Thousands of distracted driving accidents occur in Illinois each year. If you were injured by someone who was texting while driving, an Aurora car accident lawyer can help you hold them financially accountable.
Distracted driving accidents often result in serious injuries, costly property damage, and emotional trauma. A texting while driving accident lawyer in Aurora from Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., can help you file a claim and obtain compensation for your losses.
Why Hire an Aurora Texting While Driving Accident Lawyer?
An Aurora texting while driving accident lawyer can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. They can help with:
- Evidence collection: Your lawyer can gather accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimony to strengthen your case.
- Insurance negotiations: Your attorney can deal with insurance companies on your behalf and push back against low settlement offers.
- Court representation: If your case proceeds to trial, your lawyer can argue on your behalf before a judge or jury.
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover?
In Illinois, drivers can be held liable for damages caused by distracted driving. Your compensation may include:
- Medical expenses: You can seek compensation for hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
- Lost wages: You can receive compensation for income you lost while you are unable to work due to injuries sustained in the crash.
- Property damage: You can be reimbursed for the repair or replacement of your vehicle and any other property damaged in the accident.
- Pain and suffering: You can be compensated for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life caused by the accident.
- Punitive damages: You can seek additional damages designed to punish the at-fault driver when their behavior was particularly reckless or intentional.
An Aurora personal injury lawyer can help make sure the insurance company doesn’t overlook any of your losses.
Common Injuries from Texting While Driving Crashes
Accidents involving distracted drivers can lead to a wide range of injuries, many of which are severe or life-altering. The most common injuries in these types of crashes include:
- Whiplash and neck injuries: Sudden stops or collisions can cause the neck to snap forward and back violently.
- Head trauma: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries may occur when the head strikes the steering wheel, window, or dashboard.
- Broken bones: Arms, legs, and ribs are often fractured in accidents.
- Spinal cord injuries: Severe crashes can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the severity of the impact.
- Soft tissue damage: Muscles, ligaments, and tendons can suffer tears or strains, leading to long-term pain and mobility issues.
Many victims also experience emotional trauma, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, which can affect their daily life and work.
Steps to Take After a Texting While Driving Accident in Aurora
If you were hit by someone who was using their phone while driving in Aurora, follow these steps:
- Get to safety: If possible, move to a safe location and check for injuries to yourself and others.
- Call 911: Report the accident to law enforcement and request medical assistance for any injured parties.
- Document the scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, license plates, skid marks, traffic signals, and visible injuries.
- Gather information: Collect contact and insurance details from all involved parties. If any witnesses are present, obtain their contact information too.
- Seek medical attention: Even minor injuries should be evaluated by a doctor, as some symptoms may not appear immediately.
- Consult an attorney: Call a texting while driving accident attorney in Aurora to discuss your situation.
The Dangers of Texting While Driving
Texting while driving combines visual, manual, and cognitive distractions, making it one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road. Drivers who text are not fully aware of their surroundings, and even a few seconds of inattention can result in catastrophic accidents.
In Aurora, these accidents commonly occur at intersections, residential streets, and during peak traffic hours. Specific causes include:
- Loss of vehicle control: Taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road reduces your ability to react to sudden changes in traffic.
- Delayed reaction times: Reading or composing messages slows a driver’s response to traffic signals, pedestrians, and other vehicles.
- Lane drifting: Distraction may cause a driver to drift into another lane or off the road, increasing the risk of sideswipe or run-off-road crashes.
Consult a Texting While Driving Accident Attorney in Aurora
Texting while driving remains a serious problem on Aurora roads. If you were injured in an accident with a distracted driver, an Aurora texting while driving accident attorney from Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., can help gather evidence to prove fault and pursue a fair settlement on your behalf.
Schedule a free case review to connect with an attorney and find out how you can get justice.
