Houston Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer
No one should ever multitask when they are behind the wheel, but too many motorists engage in it every day. In Houston, as throughout the rest of the state, texting and driving is illegal and so, many people believe this is the only form of distracted driving. Unfortunately, it is not. Drivers face many distractions when they are behind the wheel and when they cause an accident as a result, they can be held liable for it. If you have been hurt in a crash, our Houston distracted driving accidents lawyer can help you claim full damages.
Types of Distracted Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), any time a driver takes their hands off the wheel, their eyes off the road, or their focus from what is happening around them, they are distracted. Texting and driving is the most common form of distracted driving, but there are others, as well. These are as follows:
- Texting
- Using a handheld device in any manner
- Adjusting climate systems and radio controls in the vehicle
- Drinking and eating
- Speaking to passengers
- Rubbernecking to view surroundings, such as other accidents
- Using navigational systems
Essentially, any time a driver is doing something other than focusing on the road and their own driving behavior, they are distracted. Distracted driving is negligent behavior and when a driver engages in it, they can be held liable for a crash.
Comparative Fault in Houston
Just like other collisions on the road, distracted driving accidents are governed by comparative fault in Houston. Under this legal doctrine, accident victims cannot claim compensation if they were more than 50 percent at fault for an accident. Even when someone contributed to an accident and was less than 51 percent at fault, it is still important to defend against arguments of negligence from the other side. This is because when an accident victim is found to have contributed to the crash, any damages they receive will be reduced by their same percentage of fault.
For example, you may be involved in an intersection accident and at first, it seems as though you and the other driver were equally at fault. However, after an investigation, it is determined that the other driver was distracted at the time of the crash. As such, you may only be assigned 20 percent of the blame. Any damages you are awarded will then also be reduced by 20 percent.
It is common for defendants to argue that the plaintiff was at least partly at fault for a crash, even when they were not. As such, it is critical to work with a Houston distracted driving accidents lawyer that can refute these claims.
Our Houston Distracted Driving Accidents Lawyers Can Prove Your Case
If you have been injured by a careless motorist, our Houston distracted driving accidents lawyers at Gilde Law Firm can help you claim the compensation you need to make a full recovery. Call us today at 800-973-3106 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.