Distracted Driving Accidents in Georgia
At Horst Shewmaker, we focus on helping victims of distracted driving crashes and other serious accidents across Georgia. Our team works with determination to hold negligent drivers accountable and to secure fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and long term needs. We stand with our clients at every step, combining skilled advocacy with personal attention to protect their rights and deliver strong results.
Distracted driving accidents are a leading cause of traffic crashes, injury crashes, and fatal crashes across Georgia. Driver distraction from cell phone use, electronic devices, or other non-driving activities often leads to deadly consequences on the road. For victims, the impact extends beyond vehicle damage to serious medical costs, lost income, and lasting trauma.
An Alpharetta car accident lawyer can help protect your rights, prove liability, and pursue full compensation after a distracted driving crash.
Common Types of Distracted Driving in Georgia
Distracted driving is a major contributing factor to many crashes on Georgia roads. Drivers face multiple sources of distraction that increase the risk of injury and fatal crashes.
Cell Phone Use and Texting
Cell phone use is one of the most alarming distractions behind the wheel. Sending or reading a text message takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, equal to driving the length of a football field at highway speed. Georgia’s Hands-Free Law prohibits drivers from holding a phone, typing a text, or watching a video while operating a motor vehicle. Violations of this law often appear as a contributing factor in police crash report forms after traffic crashes.
Electronic Devices and Digital Distractions
Electronic devices such as GPS systems, music apps, and video streaming services create potential distractions. Drivers who scroll, type, or adjust devices divert their attention from traffic safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council identify electronic device use as a leading cause of distraction-related crashes nationwide.
Everyday Risky Driving Behaviors
Not all distractions come from technology. Eating, drinking, applying makeup, or reaching for items inside the vehicle are manual distractions that reduce safe driving. These non-driving activities take hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, which can quickly result in injury crashes at intersections or stop signs.
High Risk Groups of Drivers
Certain groups are more likely to drive distracted. Teen drivers and novice drivers often lack the experience to recover from distraction-related crashes. Young drivers may overestimate their ability to handle electronic devices or talk with friends while driving. Commercial drivers and school bus drivers face unique risks due to larger vehicles and passenger responsibilities. Georgia state laws apply equally to all drivers, but these groups face a higher chance of traffic fatalities when driver distraction occurs.
Everyday Consequences of Driver Distraction
Many crashes in Georgia involve at least one category of distraction. From texting while driving to eating behind the wheel, these risky behaviors remain a serious traffic safety concern. Ending distracted driving requires drivers to adopt distraction-free driving habits, follow state laws, and commit to safe driving every time they are on the road.
Why Distracted Driving Is So Dangerous
Distracted driving increases the chance of traffic crashes, injury crashes, and fatal crashes across Georgia. Even a short lapse in focus can have deadly consequences.
Eyes Off the Road
Visual distractions occur when a driver looks away from the road. Reading a text message or checking a phone diverts attention long enough to miss a stop sign, traffic light, or pedestrian. Looking away for five seconds at highway speed equals driving the length of an entire football field without seeing the road. Many crashes involving distracted drivers begin with this simple act of losing focus.
Hands Off the Wheel
Manual distractions happen when drivers take one or both hands off the wheel. Eating, adjusting electronic devices, or applying makeup are common examples. Removing hands reduces control of the vehicle and delays reaction time. Police crash report forms in Georgia frequently note manual distraction as a contributing factor in traffic crashes.
Mind Off Driving
Cognitive distraction occurs when a driver’s mind is not focused on safe driving. Talking with a friend driving in the same vehicle, daydreaming, or becoming absorbed in a phone conversation are typical causes. Even with eyes on the road, mental distraction reduces awareness of traffic safety conditions and increases the likelihood of injury crashes.
Deadly Consequences of Driver Distraction
The Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Safety Council report thousands of distraction-related crashes each year. In Georgia, many crashes that involve young drivers, teen drivers, or commercial drivers show that distraction multiplies risks for vulnerable groups. A moment of driver use of a cell phone can escalate into traffic fatalities. Distracted driving remains one of the most alarming distractions on the road, and ending distracted driving is essential to saving lives.
Proving Liability After a Distracted Driving Crash
Establishing liability in crashes involving distracted drivers requires clear evidence that the driver’s attention was diverted from safe driving. An Alpharetta car accident attorney can help gather and present this proof.
Police Crash Report Forms
A police crash report form is often the first source of evidence in distraction-related crashes. Officers may record cell phone use, electronic device handling, or other risky driving behaviors as a contributing factor. These reports carry weight in determining liability after traffic crashes.
Cell Phone Records and Electronic Data
Cell phone records can show if a driver sent a text message or made a call at the time of the crash. Electronic devices inside the vehicle may also log activity that supports a claim of driver distraction. This type of evidence can be critical in proving negligence.
Witness Statements and Video Evidence
Witnesses often notice when a driver is looking at a phone, eating, or engaging in non-driving activity before a crash. Dashcams, surveillance cameras, and traffic cameras may capture the moment when a driver takes eyes off the road or hands off the wheel. Such visual proof strengthens a case against distracted drivers.
Commercial Drivers and Company Policy
When a commercial driver is involved in distraction-related crashes, company policy may come into question. Records of training, monitoring, and enforcement of safe driving rules can be used to prove liability. Holding employers accountable can also help reduce distracted driving among professional drivers.
Role of an Alpharetta Car Accident Lawyer
An Alpharetta car accident lawyer knows how to collect and present the right evidence in court or negotiations. By linking driver distraction directly to traffic crashes, an attorney can secure compensation for injury crashes, medical costs, and lost income. Legal support is often necessary to counter attempts by insurers to downplay the impact of distracted driving.
Protecting Your Rights After a Distracted Driving Accident
After a distracted driving crash, protecting your rights requires quick action and careful documentation. An Alpharetta car accident lawyer can guide you through each step.
Seek Medical Care Immediately
Medical treatment should be the first priority after traffic crashes. Even minor injury crashes can result in hidden trauma that surfaces later. Medical records also serve as proof that the crash caused specific injuries, which is critical in legal claims.
Document the Scene and Gather Evidence
Photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any electronic devices inside the car can help show driver distraction. Collecting contact information from witnesses adds credibility. Police crash report forms and citations for handheld bans or other violations strengthen the case.
Preserve Records of Cell Phone Use
Cell phone data can confirm if the other driver was texting or talking at the time of the crash. Preserving this evidence quickly is important, as records may be lost or deleted. An Alpharetta car accident attorney can take legal steps to secure this information.
Work With an Alpharetta Car Accident Lawyer
An attorney can investigate distraction-related crashes, identify the contributing factor, and pursue fair compensation. This includes recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Without legal representation, victims may face pressure from insurers to accept less than full value for their claim.
Focus on Long-Term Protection
Protecting your rights extends beyond immediate medical bills. An Alpharetta car accident lawyer ensures that settlements account for future care, rehabilitation, and lasting impact from distracted driving crashes. This approach reduces the chance of unpaid costs later.
Contact an Experienced Alpharetta Car Accident Lawyer ASAP!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving crash, do not face the process alone. Our team at Horst Shewmaker is ready to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. An experienced Alpharetta car accident attorney can investigate the crash, gather the evidence, and hold distracted drivers accountable.
Contact us at (404) 400-1175 for a free case consultation today!
