Pittsburgh Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers

Fighting For Distracted Driving Accident Victims 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,142 individuals were killed in accidents involving distracted driving on United States roadways in 2019. Additionally, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that distracted driving played a part in injuring 400,000 people in accidents in 2018. If you or a loved one has had the misfortune of being among these individuals harmed by another’s reckless driving, state law grants you the right to pursue compensation from the reckless driver.

At Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C., our lawyers have represented numerous clients in motor vehicle accident cases for more than four decades. A few of our most notable case results in this area of practice include the following:

• $1 million recovered for a plaintiff injured in a semi-tractor-trailer collision;
• $420,000 recovered for a plaintiff who sustained dental injuries and cervical sprain, among other severe injuries in a traffic collision; and
• $400,000 recovered for the loved ones of a 96-year-old plaintiff who was fatally injured by a distracted driver.

Our legal team understands how an accident can upend your life and how particularly upsetting it can be when that accident was no fault of your own. That’s why we want to help you obtain justice. In a free consultation, a member of our acclaimed distracted driving accident team will go over your legal options, provide a valuation of your case, and answer any legal questions you may have.

Call (844) 383-0565 today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with our Pittsburgh distracted driving accident attorney.

What Is Distracted Driving?

“Distracted driving” is any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the task of driving. Several common examples of distracted driving include:

• Texting and talking on the phone
• Checking or scrolling through social media
• Personal grooming, shaving, or putting on makeup
• Eating, drinking non-alcoholic beverages, and snacking
• Adjusting your side-view or rearview mirrors
• Using a navigation app or GPS
• Listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks too loudly
• Attending to a baby or child in the vehicle
• Attending to a dog, cat, or other pet in the vehicle
• Changing clothes or taking off a sweater
• Rubbernecking at a traffic collision or construction work
• Feeling too stressed, fatigued, or preoccupied with personal troubles to focus on driving

If you have reason to believe that the crash in which you were injured was caused by driver distraction, even if you are not sure how to prove it, don’t hesitate to contact our Pittsburgh attorneys. We will help you investigate the crash to get to the bottom of what really happened. For these cases, it is often possible to uncover additional evidence through accident reconstruction or, for cases involving texting and driving, by reviewing phone records.

Common Injuries in Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents often happen suddenly, leaving victims with serious and life-altering injuries. Common injuries include the following:

• Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Sudden stops or collisions caused by distracted drivers could result in whiplash, which may cause chronic pain and limited mobility.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Head trauma from car accidents can result in concussions, memory loss, or long-term cognitive impairment.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: The force of a crash can damage the spinal cord, potentially resulting in partial or full paralysis.
• Broken Bones and Fractures: High-impact collisions often result in fractures, which may require surgery, physical therapy, and extended recovery periods.
• Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs, internal bleeding, and other hidden injuries may not be instantly apparent but can be life-threatening.
• Lacerations and Burns: Broken glass, airbags, or vehicle fires can cause serious cuts or burns, leading to permanent scarring or disfigurement.
• Emotional Trauma: Beyond physical injuries, victims often experience anxiety, depression, or PTSD following a serious accident.

Distracted Driving Laws in Pennsylvania

Per state law, it is illegal to use a cell phone to read, write, or send a text-based communication while driving. Thus, drivers are prohibited from texting, emailing, and any other form of electronic or instant messaging when behind the wheel. It is, however, legal to make a call using a handheld device.

Please note: A distracted driver may be held liable in a court of law for engaging in any form of distracted driving if it results in an accident in which someone is severely injured — even if the type of distracted driving in which they were engaging is legal, like talking on the phone, or not specifically mentioned in legislation. This is because every driver owes those around them a duty of care. Since distracted driving recklessly puts everyone on the road at risk of injury, it is considered a direct violation of that duty.

Contact Our Distracted Driving Accident Attorney in Pittsburgh Today

Backed by over 40 years of experience, Robert Peirce & Associates, P.C.’s attorney team is fully equipped to handle distracted driving cases, no matter how complex they may seem. We accept high-stakes cases in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia on a contingency fee basis, which means if we do not win your case, you will not owe us a single dime. Don’t trust your recovery to an inexperienced team; instead, trust our legal team acclaimed by peers, clients, and industry organizations, such as Super Lawyers®, The National Trial Lawyers, and the American Association for Justice, among others.

To get started, contact our Pittsburgh distracted driving accident lawyer online today.