Chicago Texting and Driving Accident Lawyer

Texting and driving is one of the most dangerous habits a person can make while operating a motor vehicle, and it is a major cause of car accidents every year. Texting while driving is a form of distracted driving, which is any action that takes a motorist’s eyes, hands, or attention away from the task of driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with drunk driving. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., our Chicago texting and driving accident lawyers help accident victims recover compensation after being injured in these preventable auto accidents.

Since our firm was founded, we have secured more than $2.5 billion in financial compensation for our clients. This includes more than 350 multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for people who have suffered serious injuries or lost loved ones. We recovered $6.6 million in a case in which a driver struck our client who was walking in Ottawa. The driver never applied their brakes before or after the collision and fled the scene before authorities were able to identify him. Our expert testified that cell phone records indicated the driver was distracted by texting while driving at the time of impact.

Our Chicago texting while driving lawyers serve clients from our law offices in Chicago and Lake County. You can learn more about your right to pursue financial compensation after a distracted driving accident during a free legal consultation with one of our Chicago car accident lawyers. Call us or fill out our contact form to get started.

Texting While Driving Statistics

Here are some sobering texting while driving statistics that highlight the dangers of texting and driving:

General Cell Phone Statistics 

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sending or reading a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds.
• At any given moment throughout the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while driving.
• The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that 3,142 people died in crashes involving distracted driving for the most recent year that data is available.
• The NSC also attributes 1.6 million annual car accidents to using cell phones or texting while driving.
• A AAA report shows that your risk of being involved in a car accident is increased by 400% when using a cell phone or handheld device while driving.
• Nearly 400,000 injuries that occur in car accidents each year are due to texting while driving.
• Despite the known dangers, many drivers admit to texting while driving. A AAA report reveals that more than half of drivers admit to texting while driving or emailing while driving.

Teen Driver Cell Phone Statistics

Texting while driving is particularly problematic for younger drivers who tend to have less experience driving and are more prone to making risky decisions behind the wheel. Take a look at these scary statistics on teen drivers and cell phones:

• According to the NHTSA, 2,042 people were killed in car crashes involving a teen driver for the most recent year for which data is available.
• While 84 percent of teens acknowledged they were aware of the dangers of texting while driving in a AAA poll, 86 percent of them still admitted to doing it.
• Dialing a phone number while driving increases a teen’s risk of being in a car accident by six times, according to the NHTSA
• Texting while driving increases a teen’s risk of being involved in a car accident by 23 times.
• ABC News reported that more than 2,000 people were killed in accidents caused by distracted teen drivers during a recent five-year span

What Happens If You Cause an Accident While Texting?

Under Illinois law, texting while driving is a moving violation. You can face a $75 fine and points to your driving record. However, if you cause serious bodily harm while texting and driving, you face a fine of up to $1,000 and the loss of your license for a year. Additionally, you may be responsible for the damages the accident victim suffered due to your texting and driving.

How Can I Prove Someone Was Texting While Driving? 

It can be very difficult to prove the other driver was texting without the help of experienced car accident attorneys. Experts acknowledge that it is difficult to estimate the exact number of distracted drivers who cause accidents because this largely relies on them self-reporting. Since many Illinois drivers know texting and driving is illegal, they may not share this information with law enforcement officers, and it may not appear on police reports.

Some signs that the at fault driver was texting at the time of the accident include:

• You were hit in a rear end collision
• There is no evidence that the at fault driver applied their brakes
• You notice a cell phone near the other driver
• You saw the driver texting right before the collision

If you suspect that you were injured in a texting while driving accident, it is essential that you seek the assistance of an experienced texting while driving accident lawyer as soon as possible. Auto accident attorneys can gather evidence, request cellphone records, conduct depositions on witnesses who saw the driver texting, and take other steps to prove texting caused the accident. They can also help you pursue legal action and discuss your legal claim during a free case review. 

Compensation You Can Recover in a Texting While Driving Accident

If a texting while driving accident caused you to suffer serious injuries, you may be able to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim against the texting driver. This compensation may include payment for:

• Repairs to or replacement of your damaged vehicle
• Medical bills, now and in the future
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

If you would like more information about the potential value of your auto accident claim, contact us for a free case evaluation.

How Our Chicago Texting & Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help You

If you were injured in an accident, the Chicago texting and driving accident lawyers of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. are here to help. Our diverse team of top litigators has the experience, knowledge, and resources necessary to aggressively fight to protect your rights after an injury caused by a negligent driver. We can offer legal advice and a customized legal strategy designed to help you recover maximum compensation. Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you only pay us if we are able to recover compensation on your behalf. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.