Holding Distracted Drivers Accountable: Your Rights After a Maryland Car Accident
Distracted driving is a leading cause of Maryland car accidents. Each April, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month raises awareness of the risks. The National Safety Council warns that texting, adjusting the radio, or other seemingly minor distractions divert attention from the road and can have devastating consequences.
You may be entitled to compensation if you or a loved one gets injured in a distracted driving accident. Our Maryland car accident attorneys explain your rights in filing a claim and the common types of evidence used to prove fault in these cases.
Common Driving Distractions and How They Increase Maryland Car Accident Risks
Distracted driving occurs whenever a driver’s attention gets diverted from the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that distractions can be visual, manual, or cognitive. Some of the most common driving distractions include:
- Texting and phone use: Texting takes your eyes off the road for roughly five seconds, long enough to travel the length of a football field.
- Eating and drinking: Taking one hand off the wheel to eat or drink reduces a driver’s ability to react quickly to hazards.
- Adjusting controls: Changing the radio, GPS, or climate settings can take a driver’s attention away long enough to cause an accident.
- Talking to passengers: Conversations can divert the driver’s focus, a common problem for younger, inexperienced drivers.
- Daydreaming or mental distractions: Driving on autopilot or being lost in thought reduces the ability to anticipate and react to unexpected risks.
Each of these common types of distractions increases the risk of car accidents in Maryland by impairing reaction time, reducing situational awareness, and leading to reckless driving behaviors such as swerving or failing to brake in time.
Proving a Maryland Distracted Driving Claim: Challenges and Key Evidence
Unlike speeding or drunk driving, which are easily measured, distracted driving is difficult to prove, which poses challenges when filing a claim against the driver. Key evidence our Maryland car accident lawyers gather to help clients in these cases includes:
- Cell phone records showing the driver was texting or on a call at the time of the crash;
- Surveillance footage capturing them engaged in distracted behavior;
- Witness statements from anyone who may have seen the at-fault driver using a phone or engaging in other distractions;
- Police reports in which officers note signs of distraction, such as an open phone app;
- Vehicle data recorders, which can reveal erratic driving patterns;
- Social media activity, in which posts, messages, or live streams made right before the crash provide evidence.
To Get Compensation In Your Claim, Contact Our Maryland Car Accident Attorneys
If you are hurt due to a distracted driving accident in Maryland, you need professional legal representation to prove the other driver was at fault. At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP we have experience handling these cases and gathering the evidence needed to get you compensation. Call or contact our office online today to schedule a consultation with our Maryland car accident attorneys.
Sources:
nsc.org/road/distracted-driving-awareness-month?srsltid=AfmBOopBtH0D_23zgs0mypHlHyxOISgWwhK9dVJ5073jGoKu5Kouyibt
nhtsa.gov/april-distracted-driving-awareness-month
