You saw it happening in slow motion. The driver in the next lane drifted toward you while staring at their phone, completely unaware they were leaving their lane. You honked, but they didn’t react. Their vehicle sideswiped yours and sent you into the guardrail, causing damage to both sides of your car and injuries that would require weeks of treatment.
When police arrived, the other driver admitted they were checking a text message and didn’t realize they’d drifted. The officer issued a citation for distracted driving, but that ticket doesn’t pay your medical bills or replace your totaled vehicle. You need a Joliet car accident lawyer to help you deal with the insurers.
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we know that proving fault and recovering fair compensation require different strategies. Choose Charlie when you need a distracted driving accident lawyer in Joliet who understands how to build cases that insurance companies can’t ignore.
Why Insurance Companies Fight Distracted Driving Claims
You might think distracted driving cases settle easily when police cite the at-fault driver. Insurance adjusters know most people make this assumption and use your expectations against you. Behind their cooperative tone, they’re already planning how to minimize what they pay.
Insurers separate the citation from the costs of your accident. They rush settlement discussions before injury severity becomes clear, pushing for a settlement while you’re uncertain about long-term recovery. However, with our personal injury lawyers in Joliet, you can let us handle the negotiations while you heal.
With over $100 million recovered for injured clients, our team knows every tactic insurers use to underpay distracted driving victims.
Phone Records Can Prove Your Case
Phone companies maintain detailed records of every call, text, and data usage on their networks. These records timestamp exactly when activity occurred, down to the second. When matched against the collision time documented in police reports, phone records prove definitively whether the driver was using their device at the moment of impact.
Our Joliet distracted driving accident lawyers can subpoena these records directly from the phone company. The at-fault driver cannot delete or hide this evidence. Even if they claim they weren’t using their phone, records show the truth. Incoming calls, outgoing texts, app usage, and internet browsing all appear in these logs with precise timing.
Modern smartphones create additional evidence trails. GPS data shows the phone’s movement and speed, proving it was in the vehicle during the collision. App usage logs reveal whether the driver was checking social media, reading emails, or using navigation. These digital footprints provide irrefutable proof of distraction that witnesses might miss.
Types of Damages You Can Recover
Medical expenses include every treatment related to your injuries. Emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging, surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medications, and medical equipment all factor into your compensation. You can also recover costs for future medical care when injuries require ongoing treatment or leave permanent limitations.
Pain and suffering damages account for physical discomfort and emotional trauma. Common recoverable non-economic losses include:
- Daily physical pain and reduced mobility
- Anxiety about driving or being in vehicles
- Depression from lifestyle limitations
- Sleep problems and fatigue
- Loss of enjoyment in activities you once loved
These aren’t the only damages you could receive. Insurance companies focus on easily documented expenses like medical bills and try to minimize subjective damages like pain and suffering. We ensure every aspect of your losses receives fair compensation.
Common Injuries From Distracted Driving Accidents
Whiplash occurs frequently in rear-end and sideswipe collisions. The sudden impact causes your head and neck to move violently, straining muscles and ligaments. Symptoms often appear hours or days later. Chronic neck pain, headaches, and reduced range of motion can persist for months.
Back injuries result from impact forces. Herniated discs, spinal fractures, and muscle strains may require extensive physical therapy, injections, or surgery. Soft tissue injuries throughout your body—shoulders, knees, wrists—don’t show up on X-rays but cause real pain and limitation.
Traumatic brain injuries happen even in moderate-speed collisions. Your brain can impact the inside of your skull during sudden deceleration. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and personality changes. Some TBI symptoms persist for months or become permanent.
What Sets Charlie Therman Apart
Our 75 years of combined legal experience means we’ve handled hundreds of distracted driving cases and know which evidence matters most. We obtain phone records quickly and interview witnesses while memories are fresh.
You’ll work with attorneys who respond quickly and keep you informed. We’re not a high-volume firm where you become just another file number. We connect you with medical providers who accept liens, removing financial barriers to necessary treatment.
Our track record speaks clearly—over $100 million recovered for injured clients throughout 20+ years serving Illinois communities. When a distracted driver injures you, you need advocates who won’t settle for less than you deserve.
Contact a Joliet Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Today
Distracted drivers cause thousands of preventable accidents in Illinois every year. You shouldn’t accept inadequate compensation just because insurance adjusters pressure you to settle quickly.
The legal team at Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. knows how to prove distracted driving cases using phone records and other evidence that forces insurance companies to pay fair settlements.
Get the representation you need to recover full compensation. We offer free consultations to discuss your accident, review the evidence, and explain your legal options. You won’t pay any attorney fees unless we recover money for your injuries. Contact us for dedicated representation from a distracted driving accident lawyer in Joliet.
