Drivers are responsible for being aware of their surroundings at all times. Just a few seconds of distraction can profoundly impact the life of the driver and anyone in their vicinity.
If you were hurt in a crash, know you are not alone. A skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer at Rafi Law Firm can demand accountability and help you recover the compensation you need to heal. Let us help get distracted drivers off the road; call us today at (404) 800-9933.
Georgia Distracted Driving Laws
Growing awareness of the dangers of distracted driving led to the passing of The Hands-Free Georgia Act, which took effect on July 1, 2018. The Act expressly defines a driver’s responsibilities while driving and the prohibited actions applied to cell phones and other devices. This law prohibits any driver from the following:
- Cell phones should not be in contact with a driver in any capacity while a driver is operating a vehicle and talking on a device.
- Watching or recording videos is not allowed except for what is expressly defined in the Act.
- Writing, reading, or sending texts and engaging in internet data exchanges is not allowed, except for voice-to-text.
- Interacting with streaming services that provide music while driving is not allowed. These services should be programmed before a vehicle is operated and should not play videos.
- Fines will be incurred for a violation of the Act.
Even with laws in place to prohibit the use of cell phones, with exceptions in certain instances, distracted driving is an illegal activity that Atlanta drivers participate in daily. Rafi, Brown and Stokes provides a dedicated team when you need an Atlanta distracted driving accident lawyer to prove your injuries resulted from distracted driving.
Who’s Most At Risk Of Being Injured In A Distracted Driving Accident?
Recent annual statistics reveal that over 35,000 accidents occurred on Atlanta’s highways. The most vulnerable roadway travelers suffer the most devastating effects. Over 14,000 of these accidents are suspected to have resulted from distracted driving. It is estimated that 76% of fatal accidents in Georgia result from unsafe driving practices such as distracted driving.
Pedestrians
In the previously cited report, Atlanta pedestrians accounted for 427 of the reported accidents. Pedestrian accidents continue to accelerate in Georgia, with an estimated 300 deaths per year possible if current trends continue. Vulnerable pedestrians have no protection from the impact of automobiles traveling at any speed. Treatment for injuries can be ongoing, and fatalities occur often.
These injuries may include:
- Broken bones
- Severe lacerations
- Compression injuries
- Paralysis
- Burns
- A state of unconsciousness
Proving the events of an accident can be challenging because of the compromised state of the pedestrian at the time of the accident. Rafi, Brown and Stokes understands the critical nature of your injuries and is dedicated to helping you when you are unable to help yourself.
Motor Vehicle Drivers
Motor vehicle accidents cause injury and death on Georgia highways for drivers, with motor vehicle drivers’ accident injuries the second leading cause of death, ER visits, and hospitalizations. Determining the events of an accident is imperative to assuring you receive compensation.
Work with an Atlanta distracted driving accident attorney from Rafi, Brown and Stokes to receive the compassionate but driven representation you deserve.
Motorcyclists
Motorcycle accidents continue to climb, with the Atlanta area being the scene of over 40% of total motorcycle crashes in Georgia. Distracted driving often contributes to rear-ending accidents, and over 30% of motorcycle accidents involve a rear-end collision.
Bicyclists
Bicyclists in Georgia must adhere to the same guidelines as automobiles, requiring them to travel on busy roadways when bicycle lanes are unavailable. A bicyclist wearing a helmet and safety gear is still susceptible to sustaining life-threatening injuries in an accident involving a distracted driver. Knowing what to do if you are hit by a car while riding your bike will help you successfully navigate the days and weeks following an accident.
Passengers
Vehicle passengers trust a driver to transport them safely. Failure to do so can result in the passenger seeking compensation for the injuries caused by a distracted driver. As a passenger, you have a unique view of a driver’s actions before an accident occurs. Georgia follows a fault-based system requiring drivers to be financially responsible for the injuries they cause in an accident.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer In Atlanta?
Rafi, Brown and Stokes reviews each case and commits to those they feel they can successfully win because they want their clients to receive the compensation they deserve. As an injury victim already facing medical debt, you should never be discouraged from seeking help for fear of cost.
You pay nothing unless an Atlanta distracted driving accident attorney with Rafi, Brown and Stokes collects compensation for you.
What Is Considered Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving occurs when outside influences redirect a driver’s focus to other stimuli. Cell phones are one of multiple factors leading to distracted driving. Proving distracted driving is a challenging process that benefits from the thorough research of an Atlanta distracted driving accident lawyer.
Manual Distraction
Manual distraction occurs when the driver’s hands leave the wheel of a vehicle and become involved in another activity.
This distraction can occur when:
- Thumbing through any carrying case, such as a briefcase, backpack, diaper bag, or purse
- Holding food while traveling
- Reaching for items located in a passenger or back seat
Driving requires a fully engaged individual.
