Were You Injured in an Auto Accident with a Distracted Driver?

Our Wichita car accident attorneys will fight hard for you

Every driver has certain legal responsibilities behind the wheel, and one of the most basic responsibilities is to keep a proper lookout and give your full attention to the road. Unfortunately, some motorists fail to do so, and they can cause serious harm to others. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, you have rights under Kansas law. The Wichita car accident injury lawyers at PISTOTNIK LAW will protect those rights.

Auto accidents  and the resulting injuries caused by distracted drivers can have life-altering consequences. It’s not just medical bills, and you could have wage loss, disability, disfigurement, or even permanent  losses with future damages. Don’t go up against an insurance company alone. Schedule your free consultation with PISTOTNIK LAW as soon as possible after your wreck.

What is distracted driving?

Broadly speaking, distracted driving is anything that diverts your full attention from the task of exercising reasonable care in operating your vehicle. More specifically, there are three types of distractions:

• Visual distraction: taking your eyes off the road and failing to keep a proper lookout.
• Manual distraction: taking your hands off the wheel.
• Cognitive distraction: failing to mentally focus on the task of driving.

Texting while driving is the most dangerous form of distracted driving because it involves all three types of distraction. A texting driver is looking at a cell phone screen, not the road, has at least one hand off the wheel to hold the phone, and is thinking about reading and composing messages instead of focusing on driving. However, texting is certainly not the only form of distraction behind the wheel. Drivers cause accidents while:

• Changing the radio station
• Looking at vehicle screens
• Adjusting the radio volume, heat, or air conditioning
• Programming or using a GPS device
• Talking to passengers
• Smoking or vaping
• Eating and drinking
• Personal grooming
• Looking for something in the vehicle
• Adjusting a seatbelt
• Assisting a passenger or child in the vehicle
• Being inattentive by daydreaming or not focusing on driving

There is no way to eliminate every possible distraction behind the wheel, but motorists do have both a legal and moral obligation to keep their attention on the road while driving. Distracted drivers have a choice.  While driving, they can focus on driving or they can do anything other than that.  If they want to text, eat, groom, take care of a child, etc., the safe choice is to pull off the roadway while performing that other activity. When they make dangerous choices, other road users can be seriously hurt.

Distracted driving is often the cause of rear-end accidents, as it’s easy for a distracted motorist to overlook brake lights or rear-end someone stopped at a red light or stop sign. However, distraction can be a contributing factor to all types of car accidents. A distracted driver can run a red light, fail to observe another motorist pulling onto the road, or even drift into the oncoming lane and cause a head-on collision. Pedestrians, scooter operators, bicyclists, and bikers are especially at risk because it’s easier for a distracted driver to overlook smaller and quieter vehicles. Distracted driving easily can cause a wreck that can alter someone’s life forever.

We fight to hold distracted drivers and their insurers accountable

In Kansas, texting while driving is illegal, and while some other types of distracted driving are not specifically against the law, they violate the general duty of reasonable care to operate a vehicle safely. We hold distracted drivers accountable. We will thoroughly investigate your auto accident, talk to witnesses, analyze the at-fault driver’s statements, and find the evidence proving that negligence was the cause of your crash. We’ll also build a strong case to get you financial compensation for the full amount of damages  you deserve for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and everything you’ve lost as a result of the wreck.

Insurance companies will do everything they can to reduce or deny your claim. They may downplay your injuries or even claim you’re faking, especially if the crash happened at a low speed. They use pressure tactics and manipulation to try to get injured people to take “lowball” settlement offers. We know how to counter their tactics, and we have a strong reputation and a record of winning results. When the insurance companies see you’re represented by Pistotnik law, they know we mean business.

Usually, we can get the insurance company to make a fair offer, but if they don’t, we will file a lawsuit, to have your case decided by a jury. Throughout the process, we will make sure you know what to expect and how the system works, so you can focus on healing. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t owe us a cent unless and until we win your case. There are no up front fees or payments.

Get a Wichita distracted driving injury attorney who knows how to win

Remember, the sooner you call, the sooner you will get valuable advice on steps to take to maximize your case value. This also helps give us time to investigate and gather evidence before it disappears, and the sooner we get involved, the sooner we can start dealing with the insurance company on your behalf.

Distracted driving accidents cause injuries, sometimes lifelong, but victims have recourse under Kansas law. If you’ve been hurt, don’t try to take on the insurance company without our experience and guidance. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Wichita distracted driving accident lawyer at Pistotnik law.