Drivers on Kirkland’s roads make many irresponsible decisions. Perhaps no example is so prevalent as those who use cell phones while driving to send or read text messages. This has become such a concern that state law now prohibits this activity. Even so, negligent drivers still text and drive and, as a result, cause accidents.
Another driver’s texting while behind the wheel is a powerful indicator of fault for a collision. Still, the law requires you to prove that another person was responsible for a crash and demonstrate how that crash has impacted your life. A committed attorney is prepared to pursue fair compensation for those harmed in texting while driving car accidents in Kirkland. A lawyer could investigate whether a defendant received a ticket for a violation of the law and leverage this fact into a powerful demand for compensation.
State Law Strictly Prohibits Texting While Driving
Responsible driving requires people to keep their full attention on the road. A major source of distraction is cell phones and other electronic devices. To reduce the number of accidents, the State passed the Revised Code of Washington § 46.61.672. This law specifically prohibits the use of an electronic device to read, send, or transmit any form of electronic communication while driving a vehicle. Importantly, it also prohibits a driver from even holding these items in one or two hands while behind the wheel. As a result, even if there is no direct evidence of texting leading up to a collision, mere evidence of holding a cell phone may be enough for police to issue a ticket.
How This Law Interacts with Compensation Claims
An important concept in many car crash cases is negligence per se. In short, this means that a court will automatically presume a driver to be at fault for a collision if they were guilty of a traffic violation in the moments leading up to a crash. Texting while driving is certainly an example of this concept. An attorney will always track a ticket as it moves through traffic court to evaluate whether a driver accepts fault for the incident, or a judge finds them responsible. If so, this is powerful proof of liability for all resulting losses. In this way, texting while driving car collisions in Kirkland could give injured people a clear path to fair compensation.
Pursuing Compensation After a Texting and Driving Wreck in Kirkland
Proving fault is always an essential part of any car crash case. However, it is just as important to be able to show how that event has impacted one’s life. In texting while driving cases, it is possible that an at-fault driver did not even realize that they were in a dangerous situation until the moment of impact. This may mean that they would not have taken any steps to slow down or otherwise avoid contact. As a result, the physical injuries in these crashes can be severe.
At-fault drivers have an obligation under the law to provide compensation for all damage that they cause because of their negligence. This includes paying for all a victim’s medical bills no matter how severe their losses may be. In addition, these events can leave an individual with serious emotional trauma and lost income due to being left unable to work. Consulting with an attorney could help people to place an accurate value on their cases and demand full payments in and out of court.
Discuss Texting While Driving Car Accident Cases with a Kirkland Lawyer
Texting while driving is a major cause of collisions on Kirkland’s roads. Taking one’s eyes away from their surroundings for even a second can significantly reduce a driver’s reaction times and make them more likely to be involved in a crash, which is why using a phone while driving is illegal.
A knowledgeable lawyer could help you to discover whether another driver was breaking the law at the time of your accident and pursue the compensation that you deserve for your losses. Get in touch with an attorney today to learn more about your options for compensation after a texting while driving car accident in Kirkland.
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