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Distracted Driving

If you or someone you love has suffered harm at the hands of a distracted driver, finding a skilled Maine car accident lawyer is the first step in holding the responsible party financially responsible. With the nearly universal ownership of cellular phones, it should be no surprise that car accidents caused by distracted driving have become an extremely serious problem on roads across the country. Sadly, the injuries that can stem from such incidents can be devastating and long-lasting.

While it is true that smartphones and other devices offer tremendous freedom and flexibility in our daily lives, the temptation to use them at any given moment is often too much for some to resist. As a result, distracted driving accidents are rising, and the injuries are often life-changing for victims.

Costly medical treatments, ongoing rehabilitation, physical therapy, lost wages, and other expenses leave many wondering how they will be able to carry on with a normal life. By aligning yourself with a seasoned Maine personal injury lawyer from Hardy Wolf & Downing, you will give yourself the best chance to hold accountable those responsible for your circumstances and receive the justice you deserve.

The Dangerous Epidemic of Distracted Driving

While distracted driving encompasses a broad range of behaviors, cell phone usage accounts for an alarming number of incidents.

Some of the most common activities involving cell phone use behind the wheel include:

Sending and receiving text messages
Speaking on the phone (even with hands-free accessories)
Reading email messages
Browsing the internet
Dialing the phone
Reaching for a ringing phone

Many drivers make the mistake of thinking that taking their eyes off the road for a very brief period of time is unlikely to impact their ability to drive safely. However, research has shown that reading or sending a text message requires 5 seconds, the same time it takes to drive the full length of a football field at 55 miles per hour. That is plenty of time for a catastrophic accident to occur.

Texting while driving has been found to boost the risk of car accidents by 23 times. At any daylight moment in the United States, upwards of 660,000 individual drivers are using cell phones or other electronic devices while on the road, with nearly 25% of teenage drivers admitting to checking social media sites online while driving. These statistics are frightening and have prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to recently implement a national advertising campaign and law enforcement initiative to combat distracted driving.

Though cell phone use is perhaps the most common hazard when distracted driving, several other distractions cause many injury accidents each year.

In addition to texting and cell phone use, other examples of distracted driving include:

Eating or drinking while driving
Grooming and applying makeup
Adjusting the sound system
Speaking to passengers
Reading maps or other materials

If you have fallen victim to the carelessness of distracted driving, you are not alone. At Hardy, Wolf & Downing, we understand the physical and emotional trauma you are experiencing, and we want to help. Our network of professionals includes medical experts, accident reconstruction specialists, case investigators, and support staff, all of whom will work tirelessly to marshal evidence and establish liability in your case.

Eyewitness statements, videos, and cellular phone data can be used to prove driver fault in a distracted driving case. Our team knows how to obtain this and other evidence to prove your claim.

Maine Laws Related to Distracted Driving

Maine’s distracted driving law prohibits handheld cell phone usage for drivers in the state. Violators face civil fines, and mandatory license suspensions apply to repeat texting-while-driving offenders.

Such restrictions are a good start, but it seems clear that far too many drivers will not be deterred from engaging in distracting behaviors while behind the wheel. If you suffer from car accident injuries, you need attorneys with a track record of success in providing personalized, effective representation. At Hardy, Wolf & Downing, our nearly 45 years of combined experience renders us uniquely qualified to assert your rights and fight for the compensation you are owed.

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Compensation in Distracted Driving Cases

There can be no debate about the serious nature of distracted driving accidents and the severe consequences they can bring victims. Given the life-altering injuries that frequently follow such incidents, it is vital that those involved understand the sorts of compensation that may be available.
Compensation in car accident lawsuits in Maine may be available for:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Wrongful death/funeral expenses
Past, current, and future medical costs
Lost wages
Diminished earning capacity
Damage to marital relationship

Portland and Lewiston, Maine Car Accident Attorneys

We understand the confusion, fear, and uncertainty caused by a serious car accident inevitably brings. However, you need to know that the law affords you the ability to fight for fair compensation and accountability from those responsible for the harm you have sustained, especially when texting while driving, cell phone usage, or other forms of distracted driving contributed to your injuries.

The Maine car accident lawyers at Hardy, Wolf, & Downing have the knowledge and tools necessary to perform a thorough evaluation of the facts of your case and give you the legal insights you need to make informed decisions about your future.

To arrange for a no-cost initial consultation and to avail yourself of our decades of successful personal injury advocacy, contact us at 1-800-INJURED.