Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers St. Louis, Missouri, and Illinois
It is relatively easy for St. Louis residents to forget just how dangerous operating a motor vehicle can be when it is something that you do on a daily basis. Distracted driving, however, is extremely dangerous, contributing to 3,142 deaths and over 424,000 injuries in 2019 alone. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, call Burger Law immediately at 314-542-2222 or contact us online for a free, no-risk consultation.
Our distracted driving accident attorneys in St. Louis are committed to assisting individuals who have been injured at the hands of a distracted driver get fair compensation for the damages and injuries they have sustained. We fight for our clients, and we have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our St. Louis clients, as well as those throughout Missouri and Illinois.
If you or a loved one was injured in a distracted driving accident due to someone else’s carelessness, call Burger Law immediately at 314-542-2222 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a no-cost case review with one of our skilled, knowledgeable and tenacious St. Louis distracted driving accident attorneys regarding the specifics of your claim.
What is Distracted Driving and How Does it Cause Car Accidents in St. Louis?
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from the task of safe driving, and there are three primary types of driving distractions:
Visual Distractions
1. Visual Distractions
Visual driving distractions cause you to take your eyes off the road. Examples include:
Looking for items on the floor of the car
Checking/adjusting your navigation system
Fiddling with the stereo
Adjusting your temperature controls
Taking in the view
Doing your makeup
Manual Distractions
2. Manual Distractions
Manual distractions are defined as distractions causing you to take one or both hands off of the wheel, such as:
Eating and drinking
Smoking or chewing tobacco
Adjusting your child’s seatbelt
Searching through your purse or wallet
Turning knobs in your car
Cognitive Distractions
3. Cognitive Distractions
Cognitive distractions cause your mind to drift away from your driving, like:
Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
Talking to a passenger
Road rage
Daydreaming
Fatigued or drowsy driving can also be considered a form of cognitive distraction, although it is typically considered a separate problem of its own. Call Burger Law today at 314-542-2222 or complete our online contact form to speak with one of our St. Louis car accident lawyers.
Texting and Driving in St. Louis is in its Own Category Due to Increased Crash Risk
Texting and Driving in St. Louis is in its Own Category Due to Increased Crash Risk
Visually as you look at your phone rather than the road and cars around you.
Manually as you type your messages rather than keep your hands on the wheel and ready to react.
Cognitively as you concentrate on your conversation rather than the situation unfolding in your driving environment.
According to research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in a naturalistic study of 3,000, the crash risk was 2-6 times greater when drivers were texting or manipulating a cellphone than when they were not distracted.
Are There Any Laws in Place to Prevent St. Louis Distracted Driving Accidents?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) prohits all commercial drivers from using hand-held devices. States across the country have implemented laws targeting distracted driving habits – 48 states and the District of Columbia ban texting for all drivers. Missouri and Montana are the only states that do not. Missouri prohibits texting by drivers 21 years old or younger, while Montana has no state bans.
Several states have also recently increased the fine for distracted driving offenses, particularly those involving texting and driving. While there is no clear-cut, cause-and-effect statistical data, states have noticed the efforts to reduce distracted driving starting to pay off. Where states rank in terms of cases of distracted driving: State Rankings.
What Are the Common Injuries Caused by St. Louis Distracted Driving Accidents?
Because distracted driving can cause a driver to make dangerous errors, such as overreacting and swerving out of their lane or entering an opposite lane of traffic, it causes some of the most dangerous car accidents. These include head-on collisions, side-impact accidents and accidents involving stationary objects or pedestrians. These crashes can result in catastrophic and even fatal injuries, including:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and concussions – According to the CDC, in 2020 there were 64,000 traumatic brain injury deaths, and car accidents are one of the leading causes of fatal TBI. Traumatic brain injuries are caused by sudden trauma – either by impact or penetration – to the brain. While mild and moderate cases generally heal successfully, severe TBI can result in coma or death. Severe traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for individuals under the age of 44.
