Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer in Providence

Gemma Law has been fighting for the rights of injured victims for 50 years. We are committed to supporting clients through extremely difficult times and helping them secure the compensation they need to cover their losses and build a financially secure future.

Distracted driving is an all-too-common cause of motor-vehicle crashes, and a Providence car accident lawyer can work to hold distracted drivers accountable for the damage they cause. To fight for justice after being hurt by a distracted driver, connect with a distracted driving accident lawyer in Providence from our team right away.

Understanding Distracted Driving

The problem of distracted driving has worsened as cell phones, smartphones, and other technological advances have taken drivers’ eyes off the road. While technology is a major culprit, it is not the only factor contributing to distracted driving in Rhode Island. Other types of distracted driving include:

• Eating or drinking
• Attending to passengers or pets
• Getting lost in the passing scenery
• Engaging in conversations or arguments
• Applying makeup or fixing hair
• Reading printed material  
• Adjusting the radio or temperature

All types of distracted driving are dangerous. When a driver is not focused on the act of driving, everyone in the distracted driver’s car and those traveling nearby are at risk of accidents and injury. If you are the victim of a distracted driver, connect with a distracted driving accident lawyer in Providence for help getting justice. 

For a free legal consultation with a distracted driving accident lawyer serving ProvidenceCall (401) 467-2300

Why Hire an Attorney After a Distracted Driving Accident

When you are suffering serious injuries and financial losses because another person put your life at risk by checking the navigation or a text message on their phone, you need an advocate who is ready to fight for you. Our legal team provides exceptional legal insight and support even in the worst of times. Our Providence personal injury lawyer will go to work building your claim for you. There are several ways we can make a difference in recovering fair compensation for you:

• Our experience enables us to advocate for fair compensation. This can prove critical in a distracted driving case where evidence may not be readily available. We know how to find that evidence to build your claim.
• Our network of resources works to build your case and protect your rights. For many, this means using medical experts to identify serious injuries and losses, and accident reconstructionists to demonstrate what took place and why.
• Our dedication to our clients means we do not settle for less than you deserve under the law. Many times, victims believe they should receive far less than what their actual losses are. We build your case to include all losses and back it up with evidence.

When you are ready to fight back after an accident, hire a Providence distracted driving accident lawyer to be your advocate. We know what steps to take to protect you, and we are passionate about building a claim that matches that loss. Contact us for a free consultation today.

Providence Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (401) 467-2300

The Damage Caused by Distracted Driving

Recent statistics from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) show that over one year, over 3,300 people died from accidents caused by distracted driving. Those injured number more than 290,000. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the percentage of drivers using hand-held devices while driving has increased by 82% over the past decade.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) names texting as “the most alarming distraction,” explaining that sending or reading a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds. When traveling 55 miles per hour, sending the text is like “driving the length of an entire football field” with closed eyes.

The State of Rhode Island General Assembly has banned the use of non-hands-free devices, and violators can face legal consequences. While distracted drivers deserve those consequences, they must also compensate victims for the harm their negligence caused, and a distracted driving accident attorney in Providence will fight to ensure that happens.

Click to contact our Providence Car Accident Lawyers today

A Providence Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer will Fight to Hold Negligent Drivers Accountable

To get the settlement or trial award you deserve, you must present convincing evidence to prove the at-fault party’s negligence. Gemma Law will perform a comprehensive accident investigation to find evidence and make your case. Proving negligence requires showing:

• The at-fault party owed you a duty of care. A duty of care is a legal obligation to uphold others’ safety, and all drivers owe it to others on the road.
• The at-fault party breached its duty. By driving while distracted, drivers breach or fail to fulfill this duty.
• The breach caused the accident. You must present evidence to establish the driver’s negligence, in this case, their distraction, as the direct cause of your accident.
• The accident left you with measurable losses. Your accident-related financial costs and physical and emotional pain comprise your losses.

It can be challenging to prove distraction, but a Providence distracted driving accident attorney from our team knows what evidence you need and how to access it. We will work to secure cell phone records and to get proof of distraction from physical evidence, witnesses, passengers, cameras, and other sources. 

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now

Why Distracted Driving in East Providence Occurs So Often

In East Providence, our distracted driving attorney often must provide support for victims of distracted driving for a number of reasons. This type of reckless driving is very common, especially in a larger city like East Providence, where over 47,000 people are commuting to and from work and school each day. Some of the most common causes of distracted driving in East Providence include:

• Drivers using cell phones to talk or text while driving on Interstate 195 is a very common problem.
• Distraction brought on by eating or drinking behind the wheel
• Visitors to the area looking for the historic districts or parks who are using navigational systems instead of paying attention to the roadways
• Drivers are distracted by those in the car with them, including children, and those on the phone
• Drivers causing accidents while they wrangle their pets during a commute

Distracted drivers in East Providence can cause serious injury and financial losses for victims. The city is large, and thousands of cars operate throughout the city on a constant basis. That increases the risk of injuries and serious accidents.

Reasons for Distracted Driving Accidents in North Providence

North Providence may be smaller than Providence itself or East Providence, but it remains a big city with over 34,000 people living here. That means many streets are congested, especially in the area’s older neighborhoods, where narrow streets further complicate traffic. There are numerous reasons why this city experiences distracted driving accidents. Our North Providence distracted driving accident lawyer often sees cases involving:

• It is a college town. Younger drivers are more likely to see themselves as capable of talking and texting while behind the wheel.
• Stress and fatigue are also common causes of distracted driving in North Providence, especially when these accidents happen at night or very early in the morning.
• Distraction on Route 44 is common, especially when people adjust the radio or navigation devices or engage with others. With added congestion in these areas, it is critical to have all eyes on the road.
• Passengers and pets are very common causes of distraction in the city. If arguments are happening, children are crying, or there are numerous people trying to hold a conversation, distraction becomes a concern.
• Eating and drinking are also common factors. Many people are on the road for long periods, and grabbing something to eat saves time. However, it also creates a distraction.

