Northern California Texting Accident Attorney

Millions of Dollars Recovered for Our Clients

Distracted driving has become an epidemic on American roadways and is directly responsible for thousands of preventable injuries and deaths each year. Although every form of driver distraction is inherently hazardous, few are as dangerous as text messaging and cell phone use.

Texting while driving is both an illegal and negligent act, and it places others at significantly increased risks of being hurt in car accidents. When drivers choose texting over their primary responsibility of operating a motor vehicle safely and cause accidents as a result, victims injured in these preventable wrecks have every right to pursue financial compensation for their damages.

At the Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley, our Northern California texting accident lawyers have helped thousands of clients after they were harmed in preventable accidents, including distracted driving accidents. By drawing from our extensive experience and unwavering commitment to clients’ futures, we’re able to effectively protect their rights and help them pursue the maximum compensation possible.

Texting: The Most Dangerous Driver Distraction

Safety advocates and experts unanimously agree that text messaging is one of the most dangerous forms of driver distraction.

This is because composing a text message, as well as using a cell phone to e-mail or browse the internet, commands multiple areas of a driver’s attention:

• Visual – Texting requires a driver to take their eyes off the road, which is one of the most dangerous things a person can do behind the wheel. When looking at a phone to read or compose a text, drivers can travel long distances without ever seeing their surroundings. In fact, taking your eyes off the road to text for 5 seconds while traveling 55 mph is equivalent to traveling the length of entire football field - blindfolded.
• Mental – In addition to requiring a driver’s visual focus, texting also commands their cognitive attention. When engaged in reading and composing texts, drivers are focused on a conversation, not driving. This risky multi-tasking causes inattention blindness, which can be dangerous even when a person has their eyes already on the road, and even more so when they are not.
• Manual – Text messaging naturally requires a driver to devote their manual focus on using their phone. This means they remove their hand from the wheel, reducing their ability to quickly and safely react to situations on the road.

California Texting Laws

Because text messaging is the most alarming type of driver distraction, the state of California has passed strict laws to prohibit the practice. Under state law, all drivers are prohibited from text messaging and from using a handheld cellphone behind the wheel. These laws are primary laws, which means law enforcement can pull motorists over and issue citations for texting alone, even if no other traffic violation was made.

The Rights of Injured Victims

Even though there are strict laws in place, many drivers still choose to text behind the wheel. When their unlawful and negligent behavior causes accidents that injure others, victims have the right to initiate the personal injury claim process to hold the at-fault driver liable for their damages. These include their medical expenses, lost income, and other economic damages, as well as their emotional injuries and the pain and suffering they endured as a result of the crash.

It is important to note that although the civil justice system allows injured victims to pursue compensation from those who harmed them, full and fair compensation is not automatically granted. This is because insurance companies fight aggressively to defend against claims and pay victims as little as possible. Their focus is on profits, not payouts to injured people. To ensure a level playing field between you and the large insurance corporations you face, working with an experienced and resourceful lawyer is critical.

Discuss Your Accident Case During a Free Consultation

The Law Offices of Larry S. Buckley is committed to helping our clients through difficult times, and to fighting for the recoveries they deserve. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash that could and should have been prevented if not for a distracted driver, you might be entitled to compensation.

Learn more about your rights and how our team can help during a free consultation. Our award-winning texting accident attorneys serve clients throughout Chico, Redding, and Northern California.