Distracted Driving Accident Attorney Hannibal, MO

Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Hannibal, MO. If a distracted driver injured you or someone you care about, you need to talk to a distracted driving attorney now. At Burger Law, we have a team of dedicated and experienced Hannibal, MO distracted driving accident attorneys that will fight on your behalf, hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries and insist that you get the recovery you are to assist you on your road to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

The rules of the road are in place to make sure that we, our passengers and everyone else on the Hannibal, MO roads are safe. When a distracted driver breaks those rules, behaves thoughtlessly and does not pay attention while they are driving, they put you and the people you love directly in danger. You should not have to lose pay, pay exorbitant medical bills and experience painful and limiting injuries as a consequence of someone else’s negligence, and you deserve to collect complete compensation for their thoughtless actions.

The distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law have seen every kind of distracted driving case, and we have the experience, know-how and resolve to get you great compensation for your injuries from your Hannibal, MO distracted driving accident. We handle all communication, documentation and litigation for you so you can focus your energy on healing from your injuries. We fight in your corner and do not require any legal fees until we have won your case and helped you get the financial compensation you are entitled to. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation with an experienced Hannibal, MO distracted driving accident attorney. We will get started on your case straight away.

Distracted Driving Statistics

We have probably all noticed distracted drivers on the road, and you may even have done it yourself. That said, much of the information we have about distracted driving is even more alarming. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety estimates that nearly 9 in 10 drivers use their phones in some capacity while behind the wheel, and cell phone related wrecks escalated by 30 percent between 2014 and 2018. In Missouri, there were 408 fatalities in distracted driving wrecks from 2016 to 2020, and thousands more people have been injured. In 2017, Missouri officially attributed 21,058 crashes to distracted drivers, which far surpasses the sum of drunk driving accidents (5,321) and is higher than accidents caused by speeding (19,535).

Missouri Revised Statutes §304.820 outlaws cell phone use while behind the wheel, but only for drivers who are 21 years of age or younger or commercial drivers, in spite of the fact that 70 percent of drivers whose cell phone use caused an accident were 22 or older. Indeed, nearly one out of four drivers in distracted driving wrecks are between the ages of 20 and 29. Even though new legislation has been a hot topic in the state government as of late, Missouri is still only one of two states that does not have a no texting law for all drivers and there are no other distracted driving laws in the state. This can cause roads to be especially hazardous for any Hannibal, MO resident anywhere on or close to the road. That is why it is important to know that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law are here for you and will fight by your side if a distracted driver hurts you.

While Missouri law may not hold every driver accountable, you can bet that the distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will. Even though there is no statute against texting while driving in Hannibal, MO, a reckless driver can still be found liable for any injuries you sustain. Driving distracted still breaks our safety, requiring Hannibal, MO road users to act in a way that is safe. As your Hannibal, MO distracted driving accident attorney, the Burger Law legal team has helped hundreds of individuals and families in Hannibal, MO no longer have full control of the vehicle. Even if one hand is still on the wheel, a driver’s reaction time is appreciably lessened. Some examples of typical manual distractions are:

• Texting, making a call, or otherwise using your phone
• Eating or drinking
• Changing the radio or temperature
• Changing clothes, removing a coat, applying makeup, combing your hair or other “grooming” activities
• Getting something out of your purse, wallet, or pocket

Visual Distractions

These are distractions that cause you to taking your eyes off the road. Sometimes visual and manual distractions go together. Some examples include:

• Looking at a GPS device, map, or otherwise looking at directions
• Looking at another passenger or in the backseat
• Looking around instead of ahead, such as at a roadside attraction, sign, or crash
• Looking at your phone
• Looking in the mirror to check how you look

Cognitive Distractions

These occur when a driver takes their mind off the road. These can be hazardous because while it might appear that someone is driving right, they are still not focusing or as alert as they should be. They can be:

• Concentrating too much on an audiobook or song
• Daydreaming
• Concentrating too much on a conversation with another person in the car or on a hands-free device
• Being anxious or preoccupied with other things
• Other passengers, such as kids or pets, need something or need to be disciplined

As you might imagine, cell phones are a major cause of distracted driving accidents because they can lead to manual, visual and cognitive distractions. When you are driving, it is important to keep away from your phone so you do not create a distracted driving accident. If you sustained injuries because another Hannibal, MO driver was distracted and acted recklessly, call the distracted driving attorneys at Burger Law and we will start working on your case straight away. We will remain committed to you and your case until you get the full compensation you are owed. We demand full payment for your distracted driving accident damages.

How to Prove a Distracted Driving Case

While you may or may not have seen that the other person was a clearly distracted driver, it can be difficult to prove to a resistant Hannibal, MO insurance company or in a court of law. A skilled, dedicated and tenacious distracted driving accident attorney like those at Burger Law will be able to prove the at-fault driver was distracted. Here is a look at some of the evidence you could use and how your distracted driving accident attorney can leverage it to prove your claim and insist on your full recovery.

The Scene of the Accident. If you can, act quickly after you have been in a distracted driving accident and gather evidence where the accident happened. This can include pictures of both vehicles and the area surrounding the accident. The majority of drivers will attempt to turn sharply or break quickly before causing a crash. If there are no tire or brake marks, it could help demonstrate that the motorist who hit you was not paying attention. This is why it is essential to take photographs of the area if possible. Surveillance video in which the other driver did not turn or brake could also help your case. The Hannibal, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law will secure any video evidence and painstakingly review any photographs or other evidence.

