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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,142 people lost their lives in car accidents in 2019 due to driver distraction. There are differences between physical and mental distractions when driving. When a person’s thoughts are elsewhere, they are mentally distracted. Physical distraction is taking one’s hands off the wheel or diverting one’s attention elsewhere while driving e,g devices.
Read to learn steps to take to deal with the aftermath of a car accident caused by distracted driving.
Call 911
Focus on getting help for yourself and others involved in the accident first. When calling 911, be prepared to answer questions from emergency responders. You’ll need to give them your name, location, and phone number so they can contact you if necessary. Please don’t hang up until they tell you to do so!
Take Pictures
Please take pictures of the scene, the other vehicle, and its driver. You can then use these photos to file a police report; they may also help prove your case in court if you decide to sue for damages related to distracted driving. Take pictures of your injuries after the accident. If you have any visible cuts or bruises, take photos so that you have proof for insurance claims.
Get witnesses’ Information
If you can, get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses at the accident. If possible, ask them to write down what they saw and how it happened, so you have a record of their account. It may be helpful for them to write down the time of the accident and where it happened.
Seek Medical Treatment
Seeking medical attention is critical to protecting your interests and ensuring that you get compensated for any injuries sustained. A doctor can assess your injuries and write an incident report to record all details accurately.
If the crash seems minor at first glance but becomes more serious later, talk with your doctor about keeping careful track of any changes or complications. For example, a neck injury doesn’t appear until days or weeks.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company and ask for an adjuster to come out who will help you fill out the necessary paperwork. If you don’t have a copy of the police report, they will ask you to get one from them once they’ve inspected your car.
Once they have all this information, they’ll give you a claim number and let you know when they plan on paying out. It can take 30 days for you to get your insurance claim, depending on how busy their office is (and whether there have been a lot of other accidents).
Call an Attorney
An experienced lawyer can help you navigate the legal process and obtain compensation for your injuries. Attorneys have experience with car accident cases. An attorney knows how insurance companies operate and can leverage that knowledge to your advantage. They know how to file a claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if things go that far.
How to Reduce Driving Distractions
Distracted driving is a severe problem. The United States alone is responsible for over 424,000 getting injured in crashes each year, killing over 3,000 people.
But there are things you can do to reduce your chances of being in an accident. Here are tips on how to reduce driving distractions:
- Don’t eat while driving: Eating messy foods like pizza or burgers while driving is not only unsafe, but it can also be distracting.
- Keep your hands on the wheel. Resist the urge to reach for a water bottle or something else in the backseat—your hands should always be on the wheel when you’re driving!
- Look ahead. It will keep you from being distracted by what’s happening while keeping you aware of potential traffic hazards.
- Turn off your phone. If you have an important call that can’t wait, pull over and make it to a safe place.
- Wait for red lights before doing anything apart from driving, such as eating snacks or applying makeup.
- Set your GPS before you start your journey. You don’t want to search for an address while driving.
If you were in an accident caused by distracted driving, remember that the other person was not acting with a purpose. Please take a deep breath and remind yourself that they were not intentionally trying to hurt you. To deal with a distracted driving accident is to take the necessary steps to ensure that you get compensated for your injuries and damages. You should contact an attorney so that they can help you recover from this tragedy.
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