distracted driving crashes seem to be the most difficult to comprehend. Distracted driving is completely preventable and when it causes a crash the injured motorcyclist may be entitled to recover compensation for their damages. At Warren & Kallianos, we are here to help you with your distracted driving motorcycle accident claim throughout North Carolina.

Common Causes of Distracted Driving Accidents

Thousands of people are seriously injured each year in distracted driving crashes, and hundreds more are killed. In 2016, more than 20 percent of crashes in North Carolina involved a driver who was distracted. (NCDOT) Although cell phones are the most commonly discussed distraction, there are many activities that can take a driver’s mind off the road. Some of the common types of driving distractions include:

  • Talking and texting on cellphones (including hands-free)
  • Looking up directions on GPS or maps
  • Using social media, apps, or games
  • Listening to music
  • Applying makeup or shaving
  • Eating or drinking
  • Getting engrossed in conversations with passengers
  • Tending to pets in the car
  • Watching other drivers or getting distracted by objects outside the car
  • Daydreaming

In some crashes, it is obvious that the other driver was talking, texting, or otherwise driving while distracted. However, it may not always be immediately apparent that distracted driving was to blame. The true cause of the crash should reveal itself during an investigation. 

North Carolina Distracted Driving Statistics

Although awareness of the dangers of distracted driving is on the rise, so far North Carolina has not seen a sharp drop in the number of crashes. For example, look at these North Carolina distracted driving stats for 2016:

  • 52,302 distracted driving crashes (up from 50,142 the year before)
  • 27,011 people were injured (down from 27,860)
  • 177 people died in distracted driving traffic fatalities (up from 146 the previous year)
  • Distracted driving injuries and fatalities accounted for more than 20% of total fatal and non-fatal injuries

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NDOT)

The stark reality is that those who refuse to heed the warnings about distracted driving pose a danger to everyone else on the road.

How We Investigate Distracted Driving Crashes

At Warren & Kallianos, our distracted driving attorneys work diligently to determine the cause of your crash and build a strong case for who should be held accountable. In cases involving distracted driving, there are many sources of evidence we may turn to as we investigate your claim, including:

  • Accident reports from law enforcement, which may note that the other driver was distracted
  • Citations issued by law enforcement for violations of North Carolina distracted driving laws
  • Statements from witnesses who saw that the other driver was distracted at the time of the crash
  • Copies of cell phone records, which may indicate a driver was texting or talking at the time of the crash
  • Timestamps from GPS systems and other electronic devices that the driver may have been using at the time of the accident
  • Social media accounts that may indicate the driver was posting when the accident happened
  • Analysis from accident reconstruction professionals who may conclude that a distraction caused the accident
  • A statement from the other driver admitting he or she was distracted at the time of the crash

Each piece of evidence we collect adds to the strength of your claim. We will use this evidence, along with detailed records documenting the extent of your injuries and other losses, to demand full and fair compensation from the at-fault party.

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Contact Our Charlotte Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt in a distracted driving accident in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, or anywhere in North Carolina, contact our dedicated legal team today. At Warren & Kallianos, our skilled distracted driving accident attorneys are committed to fighting for maximum compensation for those who have been unjustly hurt. Call 704-377-7777 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with our attorneys today. We do not charge anything to get started on your claim, and we do not collect attorney fees until we secure compensation for you.

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