Distracted Driving Accident Victims

Distracted driving is considered a serious safety issue in the United States, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimating that thousands of Americans are killed each year by distracted drivers.  Many more suffer debilitating injuries.  Distracted driving occurs whenever a driver diverts some or all of their attention from the road to other tasks, such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or using a navigation system.  The Governors Highway Safety Association states that cell phone use, especially texting and talking on the phone, is one of the most common driver distractions.

According to the National Safety Council, the true toll of distracted driving may be underreported, because drivers may not tell the truth to researchers about whether they drive distracted, and not all crash reports accurately capture whether the driver was distracted at the time of the accident.

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Tracy Paulsen represents victims who have been injured in Massachusetts car crashes, including residents of the Boston area, Bristol County, Norfolk County, Plymouth County, and the surrounding areas.  Attorney Paulsen is the managing attorney of Rightful Legal, an Attleboro-based personal injury law firm ready to Fight for Your Rights following your distracted driving collision.  She and her team will guide you through the tumultuous aftermath of the accident that injured you and help you secure fair compensation for your injuries.  Attorney Paulsen brings over 15 years of experience and a passion for justice to every client’s case.  She and her team know that you are suffering because someone else made the selfish choice to drive distracted.  Rightful Legal does not charge a fee unless we win your case for you.

Distracted driving car accidents can take any form and involve any type of vehicle.  Common collisions caused by distracted drivers include:

• Intersection Collisions
• Crashes with Pedestrians
• Bicycle Accidents
• Failure to Yield Car Crashes
• Side Impact Accidents
• And Many More

If you or your loved one have been harmed by a distracted driver, reach out to Tracy Paulsen and her team today.  We offer potential clients a free, private consultation to understand your rights and options after a traumatic accident.  We are here to fight for you and ensure your rights are protected after the distracted driving collision that injured you.

What Leads to Distracted Driving Auto Accidents?

The ultimate cause of distracted driving is the driver’s decision to give their attention to something other than safe driving.  There are a number of distractions that cause drivers to pay less attention to the road.  According to the National Safety Council, there are three categories of distracting tasks for drivers: visual distractions, manual distractions, and cognitive distractions.

Visual distractions are tasks that take the driver’s eyes away from the road. These include:

• Texting
• Using Snapchat, TikTok, or other forms of social media
• Watching videos on a cell phone
• Using a GPS or other navigation system
• Looking at something outside the vehicle, like scenery
• Looking at a passenger in the vehicle, like children in the backseat or animals loose in the vehicle
• Searching for an object in the vehicle

Manual distractions are tasks that take the driver’s hands off the wheel and require them to manipulate something else.  These tasks include:

• Texting and other use of electronic devices
• Adjusting the stereo
• Eating
• Drinking any beverage
• Putting on makeup
• Brushing hair
• Shaving

Cognitive distractions are those tasks that require the driver to think about something other than safe driving.  Such tasks include:

• Talking on the phone, even hands-free
• Daydreaming
• Talking to other passengers in the car
• Singing along to the radio
• Listening to podcasts

This is not an exhaustive list, as there are many causes of distracted driving, and every distracted driving accident is unique.

Hurt or Lost a Loved One in a Distracted Driving Crash?

Rightful Legal attorneys are here to help.

Call or text 617-821-5856

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Can Distracted Driving Be Prevented?

The simple answer is Yes, Distracted Driving can largely be prevented. Drivers can take a number of simple steps to avoid driving distracted such as:

• Do not use a cell phone in any way while driving.  Even hands-free use of cell phones takes vital attention away from the road.
• To that end, silence notifications while driving.  Some phones have settings that automatically turn off notifications when the phone is moving at driving speed.  Others have a Do Not Disturb mode that automatically blocks all notifications until turned off.
• If you must use navigation systems, do so as safely as possible.  Steps like programming the navigation system before driving, using audio navigation instructions, having passengers navigate when possible, and mounting the device where it can be seen without taking your eyes off the road may reduce the risk of using these tools while driving.
• Avoid music and podcasts if possible.  Listening to music and podcasts takes a portion of your mental focus off of driving.  Additionally, this background noise may make it harder to hear sirens, approaching vehicles, and other important sounds.
• If you cannot avoid music, set up your audio system before you drive.  Make a driving playlist, make sure it is queued up before leaving, and make any necessary adjustments to volume before hitting the road.
• Do not eat or drink (any type of beverage) while driving.  Eating behind the wheel is common in today’s hectic world, but it is an unnecessary risk.  Wait to consume your food and beverages until you reach your destination.
• Do any necessary grooming before driving.   Putting on makeup, shaving, brushing hair, or performing other grooming tasks takes your attention off the road, even if you only do it at stoplights.
• Secure pets and kids before you go.  Make sure that any children are safely buckled in, in appropriate carseats, and do not have access to anything that can harm them.  Any animals should be in a crate or an appropriate animal vehicle restraint.  
• Educate teens about the importance of focusing on driving.  Young people are especially prone to both driving distracted and being injured in car crashes.  It is crucial for parents to ensure their children who drive understand the dangers of distracted driving and do not engage in it.

