Distracted Driver Accident Attorneys in Charleston, IL

Using handheld electronic devices on the road is illegal in Illinois, but that doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. Many drivers assume that taking “just a second” to answer a text message won’t be dangerous. They are wrong.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that either reading or sending a text distracts drivers for about 5 seconds. At 55 mph, they will travel the length of a football field in that time. Many accidents are caused in a split second. It’s easy to see how one text message can cause a disaster.

We all know we shouldn’t be looking at our phones if we’re behind the wheel. Drivers who choose to do so are putting the rest of us in danger, and they should be held responsible when their inattention results in injury to others. Our team is here to help the victims of car accidents get justice so they can access the medical care and other resources they need.

Call The Tapella & Eberspacher Law Firm today at (217) 394-5885 to see if you have the right to file a lawsuit after a distracted driving accident.

Measuring the Costs of Distracted Driving

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 9 people are killed each day by distracted drivers. Over 1,000 more are injured. Those numbers are just for the accidents directly linked to driver inattention. More may be caused by people unwilling to admit they could have prevented a crash had their eyes been on the road.

Aside from the high costs of medical treatment for these victims, the emotional toll these incidents take on the injured and their families is immense. Fatalities caused by distracted driving thankfully decreased by 12% between 2017 and 2018, but the phenomenon still affects too many. It is our goal to help the victims of these accidents find justice—both so they can move forward with their lives, and so other would-be distracted drivers are dissuaded from taking their eyes off the road.

What Distractions Can Be Dangerous?

Cell phones and other electronic devices may be a common factor in distracted driving accidents, but they’re not the only thing that can take a driver’s attention. Any attempts to multitask while behind the wheel will result in the driver’s brain taking in less information about their surroundings. A car suddenly pulling out into the road, a half-hidden stop sign, and other hard-to-spot hazards might not even register in their brain. Aside from phones, drivers are often distracted by:

• Eating
• Opening and/or drinking beverages
• Talking to others—especially loud children
• Changing the music
• Interacting with a navigation system

Especially when the distractions are a part of the car, it may seem safe to make some adjustments. However, anything that takes the driver’s mind or eyes off the road is a risk.

What to Do If You’re Hit by a Distracted Driver

Proving distracted driving can be difficult, but our experienced team at The Tapella & Eberspacher Law Firm can help you build a case. Whether gathering testimony from eyewitnesses, seeking phone records, or working with an accident reconstruction expert, we leverage our resources to help our clients find the best possible outcome.

If you’re injured, having access to the right care can make the difference between a full recovery and ongoing health challenges. Often, the best way to make sure you can take care of yourself is to pursue compensation. Insurers may not offer a fair settlement or negotiate with you, but when you bring in a successful attorney team, they’ll know you mean business.

Call our Charleston, IL team today at (217) 394-5885 if you’re looking for support after a distracted driving accident. We also have an office in St. Louis, MO.