Denver Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer

Distracted driving causes countless accidents in Denver and throughout Colorado, especially as more technology is put into our cars and onto our phones. However, technology is not required for driver distraction. Even basic things like eating or talking to passengers can divert a driver’s attention.

Distracted motorists can easily hurt themselves and others if they are not paying attention to the task of driving, leading to painful injuries and significant financial strain.

The Denver distracted driving lawyers at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers have spent the past 10-plus years fighting for the rights of people who’ve been hurt in car accidents in our community. We know the toll a distracted driving accident can take and what’s necessary to help victims recover fair compensation for their injuries.

We are ready to help you if a distracted driving crash has injured you or someone close to you. Contact our Denver office today for a free initial consultation.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving occurs when something causes a driver not to be fully engaged in driving. That is dangerous because driving requires situational awareness, quick reflexes, and both hands on the wheel.

The three main types of driver distractions include:

• Manual distractions — These are anything that takes the driver’s hands off the road, making it so they can’t react as quickly in an emergency.
• Visual distractions — These are anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road, preventing them from seeing and recognizing potential hazards that arise as they’re driving.
• Cognitive distractions — These are anything that takes a driver’s concentration off the road and the area around them. It could be argued that this is the most dangerous type of distraction, as someone who isn’t focused on driving may get in a crash even if their hands are on the wheel and they’re looking at the road in front of them.

How Our Law Firm Can Help with Your Distracted Driving Crash Case

Recovering compensation after a distracted driving accident can be difficult, but Olson Personal Injury Lawyers can help by:

• Analyzing the accident to determine who’s liable for your injuries
• Gathering evidence to support your claim
• Filing your claim promptly to avoid any issues with Colorado’s personal injury statute of limitations
• Handling settlement negotiations with the various insurance companies
• Bringing your case to court in case settlement negotiations break down

What is Considered Distracted Driving in Denver?

Some of the most common forms of distracted driving in Denver include:

• Talking on a cell phone – Talking on the phone takes your concentration off driving, making it harder to avoid a crash.
• Texting – Texting takes your eyes, hands, and focus off of driving, making it one of the most dangerous types of distractions.
• Grooming – If you’re looking at yourself in the mirror while fixing your hair, shaving, applying makeup, or doing other grooming activities, you aren’t paying attention to where you’re going and what other cars around you are doing.
• Reading – Reading on a digital device or from printed material while driving carries many of the same dangers as texting, as reading takes your eyes, hands, and concentration off of the act of driving.
• Entering directions into a GPS device – Looking at a GPS device and entering directions by hand means you have at least one hand off the wheel and aren’t paying full attention to driving.
• Eating or drinking – Eating or drinking while driving means you have at least one hand off the wheel, and you aren’t fully paying attention to what’s happening in your surroundings.
• Manipulating in-vehicle controls – Fussing with the music, climate control, or other in-vehicle controls takes one hand off the wheel, and you may also need to look away from the road while you’re doing so.
• Interacting with passengers – Long car rides can be dull, but focusing too much on talking with passengers in your vehicle means you aren’t focused on keeping yourself and others on the road safe.

Common Injuries Involved in Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents can lead to horrific injuries. Some of the most common injuries that occur in distracted driving accidents are:

Denver Texting While Driving Laws

Colorado law bans all drivers from texting while operating a motor vehicle. Violating this law is a misdemeanor at the baseline level, but a distracted driver could face additional penalties if they were distracted and injured or killed someone in a crash. Furthermore, all drivers under age 18 are prohibited from using a cellphone in any way while driving.

Compensation for a Victim of a Denver Distracted Driving Accident

If you’ve been hurt in a distracted driving accident in Denver or surrounding areas of Colorado, Olson Personal Injury Lawyers can help you file a personal injury claim to recover compensation after the crash, including payment for:

Filing a Car Accident Claim in Denver

Colorado has a three-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims related to car accidents. If you wait more than three years from the date of an accident to file a claim, you will most likely lose out on any chance of recovering compensation.

Distracted Driving Statistics in Denver

A recent report from the Colorado Department of Transportation says that distracted drivers were involved in 20 percent of all injury or fatal crashes statewide. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 3,142 people died from distracted driving accidents in one recent year, accounting for 8.7 percent of all traffic deaths that year.

Contact Our Denver Distracted Driving Accident Attorneys

The Denver auto accident attorneys at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers are here to assist you with pursuing fair compensation for your injuries after a crash. With our experience and resources, we can aggressively seek the money you need to pay your bills and rebuild your life after an accident due to driver distraction.

Contact our office today for a free initial consultation.