Car Accidents Related to Cell Phones

Motor Vehicle Collision Lawyer Serving Providence and Surrounding Areas

Most drivers recognize the potential dangers that cell phone use creates while behind the wheel, yet many choose to engage in such activity regardless. These careless actions may lead to significant car accidents and serious injuries or even lost lives. Providence car accident attorney David Tapalian represents victims who have been injured in a car accident related to cell phone use. Tapalian Law helps Rhode Island and Massachusetts residents hold negligent drivers liable for the damages that they are responsible for causing. David Tapalian has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury claims from start to finish, ensuring that his clients’ interests are served throughout their legal journey.

Establishing Liability for Car Accidents Related to Cell Phones

The rise in cell phones and their capabilities has made them a staple in day-to-day life, including in our cars. Cell phones serve as not only most people’s primary communication method but also news sources as well as navigation devices. Relying on cell phones for so many tasks increases their potential to distract drivers from the road, leading to serious collisions. The uptick in texting has increased the potential for accidents, making them 23 times more likely as opposed to crashes not involving the sending or receiving of a message. A driver sending a text message generally takes their eyes off the road for five seconds, which may sound short but may equate to traveling a distance the length of a football field at high speeds.

In Rhode Island, it is illegal to text and drive, and school bus drivers as well as drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using cell phones at all. A victim who has been struck by a driver who was distracted by using their cell phone may pursue damages by filing a personal injury claim. These cases are mostly based on negligence. Negligence is present when a defendant owes a duty of reasonable care to another person, and that duty is breached by their actions, causing injuries and resulting in damages. For instance, a driver who is texting instead of looking around them and strikes a pedestrian whom they failed to notice may be found to have acted negligently.

The simpler theory of “negligence per se” may also apply, which makes violating a statute in and of itself evidence of negligent actions, without the need to prove the existence of a duty and breach. In these situations, the defendant has injured a victim whom the statute was designed to protect by engaging in conduct that the statute prohibits. When negligence or negligence per se is shown, victims may receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Consult an Attorney in Providence Following a Crash

If you have been hurt in a car accident related to cell phone use, Attorney David Tapalian can help you determine your legal rights. Our firm is dedicated to making sure that distracted drivers are held accountable for the harm that they cause and that victims and their families receive proper compensation. Tapalian Law represents injured people throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with offices in Providence and Seekonk. You can call us at 401-552-5000 or contact us online to discuss your options with a motor vehicle collision lawyer.