Distracted Driving Accidents

Car Crash Lawyer Serving the Spartanburg and Greenville Areas

In today’s world, technology is everywhere. Although many of these advances have truly improved our society, they have also created dangerous temptations behind the wheel. Today’s cell phones are incredibly powerful and provide us with a chance to stay connected wherever we may be. When we are behind the wheel, however, we usually cannot drive as safely as we should while talking, texting, or emailing. At the Knie & Shealy Law Offices, we have helped many accident victims seek the compensation they deserve after suffering injuries in a crash caused by a driver who was distracted by cell phone use or other behaviors behind the wheel. Greenville and Spartanburg car accident attorney Patrick E. Knie can guide people in communities across South Carolina through the legal process.

Hold a Distracted Driver Responsible for Your Injuries

A distracted driving car crash usually gives rise to a personal injury case based on a theory of negligence. In this claim, the victim would need to prove that the other driver was not driving with the same care and ordinary skill that a reasonably prudent driver would have used at the time of the crash. This can include many different factors, such as taking into account the weather conditions, traffic patterns, or roadway obstructions present at the scene of the accident.

In any instance in which the defendant violated a traffic law, the defendant likely breached the applicable standard of care. However, a behavior that does not necessarily break a rule may still be negligent depending on the circumstances. For example, navigating a busy intersection while surfing the Internet on a phone or eating a sandwich is probably not something that a reasonably careful person would do. This behavior likely would be a breach of the duty of care, as would many other forms of distracted driving.

After showing that the defendant failed to act with the appropriate level of care, you must prove that this failure was the direct cause of your injuries. This means that you likely would not have been hurt if the defendant had not behaved negligently. Also, quantifiable damages arising from the crash must be identified. Forms of compensation that may be available often include medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering.

According to South Carolina law, a jury can apportion a certain percentage of fault to the plaintiff if his or her conduct at the time of the accident was also negligent. However, a reduced amount of damages still may be available to a victim as long as he or she was not 51 percent or more at fault. For this reason, it may be critical to consult an experienced accident reconstructionist, who can go through the events step by step and explain how the defendant’s conduct was the main cause.

Consult a Car Accident Attorney in Greenville or Spartanburg

The last thing anyone wants to experience is a devastating car accident. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries as the result of another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Spartanburg and Greenville car accident lawyer Patrick E. Knie treats all of his clients with the personal attention and compassion that they deserve. He can assist accident victims throughout Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, and Greenville Counties. Call motor vehicle collision lawyer Patrick E. Knie at (864) 582-5118 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.