Visual Distraction
Visual distractions can happen both in and out of a vehicle. While interactions with cell phones are a major visual distraction, other distractions can quickly grab a driver’s attention and divert their eyes from the road. These visual distractions can be:
- Other passengers and their interactions
- Programming a GPS
- Sights outside of a vehicle
- Cosmetics applications
- Watching videos
- Changing radio stations
Multitasking and driving do not go hand in hand. We are dedicated to proving how others’ actions have impacted a client’s life.
Cognitive Distraction
Simple conversations with other passengers, planning the day, daydreaming, or any mental action that distracts thoughts away from the act of driving can lead to poor judgment, impaired reaction times, and reduced activity in the part of the brain that allows a driver to operate a vehicle safely. Rafi, Brown and Stokes understands that proving negligence in an Atlanta distracted driving accident is imperative to winning maximum compensation in an accident.
Atlanta Is A Hotbed Of Distracted Driving
Atlanta residents live busy lives, often trying to accomplish many activities while driving. Cell phones remain a significant distraction for drivers, from making calls to catch up with friends and scheduling appointments to reading the latest news. Following hands-free laws is imperative to saving lives. Additionally, continual construction on the I-285/GA 400 interchange leads to distraction with constant lane changes, construction sign awareness, and cognitive stressors that occur in congested areas.
Speeding also contributed to 54% of accident fatalities in Atlanta, resulting in little room for errors caused by distracted driving.
Dangers And Consequences Of Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can result in minor car accidents and devastating fatalities, changing the lives of victims and their families forever. Injuries from distracted driving can wreak havoc on your physical, mental, and financial health, causing:
- Loss of health and ongoing medical treatment
- Loss of income and potentially your job
- The inability to enjoy life and participate fully due to injuries
- Mental and physical anguish
- Financial debt resulting from costly medical treatments
Some consequences of distracted driving have an easily defined monetary value, such as the medical bills you can incur. Other effects of these careless actions can be more challenging to quantify. Rafi, Brown and Stokes will diligently work to help you understand the damages to which you are entitled.
Who’s Liable For My Injury?
Determining who is responsible for your injuries requires a knowledgeable Atlanta distracted driving accident lawyer familiar with the complexities of establishing liability in an accident. Insurance companies are not out to make this process easy, and Rafi, Brown and Stokes continues to pursue cases with diligent investigation to prevent insurance adjusters from denying your claim.
Your accident may result from careless distracted driving, but a driver’s attention may also be distracted by other factors affecting the vehicle’s function.
The parties that may be liable for your injuries include:
- A distracted driver
- Government entity responsible for highway maintenance and safety
- Auto parts maker and manufacturer
- Transportation companies
- Maintenance and safety departments when a work vehicle is involved
- Truck owners
Our team never backs down from insurance companies seeking to reduce the compensation you are owed.
How Our Lawyers Prove Distracted Driving
Rafi, Brown and Stokes starts at the beginning, using information collected from the scene of the accident to begin the investigation. We’ll ask you to provide us with any photos or videos you may have taken at the scene. We may also use the following information to support your case:
- Witness testimony
- Video camera footage from highways and security cameras
- Cell phone data
- Reconstruction investigators and expert witnesses
Contacting an Atlanta distracted driving accident lawyer as soon as possible allows vital information such as videos and cell phone records to be secured before information is deleted or destroyed. This information is not kept indefinitely and can be instrumental in determining the outcome of your case.
Why Should I Work With Rafi, Brown and Stokes?
Rafi, Brown and Stokes believes that your compensation tremendously impacts your ability to heal after an accident. Rafi, Brown and Stokes case results prove that recovering maximum client compensation is a priority. Quality service is evident when you read what clients have to say about their experience with Rafi, Brown and Stokes, and here are some of the things you can expect:
- Compassionate and timely communication
- Honest answers to complex questions
- Dedication to your case and the legal process throughout the working relationship
- A thorough investigation into all the information in your case
- A team dedicated to recovering maximum compensation
- No fees until we secure your compensation
- We continue to fight denied claims and improper settlement offers, filing a lawsuit if necessary.
Our Atlanta Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help
The events of an accident involving a distracted driver can leave you feeling overwhelmed and challenged by obstacles as you try to focus on healing but struggle to come to grips with the impact your injuries have on your daily life.
Rafi, Brown and Stokes wants to remove those worries and allow you the time you need to recover without having to fight a legal battle that we can fight for you. Call (404) 948-3311 or contact us to schedule your free consultation today. Compassion and commitment make the difference, and Rafi, Brown and Stokes offers both when you need them most.
