Erie, Pennsylvania, Distracted Driving Car Accident Injury Lawyers

Jed Dietrich, Esq. is Committed to Providing Unparalleled Personal Injury Service to Distracted Driving Accident Victims Across Erie, Pennsylvania. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in a Serious Automobile Accident That Was Not Your Fault; You Deserve Aggressive Representation and an Attorney Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

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Today, most Americans have around-the-clock access to smartphones, computers, and the world wide web. While technology makes life easier in many respects, it also presents a potent and omnipresent distraction. For motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike, distracted driving poses a critical and life-threatening risk. Distracted driving often involves the use of technological devices, including cell phones, satellite radios, and navigation aids. However, motorists could also be distracted by a meal, makeup, or a passenger.

Irrespective of their cause, distracted driving accidents often have tragic outcomes. According to the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 424,000 individuals are injured in distracted driving accidents annually. In their report; government researchers also found that, although teenage motorists are the most likely to drive distracted, accident victims span every age, from young adults to senior citizens.

The aftermath of an Erie, Pennsylvania, distracted driving accident can be devastating. While you might feel fortunate to have simply survived the crash, the costs of recovery could seem insurmountable. Even with the right health insurance policy and premium car coverage, you could find yourself struggling to stay atop mounting medical debt.

However, you do not have to accept the consequences of another motorist's misconduct. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is committed to aggressively defending and upholding the rights of Keystone State car accident survivors. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in an Erie-area distracted driving accident that was not your fault, you could be entitled to significant compensation. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.'s highly experienced team of attorneys could help you obtain the evidence needed to build a compelling case for recompense. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Understanding The Risks Of Distracted Driving

Anything that takes a motorist's attention away from the road could be considered a distraction. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes the following three types of distraction:

1. Visual: Visual distractions are distractions that take the motorist's eyes away from the road.
2. Manual: A manual distraction is defined as any distraction that causes the vehicle operator to remove their hands from the steering wheel.
3. Cognitive: A cognitive distraction occurs when drivers lose focus.

Some distractions are visual, manual, and cognitive. A motorist who is sending a text message may be visually distracted by their phone; the driver may be manually distracted if they are using at least one hand to scroll through messages or draft their own; and the motorist may be cognitively distracted because they are focused on their text messages rather than the road.

When motorists negligently take their attention away from the road, they could be found liable for the costs of any resulting accident. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients in Erie and across the region recover more than $175 million in damages from reckless drivers, insurance companies, and other wrongdoers. We could help you, too. Please call us at 814-839-3939 to speak to a legal professional and discuss your options for efficient legal relief.

Distracted Drivers Take A Deadly Toll On Pennsylvania Roadways

Pennsylvania law broadly prohibits certain forms of distracted driving. For example, Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code states that no driver shall use “an interactive wireless communication device to send, read, or write a text-based communication while the car is in motion.” This law defines a wireless communication device as any of the following products:

1. A mobile phone;
2. A personal digital assistant;
3. A laptop; or
4. Any similar device that could be used to send, receive or write messages.

However, the Keystone State's prohibitions on technology-related distracted driving have done little to curb accident rates. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, distracted driving caused or contributed to an estimated 14,292 collisions in a single recent year. Of these accidents, 63 resulted in fatalities.

Establishing Liability After A Distracted Driving Car Crash

State law affords accident victims the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault motorist. However, when a survivor files a legal claim against another driver, they must typically provide evidence indicating that the at-fault motorist was negligent and that their negligence caused or contributed to the collision. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could collect the evidence needed to fulfill the following elements of most personal injury claims:

1. The at-fault motorist owed you a duty of care. In other words, they had a legal obligation to operate their vehicle in a reasonable and safe manner;
2. The at-fault motorist abrogated their duty of care by acting negligently;
3. The at-fault motorist's negligence caused or contributed to your accident;
4. The accident resulted in verifiable injuries; and
5. A court could award damages to compensate you for your injuries.

However, pursuing a personal injury claim is not always easy, even if you have a seemingly open-and-close case. Fortunately, you do not have to accede to the insurance company's pressure tactics. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you negotiate a fair settlement by:

1. Investigating the causes and circumstances of your Erie car crash;
2. Collecting evidence from the accident site;
3. Subpoenaing the at-fault motorist's text message history and call records;
4. Interviewing eyewitnesses and consulting expert witnesses; and
5. Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf, so you can focus on your physical recovery and mental well-being.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that nobody should be forced to pay out-of-pocket for another motorist's misconduct. If a negligent, distracted driver caused your Erie, Pennsylvania, car accident, our experienced team of attorneys could help you obtain the compensation you need to begin reclaiming your independence. Please send us a message online or call us at 814-839-3939 to schedule your no-obligation appointment.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 814-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Rochester, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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