Distracted driving remains a growing problem in Everett and throughout the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted drivers were responsible for 3,308 traffic accident deaths in 2022.
If you or your close family member suffered serious injuries due to a distracted driver’s negligent behavior behind the wheel, the Everett car accident attorneys from Wells Trumbull are ready to provide skilled legal counsel. Call our Everett law office today so we can begin a strategy for securing the maximum compensation available in your case.
Why Choose Us as Your Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys in Everett?
Distracted driving cases can be challenging to prove to insurance companies or in court, requiring skilled investigation. Our firm’s founding attorneys, Ben Wells and Joshua Trumbull have decades of experience ready to put behind your case. Our personal injury law firm in Everett provides significant advantages including the following:
- A team of renowned Everett personal injury attorneys with deep knowledge and insights into Washington’s traffic laws and insurance system
- Access to extensive resources, including on-call accident reconstruction specialists and medical experts to build compelling cases for distracted driver liability and the damages associated with your injury
- Open communication and availability with an attorney devoted to your case—we believe in getting to know our clients to fully understand the impacts of their injury on their life
At Wells Trumbull, we understand that few people prepare for a serious car accident. We offer free case consultations and contingency-based fees so you pay nothing for our legal services until we secure your compensation.
What Constitutes Distracted Driving in Washington?
NHTSA describes distracted driving as driver engagement in any activity that diverts attention from the task of driving. In the five seconds it takes to read a simple text message, a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour passes the length of a football field while the driver’s eyes are away from the road. Common driving distractions include the following:
- Texting
- Hands-on calling
- Selecting podcasts and playlists
- Setting a GPS app
- Scrolling through social media
- Checking notifications
- Checking emails
- Viewing or recording photos and videos
- Eating
- Drinking
- Retrieving dropped items
- Grooming
- Interacting with children in the back seat
Some driving experts also consider daydreaming or being deep in thought as distracted driving.
Proving Liability in a Distracted Driving Accident
In fault-based insurance states like Washington, it matters who causes an accident. A distracted driver’s negligence leaves them liable for the victim’s economic and non-economic losses—known as “damages” in a personal injury case. It takes an experienced attorney with investigative resources to document evidence showing the following:
- The driver owed a duty of care to take reasonable measures to avoid causing an accident
- They breached this duty through negligent or reckless behavior
- Their reckless breach of duty directly caused the accident and injury
- The injury victim suffered economic and non-economic damages from the injury
Injuries are not only painful and often life-altering, but they also have serious economic consequences for victims and their families.
What Compensation Can I Recover in a Distracted Driving Accident Case?
When a driver engages in risky behavior such as texting and driving, they are liable for the victim’s damages under Washington’s comparison negligence laws. Successful claims bring compensation for damages such as the following:
- Property damage
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic damages that apply such as loss of enjoyment of life, diminished life quality, disfigurement, or PTSD
Call the Everett Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers at Wells Trumbull
The NHTSA warns that at least 290,000 injuries occurred due to distracted driving that same year, making it a leading cause of car accident injuries. If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to a distracted driver, contact our Everett distracted driving accident attorneys today so we can evaluate the merits of your case and take action.