Back injuries, including spinal cord injuries – Spinal Injuries are serious injuries that can affect your mobility and the motor function of your limbs. The spinal cord is the main avenue that your brain uses to send commands throughout your body. According to the World Health Organization, 90 percent of spinal cord injury cases are caused by trauma, and motor vehicle accidents are the leading source. Any damage to your spine can often result in serious injuries throughout other areas of the body.
Internal injuries and internal bleeding – Internal bleeding can be dangerous anywhere in the body and one of the most common causes of internal bleeding is trauma from car accidents, including impact and penetrating injuries as well as deceleration injuries, when the sudden stop of a vehicle causes internal organs or vessels to break or rupture. The problem with internal bleeding is that it is sometimes difficult to detect, and you may not realize the severity of your condition following a St. Louis distracted driving car accident. Internal bleeding can cause fatal organ failure when untreated.
Lacerations – A car accident can break glass in your vehicle and those of others. It happens more often than you would think, and the current weak standards of automotive glass lead to more splintering. With all that glass potentially flying around, you can get severe lacerations and resulting scarring or nerve damage.
Broken or crushed bones – Trauma from car accidents is the most common cause of broken bones. Extreme breaks like displaced fractures or comminuted fractures when the bone is shattered into several pieces can be particularly dangerous.
In the aftermath of a distracted driving accident it is essential to have a conversation with a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can guide you through the uncertain period following a car accident so crucial evidence and eyewitness testimony are not lost. Call a St. Louis distracted driving accident lawyer at Burger Law as soon as possible at 314-542-2222 or contact us online.
Why Do I Need a St. Louis Distracted Driving Accidents Lawyer?
Why Do I Need a St. Louis Distracted Driving Accidents Lawyer?
The Burger Law distracted driving accident attorneys have over two decades of experience handling every aspect of our clients’ cases in St. Louis and throughout both Missouri and Illinois, from gathering and securing evidence and witnesses to investigating and deposing experts in the field. You can certainly expect one of our St. Louis distracted driving accident lawyers to:
Investigate the accident site as soon as possible. When you call us, we can have a St. Louis distracted driving accident lawyer on the scene to secure vital evidence for your case.
Interview eyewitnesses who were either also involved in the crash or were nearby. As buses carry a large amount of passengers, there are usually many people who want the same answers and compensation you seek. We will take official depositions of eyewitnesses to help in your case.
Collect further evidence such as tire marks, surveillance videos, police reports, as well as other vital details. A lot of factors contribute to distracted driving accidents, and your Burger Law St. Louis distracted driving accident attorney will determine why the crash happened and who needs to be held responsible.
Use our network of crash and medical experts in St. Louis to determine liability for your accident injuries and calculate exactly how much your injuries are worth. You deserve maximum compensation, and we will use our knowledge and expertise to make sure you get it.
Stand up to resistant insurance companies in St. Louis who seem to care more about their bottom line than your well-being. We have seen every trick that insurance companies use to try and avoid compensating you for your injuries.
Take your case to trial. If the insurance company does not offer a fair settlement, we will use our litigation skills to take the fight in front of a St. Louis judge and jury to fairly compensate you for your damages.
Reach Out to a St. Louis Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer at Burger Law Today
The attorneys at Burger Law are devoted to helping St Louis clients, as well as those throughout Missouri and Illinois, recover from devastating distracted driving accidents. We understand how detrimental injuries from an accident can affect your physical, mental and financial health, and we have the expertise to successfully recover the compensation you are entitled to.
If an individual behind the wheel neglects their duty of care as a driver, acts unsafely and causes harm to another individual, they need to be held responsible for the damages they have caused. Our St. Louis distracted driver accident attorneys believe that someone who is injured should not have to be a lawyer in order to receive fair compensation, and we do not expect you to pay any fees until we have won your case.