What Compensation Can a Distracted Driving Car Accident Victim Recover?

Thoroughly identifying and documenting your damages is essential to recovering the full compensation you deserve after an accident caused by a distracted driver.  The guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney can be invaluable in valuing your case and ensuring that you do not miss out on the damages you deserve.

While certain accident-related damages, such as medical bills or lost wages, are relatively straightforward, others, such as pain and suffering or emotional trauma, are much harder to value.  A skilled Massachusetts distracted driving accident attorney can guide you through this process, helping you appropriately value all aspects of your claim and present clear evidence to the insurance company or in court to ensure you receive full compensation.

At Rightful Legal, we assist our clients in pursuing a wide range of damages that may result from a distracted driving crash, including, as applicable:

• Past medical expenses
• Future medical expenses
• Income you have already lost
• Income you will lose in the future
• Costs of transportation to medical appointments
• Costs of rehabilitation, caregiving, or other necessary services
• Compensation for loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent physical or mental disability
• Disfigurement
• Emotional trauma
• Wrongful death
• Loss of ability to enjoy intimate relationships
• Loss of ability to enjoy your life

Your distracted driving accident claim is unique.  The compensation to which you may be entitled depends on numerous factors, such as how severe your injuries are, how much income you were earning before the crash, how much income you will earn after the crash, your age at the time of the accident, and what your prognosis is for your injuries.  We are happy to help you understand these factors further at a free consultation.

Injured by a Distracted Driver? 

Contact Rightful Legal Today for a Free Case Evaluation 

Call or Text 617-821-5856

or

Why Retain Rightful Legal to Represent You in Your Massachusetts Distracted Driving Car Crash Lawsuit?

If you have been injured in an accident where a distracted driver was fully or partially responsible, you may have legal grounds to pursue a personal injury claim.  If you have lost a loved one in an accident caused in part or in whole by a distracted driver, a wrongful death claim may be an option.

At Rightful Legal, we are proud to be part of our local Massachusetts community.  We focus our personal injury practice on helping injured individuals and grieving families in Bristol County, Boston, and the rest of Massachusetts.  We are not a gigantic national firm that treats our clients like case numbers or production statistics.  Instead, we offer each and every one of our clients personal attention and tailored service.

Our Rightful Legal team is small enough to deliver compassionate, customized support, yet big enough and strong enough to stand up to the major car insurance companies.  We know that distracted driving cases are complicated, as proving that a driver was distracted and caused the accident can be difficult.  We also know that insurers can often downplay how much you and your family have suffered or deny the full extent of your damages.  With Attorney Paulsen in your corner, you never have to navigate the complex Massachusetts motor vehicle accident compensation system alone.  We are experienced in dealing with all car insurance companies serving Massachusetts, and we are familiar with local courts and court procedures.

At Rightful Legal, we help you collect all the critical evidence, accurately assess the full impact of your injuries, and build a strong case designed to secure the compensation you deserve, whether from the insurance company or in court.  We will be with you from the start of your case to the finish, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.

It is important that you seek counsel quickly to protect your claim.  Massachusetts has a strict three-year timeframe in which people injured in distracted driving and other motor vehicle accidents must bring their cases.  You have only three years from the date your injury is discovered (usually the day of your accident) to seek compensation for your injuries.  If you miss this deadline, your one chance to obtain justice is lost forever.

Contact us today for a free, no-pressure consultation so you can tell us your distracted driving accident story and we can help you explore your legal options.  Whether you are recovering from injuries or dealing with an unimaginable loss, our Rightful Legal team is here to listen to you and advocate for you.Call or Text Rightful Legal Now at 617-821-5856 or contact our dedicated Massachusetts Distracted Driving Accident Victim Attorneys Online Now.