Few motorists are more dangerous to share the road with than distracted drivers. Distracted drivers are far more likely to miss changing road conditions and cause a crash. When distractions result in a serious accident, a personal injury lawyer might be able to help you hold the distracted driver accountable.
If you suffered injuries in a collision with a distracted driver, immediately seeking legal counsel may be crucial to your case. You could recover financial compensation for your injuries if your claim or lawsuit is successful. A Vestavia Hills, AL distracted driving accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.
Compensation in a Vestavia Hills Distracted Driving Case
There is no question that distracted driving can be deadly. However, countless accidents also result in serious but non-fatal injuries. These injuries could dramatically impact your quality of life and leave you with financial, physical, and emotional challenges. A successful injury claim or lawsuit could provide you with a monetary award that addresses these challenges.
A Vestavia Hills distracted driving accident attorney could help you pursue a monetary award for different types of damages. When you work with an attorney, they can help you identify each type of compensation you are entitled to recover—some of which you might not be aware of.
Recoverable damages in your case may include:
Lost Wages
The loss of income is a very real possibility for some following an accident with a distracted driver. Many people can’t return to work right away as they recover, and some injuries could leave you out of work for weeks or even months. The wages lost due to this long recovery period could be replaced through a claim or civil lawsuit.
Pain and Suffering
Compensation for physical pain and suffering is also common in these cases. Serious injuries can result in severe and long-lasting pain. Certain injuries—like nerve damage—can lead to chronic pain for the rest of your life. It is only fair that the distracted driver who caused your accident faces liability for the pain you suffered.
Medical Costs
Medical intervention is often necessary following an accident with a distracted driver. In some cases, this involves emergency medical transportation and care following the crash. Serious injuries can also result in long-term medical needs, including physical therapy or follow-up surgical procedures. You can recoup the cost of your treatments in a successful personal injury settlement.
Property Damage
If your vehicle or other personal belongings were damaged in the crash, you could be entitled to compensation for your damaged property. This could include recovering the funds needed to replace or repair your damaged vehicle.
How Much Time Do I Have to Sue a Distracted Driver in Vestavia Hills?
You have a limited time to hold a distracted driver accountable following an accident. If you wait too long to pursue a personal injury lawsuit, you could miss out entirely on the compensation you deserve. The deadline for your case is known as the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations in Vestavia Hills is found in AL Code § 6-2-38. According to this statute, you generally have two years from the accident date to file suit against the distracted driver. If you file after the statute expires, the judge could dismiss your case with prejudice.
A dismissal with prejudice could upend your case, no matter how clear-cut the evidence is. This type of dismissal not only brings the lawsuit to an end, but it also prevents you from pursuing compensation again in the future.
Common Causes of Distracted Driving
Different types of distractions can affect a motorist in Vestavia Hills. While these distractions can differ, anything that takes a motorist’s attention away from driving could increase the chances of an accident.
Visual Distractions
A visual distraction causes a driver to look away from the road. This type of distraction is dangerous because road conditions can change in a split second. A driver reading a text message on their phone might not notice a pedestrian step into their path, for example.
Physical Distractions
A physical distraction causes a driver to remove their hands from the wheel. This usually involves reaching for or using an object within the vehicle. Some common physical distractions include changing the station on the radio, programming a GPS, or eating while driving.
Mental Distractions
A mental distraction draws a driver’s attention away from operating their vehicle. They might have their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel, but mental distractions are still dangerous. Common examples include daydreaming, fatigue, or conversing with a passenger.
How Much Will it Cost to Hire a Vestavia Hills Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer?
The ability to pursue a monetary award from a distracted driver should not hinge on your ability to hire an attorney. Your case is important, and you deserve to be compensated for the injuries you sustained at the hands of a distracted driver. Our firm accepts injury cases on a contingency basis to give you the chance to pursue compensation regardless of your financial circumstances.
When you hire a Vestavia Hills distracted driving attorney on a contingency basis, you only pay legal fees if your legal counsel recovers compensation in your case. If your case is unsuccessful, you will not owe our firm anything.
You Could Recover Damages Following a Distracted Driving Accident in Vestavia Hills
Suffering an injury in a collision with a distracted driver can be frustrating. These accidents are avoidable, which can add to the frustration. The good news is that you have the right to pursue legal action and hold that driver accountable.
You also have the right to hire legal counsel to advocate for you following an accident with a distracted driver. Cory Watson Attorneys is ready to help you seek a fair financial recovery. Our Vestavia Hills car accident attorneys understand what it takes to hold a distracted driver accountable after an accident. Contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how a Vestavia Hills, AL distracted driving accident lawyer can help you.