Call us right away in order to get maximum compensation for your injuries at 314-542-2222 or contact us online.
Other car accident cases we take on in St. Louis and throughout Missouri and Illinois include:
This law firm is absolutely amazing. They took on my case, when nobody else would! They fought hard for me when it seemed there was no hope. They kept me informed and always asked for my input before making decisions on my case. Gary puts himself into every case unlike most law firm owners. Gary and his team really care about every one of their clients, and fights hard to get you a fair settlement. They actually won my case out of court, and then reduced my fees to make sure I could get my car fixed and be able to get back to some normality. I would recommend Burger Law over and above any other firm! If you go somewhere else you aren’t getting the best!
Shaunda S.
7 months ago
I am very happy with the staff at Burger Law. I mostly worked with Michael Sheldon, and he did an amazing job. I trusted him completely with my case, and he did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend this team if your ever in need of good attorneys.
Emelia M.
3 months ago
Burger Law Firm is fantastic. Laura and Genevieve were so amazing and helpful throughout the entire process. They helped me with my personal injury case every step of the way and succeeded at getting me the results I desired.
Helen L.
a year ago
We had a great experience with Burger Law for representing us after a serious car accident. Truly impressed by how professional and supportive the entire team is. And, many thanks to Genavieve and Laura – you are amazing!
Judy M.
a year ago
They did an amazing job on my case! Communication with them was great!!! Kept me informed and in the loop with everything that was going on!!! Will definitely be the 1st ones I’ll call if ever I’m in another accident!!! Thank you very much!!!
Chelsea C.
5 months ago
Let me tell you something about Burger Law.. they are so attentive and kind. Jennifer is my savior!! I love the whole team!!! They are truly a miracle team!! I appreciate their business and would recommend it to others.
David D.
2 months ago
Absolutely the best law firm in the St. Louis area. No matter the size of your case you are treated as if you are the only client on the roster. Will explain anything thoroughly and they work around your availability. Very impressed and appreciative of the service.
Lisa B.
11 months ago
Gary and Casey took great care of me for 2.5 years as my lawsuit was finally settled. I feel he helped me achieve justice for me and my 4 children after their father died from medical malpractice and neglect. Thanks to Gary, my kids now have a great start to their college and adult lives. Thank you Gary and Casey, for fighting for us so hard at our most trying and difficult time in our lives thus far. Love and God bless from my family to yours!
Genevieve and Laura have assisted me in my personal injury claim and have made the process so much less stressful. They are extremely knowledgeable, professional, and attentive. Laura is always on top of everything and very sweet. I had no idea how to navigate this process and they have made me feel at ease and like they truly cared about the outcome.
Cara Barton
It has been a long 4 years, but it is finally over! Burger law did a great job handling my case. Grant Doty answered all my questions, promptly returned my phone calls, frequently kept me updated and insured me that he was fighting for me. Jennifer Zini also did a wonderful job, great customer service. It was pleasure getting to know the Burger Law team!
S. Alred
After a driver unexpectedly pulled out right in front of my motorcycle & I suffered injuries, the at-fault driver’s insurance company offered me a $10,000 settlement. I hired Burger Law & they won a $109,000 settlement. I was very happy with the outcome. They were easy to work with & fully explained each step of the process & kept me informed along the way.
At Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer, we are a team of personal injury attorneys who have earned many distinctions and peer-reviewed awards for our civil litigation and trial work in Missouri and Illinois. A few of the honors we have earned include the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Top 100 Trial Lawyer Award, a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, Super Lawyers selection as one of the top attorneys in the field of personal injury and board certifications in Civil Litigation.
Personal injury lawyers who demand justice in Southern Illinois. The role of a personal injury lawyer in Southern Illinois should be more than just getting you a great settlement…
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Gary Burger who has more than 30 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney. Gary’s robust legal knowledge is recognized by his peers as demonstrated by his industry awards and frequent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) lectures.
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