Distracted Driving Attorney in Johnson City

When each of us gets behind the wheel, we have a duty to devote our full attention to the road. Unfortunately, in recent years, there have been more and more sources of distraction for drivers – in particular, smartphones and touchscreen vehicle infotainment systems. 

Although it can seem harmless for drivers to take their eyes off the road for just a few seconds to read a text or adjust the radio, motorists can quickly find themselves in an emergency situation. To put distracted driving into perspective, a driver travelling at highway speeds can go the length of a football field in the time it takes to read a text ─ it’s like driving blindfolded for 100 yards. 

If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by a distracted driver, you need dedicated, skilled legal representation to pursue the full and fair financial compensation you deserve. For nearly 60 years, The Terry Law Firm has provided big-firm legal resources combined with small-town personalized service to help Johnson City residents who have been injured by careless drivers. Our attorneys take the time to get to know you and understand your concerns and goals so that we can develop a legal strategy aimed at achieving success for you.

Contact the Johnson City distracted driving lawyers of The Terry Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with our attorneys. We will explain your legal rights and answer all your questions. 

Proving a Distracted Driver Caused Your Accident in Johnson City

Do you believe your motor vehicle accident in Johnson City was caused by a driver who was distracted behind the wheel? If so, you need experienced attorneys who can thoroughly investigate your crash to uncover the evidence needed to prove that the distracted driver caused your accident. 

Eyewitness testimony may provide critical evidence that a driver was distracted behind the wheel. For example, if a bystander saw the other driver drifting out of the lane, swerving, or running a stop sign or red light immediately before your accident, that can indicate that the driver was not paying attention leading up to your wreck. If the driver had other passengers in the vehicle, the passengers may have to admit under oath that the driver was distracted in the moments before the accident, such as by using a cellphone, fiddling with the car radio or GPS, or talking to the passengers.

Other evidence can be used to establish that a driver was distracted behind the wheel. For example, the driver’s cellphone records can show that he or she was texting or on the phone in the moments leading up to the accident. External surveillance video might be able to show the driver inside the vehicle distracted by a phone or radio, fixing their hair or makeup, or eating and drinking.

Finally, data from the driver’s own vehicle might be used to show he or she was distracted behind the wheel. Some vehicles have a “black box” that records the driver steering and acceleration/deceleration inputs. The data may show that the other driver failed to turn or brake immediately leading up to an accident when an attentive driver would have likely done so, indicating that the other driver was distracted.

An experienced distracted driving accident attorney will be able to gather and preserve evidence to prove that the other driver was distracted behind the wheel. This type of investigation requires skill and resources, and you can trust the team at The Terry Law Firm to work quickly to identify what needs to be done in your case.

Distracted Driving Causes

With modern technology and our busy lives, there are numerous ways in which a driver can be distracted behind the wheel.

Some of the most common causes of distracted driving in Johnson City include:

• Texting
• Talking on the phone
• Posting on social media
• Using a GPS device
• Using a tablet or laptop computer
• Using your car’s radio or infotainment system
• Applying makeup or fixing your hair
• Reading, whether reading electronic or printed material inside your car or reading a sign or billboard outside your car
• Eating or drinking
• Engaging in conversation with other vehicle occupants, especially when you turn to look at those occupants
• Interacting with pets in your vehicle

When a driver lets these distractions take his or her attention off the road and an accident occurs as a result, he or she may be held responsible for the losses victims suffer.

Distracted Driving Crashes in Johnson City

Distracted driving accidents are an all-too-frequent occurrence in Johnson City. Among the leading causes of distracted driving, cellphone usage behind the wheel is considered just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In the Johnson City area, hundreds of traffic accidents are caused by distracted drivers each year. 

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, in one recent year, distracted driver accident rates for Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties, where Johnson City is located, were as follows:

• Carter County: 97
• Sullivan County: 541
• Washington County: 837

Across Tennessee, tens of thousands of motor vehicle accidents are caused by distracted drivers each year, with numbers having spiked in the past few years following the widespread adoption of smartphones.

Contact a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer at The Terry Law Firm Now

If you have been seriously injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you shouldn’t have to bear the financial burdens of your recovery in addition to the physical and emotional toll that your personal injuries place. You deserve to be compensated for your losses. 

Contact The Terry Law Firm today, or call us at: (423) 403-3595 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced Johnson City distracted driving accident attorneys. Our trusted legal team is here to discuss your case and explain how our firm will use our experience, skill, and resources to fight for the financial recovery and justice that you and your family deserve.