Indianapolis Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
There are so many demands on our attention now that it can be tough to keep our minds on what matters most, and the consequences are never more apparent than when we drive, so it may be no surprise that distraction has become one of the chief factors in car accidents throughout the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distraction is linked to approximately nine American auto deaths per day, though even a non-fatal distracted driving accident can inflict punishing injuries that could break the bank of the average Indianapolis family.
But if you have been hurt in an Indianapolis car accident by an inattentive driver, you may be eligible to pursue a personal injury case, and your chances of success could improve dramatically if you reach out to the Indianapolis distracted driving accident lawyers at Hensley Legal Group.
To discover what a skilled Indianapolis distracted driving accident attorney can do for you, schedule a free consultation by calling our office at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form.
Common Causes of Indianapolis Distracted Driving Accidents
Anything that takes our attention off the task of driving could be classified as a distraction, which will generally fit into one of three categories:
- Visual distractions – These are distractions that draw a driver’s eyes off the road to the extent that key details might be missed, sometimes with lethal results.
- Manual distractions – These distractions make a driver remove his or her hands from the steering wheel, effectively relinquishing full control of the vehicle.
- Cognitive distractions – A driver whose concentration drifts to something apart from driving may not react to critical developments until it is too late.
The various distractions that may be included in these broad groupings could take practically any form imaginable, but some of the more common causes of Indianapolis distracted driving accidents are:
- Eating and drinking
- Adjusting the radio
- Grasping for an item inside the car
- Programming the GPS
- Reading
- Conversing with passengers
- Handling pets
- Looking at landmarks
- Daydreaming
Different motorists may be prone to different sources of distraction, though the biggest source of distraction in the modern era by far is the smartphone. Whether we are talking, texting, or engaging with a myriad of apps and features, our phones have transformed distracted driving from a moderate concern into a genuine epidemic that ranks second only to speeding as a contributor to domestic car accidents.
Moreover, this epidemic is unlikely to slow down for the foreseeable future, as smartphones are currently associated with around 12 percent of collisions in the United States, despite the majority of those states banning the use of handheld devices while driving, including the Hoosier State.
Clearly, stiffer legal penalties have not done enough to curb distraction-related injuries, but you can rely on Hensley’s knowledgeable Indianapolis distracted driving accident lawyers to formulate the best plan of action if you are contemplating a case when you have been injured.
Steps to Follow After an Indianapolis Distracted Driving Accident
To better protect that case, there are certain steps that it may be wise to follow after an Indianapolis distracted driving accident has taken place. Specifically, you should:
- Move to a safe location – This may not be your last car accident of the day if you stand around in traffic, so move to a safe location before you attempt to do anything else.
- Alert the authorities – A smartphone isn’t always a bad thing! If police and emergency personnel have not already arrived, alert them by taking out your phone and dialing 911. Remember to give the responding officer a complete account of the collision and mention any examples of the liable driver’s distraction that you may have observed.
- Snap pictures and shoot videos – Before you put that phone back, try to snap pictures and shoot videos of your surroundings, making sure to capture anything that may have distracted the driver who hit you.
- Seek treatment – To avoid delays in medical care that could prolong your injuries and cast doubt on their relationship to your distracted driving accident, seek treatment as soon as you can, either from paramedics on site or at the emergency room.
- Exchange identifying information – Don’t leave the scene without exchanging essential identifying information with the distracted driver and any uninvolved drivers, passengers, or pedestrians who may have witnessed the crash, including (when applicable):
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- Name
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- Address
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- Phone number
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- Vehicle year, make, and model
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- License plate
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- Insurance provider and policy number
- Notify your insurance company – Promptly notifying your insurance company could keep you in compliance with the terms of your policy while allowing you to access its benefits, such as reimbursement for towing, rentals, repairs, and physician visits.
- Stay away from other insurers – The insurers for the other parties may be eager to speak with you as well. Yet since what you say to them could potentially be used to undermine your claim, you should probably stay away from them until you…
- Speak with an attorney – A seasoned Indianapolis distracted driving accident lawyer can answer your questions and educate you about what to expect if you proceed with a case.
How Our Indianapolis Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help
A serious car accident can change your life in an instant, overwhelming you with mounting medical bills while robbing you of the ability to go to work to pay for them. Before you are aware of it, you and your loved ones could find yourselves teetering on the brink of ruin, all because of the thoughtless acts of a thoughtless actor – but the Indianapolis distracted driving accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group can help.
If you hire Hensley, we will launch a thorough investigation into your distracted driving accident and everyone responsible for it, then move swiftly to amass the materials necessary to build your claim, including evidence both of your damages and of fault on the part of the defendants, such as:
- Police reports
- Cellphone records
- Eyewitness statements
- Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage
- Black box data
- Citations and dispositions
- Driving histories
- Maintenance logs
- Accident reconstructionist and forensic analyst testimony
If proof of wrongdoing exists, our tenacious Indianapolis distracted driving accident lawyers will leave no stone unturned until they unearth it.
What Compensation Is Available for an Indianapolis Distracted Driving Accident?
After putting together the strongest case possible against each of the defendants, we will enter into negotiations with their insurance carriers, doing everything in our power to secure a settlement that reflects the totality of the losses that you have incurred, including your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional trauma
- Mobility restrictions
- Diminished enjoyment of living
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive and wrongful death damages (if relevant)
And if we do not receive an offer that is worthy of your claim, we are not afraid to go to trial for a verdict that is, unlike many of our competitors, who seldom, if ever, venture into a courtroom – and end up leaving money on the table that belongs in their clients’ pockets.
No two Indianapolis distracted driving accidents are exactly the same, but Hensley will strive to obtain the maximum amount of compensation available for yours.
You Won’t Owe Us Anything Unless We Win
We realize that you could be reluctant to agree to additional expenditures when you might have spent so much already, so you may be pleased to learn that Hensley Legal Group works on a contingency basis. This means that you won’t owe us anything unless our Indianapolis distracted driving attorneys win your case.
At Hensley, we want you to focus your attention on recovering your health while we focus our attention on recovering the funds you need to do it.
Talk to Our Indianapolis Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Today
Hensley Legal Group has been staunchly advocating for the hardworking men and women of Indiana since the firm first opened its doors in 1998. No feat is too daunting or adversary too intimidating to bring our quest for justice to a halt. If you are struggling to return to normal after being gravely injured in the Indianapolis area, talk to our Indianapolis distracted driving lawyers today to explore your legal options.
For a complimentary case review with a dedicated Indianapolis car accident lawyer, just call our office at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form at your earliest convenience.
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