Our North Providence distracted driving attorney recognizes that most people try to do too much at once, which leads to injuries and losses. However, in these cases, other drivers have rights, including the right to be safe on the roadway. We represent those victims with serious injuries and losses through no fault of their own.

Your Lawyer will Fight for Your Future

All distracted drivers need a reality check; personal injury can have lasting effects on life. Sadly, this reality check often does not come until damage has already been done and victims’ lives have been changed. If your situation has been altered by a distracted driver, we can fight to secure you the best quality of life and financial stability in the days ahead.

Because distracted drivers are not paying attention to the road or to the car ahead, crashes are often severe. Drivers may not react until the very last moment, if at all. Physical injuries caused by such violent crashes can include crushed bones, brain trauma, spinal cord damage, internal bleeding, deep lacerations, and damage to the neck or back, among others.

The pain and debilitation caused by the injuries can lead to severe emotional distress. Victims are devastated by their lost abilities and can feel isolated and insecure, becoming depressed. Then, they face anxiety as they fear for what their future holds and how they will manage financially. These extreme consequences demand justice, and our team will fight tirelessly to get it for you. 

Compensation Available to Accident Victims

We work to get victims the highest compensation possible for distracted driving accidents. Every accident has different circumstances, so it is not possible to predict an average settlement or trial award amount. You can expect your attorney to seek economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic damages compensate you for financial expenses and losses, including your medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and any other related expenses. Non-economic damages account for your emotional suffering, physical pain, disfigurement, disability, and your diminished quality of life.

If a distracted driver killed your loved one, you may have cause to file a wrongful death claim. You may be entitled to compensation for related medical costs, funeral expenses, your loved one’s lost income, pain and suffering, and financial acknowledgment for your loss of companionship. Learn more about distracted driving accidents in our frequently asked questions.

What to Do After a Distracted Driving Accident

If you are in an accident and you believe distraction played a role in what occurred, we encourage you to speak to our attorney right away. In the ideal situation, you follow these important steps to protect your right to fair compensation and get the care you need at the worst possible time. When possible, follow these steps:

• Call 911 immediately and move your vehicle or person out of the way of additional risk and harm. You need and want the police to respond to the scene to assist you.
• Check on the other driver of the accident if it is safe to do so. You want to be sure that you lend a hand when it’s safe.
• Get photos of the accident and the surrounding areas. That includes seeking photos of the damage to both vehicles, your injuries, any evidence of what the driver was doing (such as food on the seat or a pet in the backseat), and any debris in the roadway.
• Ask witnesses to provide their name and contact information. That includes people who stopped to help, as well as passengers in the incident.
• Provide the police with a brief statement of only the facts of what occurred. Do not admit any guilt in the process, including making statements such as you did not see the other driver.
• Document what you remember as soon as possible. That means documenting what you saw the driver doing at the time of the accident that made you believe distraction was occurring.
• Get medical care immediately. This will prove to be critical in documenting your injuries and making it clear that your injuries stem from the accident itself.

Once you take these steps, get all of the follow-up medical care and support you need. Then, set up a consultation with our legal team. Let us get to work building your case and showing that you deserve fair compensation for the losses you have suffered through no fault of your own. Our Providence distracted driving accident lawyer is the advocate you need by your side.

Understanding Comparative Negligence Laws in Rhode Island

Many car accidents involving distracted driving may involve the fault of more than one person. Under Rhode Island’s pure comparative negligence laws, victims who are at fault for an accident can still recover damages. This rule means you will see a reduction in the amount of compensation you receive. Here is how it works.

If the court or a police officer (or other party) finds you at fault in an accident, they will assign a specific percentage of fault to you. This represents the level of responsibility you have. Your compensation claim against the other driver is not the full amount of your losses, but rather is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. For example, if you are 20% at fault, your compensation drops by 20%.

As your legal team, we build your case to demonstrate that you are not at fault, and ultimately to show that you are not at fault at all. However, when you do hold some fault, we want to work to reduce that percentage by as much as possible to protect your right to compensation. Our Providence distracted driving accident lawyer will fight for you to see a reduction in your losses.

Understanding the Statute of Limitations in Rhode Island

Another important factor in building your claim and fighting for fair compensation for you is adhering to the statute of limitations. This is the timeframe that you have to stick to in order to receive a claim for recovery of damages. In Rhode Island, the statute of limitations (RI Gen. Laws § 9-1-14) for most personal injury claims, including distracted driving car accidents, is three years. This means you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit for your losses.

If you miss this time limit, the court will not hear your case. That means you have no legal grounds to recover damages, and the at-fault party does not have to pay them.

As your Providence distracted driving accident lawyer, we do not want you to have to wait that long, and as a result, we build claims based on evidence to minimize that risk. Our trial-experienced attorneys will fight for you. Our client case results speak for themselves.

Gemma Law Wants the Best for You

Gemma Law cares about your well-being now and in the future. We are committed to helping you through this challenging time and to supporting the best quality of life as you move forward. 

You should not have to bear the financial costs for the damage caused by someone else’s negligence. Reach out to our distracted driving accident lawyer in Providence for a free case review today, so we can start working to relieve your stress and get you justice.

Call or text (401) 467-2300 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form