While it is hardly uncommon for the average person to be focused on their phone instead of the world around them at any given moment, one place where that behavior should never be tolerated is behind the wheel of a moving motor vehicle. Unfortunately, this reckless behavior is all too common and can lead to serious and even fatal accidents.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a collision caused by a driver who was looking at their phone instead of the road, it is crucial to understand that you have legal options. A dedicated car accident lawyer at Berkowitz Hanna can help you recover financially after texting while driving car accidents in Stamford and pursue the compensation you deserve for your losses.
Just about every state in America explicitly prohibits motor vehicle drivers from using any mobile communications device to send, write, or read text messages while their vehicle is in motion, and Connecticut is no exception. However, the Nutmeg State actually goes a bit farther than many other places in the United States to ensure drivers in Stamford and elsewhere do not cause car accidents because they were distracted while driving by texting or any other use of a mobile phone.
Specifically, state law bars any driver from doing anything “not related to the actual operation” of their vehicle that “interferes with its safe operation” on public roads. This blanket prohibition covers not only texting while driving, but also talking on a handheld phone while driving. There are, however, exceptions carved out for hands-free use of such devices by drivers 18 years old or older, as well as the temporary use of cell phones to summon emergency services or police.
Additionally, texting—or holding a phone at all—while driving is a primary offense in Connecticut, meaning law enforcement authorities can pull someone over and ticket them for violating this law without any other traffic violation having occurred. This kind of citation can serve as crucial evidence supporting a lawsuit or settlement demand following an auto accident in Stamford, and a lawyer can provide irreplaceable help when it comes to finding and preserving this kind of report.
Because it is unlawful to text while driving in Connecticut, anyone who causes a car accident in Stamford because they were texting while driving has violated their implicit duty to act reasonably and responsibly behind the wheel. Anyone who injures someone else as a direct result of such a “breach of duty” is considered legally negligent, and therefore may be held civilly liable for any ensuing damages.
Specific losses that may be factored into this sort of claim include:
Importantly, though, the fact that someone else was texting behind the wheel does not automatically make them 100 percent to blame for an ensuing wreck. If an injured person contributed to causing a wreck or made their injuries worse through their own negligence, Connecticut General Statutes §52-572h allows a court ruling on that case to reduce the plaintiff’s available compensation based on the percentage of total fault assigned to them. An attorney can help ensure that an injured driver does not face unfair accusations of blame and pursue a fair compensation award that accounts for the full extent of their losses.
Looking at a text message instead of the road is among the most dangerous forms of negligence anyone can engage in while driving, and it leads to far too many preventable collisions in Connecticut each year. If you were hurt in a wreck caused by a driver acting irresponsibly in this way, guidance from experienced legal counsel can make a huge difference in how effectively you can demand the civil compensation you deserve.
After a texting while driving car accident in Stamford, contacting a capable car accident lawyer should be a top priority. Schedule your free consultation with Berkowitz Hanna today to get started.
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