You are on your way to work when morning, listening to the radio as you drive along. When you exit the freeway and need to stop for a sudden red light, you quickly realize the driver behind you isn’t stopping. You even notice that she is texting while driving. Before you can blink, she hits your vehicle and your airbags inflate.
When your vehicle stops and you assess the damage, you realize your leg hurts: a lot. You can’t put weight on it and most likely have a broken bone. Plus, your feeling dizzy, nauseous and have a headache. You may have a traumatic brain injury too.
The dangers of distracted driving
However, you know you are lucky to still be alive. In 2018, 2,841 people lost their lives in distracted driving accidents in the United States and distracted driving is a top cause of serious vehicle accidents in Kentucky. Also, texting and driving is the most dangerous form of distracted driving. A driver who is texting while driving takes their eyes off the road for about 4.6 seconds. In that amount of time, a car traveling 55 miles per hour can travel the length of a football field. Also, even using a cell phone while driving, even if it has hands-free features, can delay a driver’s reactions in the same way as driving legally drunk.
When a distracted driver hits you
When a distracted driver hits you, you need to call 911 and wait for police to arrive. You need to make an accident report and seek medical treatment immediately if you have serious injuries. If you or a passenger can, you need to take photos of the accident scene and make notes about what you remember about the accident.
Then, you need to report the accident to your insurance provider. Because Kentucky is a no-fault insurance state, your insurance will cover your medical costs and lost wages from an accident. When you suffer serious injuries, such as a broken bone, traumatic brain injury or spinal injury in an accident, you also should seek the advice of a personal injury attorney. An attorney can help you receive maximum compensation for your injuries and avoid accepting a low-ball injury settlement.
Suffering serious injuries because of someone else’s negligent is frustrating and often requires a long recovery. You want to ensure you do all you can to get the injury compensation you deserve.
