A driver who causes a wreck while texting and driving is subject to civil action intended to hold them responsible for damages and injuries they might have caused. If you suffered damages because another driver caused a car accident while texting, Reyes Browne Law can help you recover compensation.
What to Do After a Texting While Driving Accident in Dallas
After any accident, first and foremost, you should immediately report the incident to the Dallas Police Department. Get the name, contact information, and insurance details from all other involved parties. Take photographs of the vehicles and request that witnesses provide statements to the police.
If necessary, seek medical care for any injuries. The next step is contacting a law firm that specializes in this type of accident. Reyes Browne Law is a trusted texting and driving law firm in Dallas, and our attorneys can provide legal assistance for those located in the Dallas area.
How to Obtain a Police Report for a Texting and Driving Accident in Dallas, TX
If you were involved in a texting and driving car accident in Dallas, TX, securing a police report is critical to supporting any ensuing legal or insurance claims. A police officer should arrive at the scene and document the events, which are transcribed into an official accident report.
This document is usually available within a few days. It can be requested in person by visiting the Dallas Police Department Records Section or through the department’s online portal, where reports can often be accessed using pertinent accident details. If the report suggests texting played a part in the incident, or you have difficulty obtaining your report, consult a dedicated texting and driving accident law firm in Dallas that can help protect your rights and seek compensation for damages.
Texting While Driving Accidents and Lawsuits on the Rise
In Texas, nearly 40% of traffic deaths–one of the highest rates in the country–are caused by drunk drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving a vehicle is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated.
The federal agency reported that sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent — when traveling at 55 mph — of driving the length of an entire football field while blindfolded. Most know how dangerous it is to use devices while driving, yet it’s nearly impossible to drive down the road without spotting drivers glued to their phones.
Can Law Enforcement Obtain Cell Phone Records for Someone Who Was Texting Behind the Wheel?
Texas law enforcement officials can obtain the cellular telephone records of any person involved in a car accident that resulted in injuries. If you sustained injuries in a wreck with a distracted driver, you can obtain phone records with the help of a skilled Dallas accident attorney to prove that the other driver was texting and driving at the time of the accident.
During the initial investigation phase of a car accident, some evidence may slip through the cracks. Suppose you believe the other driver may have been texting while behind the wheel, leading to your car accident. In that case, the evidence will be in the phone records and must be preserved to help you rightfully claim what compensation you deserve for your injuries.
The process of obtaining medical records is made remarkably simple when you hire a skilled lawyer from Reyes Browne Law. You must draft and order a subpoena to be sent to the phone provider to obtain the other driver’s phone records. These records can prove whether they were texting at the time of the accident and help solidify their actions as negligent, so their insurance company has no choice but to accept liability on behalf of your accident. Our team, including Angel Reyes, will ensure you are capable of receiving all you deserve.
What Are My Rights If a Texting Driver Caused My Wreck?
All drivers have a legal obligation to pay attention to the road at all costs. Protecting all others from potential harm is the number one responsibility of anyone behind the wheel. Texting while driving violates that responsibility, which typically puts the individual directly at fault for the accident.
Proving that your injuries and damages directly result from the other individual who decided to text and drive is imperative to the viability of your injury claim. If you sustained injuries because another driver was texting, you have the legal right to pursue financial compensation through civil action, whether or not the police cited the other driver.
Texting While Driving Isn’t Worth It
While more than 30% of car accidents in Texas involve someone being distracted while driving, it’s necessary to obtain their phone records if there is a question of who may be at fault for the accident. However, it is essential to remember that your phone records can also be subpoenaed if you are suspected of texting and driving during the accident. The best choice you can make is to put your phone away while you are behind the wheel.
FAQs
Get answers to commonly asked questions about texting and driving car accidents.
How Many Accidents Are Caused by Texting and Driving in Dallas, TX?
Texting and driving poses a serious threat to road safety in Dallas and the state of Texas at large. In 2022, nearly one in six crashes on Texas roads resulted from distracted driving.
Tragically, these distractions led to the deaths of 487 individuals and left 2,824 seriously injured. These numbers are a stark reminder that even a moment’s inattention can result in life-altering events, emphasizing the importance of staying alert and focused on the road while driving.
Does Texting and Driving Cause More Accidents than Drinking and Driving in Dallas, TX?
It’s impossible to accurately tell how often texting and driving accidents occur since you can’t capture everyone in the act before a crash. However, some sources claim that texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than drunk driving.
The Centers for Disease Control also conducted a study using a high-fidelity driving simulator that compared texting while driving to drinking and driving. The resulting data showed that cell phone drivers had increased delayed braking and were involved in considerably more accidents than when they were not distracted by a cell phone. It confirmed that the impairment from driving while using a cell phone was comparable to drunk driving.
Is Texting and Driving the Number One Cause of Car Accidents?
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts your attention from driving, including texting. In 2020, distracted drivers were a leading cause of fatal collisions nationwide, with 2,974 fatal crashes attributed to drivers who failed to focus on the roads.
In Dallas, TX, distracted driving, drunk driving, and speeding are among the most common causes of accidents on the road. If you believe you were involved in an accident with someone who was texting, consult a texting and driving law firm in Dallas.
How Can I Talk to a Dallas Texting While Driving Accident Lawyer – For Free?
Call us at (469) 532-4965 for a free consultation, but not while you are driving. If the other driver was texting during a car accident, the experienced Dallas car accident attorneys at Reyes Browne Law can hold them responsible for the damage they caused. Our case results make it clear—we understand state texting statutes and can use the law to our advantage to establish liability for your injuries, property damage, and pain and suffering.
