Distracted Driving Car Accident Lawyer in St. Louis
Accidents involving distracted driving can cause severe physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial challenges, all because someone else failed to do the right thing and keep their attention on the road.
When you’ve suffered injuries in a car crash due to another driver’s distraction, you need legal help to pursue maximum compensation for all your losses. Since 1999, Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC’s legal team has been dedicated to helping accident victims recover from the consequences of others’ negligence. We care about our clients and provide the personal attention and dedication they deserve.
Contact us for a free consultation with a St. Louis texting-while-driving accident lawyer to learn how we can help you recover from a car crash caused by distracted driving.
Why Do I Need a Distracted Driver Accident Lawyer?
Distracted driving accidents in St. Louis often cause severe injuries that require a long course of medical treatment and rehabilitation. Our distracted driving accident lawyers can help by handling the details of pursuing your legal claims so you can focus on healing.
When you turn to Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC after a distracted driving accident in St. Louis, our law firm will fight for the financial recovery you need by:
- Investigating the crash to obtain evidence proving the other driver’s distraction, such as cell phone records that indicate the driver was texting or talking on the phone using a handheld device
- Documenting your injuries and calculating your ongoing and future expenses or losses
- Working with experts as needed to build a compelling case
- Communicating with insurance adjusters, defense lawyers, and other parties in your case
- Aggressively pursuing every option to seek the maximum compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering, and more – even if that means going to court
What Is Considered Distracted Driving in Missouri?
A motorist engages in distracted driving when they take some or all their focus off driving safely. Distracted driving comes in three forms:
- Manual distraction – Manual distractions involve taking one or both hands off the wheel and gear shift to perform a task other than driving the vehicle.
- Visual distraction – A visual distraction occurs when drivers take their eyes off the road ahead.
- Cognitive distraction—A driver becomes mentally distracted when they divert their mental energy and thoughts from the act of driving.
Distracted driving behaviors may involve one, two, or all three types of distraction. For example, daydreaming may only involve cognitive distraction, whereas texting and driving will involve all three types of distractions since a driver must take a hand off the wheel to type, look at their cell phone rather than the road, and think about what they want to say in their text.
Common Distractions Causing St. Louis Car Accidents
Today, drivers have numerous potential distractions that can take their attention off driving. Some of the most common examples of distracted driving behaviors include:
- Texting or cell phone use while driving
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting the radio or other equipment on the vehicle
- Looking or reaching around the interior, including the center console, floorboards, and glove compartment
- Interacting with passengers and pets
- Personal grooming, including shaving, brushing hair, and applying makeup
- Reading a map, newspaper, magazine, or book
- Watching or broadcasting videos
- Looking at things outside the vehicle, such as billboards or auto accident scenes
- Daydreaming
Common Types of Distracted Driving Accident Injuries
Because a distracted driver may not notice an imminent collision, they often fail to take evasive actions like swerving and braking. That means a distracted driving accident may result in a violent crash that causes severe injuries, such as:
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Nerve damage
- Whiplash
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Muscle and tendon strains and tears
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Herniated spinal discs
- Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
- Facial injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Crush injuries
- Amputation or limb loss
St. Louis Negligence Laws and Distracted Driving
Recently adopted distracted driving laws in Missouri prohibit using electronic communications devices while driving. The statute defines “electronic communications devices” as including cell phones, computers, tablets, video game systems, televisions, and a wide range of other devices.
The law bars motorists from:
- Physically holding or supporting an electronic communication device with their body
- Engaging in text-based communications
- Making any communication except with a voice-operated or hands-free function
- Retrieving data or communications
- Manually entering text into a website or application
- Watching a video other than navigation data
- Communicating via video
Furthermore, Missouri law prohibits school bus drivers from operating an electronic communication device behind the wheel, except for a two-way radio for communication with school or public safety officials. Drivers may not use radios while loading or unloading passengers.
The law expressly does not apply to law enforcement officers or operators of emergency vehicles in the course of their duties or to commercial drivers responding to requests for roadside assistance.
A police officer may not stop a driver solely for an observed or suspected violation of the distracted driving law. Instead, police must stop a driver for another traffic violation before they can cite the driver for distracted driving.
Until January 1, 2025, law enforcement officers will not issue citations for distracted driving law violations but will only issue warnings to notify motorists about the new law. After that date, a first violation of the distracted driving law will result in a fine of up to $150. A second violation within a 24-month period will result in a fine of up to $250, while a third or subsequent violation will result in a fine of up to $500. Any violation in a work zone with workers present or in a school zone will result in a fine of up to $500.
Violations of the distracted driving law that cause an accident will also result in criminal prosecution. The offense constitutes a class D misdemeanor if the accident results only in property damage, a class B misdemeanor if the accident causes injuries, or a class D felony if the accident results in a fatality.
A distracted driver can be held liable for a car accident they cause, even if they are never charged or convicted of violating the state’s distracted driving laws. Traffic violations are a separate matter from civil liability for a distracted driving crash.
Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer for Help Today
If you were injured in an accident involving distracted driving in St. Louis, you deserve to hold the other driver at fault for the crash accountable for the harm you’ve suffered. Contact our experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options for a personal injury claim.