Texting While Driving Accidents
When operating a vehicle, the distractions posed by digital communication and technology may prove catastrophic for many people. As a form of distracted driving, texting while driving poses serious risks. Despite the fact that Illinois prohibits texting while driving, it remains a major cause of collisions. At Katz, Friedman, Eagle, Eisenstein, Johnson & Bareck, our Chicago car accident lawyers are dedicated to representing people injured by the careless behavior of others, including drivers who have been texting behind the wheel. For decades, we have worked to hold them accountable for texting while driving accidents, pursuing compensation on behalf of injured individuals and their families throughout Illinois.Pursue Damages Following an Accident Caused by a Driver Texting
According to Illinois law, drivers are banned from texting and using a cell phone while driving. Due to the distraction presented by texting on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, motorists who engage in this conduct place others on the road at risk. While it is considered a moving violation to text while drive, many people continue to text while driving, leading to collisions and injuries.
Negligent drivers are people who fail to operate their vehicles as a reasonable person would under similar circumstances. Demonstrating negligence after a texting while driving accident requires showing a breached duty of care that directly caused injuries. As a form of negligence, texting while driving is conduct that breaches the duty of care that all drivers owe to others sharing the roadways. When a car accident victim suffers injuries in a crash caused by a distracted driver, they may hold them responsible for their resulting harm.
One major danger posed by drivers who text while operating their vehicles is that the driver takes their eyes off the road in order to compose and send a text message. If a driver is operating their vehicle at a high rate of speed, for example, and removes their eyes from the roadway in front of them, even for a few seconds, they may unknowingly cause serious damage. Motorists who fail to pay proper attention due to texting and driving may run a red light, veer into oncoming traffic, or cause a rear-end collision.
The damage that may be caused by a texting while driving accident may be serious, despite the fact that it takes only a few seconds to send or receive a text message. Victims who pursue a legal claim for compensation from the at-fault driver may recover damages for their harm. Damages usually include past and future medical expenses, damage to property, and lost wages from work. Illinois law also provides for compensation for pain and suffering.