Eyewitness Stories.The more people who say they saw that the other driver was obviously distracted, the stronger your case will be. If other people observed the accident and saw that the other driver was combing their hair, texting or not looking at the road ahead, they can provide official statements to help your suit. If you hire Burger Law, your Hannibal, MO distracted driving accident attorney and legal team will conduct depositions and gather official statements on your behalf. You just need to make sure you get any witnesses’ contact information at the scene.

Social Media Activity. If the other driver tweeted an article, responded to a picture on Instagram or performed any other action on a social media site in the moments immediately before the crash, it in all probability means they were distracted by their phone. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will oversee collecting this information to build your case.

The Distracted Driver’s Cell Phone Records. Even if there is no social media activity, the thoughtless driver’s cell phone company will have usage reports with a record of whether or not they were using their phone at the time of the accident. If the driver was texting, there will be proof of it. A veteran distracted driving accident attorney will subpoena those records to help win your case.

Use the Police Reports. Police officers are instructed on how to analyze accidents and decide who was at fault. If the Hannibal, MO police officer at the scene judged the other motorist was distracted and was at fault in the accident, it will go a long way towards convincing a judge, jury or resistant insurance company that you are owed compensation for your damages.

Use a Crash Expert. Crash experts have years of experience in reviewing all available evidence and deciding fault in car accidents. Burger Law’s team of distracted driving accident lawyers has a vast network of Hannibal, MO experts we trust and work with to ensure you get maximum compensation for your damages.

Contact Burger Law. Our dedicated and skilled distracted driving accident attorneys take pride in taking on tough cases to get our clients the recovery they are owed. With over seventy years of combined experience, we have experience with every sort of distracted driving accident and have recovered over $170 million for our clients in verdicts and settlements for their injuries. We fight bullies like resistant insurance companies and help make you whole again. Your Burger Law distracted driving accident lawyer will handle all official communication and litigation, and you do not owe us any fees until you get the money you deserve. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation, and we will begin working on winning your case immediately.

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How to Avoid Being a Distracted Driver

While Missouri’s distracted driving laws may not be as tough on distracted driving as we are, you should still show extreme caution whenever you drive. There are a number of steps you can take to ensure the safety of yourself, your passengers, other drivers and other pedestrians.

Eat before you leave. While double-tasking can seem like a useful time-saver, it can also cause unnecessary hazards on the road. Taking some extra time to eat before getting behind the wheel can help keep you and others safe.

Get ready before you leave. Just like eating on the road, applying makeup or getting dressed while driving may save time, but greatly increases your chances of personal injury or harming somebody else.

Know where you are going. Review directions before you leave so you will not have to look at your phone when you are behind the wheel. While driving, turn the volume up on any GPS device so you will be able to hear the directions. Alternatively, if you have a passenger, have them handle the directions so you can focus on the road ahead.

If you are exhausted, pull over or let someone else drive. Not only are you risking falling asleep at the wheel, but drowsiness increases the odds of an accident by almost four times, and over a third of drivers have admitted to nodding off or falling asleep while driving at least once in their lives.

Make adjustments before getting on the road. Adjust the seat, mirrors, temperature, music and sound system before you leave the driveway. You need to have your complete concentration on the road while you are driving.

Secure children and pets. Looking at or reaching to the backseat or passenger seat can results in a manual, visual and cognitive distraction. If something happens and they need your attention, the best thing to do pull over to the side of the road.

Keep your eyes on the road. Your entire focus should be on the road ahead of you and your mirrors so that you can see what is happening around you. While that weird roadside attraction may look cool, taking a moment to admire it is not worth danger you could pose to yourself and others.

Unfortunately, you can do everything correctly when you are driving and you or someone you care about can still be hurt because another driver broke the rules of the road. When that occurs, you need to call the distracted driving accident lawyers of Burger Law at once so we can use our talents and knowledge to help you get the best possible recovery and start to make you whole again. We have experience with distracted driving accident cases, we know how to win them and we know how to demand maximum compensation for your injuries.

The Hannibal, MO lawyers of Burger Law have the experience and knowledge to help you receive the full recovery you deserve after any accident or injury caused by someone else leaves you injured. Learn more about our fields of expertise below.

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Missouri
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Missouri
• Car Accident Attorney in Missouri

Hire the Distracted Driving Lawyers at Burger Law Today

If you or a family member has been harmed because another driver did not respect the rules of the road and acted irresponsibly, you are owed full compensation for your injuries. The Hannibal, MO distracted driving accident attorneys at Burger Law hold careless drivers accountable and stand up to unethical insurance companies care more about their bottom line than being fair to you. We have the knowledge, insight, work ethic and determination to fight on your behalf from beginning to end, to win your case and to get you the best possible recovery to help you protect you and your loved ones' future. If another Hannibal, MO driver was distracted and caused your injuries or the injuries of a family member or friend, you should not have to manage the burden of medical bills, lost wages or lost future earnings, pain and suffering and mental anguish. Call us today a (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary consultation and to learn more about what Burger Law will do to get you back on your feet and back on the road again.