In 2017, the Texas Department of Transportation reported 1,089 distracted driving crashes in Fort Bend County alone. Sugar Land, similar to other cities in this county, has seen its share of such accidents rise year after year. Fortunately, Texas law prohibits texting while driving and if a negligent driver who was texting while driving caused you an accident, you have grounds to seek compensation and damages from them.
Our Sugar Land, TX texting and driving accident experts have represented victims of all types from texting and driving accidents. Regardless of the unique complexities of your case, we are here to help you file and pursue a claim under the full extent of the law.
In order to maintain complete control of a motor vehicle, a driver requires three things:
Texting while driving diminishes all three of these crucial factors and increases the chances of an accident. In fact, a motorist who texts while driving is considered to be negligent with respect to maintaining these key concentration areas. Texting engages the mind, vision, and hands, all of which are all crucial elements for safe driving.
A 2015 report by the NTHSA showed that 391,000 individuals were injured nationwide as a result of distracted driving, with almost 3,500 deaths reported from these accidents. Commonly sustained bodily injuries from texting and driving accidents include:
Should a distracted driver lead you to such injuries or property damage, our texting and driving accident lawyers will help you seek compensation for:
If a driver who was texting and driving causes the death of a loved one, you can file a wrongful death claim against them. Our lawyers have the requisite experience and resources to help you in this regard and offer the expertise, compassion, and legal representation you need to seek settlements for:
Having represented our clients against distracted drivers and their insurers for years, our lawyers know what to do in order to pursue justice on your behalf. We will achieve this through:
A bill illegalizing texting while driving was signed in September 2017. Penalties for text-drivers were prescribed as follows:
The law also indicates that any accident that leads to death or serious bodily injuries due to texting while driving deserves to be punished as a Class A misdemeanor. The responsible motorist for such cases is subjected to a jail term of up to one year and a fine of up to $40,000. Such charges apply to a driver who reads, writes, or sends messages using their phone while driving.
Texting while driving is only one type of distracted driving. Other phone distractions that lead to penalties similar to those of texting and driving include:
While some of these distractions themselves are not illegal, they may lead to other illegal driving behavior such as running stop lights and reckless driving, amongst other violations.
Our expert team of attorneys is on standby to help you with your texting and driving accident claim. Start today with a free case evaluation and consultation by calling us at (713) 677-2159. We will walk you through your legal options and we provide services are on a contingency basis, meaning you will not have to pay anything until your case is won. Call now.